One

Happy Birthday!

I woke up to the sound of whispers. I could hear them faintly outside my door. It sounded like my parents. I got up and walked to the door. I put my ear up against it and listened intently.

"What are you talking about?" it sounded like my mother's voice.

"It's tomorrow, what are we going to do? We told your brother we would send her there when she turned 17. We promised." My father sounded very stubborn, which is highly unusual.

"Yes, of course. I remember. I just don't understand why. Why when she turned 17? Why this exact school? I just wish I could ask him myself."

"I know you do, but we can't and we must do what he told us to."

I heard them about to open the door, so I sprinted back to my bed. As soon as I got under the covers, they opened the door. I heard their footsteps coming nearer, so I tensed.

"Wake up sleepy-head, Happy Birthday!" my mom had a huge smile on her face. "Good morning sweetie. Did you have a nice sleep?"

"Umm... yeah. Is that a triple layer chocolate, red velvet, vanilla cake?" I noticed the cake my dad was holding with the number 17 on top. "Oh you didn't have to." It was sweet, but it wasn't necessary.

"No, no it's the least we could do, since you didn't want a party."

The truth is I really wanted a party, but it wasn't like I had anyone to invite. Even though I'm prom and homecoming queen, head cheerleader, and I'm dating the quarterback, I really only had three friends. That's not exactly what a party is. Yeah, everyone at school would kill to come to one of my parties, but it's just expected and I like to be unexpected, so I'll just invite Ash, Lily, and Malia over for some pizza and a movie.

"So, now that I'm seventeen, I want to talk about college. I was thinking Yale or Harvard, maybe somewhere closer to home, like-" my mother cut me off before I could finish.

"There's something we have to discuss. It's about where you're from." My parents gave each other a look. Oh no, the talk. "This may come as a shock, but we are not your real parents and we thought it was time you knew. We are your aunt and uncle." I think she was expecting some kind of response or reaction, but all I could do was stare. It isn't exactly something you hear everyday.

"Umm... I don't really know what to say." I really didn't. How could one reply to such a bomb on their life.

"It's okay, you don't have to say anthing." my uncle seemed like he was keeping something else.

"Is that all you wanted to say?" I had to know if there were any more secrets.

"Well, there is one thing... When we talked to your parents for the last time, your father told us to send you to Hawthorne Boarding School when you turned 17. So, we'll give you until tomorrow to say good-bye to everyone." My uncle had this look of sadness on his face that I had never seen before when he left my room.

"We're so sorry sweetie." my aunt told me before she walked out behind him.