Almond Blossoms

Chapter 1

FLASHBACK

Louis entered the flat, feeling utterly exhausted. A groan escaped his lips as his bag slid off his shoulder onto the ground. He dragged himself towards the couch, thinking that he shouldn't have spent so much time last night at Niall's flat. He felt his bones sink into the couch, his limbs heavy with drowsiness.

Last night at Niall's flat
It was almost midnight. Louis was carrying a canvas, constantly hitting himself in the knees while Zayn was following Liam with a funfetti cake, towards Niall's flat. His flat was on the ground floor, similar to the one where he and Zayn lived. They reached near the window into his kitchen. Louis handed the canvas to Liam and placed his hand on the window's handle, ready to climb in as he wondered how easy it would be for someone to rob his flat.

"Who said it is a good idea to sneak into someone's flat through the kitchen window? " Liam breathed.

Louis turned around and snapped, "It's not someone's flat, it's Niall's flat, I know he won't mind. Also, do you have a better idea? "

"I am sure there is a better way-"

"No there isn't, so get in through the fucking window or wait for us here." he spitted as he placed his foot on the ledge and pulled himself into the kitchen.

"sO geT iN thrOugh blah blah blah." He mocked him in a high-pitched voice. "Dick"

"Geez, you two." Zayn muttered eyebrows pinched at the center as he stood behind Liam with the box.

He entered the kitchen, which smelled like pasta. He then grabbed the cake from Zayn's hand and helped him climb in, trying to be quiet. Both of them took the canvas from Liam's hand, placing it carefully on the counter.

"Get in, you ass" Louis said as he offered his hand to him.

"You suck" He took his hand and stumbled in, accidentally stepping on Zayn's toe.

"Ow! Liam!" Zayn squeaked, his eyes shut.

"Oops, sorry." He giggled, his hands reaching for Zayn's waist.

" 's alright" Zayn looked at him with a small smile.

"Shhh." Louis rolled his eyes at the pair turning to face the light coming from the living room. He could hear Niall playing his guitar, which meant that he won't figure out that 3 guys are crawling around his kitchen. Honestly, it was kind of dangerous but, that's how Niall was. He gets lost in his own little bubble while playing an instrument, unaware of the surroundings. A beautiful melody was filling up the air, coming from his direction. Louis checked his phone, it was 11:59, he elbowed Liam pointing at the time.

Zayn carefully carried the cake as they walked towards the living room, singing 'Happy Birthday' on top of their lungs. Niall looked peaceful as he was sitting comfortably on the big couch with his legs spread on the table in front of him until he heard their voices. He almost jumped off the couch like a cat, immediately placing one of his hands on his chest, the other one still holding his favorite acoustic guitar. He gasped, the eyebrows above his wide eyes almost touching his hairline.

A huge smile replaced the surprised expression as he recognized the owner of the voice, he chuckled as he got up. He chimed in the song and played the tune on his guitar. The boys slowly walked towards him, Louis and Liam dramatically throwing their hands around, like a conductor unifying an orchestra.

As soon as they stopped singing, Zayn slammed the cake on Niall's smiling face, sending everyone into a spiral of laughter.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Niall yelled, his voice muffled with layers of cake and frosting, sprinkles sticking in his blonde hair. The rest of the cake fell off his shoulders, over the floor. The boys were falling too, with laughter.