When I wake up, I shuddered. I should be happy today. It's supposed to be a happy day. Everyone else will be excited. I should be excited. I try to force my face into a grin and fail miserably. I sigh and sit up. The first thing my eyes land on is the outfit Odd picked out for me to wear. Odd being Odd, he chose an old-fashioned party dress that barely goes past my stomach with orange and blue stripes. The next thing I see is the gift I picked out. I got it gift-wrapped at the store. I sigh and get dressed.

I head down to the cafeteria. I walk in and see a group of outrageously dressed people.

My best friends.

When I sit down with them, Odd dumps a purple party hat on my head and a noise maker in my mouth. I glare at grim and he laughs.

"Cheer up Annie girl! You only have to wear the dress for a few more days!"

I punch him in the shoulder.

"Hey!"

"Happy Birthday." I say in monotone.

Odd frowns. "What's wrong, Annie? I was kidding. You don't have to wear the dress."

I sigh. "No, it's not that. It's nothing, really."

Odd nods slowly, unsure. I take his hand and peck him on the cheek. "I'll explain later," I whisper. Odd grins and puts his hand on my shoulder. "Okee dokee."

"Odd, you are such a pushover!" Jeremy calls as he sits down. Odd likes to torture

Jeremy, so he gave him a clown suit. I burst out laughing against my will. Odd grins goofily.

"It's worth it, my friend," Odd says. "Like with you and Aelita."

Jeremy blushes. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Me and Odd grin.

"Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure you don't," Odd and I say together.

"Anyway, Odd," I say, pulling out his gift, "I got you something."

Odd brightens. "Ooh, what is it?" He starts pulling the wrapping paper off. "A gift card to Michael's Craft Store! You shouldn't have!"

I grin. "That's not all. I also got you-" I kiss him on the lips. The first real kiss we've ever had. "that."

Odd grins. "How long until my next birthday?"

I grin. Faker, I think. "You got a year left, bucko." He keeps grinning.

The bell rings. "C'mon, Odd," I call. "don't want to be late to class!"

Odd comes along willingly.

Classes pass quickly. I really wish I could stall, though. It's Saturday so we only have morning classes.

Once classes are over, Odd drags me over to a picnic bench he had hidden in the woods.

He holds my hand but won't look at me.

"What's wrong, Anne? I mean, I know you don't know your birthday. You don't know what it's like to celebrate. But this seems like more than that. What is it?"

I sigh. This can't go over well. "Odd, you're officially sixteen. You can drive. Heck, in a few years you'll be able to drink!"

Odd relaxes. "Is that all? Don't worry Anne, I would never do that to you. I couldn't." He tries to stroke through my hair, but I squirm away from his hands. I turn to face him. He looks hurt. I take a deep breath.

"That's not it, Odd. You know that I'm made up of computer code." Odd nods. "Odd, computer code doesn't age. I'm always going to be thirteen, and I'm always going to be treated like it. Odd, I'm technically twenty-four. But I feel the same way a thirteen-year-old feels. I won't ever grow up. You're changing, Odd. And people are starting to notice. Sissi? She has a crush on you. Heidi, too. And they all think that I'm your cousin or something since I still look like a thirteen-year-old."

I stand up abruptly. "I have to go, Odd. I don't care what you tell them, just tell them that I'm gone." I stroke his bristly face. "Goodbye, Odd."

I disappear into the forest.

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