Author's Note: Wow these auditions are probably the longest ones you have ever been part of, and I'm super sorry about that. Before I talk about what you want to hear this is just as important as the auditions. I got my flour child in child development, and I have two boy names picked out and feel free to give your opinion okay Nathaniel James (Nate for short) and the other one is Zuko (I just happen to be in love with the avatar right now!) oh wait here is one more Ryan Jacob…tell me what you think…and I know I said two but now its three…anyways lets go back on topic. So do me a favor read the story before you go look at who is in the final 5. So go read and review.

Disclaimer: I OWN NOT…YOU SUE NOT

Chapter 14: Happy Birthday

I woke suddenly on the morning of my birthday with a throbbing head ache actually it was the same headache that had been bothering me for two weeks. I slid from the cover of my blankets and laid my legs over the edge of my bed, the tip of my toes barely touching the plush of the rug, spread beneath my bed. Hunched over I slowly massaged my temples, hoping to oppress the headache.

I could not recall the reason that woke me suddenly, but I was sure it had to do with him.

I had spent the past two weeks, hurt and disoriented on the inside, but on the outside I tried to act as if part of me wasn't dead on the inside.

And it worked for the most part, well for one the people at school still had yet to hear of the break-up. But I knew Caitlin saw right through it being the friend that she was she had not bothered to ask about it again since.

And every day that I pretended like nothing was wrong, the headache would get worse, but I was running from what happened. To scared to return to that girl, the one that cried constantly. Well, for now denial was working for me.

My alarm clock sounded rather obnoxiously pulling me away from my thoughts. I gave it a generous smack, immediately silencing the rampant noise, which I might add did not help my excruciating headache one bit. When I withdrew my hand back to the side of my body I noticed a neatly placed letter balancing propped against my alarm clock. But it swiftly fell when my alarm clock had be smacked, like it had fallen off the balance beam it had been resting on, or like me falling off the darn fence of mine.

I did not recognize the scrawl on the letter that bared my name, but what struck me the most was how it even got there.

There was a single green note card inside and a tiny round thing stuck in the corner, but I would pursue what that mysterious object was later. After all opening the card first was always considered good manners in this household.

Happy Birthday!

That was when it just dawned on me; today was me 16th birthday, and all hollow's eve. I always hated having my birthday on Halloween. It always took the thunder away from my special day. Everyone was more concerned about what costume they were wearing than that it was my birthday. No one really wanted to celebrate and partake in eating free cake with me instead they would rather knock on strangers doors and accept their candy. Don't get me wrong, I love Halloween just as much as those suckers do but I curse myself for deciding to depart from my mother's uterus on this day.

The date of the year wasn't the only thing this card had to inform me about though:

I think you lost this

Okay…I don't remember losing anything; times like this made me wish I had a remembrall like in Harry Potter. Nonetheless I still slid my hand in the envelope to pull out that ring. I mean it was the ring, the one I tucked away into his hand before I ran into the pole and fell off the fence. The ring that I had only had in my possession for a mere 12 hours, and now it was back, but how I mean he it's not like he could teleport here and then back to L.A. in a short 2 minute process right?

I rolled it in my fingers for awhile, pondering the thought of how it got here, when it was supposed to be all the way out there. It slid perfectly back onto my hand and I had to admit, having it sit on my finger did make me feel somewhat whole again.

I lolled about in my room for quite some time, at least until I smelled chocolate chip pancakes then I went sailing down those stairs like there was no tomorrow.

The second I arrived in the kitchen, my face turned red and I averted my eyes. Like always, my parents patiently waited for me to stride into the kitchen so they could be the first to sing a public domain song that we all know.

"Happy Birthdayyyy to YOUUUU!" My father's voice overpowered my mom's but I didn't really matter who was louder because they always managed to be way of tone. Where I got my singing voice from I might never know.

Even though everyone in a 50 mile radius would have to suffer from their shrill rendition of Happy Birthday, I still loved my quirky out of tune parents.

They grabbed my arms and enveloped me into a loving group hug. A gentle smile ran across my face as I reminisced about Jason's group hugs. The smile on my face was a true smile, not the fake one I had been posing with for the past weeks.

My mom kept an arm around me "My baby is already 16" She rubbed her hand softly against my forearm. "You're growing up so fast."

"Happy birthday, sweetheart" My dad kissed me lightly on the forehead I smiled.

And then Caitlin bounded in through the front door, with a bouquet of balloons and twirling a crown on a single finger.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITCHIE" She screamed at the top of her lungs, as she tackled me into a loving hug. She then promptly shoved the tiara on my head, and grinned from cheek to cheek.

"You look like a princess."

"Thanks Caitlin." I reached up to touch the tiara that sat on my head.

"It lights up too." She said proudly "I picked it out all by myself."

"I love it Caitlin."

I stalked over to the stairs, so I could finally get ready for school. In all the excitement, I had almost let is escape my mind that I had school today. I pushed open my door, and walked in leaving my hand on the door long enough so I could swing it shut behind me. I pulled on a pair of loose fitting jeans and a gray cardigan, with a simple black tank underneath.

