Super Unnatural (Special)

Chapter Six - Happy Birthday

At school Zack asks me "Ready for school photos"

"No." I say knowing that I will never be ready for any sort of photo, especially a school photo. I can never smile with a camera pointed at my face I look like a paedophile clown when I try squeeze out an unnatural smile, and that's not good.

"At least it's Friday"

"Yea"

"And it's your birthday tomorrow, what you want?" He asks.

Truthfully I reply "Nothing." All I want is him. My boyfriend. Just to be with him makes me happy. I don't think I could ever get a present better then him.

"Ok" he replies "I think I have an idea."

The man taking the photos is acting weird, trying to act funny, but failing. He gives everyone a nick name while he's lining them up.

"Afro, Mario, Mr Sky scraper and Mrs cheesy in the back." he calls.

He ends up naming me little miss delicate. That made me laugh. This morning I cut my forehead off my face with a pocket knife, and he's calling me delicate. I also her Zack giggling beside me, which makes me laugh harder. You know when that happen and you end up just laughing at the others laugh and they are laughing at yours, it's just an endless cycle of embarrassment. The first photo Mr I think I'm so funny took was the whole class looking at me and Zack laughing at our personal joke. I had those tears of laughter running down my face. I really don't think it could have gone worse.

On my way home mum meets me with Mr. Muddy on his new lead. "How was school photos?" she asks.

"Horrible as usual"

"I'm sure it's not that bad." She says. But I bet she's hoping it wasn't as bad as last year because that day was probably the worst hair day I have ever had. Or anyone on earth has ever had.

"It was" I reply imagining the photo.

That night I'm lying awake in bed. Not excited about my birthday but nervous about me and Zack's first proper date the night after. Is it going to be awkward? Are we going to hold hands? Are we going to kiss!? That made my heart leap. I could feel it pounding in my chest. What if my breath stunk? What if I can't kiss? I don't even know how to kiss! Oh my God I can't do this. Eventually I feel asleep. Eventually.

By the time Mum Dad and Jamie come into my room with breakfast I feel like I haven't slept for days rather than just most of last night.

"Happy Birthday!" They all shout thinking that they're waking me up.

I do the fake stretch to make them think I was asleep. Then push myself up into an upright position. I finish my maple syrup covered pancakes and open Jamie's present first. In the balloon covered paper is a block of chocolate that he probably brought with 2 dollars of his pocket money and a new laptop case that mum probably paid for.

"Thank you" I say leaning over and hugging him, knowing that the whole present mum probably decide for him. But I guess I have to appreciate the thought.

Mum hands me a smaller present saying it's from her and dad. Inside is some bath and body stuff and some earrings. Thank you I repeat hugging mum first then dad.

"They're gold" mum says proudly. "Don't lose them they were expensive"

"I won't"

I get out of bed and walk over to my jewellery box to carefully put them away. Mum and dad start to look guilty and it starts to get awkward as dad tells Jamie to go down stairs. I can tell by them asking Jamie to leave the room it must be serious.