"Park... ah," I moaned as he bit my earlobe softly. 

He returned his lips to mine and I blushed beneath his body. Park leaned back and winked at me, "Moaning at me, Dove?"

"No," I pouted, "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry," he pointed out and returned to leaving kisses along my jawline. 

I, reluctantly, moaned again as he trailed down further to suck gently on a sweet spot in my neck.

"Park, seriously," I gasped, "You're going to give me a hickey and I'll have to explain it to my teacher... and Emily."

Park leant back, "But... it marks you as mine."

Happy birthd-

I pushed him lightly away from me, "I know. But a teacher doesn't necessarily need to know that..." 

Park frowned, "But, Do~ve..."

I leant forward and kissed his mouth sucking lightly on his bottom lip before pulling back, "I love you."

He sighed and ruffled my hair, "And I love you."

Happy birthday to-

"Park," I whispered, my real-self breaking through my dream-self, "I miss you like crazy..."

His eyes suddenly focused and I knew he was there, "I miss you too, Dove... Happy birthday?"

"Thanks," I murmured, kissing his cheek. 

***

"Happy birthday dear, Nat," the girls chorused, finally jarring me awake, "Happy birthday to you!"

"Hip-hip!" Emily shouted.

"Hooray!" they chorused. 

"Hip-hip!"

"Hooray."

Emily pounced on me in a hug, "Happy birthday, best friend!"

"Thanks, best friend," I hugged her tightly back, "Thanks everyone."

Emily let me go, "Present time! August 21st, a.k.a. the start of 'The Birthday Period' has officially begun!"

I smiled brightly at her, "Long live the birthday period!"

Everyone repeated after me and soon presents were being piled at my feet from a dozen or so girls in my year. 

Emily begged, "Please open mine first!"

"Okay," I chuckled and ripped open the wrapping paper.

I laughed lightly, "Aw, this is so cute!"

It was a photo frame of Emily and myself our seventh-grade year when we both had chubby cheeks and limp hair in oversized uniforms. I placed it on my bedside table and hugged her again, "Thank you, Em..."

"No problem, Talie," she smiled. 

Rose placed a large, pretty box in my lap, "It's from me and Whitney."

I smiled at the two of them before taking the box lid off. I let out a giggle at the present inside - another box. I took the lid off that one to reveal, yet another box and then an actual present in gift paper. I ripped up the gift paper and pulled out a new wallet. 

I grinned, "I've been eyeing this off for ages, how did you know?"

Whitney winked, "A little birdy by the name of Em told us."

I grinned at them again, "Well, it's amazing!"

I went through a few gag presents like a box of 'I Spy' and a lacy G-string but there were some cool presents in there too, such as a new phone case, gift vouchers and a butterbeer recipe - apparently Beth knows someone who works at Universal Studios, Harry Potter World. 

Beth made me swear I wouldn't show anyone the recipe, unfortunately. 

***

"Happy birthday to you!"

A downfall of being the S.B.P. was that everyone at school automatically has to be your friend. That's not the bad part, of course. The bad part is that means the entire school will sing you happy birthday at breakfast.

The good part was that I didn't get any homework, extra study and I got more pancakes on my plate. This, though, means that when all your friends are doing their homework on the afternoon of your birthday, you have nothing to do. 

Shawn!

It hit me quite quickly. Of course, if it's my birthday then it's Shawn's too.

I picked up the phone to FaceTime him before remembering he's probably got his phone turned off whilst doing his own homework. Instead, I Skyped him. 

We'd given each other gag names when we first got Skype when we were eleven. Therefore, his name is PoodleLuva69 and mine is IHeartBoys69. Under Twin Law, we aren't allowed to change them. 

The Skype buzzer rang for a few moments before it came up with the word 'connecting...' on the screen. A few more moments later, it connected. 

But it wasn't Shawn on the other end. 

"Natalie..." Park whispered with wide eyes.

"Christian," I murmured back, watching him like he'd soon vanished. 

All too soon, that aching feeling came back where I longed to be with him. I smiled gently, "How are you?"

"Fine," he nodded minutely, "Uh... your Skype name is IHeartBoys69?"

"Long story," I giggled beneath my breath, "Um... we probably shouldn't...?"

"You're right," he said immediately, turning his face into an unreadable mask of emotions, "I'll get Shawn for you."

He walked away too soon. 

My chest pounded with every step he took towards the door and then the feeling went away immediately as soon as he was out of my sight in his hallway. I need him. Just push him out of my mind, I ordered myself.

