I left the store and bought a couple of things for my birthday party. Blue balloons, blue streamers, lots and lots of blue things. I pretty much like blue. My home is a few blocks away from Wal-Mart. I begin to walk home and then check the time on my watch.

“It is now nine twenty! Oh! Shoot! I’m late!” I shout.

I am late for my birthday party. I run across two stop signs. I forget to look both ways. But every street light is red. I run as fast as I can to get to my house. I finally made it. The party has already started without me. I walk up to my front door and enter the living room. A lot of teenagers are in my house. There are jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, popular kids, and even the dragon mascot at my party. I think it is pretty cool for a Dragon mascot to be at my party. I put my decoration stuff on the floor near the front door. I look for Megan in the crowd. The nerds and the drama club kids grab my decorations and start setting them up.

“Umm, thanks,” I say.

One of the nerds nods his head to respond to my thanks. I tap on one of the jocks shirts to get his attention. The jock turns back to me.

“Do you know where Megan is?” I ask.

“Sure. She just went to the front door.” the jock points. “Oh, and happy B-day Dan,” says the jock.

I gently shake my head. “It’s Daniel,” I correct.

“Right, sorry Daniel,” the jock apologizes.

I nod my head and look away from the jock. My eyes roll. People are dancing and listening to hip-hop music. There are some people that I do not know at my Birthday Party. One boy looks like he is going to vomit as he runs toward me. He grabs my right arm and pants.

“Do you know where the bathroom is?” the boy asks.

I point to the restroom by the kitchen.

“Thanks, m-man, and don’t try the shrimp,” says the nauseous boy.

The boy runs to the bathroom and then trips. I walk to the nauseous boy to help him with his legs. I help him to the bathroom. The boy runs in and closes the door. I hear a hurling noise inside the bathroom. I roll my eyes and chuckle.

“Shrimp?” I ask with a whisper.

Walk to the front door where Megan is inviting the people inside my home. Paul and Spencer are doing the same thing. Paul has a guest list with a black pen. Paul wears a white jacket and blue jeans. Spencer wears a red long sleeve shirt and blue jeans too.

“Welcome, Joe Wiley. Enjoy the party,” says Paul to a kid.

I walk to Megan, Paul, and Spencer. I tap Paul’s right shoulder. Paul turns to me and shakes my right hand.

“Happy birthday Daniel,” says Paul.

“Thanks. Anyway, did you and Spencer invite these people without talking to me?” I ask.

Spencer points at Megan.

“It was her idea,” says Spencer.

Megan glares at Spencer. “Thanks,” she says angrily but quietly.

Megan turns to me.

“While you were asleep, I managed to invite a few people,” she says.

I turn to the people at my party and then back to Megan. “This is like the whole school!” I snap.

“Not entirely the whole school,” says Megan.

I sigh and rub the back of my head.

“Just tell me that this place will be cleaned up before my parents get home,” I say.

“Don’t worry. It was all part of the deal. If people come then they have to help clean up,” says Megan.

“And you trust them?” I ask.

“Don’t worry. Have fun. They’re serving cake in the kitchen. We haven’t opened your present yet and cut the cake yet. Besides the principal is here to make sure no one does anything stupid,” answers Megan.

I nod and walk to the kitchen.

Billy walks to the door pushing people out of his way. I notice Billy about to enter my home. Part of me wants to tell him to go away or I will call the police, but my true feelings tell me that I should invite him in. Besides, he has no friends and I don’t think he’s ever been invited to a party before. So I grab a piece of my vanilla cake and walk to the front door. Spencer sees Billy and starts to panic a bit.

“Oh man, it's Billy,” says Spencer.

Megan quietly groans, and tilts her head to Paul with her eyes widening.

“I’ll stall him,” says Paul.

Paul runs to Billy and stands in front of him.

“Hey, Billy you don’t want to go to this party. It is not fun at all. Can I get you something?” asks Paul.

Billy growls a bit at Paul. Paul gulps in fear.

“Ok, I’ll get out of your way,” shakes Paul.

Paul runs past Megan and Spencer.

“I tried. He’s all yours man,” says Paul to Megan.

Paul runs into the crowd. Megan rolls her eyes at Paul.

“I’m a girl,” corrects Megan.

Billy is at the front door. Megan stands in front of Billy.

“Hold it mister-I’m-so-big-and-buff. Your name is not on the list!” shouts Megan.

I sigh and walk to Billy and Megan. I grab the pen and write Billy Thornton’s name on the list. Billy looks like he appreciates me putting his name on the list.

