Page 37 (1/2)

"Cam, I'm sorr--" Before I could finish, he leaned over and kissed h but nice

When it was over, he said, "Okay?"

I sht"

Then I got out of the car, and he caed, and I found h it didn't h I didn't even like him anymore I just wanted him to know I didn't like him anymore, to really know it To see it with his oo eyes

I ran up to the front door, and I didn't have to turn around to know that Cam would wait until I was inside before he drove away

The next day , but she didn't have to She coulda word

Chapter thirty - six

My birthday alwaysof the end of su to look forward to And this su sixteen Sweet sixteen was supposed to be special, a really big deal--Taylor was renting out a reception hall for hers, and her cousin was DJ-ing and she was inviting the whole school She'd had it planned for ages My birthdays here were always the sah all the old photo albums, with me sandwiched between Susannah and my mom on the couch Every birthday I've ever had has been here, in this house There are pictures of lass of iced tea and a wide brimmed hat, and there's me, inside her belly There are pictures of the four of us, Conrad, Steven, Jere around on the beach--I was nad except forafter the suit until I was four years old She just let me run around wild

I didn't expect this birthday to be any different Which, was co Except, Steven wouldn't be there-- to elbow in and blow out my candles before I could

I already knehatit detailed with a new paint job and everything When I got back to school, I would take driver's ed, and soon I wouldn't have to ask for a ride ever again

I couldn't help but wonder if anyone back home remembered it was my birthday Besides Taylor She remembered; she always did She calledhappy birthday, every year That was nice and all, but the trouble with having a su aas you couldn't have a party with all your school friends You didn't get the balloons taped to your locker or any of it I'd never really minded, but just then I did, a little

My mother told me I could invite Cam over But I didn't I didn't even tell him it was my birthday I didn't want hi But it wasto be like every other one, I ht as well really have it be like every other one It should just be us, , the house sar Susannah had baked a birthday cake It was three layers and it was pink with a white border She wrote in loopy white frosting happy birthday, bellsShe'd lit a few sparkler candles on top, and they sizzled and sparked like , and Susannah gestured for Conrad and Jeremiah to join in They both did, off-key and obnoxious

"Make a wish, Belly," my mother said

I was still inThe past four birthdays I had wished for the sa else I watched the sparklers die down, and then I closed ed She thrust a small box wrapped in pink paper into ly "What did you do, Beck?"

She smiled a mysterious smile and squeezed my wrist "Open it, honey"

I ripped the paper off and opened the box It was a pearl necklace, a whole strand of tiny creaold clasp It looked old, not like sorandfather clock, beautifully crafted, right down to the clasp It was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen