Chapter 25 / Part Three

Melek

Seventh grade...

I open my eyes as a shadow blocks the sun. I look up to see Habbab standing over me with a cupcake in her hand and a single candle lit.

"Happy birthday, Dimples," he says, and I smile at him as I join in. It's summer vacation and Habbab and I have been lying by the pool.

When we're not with the horses we usually hang out here. Too bad summer is almost over and we're both going back to high school. The same fear I always have is ticking off my mind.

"Did you remember?" I ask in surprise and he drops to his knees beside me.

"Do you think I would forget your birthday," I shake my head?

"Of course, you wouldn't. You never forget anything," I laugh, but he doesn't. Habbab is not only handsome, popular, and sweet, but he's also very smart. His family is exactly the same and is almost too perfect to be real.

"Not when it comes to you," he says, and it makes my stomach churn.

"Now make a wish." He holds up the cupcake for me and I close my eyes. I think for just a seco