I sat in front of my mirror, a thing I avoided doing recently. I hated my reflection, the mirror always managed to pull that depressed girl to the surface. I ran my hand lightly against my cheek, feeling cold metal against. I quickly pulled my hand away and starred at the ring that surrounded my right ring finger, I discovered a black ribbon in my jewelry box, and slowly pulled the ring from my finger and let it slide onto the ribbon. I tied the ribbon around my neck and without a second glance into the mirror I wandered out the door.

"Ready to go" I asked Caitlin from the living room.

I head a suppressed mumbling come from the kitchen. This could only mean one thing… Caitlin found the chocolate chip pancakes. She always stuffed her face when my mom had concocted something involving chocolate. Caitlin's consumption of chocolate has taught me one thing, and that would be her weakness.

I walked into the kitchen, confirming the meal that was at hand. I swiftly grabbed a pancake from the platter they were being piled up on and wrapped it in a napkin to go.

"Caitlin," I whined "Let's go." I stopped my foot like a tiny infant child.

"Fine," She followed me out the kitchen "Thanks for breakfast Connie."

"Anytime Caitlin" Flowed my mother's voice from inside the kitchen.

The mid-day fall air hit me with its gentle breeze the outside was a perfect remedy for what almost seemed like an incurable headache. The smell of autumn enticed me, causing my body to relax, and well my remedy didn't work completely, but it made the headache seem insignificant at the moment.

Caitlin, being Caitlin, just had to tear me away from my soothing moment brought on by the outside world.

"Now before I forget." She tied the bouquet of balloons to my bag. "Now no one will doubt that today is your special day."

"Yeah because the flashy crown reading birthday princess wasn't a dead giveaway." I replied.

She ignored me and continued her explanation of the balloons. "Now Mitchie, there are 16 of them, and you better not pop one, because I'll know right away." She warned me.

"Will the world end if it pops?"

"Wow someone feels sarcastic today," She stopped walking in front of me and poked me on the shoulder. "Don't even think of popping one, or else." She slowly dragged her finger across her throat.

We entered the school, of course my millions of balloons had to go and get tangled in the doorway.

Fail.

I couldn't even walk through a door without getting all twisted up in it. Over course Caitlin was no help laughing her head off like a hyena. After all, this was the type of thing that could only happen to me.

"If my arm wasn't stuck right now I would slap you." I shot over at her.

"Oh look at the time I think I'm going to be late." She checked her imaginary watched and ran down the hallway cackling.

"Caitlin!" I shouted "You don't even own a watch."

I allowed a sigh to escape slowly from my mouth. I looked around the hallway which just happened to be deserted, at least its less embarrassing now, with no one around. Of course I spoke to soon, like always.

"Need some help?" I soft voice emerged from behind me. I craned my neck around to see who it was. I recognized him from somewhere, he was a head taller than me, and had bronze hair, with amber eyes. His face was soft but not in the boyish type of way. He was giving me this awkward stare, and then I realized I was gaping mindlessly at him. I could have been drooling and I wouldn't have noticed, after all he was rather cute.

"That would be great thanks." I said with a gentle smile.

His soft hands grazed my skin as he began releasing me from my web of ribbon. Talk about being a damsel in distress.

"So do you have a name" He asked, making a very obvious attempt at small talk.

"I'm Mitchie Torres."

"Well Mitchie Torres," His amber eyes meeting mine "I think you are free."

"Thanks, I owe you one."

"I'll hold you to that." A crooked smile ran across his face flashing a pair of pearly whites. "I should get going."

"Wait," I called after him "I didn't catch you name."

"Ryan," He said and continued down the hall, but then briefly paused and spun around "Happy Birthday!"

Authors Note: Wow Chapter 14 already, well I tried to make this chapter longer than usual because I had some time on my hands and I decided to put a lot of time into it. What do you think of Ryan…I originally planned on Shane returning this chapter, but I decided to add Ryan instead? I know Mitchie is out of character, but I don't enjoy writing her all depressed on the outside too, it gets a little redundant after a while, and I have I knew idea for a story in my head so I've been working on that in my spare time, so Mitchie might have accidentally been given some characteristic from the other character in the story I'm working on. Okay before I talk about what you all want to hear. I just want to make it known that there were so many auditions to pick from but in the end I only can pick one…but for right now I have it narrowed to 5 people. Whose names will be at announced when I've decided I'm finished rambling. Okay so even please review, I'm not asking for some amount of reviews, I will not keep the next chapter hostage, but reviews are my favorite part of this and I love reading you input. Thanks everyone who auditioned, honestly every single one of them had a characteristic that would make them perfect for Jason, but I know in the end there will only be one, so I'm sorry if you weren't picked, but there will still be one more audition in the future for coughShane'scoughexgirlfriendcoughcough.

-the storm

xXbluecrystaldropletXx

Smagoo

Kandib293

Gothic Sorceress Rikku 15

Kiayame-san.

I had to add one more…I was about to post and I saw it… so…Matsuda-Chan

*Final 6: I have one last task for you. I need to be able to know why your character would be perfect for Jason. Tell me anything you want as too why you all are meant to be. Be Creative, you can make up how you guys met, you can write me a speech on why you are perfect together, you can draw a picture…I don't know how that one would work…so forget that one. I just ask that you have them in as soon as possible, because I would love to announce the winner, by the time I post the next chapter. Good Luck, PM with any questions, if it's really important as for my AIM screen name I might just give it to you.