"He's there! Hide it!" Kara quickly hid the gift behind her back. She, Joe and Carly all watched as their friend slowly made his way towards them. Kara was of average height and slim, her red hair- red, not ginger- pulled back in a French plait. Her sapphire blue eyes sparkled in the light as she smiled at their approaching friend. Today she wore jeans and a purple T-shirt. Carly was of similar height to Kara, but wasn't as slim. She didn't really care about her weight as long as she didn't get too 'fat'. Her short, dark-blonde hair fell around her shoulders in layers, her fringe falling over her left eye. She too wore jeans and a dark blue T-shirt. Joe was the tallest with his thick black hair gelled up in messy spikes, his sky blue eyes glinting happily at the sight of their friend. He wore tracksuit bottoms and a soccer T-shirt.

Everyone loved Charlie Valdez. He was just so smiley and loveable, making everyone laugh and feel better about themselves. There wasn't a bad bone in his body- unless you counted the continuous pranks.

Today was Charlie's birthday. He was the youngest in their small group and the shortest, but he didn't care. The girls were taller than him but only because he had to look up at their 'shining beauty'.

Charlie stopped ten feet away and took up a conversation with the new kid in the grade below. Charlie grinned cheekily and the new kid and his friends were laughing.

"Charlie!" He looked round innocently. Kara waved him over.

Charlie's form of greeting was hugging everyone. He had Carly and Kara under his arms (even though that was a bit difficult with them being taller than him) - "How are my fine princesses today then?"- Before he moved forward and crushed Joe in a bear hug. "How're you doing, mate?"

"Good, good." Joe grinned, ruffling Charlie's curly hair. "How's it feel to finally be thirteen?"

"I'm a teenager!" Charlie exclaimed, throwing his arms out. "I can go around terrorizing old grannies now and they'll be like," Charlie switched to his impression of an elderly woman, "Young hooligans of today with their loud music and rampant ways. I remember when-"

"OK, Charlie, we get it." Kara held his present out. "Happy birthday." Charlie grinned, but then realised something.

"No birthday beats! Remember last year?" Joe had snuck up on Charlie last year to give him birthday beats and somehow Joe ended up lying on the floor with his face covered in thick, green goo that hadn't washed off for hours.

"OK, but just this once." Joe agreed. Charlie took his birthday present, his grin back and childish. He tore the wrapping paper off and stuck the ribbon on Kara's forehead.

"Aw, sweet! How'd you know?" Charlie grinned at the build a remote control plane set.

"'Cos you told us you wanted it, remember?"

"I did?"

"About three weeks ago."

"Do you really expect me to remember stuff from ages ago?" Charlie shook his head at Joe. "Silly Josephine."

"Josephine?!" Joe protested. "Alright midget, birthday beats."

"Eep." Charlie squeaked. He turned and ran. Joe's birthday beats hurt.

"Charlie, put the plane away."

"Aw, what?"

"This is a Math lesson, not construction."

"You get Math in construction."

"Charlie…" The teacher warned.

"Miss, it's my birthday."

"So?"

"Rules don't apply to me on my birthday."

"Rules don't apply to you any day, Charlie. Now put the plane away and get on with your work."

"I've done it." The teacher looked bewildered. "What?" Charlie smirked. "Did you think I was stupid, Miss?"

"N-no, I just thought you didn't understand Math."

"That was trigonometry, Miss. Every kid's worst nightmare." The teacher smiled.

"Put the plane away and stop leaning back on that chair!"

"Dammit." Charlie fell forward, putting all four legs of the chair on the ground. His friends grinned at him. "Test flight at recess." He told them, slipping his plane carefully into its box. It had taken him half an hour, without the instructions, to build it. He was feeling pretty damn good. "Miss, did you get me a present?"

"No."

"But it's my birthday."

"Charlie, birthday or not, if you don't shut up, I will issue extra homework just for you." Charlie was momentarily stunned, but then he smirked. "Oh god, I hate that look…"

"Well, Miss, I don't really get the work. I copied from Kara and if you give me extra homework, that's more work you've got to sit there and correct while I'm at home playing Call of Duty with Dad."

"Charlie?"

"Yes Miss?"

"Shut up."

"What's the magic word?" Charlie teased. The teacher gave a disbelieving laugh, shaking her head. "Come on, Miss. Starts with 'A'…"

"Avada Kedavra." Someone near the front said.

"Avada Kedavra to you too, my friend."

"Do you even know what it is?" Kara asked.

"Nope."

"The Killing Curse from Harry Potter."

"Oh…" Charlie looked at the girl who had spoken. "You're so kind."

"I know."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Well, I stole your face."

"You've seen it!" Charlie beamed. The girl nodded. "If you weren't on the other side of the classroom, I would hug you." The girl smiled.

"No, you're OK." Charlie was about to protest- who didn't want from a hug from him?! Outrage! But the teacher cut across.

"What are you on about?" The teacher asked.

"Asdf movies, Miss. You've gotta let us watch them." The teacher started shaking her head so Charlie threw her the 'I'm-so-lovable-would-you-do-what-I-say?' look.

The teacher faltered. No-one had the strength to stand up to Charlie's irresistible pleading look.

"Maybe at the end of term."

"Sweet." Charlie grinned.

"Jay, what's the answer to question one?"