Under The Willow Tree • Louis Tomlinson

xxxiv.

xxxiv. deck the halls with cheer & horror [pt.1]

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Snow gently fell onto the cool ground outside. The world was coated in a white dust. It made the world quite, made it feel smaller. Christmas was two days away and none of the boys had hung up Christmas decorations. That was because instead of a Christmas tree and lights, Louis and Harry's apartment was filled with balloons, streamers and signs. All of which had 'Happy 21st' written on them. We had had a big birthday bash two days ago for Louis where all his celebrity friends got to party with him but this was his proper birthday party. A party for the band and myself that will hopefully go seamlessly from the 23rd to the 24th.

Louis knew we were planning a birthday party so instead of being swept out of the apartment until the part started, Louis insisted on helping set up. We didn't really mind him helping as it wasn't a surprise party.

"Where's Niall?" Harry asked us as he sifted through a box of streamers on the floor next to me.

I stopped myself from blowing up the balloon I held and asked the same question. "Yeah... where is Niall? I mean the rest of you are here so where's the Irish fella?"

My comment caused the rest of the boys to stop and think. Liam and Louis were in the kitchen preparing Louis' birthday cake. Louis glanced from me to Liam and noted "We haven't been seeing much of Niall lately. He always seems to be busy with something else."

"Probably a new restraunt that he doesn't want us to know about." Liam chuckled as he got back to cracking an egg to add into the mixing bowl.

"Nah He would have told us by now Liam" Zayn pointed out. "He has been quite distant in the past month. Only done stuff that he has to. Never any fun bonding time with us."

All four of the boys and myself thought about how Niall had been acting weird in the past month. Zayn was right. Niall had only been to mandatory band things. He only participated in recreational activities with us if he really liked what we or doing or if he told us that he had nothing else to do.

"Well isn't that strange." Louis finished of the conversation after an awkward long moment where we were all silent. The rest of us chuckled softly, to ease the awkward elephant from the room. We all went back to doing what we had been doing before. I was halfway through blowing up the balloon when I heard a knock on the door. All five of our heads shot up to assess the situation.

"Five bucks says it's Niall" Harry smirked. He stood up and brushed the confetti from his hair and body. As he was the closest Harry took it in stride to be the one to answer the door. Harry had not even opened the door an inch before a blonde hair boy tumbled into the apartment. We all looked at him in surprise and Harry also threw him a glare since the door had hit him in the face. "Well hello Ni-"

"Guys I have to tell you something!" Niall cut off Harry by yelling at us. His face was wild with excitement. His ice blue eyes were full of secrets he just had to share. We all just stared at him. Niall always had something to tell us but this certain thing was probably going to answer the question Harry asked only minutes before.

"Mickie is coming tonight! And I have to go get ready and oh my I need to go shopping for a present!" Niall was jumping on the spot like a pixie on drugs. After he blurted out his information that did not make any sense, he quickly turned around and started to head out of the door. It was only for Harry's quick reflexes that he grabbed Niall before he was out of the door and turned him back to face us.

"Explain" Harry ordered, "And sit."

Niall quickly jumped onto the couch and the rest of us followed suite. I squished in between Liam and Louis and waited for Niall to start his story. Instead of blurting out all he had to tell, Niall just sat there. Smiling.