Thunder boomed as the gray clouds rolled in. 16-year-old Shannon sighed. The day had not been going good for her and usually she wouldn't mind a fresh shower, some nice rain but why did it have to rain today? It was her birthday and all of her plans had been ruined. She sat gazing out the window sadly wishing things would improve.
Some things had helped make her day better. Her best friend Camille had given her a subscription to a new magazine called StarShine. Shannon had enjoyed reading about lots of singers. The phone rang and she picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey girl. Let me guess. You are sulking by the window because it�s raining on your birthday."
"Rachel leave me alone! I can't help it! This totally sucks." Shannon thought of her older brother's girlfriend who had always been nice to her.
"Well Shannon let's make your day better and have a girl�s day out. I'll pick you up soon and we'll head over to the mall. I hear someone special is going to be there."
"Really who Rache?"
"That my dear is a surprise but I promise you it will be a good one."
The girls hung up the phone and Shannon got ready. She grabbed her jacket and ran out the door as Rachel pulled up. She jumped into the car.
"Happy Birthday Shannon!"
"Thanks Rache."
"So, what did you get for your birthday?"
"Um, I got some money, makeup, some books ooo oh yeah I also got subscribed to StarShine magazine!"
"Girl, StarShine rocks. I love reading about all the hot new stars in it." Rachel smiled. They pulled up to the mall and walked quickly inside.
"Lets head over to the cd store first." Rachel pulled Shannon over and picked up a cd. "Hey its the new Aaron Carter cd. Here let's me buy it for you as a birthday present."
The girls paid for the cd and were leaving when Shannon suddenly stopped and picked up a cd.
"Hey let me get this!"
"What is it?"
"The new Eminem cd!"
"Nuh uh no way. You are not buying that cd with me. It's parental advisory and your parents will kill me if you came back from the mall with me with that. Put it back now!"
Shannon sighed but put the cd back on the shelf. Then she followed Rachel out of the store and towards the center of the mall where a bigger music store was.
"Rachel hello, we were just at another music store."
"I know but now we need to go to this one."
The mall in this part was very noisy. Shannon looked around and saw a ton of girls and then saw a lot of them surrounding something.
"Rachel, what's going on?"
"Oh nothing, I just remembered that some singer, Aaron Carter is in town signing his new cd." She smiled as Shannon�s eyes grew huge. They both ran over to get to the crowd for an autograph. The crowd ran thin and finally it was their turn.
"Sorry but Aaron is done signing for the day." One of the bodyguard told them.
"Great" Shannon sighed, "Can my birthday get any worse?"
"Hey it's your birthday?" A familiar voice asked. Shannon turned around slowly and there he was standing like a God. Smiling at her was Aaron Carter.
"Y yeah it's my birthday."
"That is really cool! My birthday is today too!" Aaron too the cd from her hand. "What�s your name?"
"Shannon" She said blushing. Aaron smiled at her again and signed her cd.
"You have no idea how much it sucks to have a birthday when you are out traveling. I mean my mom gave me the rest of the night off but I have to get to bed early. She wants me to get up early for an interview tomorrow. I swear I never have some time off. Hey you wouldn't by any chance want to spend some of your birthday with me would you?"
Shannon�s eyes grew wide. "Are you serious? You actually want to spend your time with me?"
"Well sure why not? Both of our birthdays have sucked so far so why not make them better?"
Shannon smiled shyly and looked at Rachel.
"Girl this is your chance to hang with Aaron Carter, the Prince of Pop, don't even hesitate." Shannon turned back to Aaron.
"Alright sounds like fun." Aaron got ready with his body guards and then they headed off to the food court to get something to eat first.
"#42. A burger, fries and an orange soda." Aaron jumped up to get his order. He got it and made his way back to the table.
"You want some fries?"
"No thanks, im sure my food will be ready in a moment."
"#43" Shannon went up to get her order. "A grilled chicken salad and lemonade?"
"Yup thanks." She took a sip of her lemonade. "Mmm this is the best lemonade."
"That�s because that is freshly squeezed lemonade. Squeezed fresh everyday."
Shannon smiled and got her stuff and went to the table she was sharing with Aaron.
"You are such a girl, ordering a salad why don't you live a little?" Aaron wrinkled his nose. Shannon laughed.
"Aaron, I ordered a chicken salad because it�s my favorite not because most girls eat salads to watch their weight."
"Well, if you say so."
They finished eating and walked around the mall for a while. Aaron grew really excited when they past a toy store.
"Come on Shannon, let's go in for a while."
"To a little kids toy store?"
"Sure why not it will be really fun." He took her hand and led her inside. "Hey look a twister game! Let's try it out!" He opened the box and laid the twister game on the floor.
"Aaron! You can't just open a game in the middle of a store and play with it!"
"Who not? Oh well come on I have some great twister moves!"
"Twister moves?"
"Well yeah. The game is twister, I have some great moves on this so they are my great twister moves."
Shannon laughed and they ended up playing twister for a while. They headed out of the store and went by a jewelry store.
"Let's stop in there for a moment." Aaron said. "I want to see something."
Shannon agreed and they walked into the store. She looked around while Aaron talked to the jeweler. She was examining some birthstone rings when Aaron came up to her.
"This is for you." He smiled and handed her a wrapped box. Shannon sat on a bench shocked and looked at him.
"What is this for?"
"Your birthday silly. I wanted to give you something special so you wouldn't have a sucky birthday."
"Oh Aaron, thank you so much, but my birthday doesn't suck anymore. Spending this time with you has made this the best birthday ever."
"Well still you have made my birthday better so I wanted to give this to you. Now open it."
Shannon untied the ribbon and took of the paper; She opened the box and lifted the top. She pulled out a beautiful ID bracelet. On top her name was engraved. Aaron turned it over and she read.
To Shannon, thank you for making my birthday special. I thought this bracelet was pretty and I hope you like it. Forever friends. AC.
She looked up at him and they shared a hug.
"Aaron, you have made this birthday the best for me. I have been honored to have been able to spend the entire day with you and as for the bracelet, it is the most beautiful one I have ever seen."
He led her to the limo to give you a ride home. Rachel called them both in for some cake and ice cream. Shannon�s whole family was there and so was Aaron�s mom. They all sat down for dinner and talked about the day. Then Aaron�s mom came out with a huge birthday cake. It read Happy Birthday Aaron and Shannon.
"Your body guard called me you were playing with a special friend so I had them put both of your names on it" Jane smiled at them.
Together they blew out the candles. After Aaron and Shannon walked outside.
"Aaron, thank you for making all my wishes come true. This has been the best birthday ever."
"You have made my birthday special too Shannon and I hope we will be able to keep in touch. You are a special friend."
They sat together on the swing watching the sunset. Shannon let out a happy sigh. Her sweet 16 had been the best ever. She touched her ID bracelet and knew that she would remember this day forever.