Just as I predicted Mark showed up the next day as soon as he heard wind of what had happened the day before. He pranced in with about a dozen flowers, apologizing profusely and admitting he had took part in the arrangement with hag from hell.

Nathan had arrived shortly after Mark had therefore he was able to hear most of the story. I have never seen Nathan more confused and angry before although why should he when I did tell him otherwise? I didn't know whether to say I told you so or not even though I desperately wanted to. So I did and it pained me to say it.

No truly it did, my throat hurt like a bitch, you know after being strangled and all that sort of thing happens.

After Mark apologized I said nothing. I expected that much from him but it didn't mean I blamed him for what had happened to me. Well he did sort of try ruining my and Nathan's relationship, which he did... But he didn't exactly plan for me to get jumped and almost... Well that. And to be fair he was only part of the reason we broke up.

I stayed exactly three days, three long miserable days to tally up on my bedside in the hospital room. The nights were the worst since I hardly slept a wink. It wasn't until I got home on Thursday morning that I slept for hours on end.

Ever since my sleep schedule has been on the bad side and I just knew I was going to have the worst few weeks of my life getting up for school. Although I doubt it would be a problem anyways since I go to school whenever I pleased. School was coming up around the corner and no one was exactly thrilled with me going out in public yet. I didn't entirely mind though, I did look like shit after all. But although they weren't thrilled with me going out in public or to school it was a necessity that I actually go outside. Plus I've dealt with worse situations before so I think I could handle the stares and whispers that I get when I walk along.

I was quickly recovering though, my cut on my ankle was barely visible, my eye still looked messed up but should be entirely healed by the time school starts, my neck is fine, and the bump on my head had disappeared. As for my stomach it was about the same as my eye, just a tad bit worse. It hurt when I laughed so I tried my best to avoid doing so, but I knew that I'd be rocking the deformed bruising on my side for a couple days of school.

Nathan visited me everyday even though I had broke up with him. He said it didn't matter if we were together or not, he wasn't breaking his promise on seeing me. Lily slept over every night for awhile until I took her key for my house and locked her outside claiming she needed to go home because I would be fine and not get killed... She wasn't entirely too thrilled to hear that.

My dad spent most of his time with me, either he was cooking in the kitchen while I rested or he was in the living room with me, marathoning our old movie favorites with the company of Nathan of course.

It wasn't awkward with him at all, Nathan I mean. Actually it was rather comfortable just being friends, laughing and talking. I think I enjoyed being friends with Nathan more than I did when we were dating. "Okay birthday girl, you've been up here for too long! It's time for you're birthday ambush!" Christian, Lily, Rebecca, and Nathan all rush into my room.

"I told you guys I don't want to do anything for my birthday." They near me eagerly, "Also if you touch me I will scream!" Everyone but Christian stops. "Don't test me." He ignores me anyways, slipping a hand under my legs and other on my back.

"Careful! Don't forget about her stomach!" Christian, oh so carefully, lifts me up despite my protests and walks me out the room in his arms. "I know, jeez it's like they think I'm an idiot!"

"That's because you are." Lily mutters to herself but wasn't too hushed about it. Christian stares down at me, winking. "She totally has a thing for me." I try hiding my smile. "Oh you think so?"

He nods his head while smiling cocky. "Don't blame her though, I mean who wouldn't?"

"Me," he scoffs. I laugh but I had to admit Lily and Christian were just cute, always teasing each other the way they do. I just wasn't sure when they would have the balls to actually do something. "If you take her down the stairs, I swear to god Christian I will rain down on you like there's no tomorrow!"

"Okay mom! Jeez what is wrong with these people doubting my knowledge and masculinity?" Slowly he sets me down on my feet and takes my arm with his to begin our descent down the stairs.

"You guys do know I'm not some fragile piece of glass right?"

"Yes we do." Rebecca's replies. "But do we care?" Lily questions behind me. "No." Nathan answers.

"What's up with these people doubting us today?" Christian scoffs. "Exactly what I'm saying! We should ditch them and go to dinner ourselves."

"Christian for the last time stop hitting on Annabeth." Nathan warns him. "You guys aren't together anymore. She's free game bro." Christian turns to me and winks. I laugh then grip my side in pain.

