Unhinged √

31.

      The knock on our door is manic, it yanks me out of sleep to find Travis lying awake with an arm placed behind his head, playing a muted game on his phone. The cabin in all its glory has no internet connection and for the purpose of 'detaching from the real world', Zayn has refused to fix that little problem.

"Hey". He greets me with a smile.

"Hey". I can't help the confusion and he catches it.

"It's just Meghan". He answers my unasked question. The knock comes back, heavier this time.

"Well, what does she want?"

"Who cares? It's definitely something crazy".

"If you two morons don't get out of bed this minute and make my boyfriend's birthday fucking memorable, I will_"

"Shit. It's Zayn's birthday". Funny how it is supposed to be the reason for our being here and we somehow managed to forget it. I rush out of bed as Travis lets out a tiny sigh.

"We heard you woman, give us a second". He yells out to the woman outside our door while I scavenge my bag for the present I had gotten Zayn.

"Let me guess". He is suddenly beside me. "Lingerie". He points at the wrapped box.

"Nah. Did that one for his sweet sixteen".

"Boys don't get sweet sixteens".

"Ah, but sweet Roberto did even if he'll deny it till he perishes, as does his middle name". Travis laughs and I want to freeze this moment for a little while but we don't have time, Meghan Summers is outside our door that will soon be floored if we don't get out in the next ten seconds. So I kiss his cheek instead and hope I can give him a lot more smiles.

"What is it then?" He ask as I throw on a T-shirt.

"You'll see in a minute". He gives me a are-you-serious look and when I don't divulge anything, he walks to the beside drawer and yank the bottom one open with a calm 'fine'. He pulls out a rectangular shaped gift that is neatly wrapped, complete with the red bow. He catches my surprised expression and gets a bit defensive.

"What? He is my sort of friend too". I let out a chuckle.

"It's just new". And a long way from attempting to murder him.
"And totally welcomed".

       Meghan isn't outside of our room when we step out so we head for the living room but the only person here is Zayn with a bowl of ice-cream, legs crossed on the center table and a big grin on his face.

"How you doing birthday boy?" His grin somehow widens.

"Feeling sixteen again". I share a look with Travis who chuckles.

"I bet you do. Happy birthday man". I hold out the gift and he takes it, then rises to hug me. The hug always comes before the unwrapping because more times than not, the nature of the present usually left the recipient with the urge to punch someone or too amused to get it together.

"Happy birthday Zayn". Travis holds out his present and Zayn cannot hide his surprise either.

"Ehm_ Thanks Trav". He begins unwrapping it immediately to reveal a medium sized book. "Gardening for dummies". He reads out loud and I laugh but my boyfriend doesn't find it funny and cast me a warning look.

"You talked about missing your mom's green room and I thought this could help you start your own. I can give you some seeds from ours". I like the inclusion even as all I contribute to that garden is mix planting.

"Thank you". Zayn caresses the book. "It was very thoughtful".

"That's who he is. My thoughtful baby". Zayn raises his brows in question and mild amusement but I brush him off.