When I woke up I didn't feel any different. It wasn't like I woke up and immediately felt a year older. I was just one day older than yesterday and that day happened to make me finally eighteen.

"Happy Birthday," My brother smiled when I walked into the kitchen.

"Why are you up?" I questioned.

I knew for a fact that he didn't have class until eleven today because last night he was so happy about how his early class had gotten cancelled due to his professor being sick.

"I wanted to make you a birthday breakfast. I made pancakes." He pushed a plate of pancakes in front of me.

"You made pancakes? You barely know how to make toast, how did you manage to make pancakes?" I inspected the food in front of me and it looked safe to eat.

"Nikki coached me through it, she is a genius in the kitchen."

I gave my brother a puzzled look. Since when did he start talking to Nikki again. Last time I talked to him about it he was shoving me the phone asking me to get her to stop calling him.

"You and Nikki?" I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact the girl that broke my brother's heart was now helping him make me birthday pancakes.

"We are talking again, I went to see her before she went back to California and we finally talked after two years. She is trying to transfer to a school closer to home next year and if that happens I am willing to give it another shot." He explained.

I was not thrilled because part of me was still scared that Nikki would hurt my brother again but I wanted nothing more than for him to be happy and if she made him happy than who was I to stop that.

"I'm happy for you Jackson," I smiled and took a bite of my birthday breakfast.

"You doing something with Trevor for your big day?" He questioned.

"I don't think so, he hasn't really mentioned anything." I shook my head.

It seemed weird that the topic of my birthday was barely mentioned. I wasn't one to ever really celebrate it that much but I was hoping that I would be able to spend the day with Trevor.

"If I was a betting man I would put all my money on the fact that lover boy has something up his sleeve. If I am wrong and you got nothing to do this evening I'll sacrifice my night for you."

I smiled. It was nice to know that my brother would be there for me and that we were able to build back the bond that had been once broken.

--

I knew Trevor hadn't forgotten it was my birthday because he had wished me a happy birthday the second he saw me this morning but besides that he hadn't really mentioned anything beyond that. I was starting to think that maybe he didn't want to spend the day with me. Maybe he was getting sick of me.

I walked hand in hand with him out of school at the end of the day. I had been waiting all day for him to ask if I wanted to hang out after school but so far I got nothing.

"Happy Birthday Ella." He leaned down and kissed me quickly before pulling away.

"Thank you." I just smiled.

Maybe I had too high of expectations.

"I'll talk to you later." He waved and walked off to his car.

I just waved back and went to my own car. I guess my brother would have lost all his money.

The second I got to my car I saw a small white envelope tucked under my windshield. My heart started to race in anticipation. Who put this here and what did it contain?

I yanked it free and peeled it open. Inside was a letter.

Once upon a time...

A boy met the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She sassed him and it was then that he knew he needed to get to know her. The only problem was on that same night he met her she accepted a date with his best friend. He knew they would get along and so he decided to swoop in and crash her date. The boy didn't want to step on his friends toes but he couldn't get the girl out of his head.

I read the letter twice trying to figure out what I was supposed to do with this. It was obvious it was from Trevor but was I supposed to go to the pizza place? I turned the paper over to see two words written neatly on the back.

You Hungry?

I grinned and hopped into my car. To the pizza place I went.

When I walked into the small restaurant I was surprised to see Zach sitting in a booth instead of Trevor.

"I already ordered." Zach said once I sat down.

"Cheese?" I questioned.

"Of course." He nodded. "Happy birthday Ella."

"Zach I hope you know that you're an amazing friend." I grinned.

"Here I got something for you," he pulled a small box out of his jacket pocket and slid it across the table towards me.

"Zach you really didn't have to do this." I took the box and unwrapped it.

It was a small glass turtle. I didn't know how he knew about my love of turtles but I'm glad he did because this little guy was so cute.

"How'd you know?" I wondered.

"Caitlynn." He answered.

Of course my chatty best friend. I really should stop even bothering to ask.

"I also have this." He gave me an envelope.

At first I thought it was another envelope from Trevor but I was mistaken. Zach had made a donation to help save the sea turtles in my name. I couldn't think of any better birthday gift than this.

"Thank you." I stood up and wrapped my arms around him practically having to lay in the table in order to reach him.

"You're welcome El."

It was then that the pizza arrived and I quickly loaded my plate up ready to dig in.

"It's nice being able to hang out with you just the two of us." Zach smiled as he grabbed a couple slices for himself.

"It is." I agreed.

