Chapter 1: Disagreements.

Ever since I was younger, nothing special ever happens on my birthdays. The weirdest things usually happen when I don't want them to, or when I'm not in the mood. I mean, every night before my birthday I always wish that I will have the best, most unforgettable birthday ever. But unfortunately, none of my pre-birthday wishes ever come true. Oh well…

I wonder what my mom will get me this year, or what kind of party she'll throw for me. Last year, I had the whole Hawaiian theme going on. See, every year she throws me a themed birthday party where she invites a lot of people, some of them I don't even know. When my dad died, about ten years ago, mother went through depression. She didn't know what to do. Then she thought about throwing me big birthday parties because that's what he used to do.

Living with a single mom isn't that bad. I guess I just got used to it. People say that I look just like her. We do have the same straight midnight black hair, emerald green eyes, soft freckles, and abnormally pale skin tone. I wouldn't say that I look like, or am, one of those girls who are meant to walk the runway and be on the cover of a magazine of some sort. But you won't see me complaining, I'm perfectly fine with who I am.

"Happy 17th my dear," mother sang as she was cooking breakfast in the kitchen when she heard me walking down the stairs.

"Thanks," I sighed.

"Aw, why so sad?"

"Well nothing… Unusual ever happens on my birthday," I felt like a baby, whining like that to my mom.

"You never know Tayden," my mom says that every year "Maybe you'll get it this year, but don't expect it to pop out right in front of your face."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"If you want your birthday phenomenon or whatever, then you should try and get it instead of wait for it to come to you." That's my mom for you. But I got to admit, that was some pretty good advice. She was right; all I do is sit around and wait for things to happen. I should know by now that it just doesn't work that way.

"Okay mom, there's this guy…" I wasn't sure if I should tell her his name, "But I don't know if I should get into it or anything."

My mom gave me that 'come on you can tell me anything' type of look then said "Honey, you must tell me. Maybe I can help."

I took a deep breath, "His name is Cody McKinley. I don't think you know him, but yeah."

She stopped cooking for a second and just took a good look at me, "That drugged up pretty boy who doesn't give a care about anything else but himself?" I knew she was going to react that way. Cody sure isn't the most pleasant boy in high school, but mother doesn't even know him. She shouldn't judge him like that.

"It seems kind of harsh when you put it that way." I defended.

"No, it's not harsh at all," Oh no, she's going into full out mom-mode, "Why do you think he doesn't have any friends-"

"He does too!"

"Let me finish Tayden," if there's something mom hates, then it's when people interrupt her, "I was saying that he doesn't have and friends who aren't just like him. They're not a good group to be around Tayden, trust me on that."

I don't even want to argue with her today, "Fine mom, you win. I got to go or else I'm going to be late." After taking the last bite of my cereal I put it in the sink and left for school.