“Thanks, man,” says Billy.

“You want some cake?” I ask Billy as I pass a plate of cake.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Billy grabs the cake plate from me and starts hogging it like a pig. Megan lowers her head and shakes it.

“Once a pig, always a pig!” shouts Megan at Billy.

Billy just ignores Megan and walks away from her. Megan does not look very happy for me writing Billy’s name on the list.

“I was trying to keep him out of the party,” says Megan.

“I just felt like I needed to invite him. It’s the kind of person I am. At least that’s what you said on the phone,” I say.

“I meant inviting Paul and Spencer. Not some bully,” says Megan.

“But he’s not some bully and even if he is, he might have a bad life or something,” I say.

Megan just stares at me with her arms folded and a face that seems very serious.

“Look, my parents come home at ten. And it is now…” I look at my watch.

“Ten o one!” I panic.

Megan seems very calm. “Calm down. I mean you’re parents aren’t even home yet,” says Megan.

My cell phone rings and I answer it.

“Hello. Oh, mom! Are you on your way? No? You’ll come home at twelve? Ok, I won’t stay up too late, goodbye and good night,” I say.

I put my cell phone in my pants pocket and sigh. I feel a bit depressed.

“Megan. My parents won't be home until twelve,” I say.

“And isn’t that a cool thing?” asks Megan.

I look away from Megan. “I’m just not in the mood of having a party right now. I had a very weird day, and I still have that feeling. I do not know if it’s terrible or good,” I say.

Megan puts her list down on the phone table.

“I know something that will get your mind off what you are feeling. Follow me,” says Megan.

I follow Megan into the middle of the living room.

“Stay here,” says Megan.

I stand in the middle of the dancing teenagers and the teachers too. Megan stands on a chair.

“Hey, people! People!” shouts Megan.

Everyone stops dancing and turns to Megan. The music stops. Megan clears her throat.

“Um, this party is here for one reason and one reason only.” Megan points at me.

“Daniel Mark Tony. I hope that he will be a good man. And that he will be ready for anything,” says Megan.

She looks at me with a smile. I do a weak smile back at her. Megan starts singing the birthday song.

“Happy birthday to you…come on you all know it!” shouts Megan to all of the teenagers and the teachers too.

Everyone starts singing.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Daniel Mark Tony,” everyone is singing for me.

I feel embarrassed and yet happy about the singing until Billy interrupts by clapping his hands.

“Happy birthday tooooo youuuuuu,” says Billy.

Megan rolls her eyes and grunts in anger.

The principal moans and runs to the bathroom. “I ate some bad shrimp!” the principal shouts.

I shake my head and quietly groan. Billy stands right in front of me. His face looks very serious and a bit angry.

“Well isn’t this nice, the birthday boy? Thank you for inviting me to your B-day party you freak,” says Billy.

Megan stands in front of Billy.

“Leave now!” shouts Megan.

I push Megan out of the way and into the crowd.

“I can handle this! Stop being such a guardian or something!” I shout at Megan.

I turn to face Billy. Billy punches my face. I fall to the ground. Megan growls and jumps onto Billy’s back. She starts hitting him and choking him.

“You big dumb brat! Get out! Get out now!” she shouts.

I grunt as I slowly get back up on my feet. Paul and Spencer both grab Megan to stop her from choking Billy. Megan struggles. I shake my head and turn to Megan.

“Megan, stop!” I shout.

Megan’s arms slip off of Paul and Spencer’s hands.

“Billy, get out now!” shouts Megan.

Billy pants for breath.

“It’s not your decision. It’s the birthday boy’s decision,” says Billy.

I turn to Billy and do a cunning smile.

“You hit me for the first time, congratulations,” I whisper.

“Thank you. Now you want me to leave?” asks Billy.

I stand up to face Billy.

“Lazy bum!” I mock.

Billy growls and swings his right fist at my face. I dodge the fist and punch Billy in the face. I try to hit Billy again with my left fist but Billy pushes it away. He hits me in the stomach. I fall to the ground, weak, tired and woozy. Megan looks like she wants to attack Billy. But I shake my head to stop her. Some of the other kids want to attack Billy. I raise my right arm.

“No! This is my birthday and my fight! This is between me and Billy!” I shout.

A feeling begins to grow inside of me. Something like a feeling of vengeance and power. I want to teach Billy a lesson once and for all. And make him stop bullying other people for good. Billy begins to laugh.

“Are you going to cry?” mocks Billy.

