"Good morning our cherub!" exclaimed mother and father who sat on my bed.

My eyes fluttered open to the sound and light that occupied my room. I smiled and sat up in my bed, letting the blankets gather around me.

I didn't mind that my mum and dad woke me up by the noise of them shouting, nothing could ruin my mood today… It was my sixteenth birthday!

Mother and father sat on each side of my bed, already dressed ready for their day. I glanced over to the alarm clock already knowing the time.

7:01am

That's odd, why did I wake up late?

I couldn't ponder that thought since mother and father laughed dragging me from my thoughts "You seem surprised!" mum chuckled as she clutched my hand in her two own hands.

I shrugged "I usually don't have people shouting at me first thing in the morning" stealing my hand back to rub my eyes

Mother and father exchanged looks before looking back to me.

"Happy birthday!" exclaimed father avoiding the tense moment before hand which I had shamefully caused

I laughed a little "Oh yeah" feigning I had forgotten "Thanks guys"

I couldn't forget, I was finally sixteen, nearly an adult! I could drive; I could get a job and that meant more freedom! Maybe Ben would even treat me more maturely…

Dad's laughed brought me back to earth "I'm going to get breakfast on" he smiled at us before he left the room

Mother got up and moved over to me; "Wow, my baby girl turns 16 today!" she exclaimed coming over to hug me.

I could feel the warmth of her body against me and I soaked it all up, today was going to be a busy day… I needed all the happiness I could get. I laughed along with her before I noticed something on her aqua dress. It was a stain

"Mum, your dress has a stain" I pointed to it to her rather surprised she let it stay unkempt

She looked at it and frowned "Oh, I wonder where that could have come from" she mumbled to herself "That's bizarre"

I agreed. Mother was actually looking rather sloppy today… Her hair had a few free strands hanging out. Why would my mother let herself look like this? What would people think? Is she ill? Or upset?

Ah, that must be it… she's sad to see her daughter growing up?

I shrugged it off and got out of bed.

"Your father is making you your favourite!" mum exclaimed as she hurried me down stairs opening the curtains as we hurried along "French toast soufflé!" she exclaimed linking arms with me "I can't believe our beautiful cherub is 16 already!" she opened the last curtain

I smiled "Yeah, this year has gone so quick!" I smiled as I tried not to pay attention to the stain on her dress.

The untidiness of her dress is killing me… Why must she get dirty on my birthday? Why won't she go change her dress? What would people think?

We reached the kitchen and mum hurried me to sit down and she sat opposite me. Dad rushed in with a plate of food and sat in front of me.

"Happy birthday cherub" he kissed my cheek "Enjoy your breakfast"

His face was prickly and it scratched at my face. I pushed him away and snickered slightly

"Dad, you got to shave before you leave for work" I rubbed my cheek

Mum chuckled and kissed dad "Oh sweetheart, give him a break"

Why does mum take his side? Wouldn't she want him to be tidy? Is this a new stage of their lives they are going through? Why today?

We began to eat but something tasted odd about this food.

My parents didn't seem to notice as they enjoyed the food thoroughly. The expressions didn't turn negative or disgusted.

I chewed the food slowly trying to make sure I wasn't over thinking things.

But I wasn't, the food was salty. I tried to maintain a typical face I would make while eating… but it was so hard.

My dad was one of the best cooks in existence… So why did this French toast Soufflé taste horrible?

Did he do it on purpose? As some sort of trick? He doesn't do this by accident, no… He was too good to do accidents as simple as this.

Why was I getting so worked up?

I put my fork down not being able to eat anymore "That was great dad" I lied "I should go get ready for school now"

I began to stand up when dad cleared his throat.

They exchanged looks again "Before you do, we have a surprise for you cherub" dad smiled brightly "Let's go outside"

Confused, yet terribly excited I walked with them outside in anticipation for what was too come.

A puppy? A new bike? Oh how I love birthdays.

They opened the front door and the blaring sun entered the house. Anticipation quivered within my body. I was extremely eager to find out what this present was… I couldn't contain my keenness.

I shaded my eyes as I walked outside. The sun was even brighter today, as if it wanted to give everyone a nice tan.

I froze as I saw what sat in our driveway,

There stood an Aston-Martin Vanquish… The car I had only dreamed of since it first came out.

The sun made it look extra shiny. It looked absolutely perfect compared to what had being happening today.

Did they buy this for me? I didn't even know how to drive yet! Most sixteen year olds don't get a car when they know how to drive? This is definitely perfect.

"Is that for me?" I whispered walking towards it slowly, uncertain of what my reaction should be

Dad wrapped an arm around mum "All yours our little cherub. You're marks are perfect at school and you have being very well behaved. You deserved the best"

"Oh my god!" I screamed and jumped up and down

I hugged mum and dad tightly "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Well, you are going to have to test run it later. You have to get ready for school" Dad broke the news to me

I sighed, I didn't care… I had the rest of my life to use this master piece. Today was getting better and better.

I hastily got ready for school. The whole birthday present event had costed me 20 minutes of getting ready for school. Being in a rush wasn't fun.

I stopped for a moment…. Come to think of it, I was never rushed. I always had enough time… I finished putting my shoes on before rushing out the front preparing to apologise to Ben for running late.