"You see what you did!" Nathan smacks the back of Christians head. "There she is! The birthday girl!" I smile at Julie and Alexander. They were waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs with open arms. After giving them a hug, Julie takes my arm in hers and guides me to the kitchen where my dad was waiting.

A huge birthday cake was in the center of the dining table. The frosty words reading, 'Happy Birthday Annabeth! We love you!' Except instead of love it was a heart.

Gifts surrounded the chocolate frosted cake which I eyed suspiciously. I was never one to like opening presents in front of people. I always believed it was too much pressure on both ends, whether they picked the good gift and whether I liked it or not. I mean either way everyone was always spreading happy vibes so you never really know if they did in fact like it or was just faking it. God I hope they don't make me open the gifts in front of them.

My dad moves forward, pulling up a chair, motioning me to sit. I smile self-consciously and sit as everyone circled around the table. Lily and Nathan flagged my sides then followed Rebecca, Christian, Julie, and Alexander. My dad stood across from me, smiling at me while Julie lit the candles.

When they began belting out the song, each trying to out sing the other, which by the way may have caused the dogs in my neighborhood to bark due to their various offbeat voices. I couldn't help but smile as I stared at everyone that actually cared enough to be here for me. My eyes found my dad who was the one that was the least loud from the group. Just by the way his eyes softened I knew he felt exactly how I felt. As if things could actually be alright for us after all. That maybe we could move on and be happy... Was that even possible for us anymore?

The corners of his mouth lift up slightly as the song ends. I stare down at the candles, feeling as everyone's gaze glued on me... Watching and waiting for me to make a wish as if it would actually come true.

I take a deep breath, wishing the one thing I most wanted in the world in my head and blew out the candles. They clap around me, claiming which part of the cake they wanted to Julie who was removing the candles from the cake. She merely waved their hands away claiming I had to have my piece first. When she hands my piece over to me I took my cake and stepped out of the kitchen and walked outside to my porch silently so that no one would notice.

I sat on the porch swing watching the sun slowly begin its descent. It didn't take long for someone to notice my absence as he stepped outside from my house and took a seat beside me. "So this is where you escaped to?" I shrug my shoulders, "Why'd you come out here?"

I pick at the chocolate cake, the middle had fresh strawberries without the jelly I couldn't stand, Lily did a good job picking out the cake. Only few know my favorite cake, Lily, my dad... "I just wanted some air." I reply.

"Yeah, they're a little crazy." I laugh. "Yeah well it's your family." Nathan chuckles to himself.

"That they are," he pauses, setting his plate between us. "What'd you wish for?"

"Don't you know I can't say or it won't come true?" He smiles. "I thought you weren't that type of person."

"A girl can dream..." We both sat there, silently eating the cake. When I finished I turned to him, smiling. "What do you say about a sleepover?"

"A what?" He chuckles, drinking some of the milk he brought out. I roll my eyes, "A sleepover. Come on spend the night it won't mean anything except two friends sleeping."

He looks at me, clearly debating whether or not he should but it was my birthday I knew he would say yes, and he did a second later. I smiled. I really did just want it to be us as friends, that's all I want. After a few minutes of us talking we were called inside where the presents waited.

I open my mouth, trying to come up with an excuse but Lily rushed forward saving me. "It's actually tradition that Annabeth opens the presents later on at night... Midnight to be exact."

"Yeah, not really sure how that happened but I've been doing it ever since!"

"Oh no! I have work first thing tomorrow we won't be able to be here till midnight!" I stare at Lily, she knows I would feel bad for saying no to Julie.

"Yeah well too bad for the tradition huh Annabeth?" I nod. "Yeah but I'll call you to tell you my thanks!" It wasn't until much later after talking and a few games that it was time for everyone to leave.

Lily was the first person to leave. She has been sleeping early in order to get used to it for school so by this time she was always tired. An hour after she had left Alexander announced that they too better get going as well because of work.

It was a bit awkward because neither Nathan or I knew what to tell them when they were retreating to the car and he stayed behind. I mean we weren't together anymore and I didn't want to give anyone ideas that just because he's spending the night that anything would happen.

"Nathan come on Annabeth doesn't want you here anymore." I laugh. Here goes nothing. "Actually if it's okay, I was wondering if he can spend the night?" Everyone stayed silent, yeah this was totally not awkward...

