Monday morning was always a disappointing day for Cassandra Costello. Monday mornings meant another week of getting up early and going to school. Even though today was her 11th birthday, it was still a rubbish day in her mind. From the second she opened her eyes, she had already started counting down the days until the weekend. At school, she was a bit of a loner. She joined the year before. She was the new girl and from day one they left her alone, there was something different about her that no one could quite put their fingers on.

Cassandra got out of bed slowly, turned to face her calendar and sighed. July 15th, her birthday. Eight days until school finished for the summer. Freedom!

"Cassie, dear, I hope you're out of bed! Your bus is in 30 minutes." Christine, her mother called up to her. Slowly, she began to get ready. Once dressed in her uniform she made her way downstairs, where a bowl of cheerio's was waiting for her.

"Why so glum, chum? Shouldn't you be happy and bouncing off the wall with excitement?" Her dad, Sam, called from the other side of the kitchen table.

"It's Monday." Came her reply.

"Now, now. Not long left until you have the whole summer off. Then you will be complaining of boredom and begging to start Secondary School!" Cassandra sighed again, before picking up her spoon.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart." Her mum's caring voice always made her smile. "Tonight we will take you out for a meal, where ever you would like to go!"

That's something to look forward too, I guess. She thought to herself.

3 o'clock took forever to come and by the time it did Cassandra was exhausted. Getting on the bus, she was relieved there were empty seats. She chose a window seat, pressing her forehead against the cool window and thought about her day. Nothing of any importance happened and that is what bugged her. Every day it was the same mundane, typical, average day. Nothing exciting ever happened to her. As she was brooding, an owl flew past the window, close enough to clip it with its wing, making her jump.

There you go, Cassandra she thought to herself, there is your excitement. She smiled awkwardly, her cheeks reddening, hoping no one saw her jump. It didn't occur to her that she should have wondered about the owl in broad daylight, far from the country side where they most frequented, instead of her vanity.

Once off the bus, she started the short walk to her house, singing as she went. The owl was the last thing on her mind as she thought about where she wanted to go tonight for her birthday meal. Her mouth started watering at the thought of the giant ice creams at the beef eater, and she knew she had made up her mind. She walked up her drive and knocked on the door to be let in. She had once again forgotten her keys. Her dad answered the door with a big grin on his face, and his arms opened wide.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU."

"Dad… Don't. Please."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU."

"Dad….."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR AND WONDERFUL CASSIE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU."

Her face was a beautiful shade of magenta by the time her dad had stopped singing. Their neighbours (Jackie, Mark and their son Ashley) were just getting out of their car, and had stopped to watch the spectacle.

"Oh Cassandra, dear! Is today your birthday? I had no idea!" Jackie exclaimed brightly, once her dad had finished.

"Yes indeed, Jacks. This young lady is Eleven today. Eleven! Where is the time going?" Her dad responded. "We are going out for a meal tonight, at her ladyship's choice, if you care to join us?"

"We couldn't! Could we?" Mark answered, with a warm smile.

They all turned to Cassandra, expectantly.

"I don't see why not." She smiled herself, not being able to help herself. She always had a bit of a soft spot for Ashley. He was always so nice to her and had such a heart-fluttering smile.

At five-to-seven Cassandra's mum knocked on the door frame lightly, before coming in.

"Oh darling, you look simply splendid. I have something to make your outfit even more perfect." She produced a small black box wrapped in a silver ribbon. Cassandra took the box from her mother's hands, smiling to the edges of her face.

"But mum, you said I couldn't have my presents until the meal!"

"I thought I would make an exception." She responded, warmly.

Her fingers fumbled slightly undoing the ribbon, which she then placed on her bed. A gasp escaped her lips as she opened the box. Inside was a beautiful pendant necklace. It was a white gold chain with a blood-red ruby encased in detailed cage of white gold.

"Mum… I don't know what to say."

"Come here; let me put it on you."

She turned around and moved her long blonde curls out of the way. Once it was on, she walked to her mirror to admire it. The red went perfectly with her pale complexion.

"Thank you ever so much. I adore it."

She glanced in the mirror back at her mum, who was smiling at her ever so oddly with a ghost of a tear in her eye. When she looked again the smile was gone.

"Come on now." Her mum cleared her throat. "Let's go get some food!"

They were on their way to the beef eater, with their neighbours following in the car behind. Cassandra couldn't stop playing with her necklace. The feel of it between her fingers was comforting; it made her feel like everything was as it should be. She didn't notice her mum watching her with worry in her eyes, nor her dad gently squeezing her mums hand in reassurance.

"I think we'll get two chocolate fudge brownie sundaes to share, please." Cassandra's dad said to the waiter when he came back for their desert orders. Cassandra grinned, excitedly before catching Ash's eye. A small pink blush crept onto her cheeks as she changed it to what she thought looked like a demure smile.

"Shall we dish out the presents then?" Her dad asked once the waiter had departed. Her 'demure' smile transformed into a goofy grin again as a bag of presents appeared in front of her.

Her neighbours had bought her a new school bag. It was khaki green rucksack style bag with darker green swirls and patterns all over it. Inside where smaller wrapped presents, her favourite sweets (lemon sherbets), some earrings, bath things and a pink lip gloss.

From her parents she received a new emerald green dress. The top was made of lace, with ¾ length sleeves, and underneath a satin strappy dress, connected together. It was the dress she had been longing for ever since she set eyes on it. She also received a cuddly bear, with cream and brown patches. When you pressed its stomach it sang 'we love you!' in her parents voices. It had become a sort of tradition, every birthday she could ever remember her parents got her a different bear with the same recorded message. Desert arrived as she finished opening the last of her presents (a mermaid figurine) and they all grabbed a spoon and started to tuck in.

Cassandra went to bed that night very content. The evening had been wonderful. She had received wonderful gifts (more were waiting at home from relatives) and she had spent it with those she held most dear. Little did she know that her world was about to completely change.