( shot down ) ☹ ( Calum T. Hood )

four

four

Zoey pulled open the door of her house to be greeted with her boyfriend, Ethan. They had began dating about a month after they met that one day in the auditorium. She had been teaching him sign as well as him learning on his own.

"Hey Zo," Ethan started as he walked in and toed off his shoe and shrugged off his jacket before grabbing her waist and tugging her close against him and kissing her softly. She smiled into the kiss then pulled away.

"I've got something for you." She signed before grabbing his hand and tugging him towards the back door. They stopped in the kitchen where the back door was and the curtains drawn. It was dark in the kitchen. She grabbed the black happy face bandana off the counter and folded it before smiling at Ethan and wrapping it around his eyes and tying at the back of his head.

He smiled and Zoey was loving his teeth without his braces. He got them off about a week or so ago.

"Can you see anything?" She spoke aloud and Ethan shook his head no. Zoey smiled and pressed a chaste kiss against his lips before pulling open the curtains and sliding the glass door open and stepping out while leading him out the door.

Zoey held his hands as she pulled him towards the middle of the patio and stood him straight before standing with the rest of them.

"Okay. Take it off baby." Zoey said as she watched Ethan tug the bandana off then gasp.

There stood in front of him was his girlfriend and all his close family from Canada. Zoey had a very sweet smile on her face as she stood beside his mom and dad.

"Happy birthday baby." Zoey signed to Ethan. His eyes welled with tears and a few stray tears slipped down his face. His mom and dad ran to hug him and Zoey clasped her hands together and brought them to her chest as she smiled lovingly at the sight.

As the family broke apart from the hug, Ethan motioned her over. Zoey walked over and Ethan encased her in a tight hug. His arms wrapped around her shoulders as she hugging him tightly around the waist.

As they pulled away Ethan signed Thank you and pressed a loving kiss to her lips. She hummed and pulled away as she turned to his family.

"I thought you deserved a good birthday here. Seeing as it's your first and last being in Australia." Zoey signed and spoke to so that his family could understand her. Zoey's smile turned to a sad smile as she stared into his beautiful blue eyes. They reminded her of Luke's but his had a more washed out blue. Almost grey.

Ethan tilted his head softly as his nose scrunched up for a second. He must have been sniffling.

"No need to mope. We still got a week together." Zoey signed to him and only him. He sighed and nodded softly. Ethan's arm wrapped snugly around her waist as they all chatted together. Zoey had to rely a little more on Ethan as his family spoke really fast and often times forgot she was deaf. Zoey didn't so much as left out. She felt more slower then usual and Ethan would often have to tell them to slow down when speaking to Zoey.

It had reached dinner and Daryl, Elisa, Michael, Macey, Ethan, and his family were all in the backyard. Either sitting in the grass, on the deck or in chairs as Daryl and Michael barbecued for the most of them.

Ethan was sat in a grey deck chair and Zoey was sat on his lap with her legs strung over the arms of it.

"I'm going to miss you." Zoey signed before placing a soft hand on his collarbone and playing with the gold necklace she gave him for their six months. It had a little turtle on it with her initials engraved on the back of it.