Julie continued to gape, until Alexander nudged her. "U-hum yes that would be fine, um if your father...?" My dad stares at us both weird, "I thought you two weren't together anymore?"

"And we aren't," my dad stares at us awkwardly before nodding. "Well then yeah I guess it should be fine..."

"Okay... Well then it's fine with us... We'll see you tomorrow Nathan. Happy birthday Annabeth."

"Thank you!"

"Get it bro!" Rebecca elbows Christian, I smile my thanks to her before turning and walking into the house.

"Well okay then I'm going to go to bed now," I smile at my dad. "Goodnight dad."

"Goodnight Mr. Montgomery," my dad stares at us both, shaking his head he walks upstairs. "Well that wasn't totally awkward or weird..."

"Nope, not at all." Nathan helps me pick up the presents and place them to my room. We lay the presents by my bed, once I laid down what I had I go to my dresser and remove some grey sweats and a plain white shirt. "I'm gonna go change real quick you can in here if you want," Nathan nods absentmindedly as he sits on my bed. I leave him in my room and quickly change in the restroom before returning to him.

I was used to seeing him in his boxers so I didn't mind when he stood there without his pants in his plaid boxers and his white cotton shirt. "Did you want to wait till midnight to open your presents or...?" I smile. "Lily and I actually lied, I don't have a tradition I just don't like opening presents in front of people."

"Ahh, I understand now." I chuckle, "I guess that goes for my gift too?" He shows me the wrapped box behind his hands.

I look at the gift suspiciously, it wasn't very big, but not too small either. "I don't know is something going to pop out at me?"

He smiles as he walks towards me with his hands held out with the gift. I take it from his hands and walk to my bed while he continued to stand, waiting for me to open the gift.

I slowly rip the paper while staring at him, he laughs. "Oh just look at it." I smile in surrender and toss the paper. Opening the white box slowly I laugh when I see what's inside. "Nathan oh my god!" I pull out the Darth Vader nightlight, like the one Julie said he had until he was ten because he was afraid of the dark. Next to it was a Starbucks card, the place we met and had our first date in. There was also a Barnes & Nobles gift card where we spent most of our money in. A plastic rose with its stem cut off of it so it was able to fit the box also laid in there. For all those times he gave me flowers. Lastly was a single sparkler for the Fourth of July.

I smile, my heart skipping a beat as I stare at the gifts. "I can't believe you got me all of this..." I look up at him, as he blushes.

"Ive had them for awhile... When we were still dating," I place the night light back in the box and put the box to the side of me and stand. I walk to him slowly, and grab his face so he would look at me. "Thank you... This is the best gift I've gotten in such a long time." He smiles slightly.

I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly, "Happy birthday Annabeth."

__

A feather like kiss is placed on my forehead and stays there for what feels like an eternity. I never want his lips to leave my forehead for it always sends me waves of endless comfort and love.

But his lips eventually do leave my skin... Only to kiss my eyelids, nose, cheeks, and chin, until finally his lips finally touched mine.

I promise to never forget, I swear it. I say against his warm lips. This moment is ours and will forever be ours.

Once we end the kiss we are left panting. Suddenly I was back to how I was feeling before the kiss... feeling deathly afraid, afraid of what the kiss had meant. I've had time to prepare myself but I was still so afraid. I couldn't do this. This shouldn't be happening. I'm not ready for what was about to come.

Then as if the wind were whispering it tells me that the time has already come... And I can't help but scream.

I jolt awake, drenched in sweat, heart beating a mile a minute. My bed moves as Nathan turns to his side and reaches his left arm out to my side of the bed in search of me.

Running my hands over my face I turn to my table next to my bedroom door. Then lay back down in bed where Nathan immediately wraps his arm around me and pulls me close against his warm body.

I try falling back to sleep but sleep didn't come that night.

________________________________End Of Annabeth

Annabeth is over and boy how I was dreading this moment! Thank you so much for reading my story and following Annabeth's crazy summer. This is the first book I have ever finished and I'm just so thankful with all of you're support with liking and commenting on the chapters even though I was terrible enough to delay on uploading for months!

You guys are truly the best and I can't thank you guys enough for all of the support! I love you guys!

And for the last final time... until next time!