Partly based on the film "Beast"

Flash-back...

"Happy birthday Adam!" His friends yelled.

Back then, when he has actual school friends that used to come over to the house. Presents exchanged and he's shaking hands with one of his Dad's colleagues who is slightly boring him about his own teenage years. "The big one, five eh When I was your age, we had full time jobs, some rascals have all the luck!" He grins. Adam nods and stares at the cake. It's Strawberry and butter-cream with sprinkles and he can't wait to take a slice.

"Ladies and gentleman, my daughter Sofia has an announcement!" His dad Michael Groff stands there beaming. Adam's mouth goes dry for different reasons. What the hell is she doing? His big sister makes sure there's a crowd around her [as always] before she raises her champagne glass.

"I just wanted to give a toast, to my AMAZING boyfriend Robert! It's our one year anniversary! Love you honey bun!" She coos. High pitched, it makes her brother's ears burn.

"Ahh...Sofia! You are the apple of this family's eye!" Michael says walking over and kissing his daughter on the forehead. He waves at her boyfriend with pride. "Soon, myself and your mother can take you and Robert out for dinner! Let's get you celebrating this anniversary in style hmmm?"

The laughter dies down and the party music abruptly get's turned off.

"Dad you can't leave, it's my birthday" Adam whispers.

"Adam stop playing up. Turn the music back on"

"Sweetheart, do as your father says" Maureen prodded.

"No. This party's for me. Not her!" Adam whines.

"Adam we don't have time for this. Not everything is about you. Now gather whatever friends you have left, and cut that god awful over-priced cake!" Michael chides.

"Piss off!" Adam roars and other disgusted parents start grabbing their children and leaving. Maureen's trying to persuade people to stay. Making excuses that Adam is a teenager, that's he's hormonal and he's sorry. But the pleas fall on deaf ears. Adam starts marching back into the house and panics when his father grabs his arm.

"Congratulations on ruining your own birthday!" He yells.

"Sofia did that!"

"You take that back young man! She can hear us!"

"I fucking want her to! She always does this, I hate this house!"

"Well...this house doesn't like you very much either" Michael snarls as Adam shakes him off. "Get upstairs. Myself and your mother don't want a peep out of you for the rest of today. No dinner, no cake, just water"

"Arse-hole!" Adam calls out.

"One more swear word and it will get a heck of a lot worse! Now get upstairs!" Michael roars. Adam gives him the finger and runs upstairs. As much as he's pissed off at his sister, his birthday could have been saved if his parents had had his back. If they turned the spotlight of attention back on to him. If they'd celebrated his birthday the right way, like they should have. It wouldn't have spun out of control.

Adam plays playstation while he gets bottled water handed to him by his sister sofia. Every hour, on the hour. He can't wait until he's eighteen. He can be considered an adult, have enough job experience to get a "proper" career and get out of this shit-hole.

At Ten PM. His mother comes in with a plate and a slice of his birthday cake. He thanks her but doesn't eat it. He places it on his bed and picks at the icing with his fingers. This is the last birthday party he's going to have, he can feel it in the boiling lava of pity that's exploding in his stomach...