Percy's P.O.V

Today's the day. I think to myself as I walk towards the kitchen. As I enter my parents start singing happy birthday with a chocolate cupcake in hand.

"Thanks, you guys," I say blowing out the candle. "So what did you wish for?" My dad laughs "It won't come true if I tell you." I joke. "I think I know what he wished for..." My mom says with a grin on her face. I roll my eyes "If you say so Mom, but we'll see."

"Okay, we still have a few things to get ready for the party so we'll be outside." She says walking towards the door with supplies in her hand. "I have something I need to take care of. I'll see you guys later."

I get into my truck. Well here goes nothing... I say driving into town.

Natalie P.O.V

"Natalie, are you awake?" I hear my mom yell from outside my door. I put down my phone. "Unfortunately yes. Why?" She opens the door with a disappointed expression on her face. "You have to get ready for Percy's party. It's like 9 am already." I throw the covers over my face. "I don't want to." She pulls the covers away. "Natalie, come on you don't want to be like this if you already know that he's going to leave." She lifts a brow "I know, but-"

"But nothing. Your father and I are going to go help out his mother to get the party ready and we'll see you there." I nod as she smiles at me. "Good. We will see you later." She walks out closing the door. I stretch out over the bed and slowly get up. I grab my phone from the pillow next to mine and see the reminder light up that says Percy's birthday party.

I cancel the reminder and make my way to the shower. I quickly shower pulling on a short white dress. Today is probably the hottest day it's been this whole summer. I get back to my room and make my bed before opening the curtains and the window.

I decide to blow dry my hair before I go find something to eat. I walk into the kitchen to find the light still burning and turn it off as I shake my head. Am I the only one that is worried about the electricity bill? I open the fridge and find some of last night's leftovers. I grab a plate and take some of the food and heat it in the microwave.

Percy will be fine if I don't show up. I'm sure of that. I grab a fork mixing the food before taking a big bite. What the hell am I doing? I can't just leave him on his birthday. I push away the plate in front of me. And walk back into my room. Why didn't I get him a present? That was just so stupid of me. I look over to the counter with the Spider-man comic book sitting on it. Maybe I could give it back to him as a present. I should probably read it first. I did promise I would.

I grab it from the table and lie down on the bed as I open it to the first page. A small white piece of paper falls out of the comic book. I frown at the paper. Pulling it out from the last page to see that it has been folded. I put the comic book down next to me and start unfolding the paper. It is a letter.

Dear Natalie,

Oh boy, how I hope you read this before I tell you that I'm leaving. I know I should've told you sooner, but I didn't want to hurt you and didn't want to make leaving you a reality so just tried to keep it to myself. I don't know why I couldn't say this to your face, but you've always made me so nervous. You have always been my biggest motivator, biggest supporter and best friend. I didn't want to lose you like that, but I have fallen for you once again. Because I am pretty sure I am in love with you. Head over heels falling is how you would put it. I don't know why I just couldn't say this to you but the number of times I look at you daily and just think holy shit I just want to grab you and kiss you and the number of times where you think you're not good enough and I just want to scream. I am so in love with you that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, but I don't want to ruin our friendship because of it. And then there's the whole situation of not knowing how you feel. Because I never know how you are feeling. I just hope you get this in time.

And so if you only read this after I go.) I just want to say.

I love you.

I hold the note against my chest as tears fall down my face. I have to do something now. I think to myself. I grab a pair of sandals throw them on and grab my phone as I leave my room. I instantly call my mom. The letter was still clutched in my other hand.

"Hey, honey. What's up?" My mom answers casually. "Is Percy there?" I ask impatiently. "No, he isn't. His mother said that he said he had to go to the shops real quick." I let out a groan "Okay. Thanks, Mom see you later."

I run out the door running in the direction of his house. I'm halfway down the street when I see his truck closing in on their driveway. I push myself to run faster. My heart races with each second, and I hear my feet slam against the tar road. "Percy!" I scream as his truck stops in their driveway. I'm two houses away still pushing myself to not give up. "Percy!" I yell again as I see his feet from underneath his truck. I reach their driveway. "Percy!" I scream again. Out of breath. I put my hands on my knees. My head hanging. "Wait. Please just wait." I say out of breath.

I lift my head shocked. His golden locks are now replaced by a bald head. "What! Where is your hair?" I ask shocked. He sighs. "We made a promise when we were eight. Do you think I would have broken that promise?" I feel my chest fill with warmth from his reply. I walk up to him, grab his neck down to my height and kiss him. The butterflies in my stomach explode from the electricity between us. I let him go. Watching his wide eyes. I show him the note on the white piece of paper "I love you too."

