I awoke suddenly. My heart was pounding, yet I couldn't figure out why. There was also a sense of excitement, but the reason for its presence was impossible to identify. I lay there for a while, staring up at the ceiling as I struggled to figure it out. It took some time, but the grogginess of sleep eventually faded. That's when it hit me. I now knew why I was so eager to begin the day.
"It's my birthday!" I yelped.
My heart leapt in my chest as my body did the same from the bed. I didn't even feel the cool morning air as it brushed against my bare frame. Nor did I feel the goosebumps that spread across my skin like an army of undead rising from the earth. All I could think about was my nightstand and the note I knew I would find there.
My eyes landed on the note. Moments later my lips curled into a broad smile. I had never been this excited. Or happy. But I was also terrified. After all, it's not every day a girl turns eighteen. But that wasn't the cause for my fear.
For as long as I can remember, my family has honored the ancient tradition of the birthday game. I'm not entirely sure who invented it, but each time a member of our family turns eighteen, they play the birthday game. Not much is known about it. In fact, I only knew two things. One: The game begins on a person's eighteenth birthday. Two: The game lasts four days. Other than that, the game was a complete mystery to me. That's why I was so terrified. But it's also why I was so excited. Why would my relatives bother to keep it a secret if it wasn't the most incredible experience a young womanβor manβcould experience?
I reached for the note and held it up. My hands were shaking so much that I could barely read it. But I still managed to make out the words that had been typed onto the paper.
The first part quickly explained the history of the game. While I had often wondered about its origins, I skimmed through this part. The next section was far more informative.
...the game will last four days. Male relatives will spend each day with a different female family member. Female relatives will be paired with males. Your assigned relative will be in charge of your activities for the day...
There were more details, but the rest were relatively useless, so I skipped through until I reached the list of rules which were printed at the very bottom of the page.
Rule 1: You must do everything your assigned relative asks of you. No questions asked!
Rule 2: Once the game begins, it must be completed. It cannot be stopped!
Rule 3: Try and have fun. It's your birthday after all!
I had always known the birthday game was a big deal, yet I had no idea how formal it was. Until now. But I forgot all about the rules of the games when I noticed a second note on my nightstand. It had been concealed underneath the first one. I picked it up and quickly read it.
Happy birthday, Lola. Your assigned relative for the day is your cousin Alec. You are to meet him at the pier at 9:00 AM. Dress for the beach.
That was all it said. Or so I thought until I noticed a few words printed at the bottom of the page.
P.S. The game will officially begin once you meet Alec at the pier. Once it begins, it cannot be stopped.
I'm not sure why, but those few words sent a shiver running down my spine. Then again, that may simply have been the cool morning air. Suddenly aware of my lack of clothes, I folded up the notes, slipped them in a drawer and made my way over to the nearby closet.
My outfit for the day was quite simple. The first layer was made up of the skimpy pink bikini I had picked up the day before. I already owned three different ones, but I had fallen madly in love with it, and resisting the urge to buy it had been impossible. I just loved the way it made my breasts pop. Not to mention how bodacious my butt appeared when framed by the thin fabric. Then again, maybe it had more to do with the way the salesman had complimented me on how beautiful I looked in it. Of course the fact that he was a complete hunk didn't hurt either. The point is, my new acquisition made me look hot and that's all that mattered.
The second layer was slightly less appealing. Still, the sundress that covered my skimpy swimwear hugged my frame with utter perfection. The blue and yellow flowers that were sprinkled across the fabric made both my eyes and my golden locks pop. Meanwhile, the red ones made the lipstick I wore appear even more vibrant. In other words, I had never looked hotter. But at the same time, I was comfortable and ready to take on any challenge my cousin threw my way. Or so I thought.
I made my way downstairs and joined my parents for breakfast. At least that was what I would have done had I not been late. I only had half an hour to get to the pier and the trip lasted on average thirty-two minutes. So all I had time for was a quick conversation with my parents before heading off to join my cousin for our day of... well, I had no idea what he had planned for me.
I was on time. But only barely. I was in such a hurry to reach the meeting spot that I forgot all about the warning the note had given. The game would officially begin once I joined my cousin at the meeting spot. By the time I realized this, it was too late.
Alec was a few years older than me. I remember when he turned eighteen and played the birthday game. Actually, that's a lie. I was too young to be a part of the game, so I was forced to observe my cousin's behavior change gradually as the days went by. By the time the fourth day came to an end and the game was officially over, he had changed quite a bit. He seemed older somehow. More experienced. But I never understood why. Until now.
Alec had been hitting the gym pretty hard lately and he was shredded. The fact that he wore nothing more than a pair of red swim trunks and a white, skintight t-shirt in no way helped conceal his rippling musculature. In fact, it took all the strength I had not to stare at his flawless frame. After all, he was my cousin.
"Happy birthday," was the first thing Alec said to me.
"Thanks," I replied. At least I think that's what I said. I can't be sure because I was busy struggling to keep from ogling my handsome relative.
"Shall we go for a walk?" he asked. We stood at the end of the pier, which overlooked the large lake where my family and I came to swim every chance we got. During vacation season the beaches that ringed the lake overflowed with people, but it was late in the season, and only a few tourists remained. Given the early hour, Alec and I were the only two people here.
"All right," I agreed.