Do You Realize? |l.s.|

XXIV

"C'mon kiddo, we're gonna be late for the party," Zayn says as I hurry to get my shoes on.

"Give me a second, Zee," I sigh, before running towards the stairs. "I gotta go get his present real quick."

"You take more time getting ready than mum," he yells to my from downstairs, and I just roll my eyes as I grab the present and hurry back downstairs. The car ride is short, and we don't even feel the need to turn on the radio  as we arrive five minutes later.

"See Zee, we're only like twenty minutes late," I say.

"You know I hate being late," he says in frustration.

"Yeah, well, rules were made for being broken," I pat his shoulder before getting out and strolling up to the door. He hurries to catch up before I knock on the door. It opens to reveal Niall standing there with a drink in his hand.

"The party has officially arrived!" he yells, stepping aside as we walk into a room full of chatter.

"You can't just say that for everyone who walks in, Ni," Liam rolls his eyes. "Hey kid, hey Zayn."

"Quit calling me kid, would you?" I say.

"No can do, kid," he says and I just huff as I take my jacket off and put it on the pile next to the door.

"Hey, look whose here!" Harry says happily.

"Hey Haz," I smile. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks munchkin," he says. "You didn't have to get me a gift!" he smiles as he takes it from me, putting it with the other ones on the staircase.

"Are you insane? Of course I'm getting you a birthday gift," I say.

"Don't mind me and my gift, Haz," Zayn huffs from behind me.

"Hey mate, glad you're here," he laughs, bringing Zayn in for a casual hug before taking the present like he did mine. "Okay, so drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, make yourselves at home." I walk further into the room and Harry takes a seat next to Liam, me taking a seat next to him because he's really my only friend here.

"Harry, you didn't tell me Louis was coming!" I hear Anne's familiar voice say happily in surprise. "Oh darling, look at you! You've grown so much since I last saw you!"

"Hey, good to see you," I smile at her. She was always so kind, and made it obvious where Harry got his charm from.

"Yeah, he's a cute one, isn't he H?" Gemma smiles, to which Harry just chuckles and I blush.

"You two leave Lou alone," he smiles. "But yeah, he's a cutie," he teases again.

"Shut up," I scoff, rolling my eyes as he just laughs. Calling me cute better not become a regular thing because it's pretty much equivalent to when I hear people call me a kid or call me short. We all talk a bit longer and me and Harry stay where we are the majority of the time before Robin, Harry's stepdad, walks in with the cake and Anne starts recording. We all sing happy birthday as he looks at the cake, clearly thinking about his wish. He looks at me and I nudge him as he realizes he needs to blow the candles, so does quickly as everyone cheers. Anne passes out the cake to keep the chaos on the down-low before we all sit, eating.

"Alright, whose ready for presents?" Liam announces after everyone finishes their food. Everyone cheers, excited to see Harry open their gift. Harry starts opening his gifts, getting excited over things like video games and sweatshirts, and the scrapbook of him and his friends from his mum. He opens mine to find a Stevie Nicks record that is signed by Stevie Nicks herself, gasping and staring at it in shock.

"You didn't," he says in awe.

"What the hell is it?" Niall asks from the other side of the room.

"You fucking idiot! This is amazing, I can't believe you actually got it signed!" he yells, smiling wide as he turns to me.

"Glad you like it," I chuckle.

"Like it? Are you kidding me? You're an actual angel, thank you so much Lou," he says.

"Harry! What did the kid get you?" Niall yells again.

"A fucking record signed by Stevie Nicks!"

"No shit," Niall mutters in surprise. "Louis, you might as well propose to him, now."

"Shut up, I just saw it on eBay," I shrug. "Plus, it was half price."

"Thank you, Lou," Harry tells me sincerely, calming down. Leaving the party, Harry hugs me extra tight to tell me thanks again, and we leave. Zayn keeps giving me funny looks and I eventually get fed up with it on the way home.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" I ask.

"You're so obvious, kiddo," he sighs.

"What?"

"I know you like him," he smirks. "No one gets someone they just see as a friend a gift like that."

"It wasn't that huge. I didn't even expect him to like it that much."

"Whatever you say," he shakes his head. "All I'm saying is, I would never get Niall something like that."

"Fuck off," I mutter, looking down to cover the blush on my face.

"Why so defensive?" he asks me, to which I just roll my eyes and get out of the car, to hear him chuckle as he gets out himself. He knows exactly how annoyed I'm getting, the fucker. Although, I have to admit I can't exactly deny it as I fall asleep with his words on my mind, knowing that he's exactly right.