I say biting the inside of my lip as he still stands there shocked. "I know it's too late and what I did was wrong. I shouldn't have shut you out, I am so sorry for doing that to you, you," He stops me mid-sentence as he pulls me against him. His hands rest against my cheeks as he pulls me in for a kiss. He pushes his lips against mine and instantly I melt into him. "It's okay. I'm so glad you're here." He says in between kisses. I pull away. "I didn't get you anything for your birthday..." I say disappointed in myself. "You got me the best gift ever." He smiles from ear to ear. "I just have one question?" I nod, my cheeks warm from blushing. "Will you go out with me?" He asks as he still holds my face in his hands. I smile as I nod "Yes. Yes, I will." I giggle as he kisses me once more. His lips brushed softly against mine. His thump caresses my cheek as he lets go.

"So you couldn't have done this yesterday?" He laughs "Because we could have avoided this whole situation if you just read the stupid comic book sooner." He points to his bald head. "I didn't open it until today," I say throwing my head into my hands. He pulls my hands away. "It's alright," he laughs "At least you read it." He shines me a smile. "So are you okay with being with a bald guy?" He asks making me laugh. "Well now that you mention it..." He watches me shocked. "I'm kidding calm down." I giggle.

"Are you ready for your birthday party?" I ask him with a big grin. "I am now," he says grabbing my hand, and kissing the back of it as we walk into the house. We are greeted with silence as we enter.

We walk out towards the garden and suddenly everyone jumps up screaming "Surprise!" Their joy is cut short as they stare at Percy's head. "Percy sweetie. What the hell did you do?" My mom confronts him as my dad laughs next to her. Percy turns his head towards me as he grins before facing my mom again. "I stuck to a promise." He says making me smile.

Everyone starts spreading out across the garden. I only now notice the small bruise on his cheek. "Percy, what happened to your cheek?" I ask genuinely concerned. He touches the spot as if trying to remember. "Oliver happened, but it's fine. He looks worse." My eyes grow wide. "What?" I ask. "We just got into an argument it's really fine I promise." He says reassuring me.

A few minutes later his mother walks out with a birthday cake in hand. We all start singing happy birthday as she walks closer to him. "So was I right about your wish?" She asks with a grin on her face. He nods his head. "Yeah mom, you were." She gives me a smile before looking back at Percy. As everyone gets back to their conversations she pulls me and Percy closer to her.

"Now I know that your father and I can't help with us moving away, but we have been talking and we think that we might be able to let you stay here in town. In your apartment. If you want to stay." His mom says to us in a hushed tone. "Really?" He asks in disbelief. She nods. "Now we haven't exactly finalised anything yet, but I have told your father that you are eighteen now and so you do have the right to be in your own space if that is what you want."

Percy pulls his mom in for a hug and thanks her at least 20 times before letting her go.

***

Most of the people have already gone home as the party comes to end. Percy's parents and mine decided to go inside for dinner, leaving Percy and me outside on the outdoor couch with Archie. My head is resting against his shoulder and my eyes are closed. "Hey, Nat." I hum a reply. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I sit up straight. "I was scared. I didn't want to say something. I thought it would ruin everything. And it was so hard not to say anything." He looks at me curiously "So that night on the Ferris wheel. This is what you were talking about." He questions. I nod in reply.

"Well if I knew that I would've said something sooner." He lets out a frustrated sigh. "This is why communication is important." I snort at my comment. Which causes Percy to burst out in laughter. "Well, I guess we'll have more than enough time to work on that now that I'm staying."

"I didn't think that you'd show up today." He admits rubbing the back of his neck. "I wasn't planning on it because I didn't want to ruin your day." He grabbed my hand "You could never ruin my day. You just made today the best day of my life. Which trust me sucks considering I'm bald now." He chuckles. "Well, I didn't know that you've never kissed someone."

His brows scrunch up in confusion "You never asked." I nod my mouth forming an 'o' as realisation kicks in. "That makes a lot of sense, but how have you never kissed anyone I mean look at yourself Percy. You're hot and nice." I blurt out. To only realise a few seconds later, what I had said and feel the blush creeping up my neck. "Well this might surprise you but I didn't want to waste my time with temporary people so I was just waiting for the right one." He shrugs "But thanks for the compliment." He says shining a bright smile. "Well I better get home, tomorrow is going to be a long day," I say as a stand up from the couch. "Really, but it's still early." He whines grabbing my hand "There are still a few things we need to get ready for tomorrow." He gives me his best puppy dog eyes and I cave. "Alright, just a few more minutes," I say as I get back onto the couch letting my head fall onto his chest.