I punch Billy in the stomach. A force of a strong wind burst in front of Billy and blows him away. It feels like a blast of wind hit him. Billy’s face crashes into a bowl of red punch. The punch spills all over Billy’s face and shoulders. Paul removes the punch bowel off of Billy’s head.

“Punch, get it?” asks Paul.

Paul starts to laugh. All of the kids start to laugh at Billy. Megan and I do not feel like laughing. Mrs. Thatcher enters the party and notices the children laughing. She sees Billy with punch all over him. She notices Megan and me not laughing. Megan and I both feel confused and kind of scared of what happened. I look down at my right hand and put it in my pocket. Billy stands up and starts to shake in fear.

“You are not normal,” whispers Billy.

He starts to walk back away from me.

“Get away!” Billy shouts.

I see tears coming down Billy’s face. I walk towards Billy. I feel very sorry for what I did to him.

“I…I’m…I’m sorry,” I say.

Billy runs away in terror.

“Get away! Get away from me!” he shouts.

Billy runs to the front door, grabs the doorknob, then looks back at me with a very terrifying look.

“You’re not normal you…you…” stutters Billy.

I finish the sentence for him.

“Freak?” I ask.

Billy opens the front door and runs outside. Everyone is staring at me, even the teachers. The principal comes out of the bathroom and can hear the toilet being flushed.

“What did I miss?” he asks.

No one answers him. I run up the stairs and into my room. I close my door and sit on my bed. I stare at my hands and shake my head. My head rests on my hands.

“What’s happening to me?” I ask.

I feel something in my pocket that I forgot about. I take it out and it is the potion that John Hollow, the old man from the old shop gave to me. I stare at the potion for a little bit. I throw the potion at my closet door. It shatters into many little glass pieces. The green liquid that was in the bottle leaked all over my closet door. I lower my head between my knees and sigh very roughly.

“That old man is crazy,” I say.

My exit door knocks times.

“Not in the mood!” I shout.

My door opens. I raise my head back up. It is Megan who was knocking on my door.

“Are you ok?” she asks.

Megan walks to my bed and sits by me.

I nod my head. “Yes, I’m…I’m fine,” I say.

I sigh and clear my throat.

“Listen, whatever happened back there, I have no idea what happened,” I say to Megan.

“Me too,” says Megan.

“All this time Billy’s been right,” I say.

“About what?” asks Megan.

“I am not normal or from around here. I am a freak,” I say.

“No, you’re not. Don’t let Billy’s words get to you on your birthday,” says Megan

I look back at Megan. “It’s not his words that are getting to me. It’s everything that has been happening to me. I still have that feeling after what I did to Billy. It’s still there. I don’t know what’s going on and I didn’t know I had a hidden talent.” I rub my left arm.

“What kind of talent?” Megan asks.

I point at the garbage bucket near my shelf. Megan walks to the garbage and looks in there. She sees some paper balls in it. She grabs the paper balls and unscrambles them. She sees the drawing that I have been drawing in my sleep. Drawings of strange creatures.

“You drew these?” asks Megan.

I nod and don’t even look at Megan. Megan looks at me with her proud smile.

“I like them. When did you draw them?” asks Megan.

“I drew them in my sleep,” I say.

“How could you draw them in your sleep? That’s an interesting talent,” asks Megan.

“I don’t know and I don’t think it’s a talent. I think I’ve seen these creatures in my dreams. I don’t remember what they were doing or if they were even talking. I only just remember these creatures. I don’t even know if they are good or bad,” I answer.

Megan walks up to my desk and grabs a white blank paper and a pencil too. Megan walks up to me and sits by me.

“Try drawing something.” Megan hands me the paper and the pencil.

I do not grasp them. “How can I draw with my eyes closed, it’s impossible?” I ask.

“Just try,” says Megan.

I sigh and then close my eyes. I start to draw on the paper. I try to keep the pencil on the paper. I open my eyes to see what I’ve drawn. It’s just scribbled.

“See. Impossible.” I drop the pencil.

Megan picks up the pencil. “Try again but think about what you’ve been dreaming,” says Megan.

I lie down on my bed and try to fall asleep. I do feel kind of tired. Megan waits to see what’s going to happen. Megan sees me sitting up with my eyes closed. I grab the paper, flip it over to the black space and start drawing on the back of it. Megan opens her mouth in shock. Megan looks at the paper and there is no mistake in the drawing. It is perfect. I wake up and look at the paper.

“It’s a…a…” I stutter.

I have no idea what it is.

“Looks like a…” Megan has no idea what it is either.

It looks very freaky and terrifying. I grab the paper and crumble it into a ball. I throw the paper into my garbage can.