After we had finished most of the pizza Zach's phone rang. Before he could grab it I saw caitlynn's name flash across the screen.

"Hello?....Yeah,.... ok. Bye," Zach rushed through the conversation.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"I got to get going but I have one last thing." He handed me another envelope.

"What about the check?" I asked him.

"I got it," he waved me off.

"You sure?" I was willing to pitch in, I did eat just as much of that pizza as he did.

"Yeah now you got a letter to read." He practically pushed me out of the restaurant.

I opened the letter and smiled. It was another letter from Trevor.

After the boy crashed the girls date he couldn't help but continue to try to get her attention. He learned so much about her and was even able to witness her voice as she sang. He didn't know how'd he ever be able to get her out of his head. He drove himself crazy trying to convince himself to confess his growing feelings but at last he was afraid. Luckily for the boy, the girl was much braver than he was and on one amazing day she kissed him. And that's what started it all.

I turned the letter over once more to see a sentence written on the back.

How about some dessert?

I knew where I had to go, Anna's.

—

I walked into the ice cream shop to see Caitlynn sitting in a booth. I smiled and went to join my best friend.

She already had her ice cream in front of her and on the table in front of me was my usual.

"I hope you don't mind I got you your regular." She said once I sat down.

"I never say no to ice cream." I took a bite and smiled.

Ice cream was always the best way to my heart.

"I can't believe my best friend is getting so old. Do you remember when we would sit in your room and watch Disney movies every Saturday?"

"And my mom would make us a huge bowl of popcorn." I nodded.

"Remember that time your brother scared you when you were walking up the stairs with the popcorn and you spilled the whole bowl all over the floor and me and you spent so much time trying to clean it all up because your mom didn't want bugs in the house?" Caitlynn laughed.

"And then we sat and tried to come up with a revenge plan on Jackson." I chuckled

"We never got him back did we?" She sighed remembering all the times from the beginning of our friendship.

"No we didn't. I was too scared of getting in trouble to actually go through with any of your crazy ideas."

"Dyeing his hair purple was not a crazy idea."

"Shaving his eyebrows off was though." I gave my best friend an amused look.

"But just think how funny your brother would look with no eyebrows."

"That image with forever haunt my nightmares." I teased.

"I'm so glad I got stuck with you as a best friend." She grinned.

"I'm happy I got stuck with you too."

No matter what I knew that from now on Caitlynn would have my back and I would have hers. We were best friends and nothing would get between us again.

"Here." She slid an envelope across the table towards me.

"This better be what I think it is." I gave her a stern look.

"Don't worry I didn't break our deal." She shook her head.

Me and Caitlynn made a deal a couple years back to not give each other birthday gifts. Instead on the day right between both of our birthdays we do something we've never done before together.

"Happy birthday." She smiled and came around to pull me into a hug.

"Thank you Cait." I pulled away from her and we both walked out of the shop together.

"Have fun with lover boy." She winked and hopped into her car.

I peeled open the letter and read it.

The boy had finally gotten the girl. He couldn't believe that the girl he cared about felt the same way about him. However in order to prove to the girl he deserved all her love he needed to take her out on a proper date. How could he win her heart if he didn't treat her right? So he took her to a nice restaurant and on a lovely picnic afterwards. It was under the stars that boy knew he was falling for her and there was no turning back now.

I turned the letter over to see another sentence on the back.

You up for a picnic?

I couldn't contain my excitement as I started my car and headed to the park. This park had meant a lot to us, it was where they went on our first date but it was also where we officially got back together after our break. I couldn't imagine a better spot to spend my birthday.

When I got to the park I was surprised to see an empty blanket. I was expecting Trevor to be here. I walked up to the blanket to see an envelope sitting in the middle of it. I opened it and started to read.

After many ups and downs the boy realized that this girl was worth fighting for and that he would fight to keep her by his side for as long as he could. After almost letting her get away he knew that his heart would not be able to take it again. He finally realized that not only was she beautiful and the most amazing girl he had ever met but also that he was completely in love with her.

I took a deep breath not even being able to process what was happening. Did he really love me? I flipped the letter over to see two words.

Turn around

And that's exactly what I did.

Behind me was Trevor with a huge smile across his face.

"I love you Ella." He wrapped his arms around me pulling me into him.

I felt like my heart was going to explode. I knew with everything ounce of my being that I loved him back.

"I love you too." I leaned up and kissed him.

"Happy birthday." He smiled once we pulled away.

"Thank you for making this the best birthday ever." I connected our lips in another kiss.

I was so lucky to have found this boy.