He wasn't there. I groaned and rolled my eyes. Why was today just so unstructured compared to other days?

He was ten minutes late already.

I sat down on the stairs of my porch and waited. He better have had a good excuse to be late on my birthday, my girlfriends we probably curious to know why I wasn't there yet?

I put my head and in my hands while I waited. This was not a good start for me.

I looked over to the flowers that my mum loved. They were always mums prized possession. She put a lot of work into them. Each year, she would enter a bunch in the town fair and without any doubt. She would always win… then why were they dying?

Petals were falling off them… and were they drying out?

I picked out a flower and looked at it carefully… why would mum let her flowers die? She usually took great care of them?

I shook off the thought and chucked it back into the garden, surely it must of being the weather…. But then again… the weather was never bad.

I sat back down and looked at my watch. 15 minutes had passed.

Something was not right about today, everything had imperfections. My life was nothing but perfect…

Does this sort of thing happened when people turned sixteen? Do they face what life would be really like after their sixteenth birthday?

Ugh, That sounds pathetic…

A weird feeling washed over me, it was eerie and I wanted it to go away.

Why was today so different and horrible? Why wasn't my life great as it has always being?!

I breathed all the air I could out

I'm probably over thinking things, its only morning still. Things could improve before the end of the day… Just because I had a bad morning my whole life I going to be bad… I just have to be positive.

I breathed in as much air as I could.

I hope this makes a funny story someday.

I looked back at my watch then to the road. Had something bad happened to Ben?

Something must have happened. Ben's never late… he wouldn't leave me alone like this.

I got out my phone and rang him "Ben? Ben are you okay?"

"Sorry babe, traffic" he grunted into the phone

I smiled; he must have being covering up something "Oh, that's okay. See you soon"

Well, my day could only get better from here.

His car showed up 5 minutes later

I hopped in quickly and excited

"Happy birthday babe" Ben kissed me gently on my cheek

I blushed "Thankyou"

We drove to school in a rush

"Hopefully I've got your luck on my side today Ivanna… We're going to need it to get to school on time"

I laughed a little as we approached a set of lights.

They went orange. Ben slowed down to a stop at the red lights.

Cold washed through me, I've never had to sit through a red light before. And of all damn days for this to be my first time…

"You okay babe?"

I nodded faintly "Uh yeah, fine"

Ben nodded as he raced off once the light went green.

I don't get it, why is today not perfect? Why is everything different?

I leaned back into my seat and closed my eyes, hoping this situation would make more sense.

I'm probably overthinking things. It's my birthday! I shouldn't be so edgy.

It's probably just one of those days everyone always talks about… days full of bad luck?

My heart was beating a little faster. I just wanted things to start to go well.

We reached the school with ten minutes to spare

Things are finally looking better for me today.

"What?" Ben grumbled as we reached our usual car spot and there was a car already parked in their "The losers probably thought I wasn't coming in today" he groaned "Sorry babe, I know you wanted to talk with your friends before school" he apologised "It's not going to be easy to find parking now"

I shrugged "That's okay" I lied

Something's not right…

We walked into school together. I smiled and thanked those who said happy birthday.

Finally looking better

We kept walking when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. An old friend of Bens were talking to themselves. I watched him for a few moments. He was talking, laughing and smiling towards air.

"Ben, look at that" I snickered pointing to the guy

Ben looked at me weirdly "How is that funny?" he asked "There really good friends"

I looked at him weirdly before looking back to the conversation the man was having by himself. Students were walking around him not noticing.

Why wouldn't people think that's weird? Is he alright? He's never being bizarre like this before…

I must be over excited? Well done Ivanna, you've gone mad.

I shook my head trying to not over think everything… Why today? My birthday?

I got to math class and sat with Mary whom was more quieter than usual today

"Mary?" I asked "Does anything seem different to you today?"

She shook her head and looked at the board "Nope, why? Is everything supposed to change when we're sixteen?" she teased

"No" I looked at the board too "Everything feels off today"

She shrugged "Everyone has those days"

I shook my head again "Not me"

She chuckled "Of course not, because your perfect" she laughed sarcastically hitting my shoulder

I looked down at my book and back up to the board "I have a weird feeling about today" I whispered back to her

"Oh relax Ivanna!" she whispered loudly "It happens!"

She's right, be positive about this experience Ivanna… this would be a good learning experience for you was all I could muster up to put myself in a better mood.

"Miss Ivanna!" exclaimed Mr Martin from the front of the room "Yet again you would like to answer the question?"

I sighed and looked towards the equation "The answer is 45 because-"

"Not quite Ivanna" he proclaimed "Next time, no talking in my class" he was met by a few chuckles of students.

I looked at my book, not knowing what to feel. Did he make a mistake? I was not wrong; he must have forgotten what the real answer was

I put my hand back up, my hand shaking a little with fear and disappointment.

I was always right, I had never being wrong in my life.

Mr Martin looked at me "What's wrong Ivanna?"

"You were wrong, I must have being right?!" I exclaimed, my voice shaking

Mr Martin laughed "I'm sorry Ivanna, I am right. Use your calculator to work out the answer"

I did, with fingers that didn't want to move

He was right.

I was wrong

I had the wrong, imperfect answer.

What is happening to me?