Chapter 1

'Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Pepper, Happy Birthday to you!'

I popped up my head from under the covers. Mum came in, carrying a huge pile of presents! Surprisingly, Dad wasn't there. My favorite song was playing in the background (Little Mix - Wings).

This was it. My thirteenth birthday. The beginning of my teenage years. I'd finally dominate over my younger sister Elsie (Yippee!). I am the maximum age for Year 8.

I'm the second oldest of the Candy Girls. Cherry's the oldest - her birthday's in September. Then me with today - 12th December, then Marshmallow (or Meg) with 25th February, then Sugar with 6th May (she had the weekend after the SATs when we were in Year 6, the lucky thing), then Cinamon, the lucky youngest one. Her birthday is ALWAYS the last day of term!

'Go on, Pepper, open one!' Mum was so excited - like me.
I did.

The first one was from Mum. She got me a new iPod! A touch one, with a case so it's safer when I drop it (Elsie tested that on my old iPod Nano without the case on the kitchen floor - she ended up owning me all of her pocket money for a whole year). I checked... and she had put loads of my favorite songs on! I hugged her, gave her a kiss and told her she was the nicest mum in the world.

The next one was from Cherry. She'd bought me a red Angry Bird toy that makes a noise when you squeeze the top. She knows I play Angry Birds all the time on Google Chrome.

Cinamon and Meg clubbed together for one of mine! They bought me all three of The Hunger Games books! I'd wanted them and been to the cinema to see the film with the girls. I'd give anything to change my name to Katniss, but Mum thinks Peppermint suits me more.

Sugar got me a bag of peppermints, my favorites!

My boyfriend got me a Rubik's Cube. I love those.

Dad got me some new clothes... from HOLLISTER! I wanted to own just a t-shirt from Hollister for ages, but now I'd got a whole set of clothes. I planned to wear them when he got home.

There was also an iPod speaker, more clothes, a new pair of Blue Nose Friends slippers, a Queen CD (they're epic), more CDs, lots of money (I had £120 when I counted), a new 3DS game - New Super Mario Bros. 2, yippee - and lots of books.

But, the weirdest things were black net gloves like Destiny in Little Darlings (I've read that book over and over and I'm still not tired of it. I'd exchange Elsie for Sunset in a HEARTBEAT).

When I opened a little envelope, I found 5 train tickets... to London!
'I was thinking you and the girls could go up to London together. You could spend your 120 pounds!'
'Wow! Thanks, Mum, but without you?'
'When you go, your father and I are going to Cromer for a little. But worst case scenario, I might have to go with you. I'll buy my own ticket.'
'Oh, Mum!' I hugged her.

I couldn't wait to thank the Candy Girls (and my boyfriend) for my presents!
I ESPECIALLY couldn't wait to thank Dad.

(Wow, that was a long chapter! Anyways, if you're still reading, I will hope to continue this through the rest of my summer holidays. - Bethan Rees)

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 25.08.2012

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Dedicated to everyone who likes peppermints! :)