Sweet Sixteen

That Friday I was woken at ten o'clock by Amy bouncing on my bed. "Get up Cassie! Get up!"

I groaned wondering for the umpteenth time why I was the only one in the family the "morning person" gene had bypassed.

"Ok, Ok. I'm getting up." I said as I rolled over on to my other side away from her and snuggled into my pillow.

"No Cassie, get up! You have to get up!"

"Go away, pipsqueak. Schools out. I don't gotta do nothing."

Then came my mother's voice. "Cassandra Angela McQueen! You better start speaking properly! Do what your sister says and get up this instant! And let me tell you! You had better start celebrating your sweet sixteenth before the day is over!"

Now that woke me up. Hmmm…. What day was this? Monday…. Tuesday… Wednesday…. Friday the 18th of August 1961. My sixteenth birthday! I almost forgot!

"Yes Mother. I'm coming!" I yelled, bouncing out of the bed and scooping Amy up in my arms, swinging her around. I had known my birthday was coming up of course but it had just slipped my mind that it was today. I heard her laughing downstairs.

"I thought that would wake you." She laughed.

"Happy Birthday Cassie!!" Amy announced. I laughed. I loved birthdays in my house because everyone made a fuss of birthdays and it was a family day. Now that he was so high up in the company Dad could take the day off work and we would spend the day together. My birthday was the best because it was during Summer Vacation. Andrea's birthday was in May and Amy's was in February.

I pulled my white dressing gown on and snuggled into the comfort of it. "Come on Amy." I said lifting her and resting her light frame on my hip. We went downstairs to be met by the smell of baking which I knew was my birthday cake and probably some buns in the oven. I glanced into the living room as I walked by it taking note of the parcels in it and smiling to myself as I thought of the fun we would have when we gathered to open my presents later on.

In the kitchen the table had been set and the food was laid out. A cooked breakfast had been prepared in honour of my birthday and balloons decorated the kitchen. I smile at my father who is seated at the table looking over the morning paper at us and my mother who is leaning on the sink in her flour covered apron. I set Amy down and go over to hug my Mum.

"Thank you Mom."

"Happy birthday, Cassandra." She says hugging me but trying to stop her apron from dirtying my dressing gown.

I turn around and Andrea throws her arms around me. "Happy sweet sixteen little sister!" I feel Amy wrapping her arms around my waist not wanting to be left out. I laugh and squeeze her with one arm.

"Thanks Daddy," I say giving him a hug as well.

"Happy birthday Cassandra," he smiles.

It strikes me how lucky I am in a kitchen decorated for my birthday, filled with the smell of my birthday cake baking, surrounded by my family. I wonder how much of this Eyeball experiences on his birthday. I wonder if his birthday is celebrated at home or if anyone hugs him and wishes him a happy birthday. I guess I am lucky to be a part of this family. I smile at them as I sit at the table to eat my birthday breakfast. I really am lucky and I'm happy. The only thing that would make this more perfect is if Eyeball were here with us. Or if my family even knew about Eyeball.

We spent the rest of the day together talking and laughing and playing games. We all gathered to open my presents which I loved. A gold chain with a heart locket. On the front the words "Sweet Sixteen" were engraved and inside was a small picture of my family. My mother told me I could fill the other side with a picture of whatever I wanted- maybe of "a young man when you meet a nice one". Clothes, some which I knew I would never wear except when I was in the house or visiting relatives, some which I loved and I knew my mother had probably struggled to bring herself to buy. Records which Andrea had obviously helped pick out. I absolutely adored the records. The Shirelles. Elvis Presley. Connie Francis. I loved music. I lived for it. I loved how you could listen to the words and you could relate exactly to what they were singing about. It makes you feel less alone in the world when you're feeling low.

Andrea, Amy and I helped Mom cook the dinner and at six o'clock that night the phone rang. I ran to answer it. I knew that when the phone rang at exactly six o'clock it was Eyeball ringing from the Blue Point Diner to organise where we were meeting.

Hello," I answered.

"Hey, Cass?" He answered, always on his guard.

"Yeah," I confirmed.

"I'm gonna pick you up tonight, ok?"

"Oh. You can't. What if…?"

"It's ok. I'll pick you up at seven ok? On Sugarbush Rise?"

"Ok then. See you then…."

With that I heard the click at his side of the line hung up. I wondered why he was picking me up today. We normally wouldn't risk being in the car in case someone saw us. He was picking me up a few streets over from where I lived too so it was strange. Anyone could see us. It wasn't like him to take such a risk. I hadn't even told him it was my birthday so that couldn't be why.

I told my Mom and Dad that I was going to stay in Maria Hunter's house and that a few girls were coming around to have a girl's night in honour of my birthday. Maria lived a few streets over and was from a respectable family so they had no problem with my plans. I went upstairs and fixed myself up.

I grabbed my overnight bag so my parents thought I really was staying in Maria's house. I put a different top in it to change into before I came home. I was getting pretty good at sneaking around. I put in a few other necessities such as make up and money too. That was me ready to spend the rest of my birthday with Eyeball. I wondered where we were going or what we were doing that made him decide to pick me up…

A/N: It's sort of a filler chapter but I'm trying to show what Cassie's background is like and what her relationship with Eyeball is like. I don't want to rush through the story because I think it seems too unrealistic that way so bear with me.

I really appreciate the reviews and I hope you like this chapter and the one to come. I've started writing it already but I'm doing so many exams at the minute it hasn't been easy getting it finished or getting around to typing this one up. Thanks.