It all started when I turned 18

2

"Thank you Betty and will you please stop shouting. I don't have hearing problems you know," I told her while grinning.

"You should change a doctor you know, that one is not helping you if he keeps lying to you," she joked. I couldn't help but laugh.

"I hope I am the first one to wish you, I have been calling you non stop from zero o'clock afraiding that someone else might wish you before me," She told me and I immediately remembered Sherry wishing me few minutes ago but she doesn't have to know that, telling her is like digging my own grave.

"Yes, you are the first one dear," I assured her.

"That's a relief, you should go to sleep. We wouldn't want sleeping beauty to miss her sleep now, would we?" she chuckled and I smiled at that "Good night and love you"

"Oh yeah, good night and love you too", I answered before hanging up the phone. I woke up and went to sleep in my room with a smile on my face.

*      *       *     * 

We were on our table in a cafeteria but the difference was Betty wasn't there with us, she was sitting on the table of cheerleaders and footballers which was so unlike her. Though Betty was so popular and all, she always sat with me and Sherry. I glanced at their table and saw her sitting beside Britney; the head cheerleader and my biggest enemy. I didn't know why she was sitting with her, as my best friend she knew well how much I hated Britney and that it would pain me seeing her hanging out with Britney.

"Isn't this too much!? Out of all people why did it have to be Britney?" Sherry questioned, annoyed.

I sighed loud and shifted my eyes back to my pasta which was already cold, I didn't have an appetite at all. How can I have it anyway when my ten years best friend is befriending my biggest enemy, not like I have many enemies.

I looked around and then I noticed a cafeteria filled with smoke, no one was paying attention to it anyway. It's not like it was the first time, sometime that happens on the days where they are supposed to save meat. I could hear few students here and there starting to cough. 'The school has to stop this before it becomes a problem for students with asthma,' I thought.

I looked around the cafeteria to see if I could spot Luke, seeing that he wasn't on his usual table. I didn't find him and neither his best friend, Kyle.

I saw some of our school cooks running out of the kitchen and start screaming fire! fire! And as if on cue the fire alarm went off. I panicked and glanced at Sherry who was also looking at me panicking. I grabbed her hand and rushed her towards the exit which was very hard considering hundredth of students were trying to get out at the same time. I took a quick look around the cafeteria and noticed the fire was already spreading in a cafeteria and it was hard to recognise anyone due to smoke, almost everyone was coughing and so was I. I noticed few students around but I couldn't make out their faces, there was a girl lying under the table coughing heavily, I thought she had asthma. I wished I could help but I had to get Sherry out of there. Majority of students were out of the cafeteria and others we were still struggling to get out, I could hear screaming and crying everywhere.

We finally got out of the cafeteria. I breathed for fresh air and left Sherry's hand which I was holding all that time. After calming down, I started scanning the crowd out there looking for a particular Brunette. I spotted Britney and some of her minions but I couldn't see Betty, I stormed off to her with panic.

"Where is she!!??" I asked her the moment I reached her.

"Who?" She asked, not at all interested with whatever I was worrying about.

"What do you mean who? Where's Betty?" I yelled.

"And how would I know that?" she asked, annoyed.

"What?? How can you..??" I was at loss of words, If only I wasn't worrying about Betty I would have beaten her to pulp right there right then but I held it in and stormed back to where I left Sherry.

"I can't find Betty! And that stupid Britney won't tell me anything. For god's sake she only cares about herself, she doesn't care if she left Betty in there or...." And then it clicked me, that girl who was lying on a floor coughing, I knew she looked familiar and that was near the place I last saw Betty, near Britney's table. But why would she be there instead of helping herself, it's not like she has asthma or something.

"Betty is in there! She is stuck in the cafeteria. I have to save her," I told Sherry with tears. I didn't wait for her response. I ran toward the cafeteria entrance which was already empty. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me and then as I was about to enter the cafeteria I was held back. I looked in the cafeteria which was burning down and then I saw her. I saw Betty lying unconscious the same place I last saw her.

"BETTY!!!!!" I shouted while trying to release myself from whoever was holding me back from entering the cafeteria.

"We can't leave her there, we can't leave Betty there, we have to save her. I have to save her!! let me go!!!" I shouted while crying, I could sense that not less than three people were holding me because if it were only one I would have freed myself by then.

"Kayla! Kayla! wake up!" I forced my eyes open which I noticed then I was closing them tight, I met Sherry's worried face.

"Are you okay? I came to wake you up as usual and then you were crying and saying something about saving Betty. Is everything okay? Are you okay? Is Betty okay?" she asked me with concern.

I looked around and noticed that I was in my room. Was it a dream? But why did it feel so real? My heart was still hurting from the pain of seeing Betty's body burning but I was relieved it was a dream.

"Yeah, I am okay. I just had a bad dream," I assured her while trying to force a smile. I didn't want to unnecessarily worry her.

"But.." she started, I interrupted before she could say anything more.

"I'm fine, don't worry. Now go make a birthday girl a breakfast," I assured her and managed to change a topic.

"Yeah right, I'll make you mom's pancake," She smiled at me before sprinting out of my room.

I sighed and thought about what I dreamt, two horrible dreams in one night. I have never been one for nightmares, then why all of a sudden? And why today out of all days? On my birthday! I wondered.

"Don't worry Kayla, they were just dreams, you wouldn't let them ruin your birthday, would you? You will go to school and Betty will be there to cheer you up, plus you have a date with Luke," I told myself, I couldn't help but smile.

'I am going to make today be the best day ever, I can't let two mere dreams ruin my birthday, can I?' I thought.