Shawn appeared with a frown on his face, "You communicated to Christian. Naughty girl."

"Happy birthday to you, too," I said with a thin smile.

"You know," he smirked, "The last time we actually saw each other in person for our birthday was when we were fourteen."

"At the FSWC Sydney... I know," I said glumly, "I miss you, Shawn."

"Missin' you too, sis. Did Max visit you?"

"I saw him at the mall, yesterday, actually," I informed him, "He gave me concert tickets to Twenty One Pilots."

"No way!" he let out a laugh, "Lucky! He gave me five vinyls."

"Cool," I whispered, "Which bands?"

"I got Green Day, Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, The Beach Boys and..." he began ruffling through something on his desk, "Oh! The Killers."

"Nice, Shawny," I chuckled, "He really went all out, didn't he?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "When's Max's birthday? We need to get him something... and James and Brooke too."

"No idea," I admitted, "I'll ring Mum later and ask."

Shawn nodded absentmindedly, "Yeah okay."

"You okay, Shawn? You seem zoned out..."

"Oh, nothing," he smirked, "but what's that picture behind you?"

I held it up, "Me and Emily back when we were thirteen."

Shawn chuckled and a blinding flash caught my eye. I stared at him through the computer, "Did you just take a photo of Emily?!"

"Maybe," he admitted, "I got to go. See you, sis. Happy birthday."

"You too," I grinned and turned off my computer. 

What do I do now?

***

"Natalie," the eerie voice whispered through the hall. 

"Ch-christian?"

There was no dream-me this time. It was me and I was terrified. 

"Natalie," the ghostly voice chuckled, "You think I'm your little boyfriend? You should know better than that..."

"Wh-who are you?"

"Come on, sweetie," the voice sweetened, "You're saying you don't remember me?"

"C-come out... whereev-v-ver you are..." I stuttered.

"Aw, still so petty," the voice chuckled, "But why not come out?"

A light appeared at the end of the dark hall and I squinted, waiting until my eyes focused. When I opened my eyes, I gasped loudly, "James?!"

The boy with shocking jet black hair and pale skin grinned brightly at me, "Hey babe. Miss me?"

"J-j-james..." I whispered, staring at him further.

He leant against a row of lockers, "I'll see you, soon. I hope you still remember the fun times we had."

Before you fucked me and left me, I thought bitterly.

"Besides," he cocked a smirk, "You've loved me since we were, what, thirteen?"

"Shut up," I whispered, closing my eyes, "You left... don't come back, please..."

James took a daring step forward, "But you want me, don't you?"

"No!" I shouted. Christian. Christian. Christian. "I'm in love with someone else."

"Then why ain't he here?" James grinned again, "This is supposed to be his time to shine right? When you do god-knows-what?"

"How would you...?" I trailed off. This is just a dream, Nat. Calm down. He's a stupid figment of your imagination. 

"I still love you, ya know," James winked edgingly.

"No, you don't!" I pointed an accusing finger at him, "You fucking stole my fucking virginity and I haven't heard a fucking word from you bastard since."

"That's a lot of fucking," James raised an eyebrow, "You haven't been doing it with someone else, have you?"

"No!" I shouted, "No one even knows!"

"Aw, are you embarrassed that I ditched you?" he cooed, "That's so adorable."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" I covered my ears and screamed as hard as I could, "Christian, where are you?! Help!"

"He's not coming, princess," James tucked some hair behind my ear, "It's you and me now."

***

"Never!" I shouted, sitting up in a cold sweat. 

I was breathing heavily as I wiped my forehead. It was just a dream. He was most definitely not here. And he wouldn't dare come back these holidays. 

In blurry tears, I looked up to the calendar on the wall. Only five more weeks before I jet off to the Gold Coast with Emily, like always. 

The place where I met and fell in love with James when I was thirteen years' old. And last year, I'd been stupid enough to give him my virginity and he left for Cairns the next morning before saying goodbye. 

I hadn't heard a word from him since and I hadn't told anyone except Em, who sort of found out.

My door cracked open and Opal popped her head in, "Did you say something?"

I lied and shook my head, "No. Morning, by the way."

She smiled gently, seeing straight through my lie, "I'm here to talk if you need it. Morning, to you too."

I nodded minutely and she closed the door again, leaving me to cry out my thoughts. 

***

Song: Gives You Hell - The All-American Rejects

Check out my new book Stereotyping Rock, please! James... or Christian? Short chapter but worth it :)

#trollinggggggg

xx Sharky.