"Stuck In The Friend-Zone Again and Again"

"There's A Party"

A/N: {MIKEY WE LOVE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

Despite the fact that all I wanted to do was stay in one spot and fangirl, I had shit to do.

I brushed my teeth and had a shower, and threw my hair up in a towel.
I painted my nails with the new nail polish I had bought and added black tips.
I added two black bow sticker things to the corner of each ring finger.
I did the same to my toes.

The boys offered to set up the party in the back yard.
The people already came and set up the big tent before my parents had left around 11, so now the boys were setting up a few tables and decorating everything.
Streamers, balloons, sparkles, they were everywhere.

Once my nails were for sure dry, I took my hair out of the towel and painstakingly blow dried my hair.

I dressed in overalls and a plaid button up tank top.
I ran around back to help the boys, who promptly sat me down in a chair and told me to relax.
I didn't get much relaxing done, needless to say;
"Calum don't stand on that!"
"Ashton don't get glitter in your eyes!"
"Michael stop throwing streamers at Luke!"
"Luke be careful!"

I swear sometimes I was more their den mother than their friend. (I can relate so much to this tbfh)

Eventually I made grilled cheeses for all of us, and we devoured them.

The boys finished decorating, and decided it was time for me to get ready, since the party began at 4 and it was already 3.

I went into the bus and grabbed my stuff, before running up to my room and getting dressed, and doing my hair in careful ringlets starting at my ears, like Hannah did when the boys and I were at that interview.
I hairsprayed it evenly, in attempt to keep the curls intact.

I applied light pink shimmer eyeshadow and used liquid eyeliner to do winged eyeliner, which took forever but turned out pretty well.

I dug my Clinique Bamboo Pink lip gloss out of my drawer, and put a neat coat on, careful not to smear any on my teeth.

Finally, I spritzed some Dark Kiss Bath and Body Works perfume on.

I exited my bathroom and went into the main part of my room, standing in front of my full length mirror to examine myself.

Did I look okay?

I tugged at the hem of my dress.

Was the makeup too much?

The hair too little?

My insecure thoughts were interrupted by Michael calling me from downstairs, reminding me that people would start to arrive soon.

I travelled down the twirly stairs to the second floor, and made my way down the main staircase.

The boys were waiting ready at the bottom, talking quietly amongst themselves.
Their voices ceased however, when they caught sight of me.

I bit my lip nervously, reaching the bottom of the stairs and looking up at the boys nervously.

They all stared at me with an emotion I would describe as awe if they were looking at something amazing.

"Not good?" I asked anxiously.
"Just the opposite," Luke breathed.
"Damn, Paris," Calum remarked.
"Stunning," Ashton complimented.
"Wow," Michael said.
I smiled half heartedly. "Really?"
"Really," Luke reassured me with a smile.

We made our way out to the back where the tent was set up, and it looked splendid.
Little fairy lights (or string lights) hung around the edges and there were blue balloons floating around.
A big Aqua cake sat on a table, and steamers and glitter filled in the blanks.

"Awesome job, guys," I told them with a smile.
"Why thank you," Calum said faux-properly.

A head appeared through the opening of the tent just then.
"Paris?" A voice called.
I whipped around and couldn't help but grin.
"Jake!" I cried happily, running into his arms.
He laughed into my hair. "Hey, happy birthday!"
"Thanks!" I pulled away. "Come meet the boys!"
I grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the boys.
"Hi, I'm Jake," he greeted, holding out his hand to Luke.
"I'm Luke," he replied shaking it.
They all shook hands and exchanged names, though I was for sure that Jake already knew all of their names.

We chatted casually for a few minutes before more guests filtered in, Jake's arm wrapped loosely around my waist the whole time.

Soon, the party was in full swing, and music was pouring through the speakers set up strategically around the tent.

I danced the night away with all my closest friends including the boys and Jake.

When it was almost midnight, Jake led me away from the crowd and into the warm night air.

He took my hand in his own.

"What are we doing?" I smiled, almost high from the mode of the party.
"I just wanted to give you something," Jake told me with a mysterious smile.
"I did get you a present, mind," he continued. "But this one's rather hard to package."

With that, he let go of my hand and instead wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him until our lips met, and I could've sworn the cliche sparks flew.

He pulled away and grinned.
"Is that an alright present?" He asked.
"Quite," I responded breathily, thoroughly shocked.

He led me back inside, and back onto the dance floor, where Luke gave me a questioning Luke.
I simply touched a finger to my lips, still curled in a smile, and he nodded with a grin, understanding.
"How much better could this day get?" I wondered. "Birthday, merch, trip, kiss, surrounded by friends and family. What more could somebody ask for?"

Besides a piece of cake, of course.

"Alright!" I called over the music. "Who wants cake?!"