A/N: I think this is the shortest chapter. Sorry about that! I guess I just like writing big endings ;)


The flowers looked like they were about to wilt. I must not have been watering them enough, what with everything going on.

Apparently, I had a girlfriend again. I called her Annie.

While I was working, I heard footsteps gradually getting faster and louder. I turned around and saw Agate of all people. She started running towards me.

What was it with women interrupting my work?

"Nadi!" she practically screamed. "Klaus and Raeger are fighting!"

I scoffed disbelievingly. Why was Raeger so belligerent all of a sudden? He didn't exactly back down from my anger the other day. Still, that was one of those things that weren't my business.

"It's got nothing to do with me."

"But Annie's trying to stop them!"

Damn it. I clenched my fists. She always tried to get herself into trouble.

I high-tailed it out of there and to the restaurant. When I got inside, of course Raeger was there, but I didn't see Klaus. Did he kill him already? Was Annie hiding the body?

I went up the the counter. Raeger looked fine, like he hadn't just killed anybody.

"What's going on...?"

He just sighed. "I told them not to do it, 'cause it'd just make you mad..."

What was he talking about? Told who? There was nobody around. What the hell?

"Why is it so dark - "

"Surprise!"

I must have jumped two feet into the air. The lights came on and suddenly I could see everyone clearly. Damn these people.

Annie stood at the center of the crowd, Elise right beside her. Well, that explained why I didn't see her at the mansion earlier. But why me? Couldn't they do that to someone else? I hated surprises.

Everyone was just staring at me. Didn't these people have jobs? Even Veronica was here.

Within just a few seconds, Annie came over to me and threw her arms around my neck. I froze. This was new. Did I hug her back?

"Happy birthday, Nadi," she whispered into my ear.

Was that the reason for this? My birthday? She remembered...

"You know, Annie planned this whole thing," Raeger said behind us.

Annie tore herself away and I looked back at him. He'd gotten out some sort of white cake and started sticking candles on it.

"How old are you?" he asked, smirking.

"...Not as old as you."

"Ouch." He laughed. He didn't seem bothered at all by our last little conversation there. That was good to know.

Annie grabbed my hand. "The cake's vanilla. I remember you told me you liked it one time."

Did I? That must have been a drunk thing.

She leaned closer to my ear. "I've got something else planned for you, too, so come by my house later."

If she was trying to seduce me, it wasn't working. She didn't even have a bed at her house. We'd be cramped on her sofa.

She left after that, though, to go mingle with the others. I supposed I should do the same.

My birthday, huh? It was already going to be autumn. In that case, that meant it'd almost been a whole year since I thought coming here was a good idea.

I talked to a few people – Klaus, Agate, Elise – and afterwards, Raeger pulled me aside by the arm.

"Hey."

"What?"

He walked about halfway up the stairs and motioned for me to follow him. He cleared his throat. "I wanted to thank you for knocking some sense into me the other day."

My eyes widened. He really wasn't mad. He was... grateful?

"I need someone I can rely on, and had you never dealt with me, well... I wouldn't know how wonderful Agate is."

So that was it. He had the hots for Agate but didn't realize it until I yelled at him and called him pathetic? What a weirdo. I felt more glad that he didn't get to Annie.

Still, it was good to know he was happy. And Agate was Annie's best friend, so that was a double positive.

I headed back down the stairs first and peered out into the crowd, looking for Annie. Raeger came up beside me.

We watched her and Agate, smiling and laughing and probably talking about some dumb girl stuff. They looked happy – Annie looked happy. She was really okay with me.

I smiled. We chose great girls.

"I'm going to wait a few days, at least, to make sure it's not a rebound thing, y'know?"

I nodded. He didn't need to hurt anyone else.

Annie met my eye and smiled and waved, which reminded me... What did she have waiting for me at her house?


~CGA