The Love of a Stranger

How About No

Kyle and I walked around town searching through shops. I was struggling to find something that would suit Dan.

"Ugh what do boys want for their birthday?" I groaned.

"Sex." Kyle blurted out without hesitation. I gave him a look suggesting that was not the answer I was looking for.

"Uhhhh, no. I mean gift wise, something I could put in a box or wrap with wrapping paper, come on Kyle that's the only reason I brought you here."

"Uh okay. Right. Dan. Birthday. Um..."

"You don't actually know do you?" I said with a poker face.

"I knew I should've of brought Woody."

He gave me a saddened look then repeated what I said mimicking me. I giggled to myself as Kyle stropped away like a child not getting what they wanted. After many hours of searching through shops and frustrated sighing we almost gave up.

"Just get him a t-shirt I'm sure it'll be fine." He waved his hand in the air clearly giving up too.

"I think that's my only option right now. What did you get him?"

His reply was just silence and a guilty face. I assumed the worst.

"You haven't even gotten him anything have you?!"

Yet again, a reply of looking guilty and fidgeting...a lot. I wasn't going to moan any more, I didn't want it to be my problem, I couldn't even find a present from me never mind sorting one out for Kyle.

I kept searching through racks of clothing questioning what I could possibly get for Dan. Everything was so expensive, I didn't have this sort of money, not of my own at least.

"What about this one?" I asked Kyle as I pulled out a t-shirt.

"Nah, he's already got that one."

I eventually found a jumper that I thought would perfect on him. It looked like something a granpa would wear.

"What about about this?" I asked showing Kyle. His facial expression changed.

"You found it, oh my god. Dan used to have that exact jumper but he lost it, he was never able to find it again. That's perfect, he'll love it."

It wasn't really expensive plus I found a pair of converse that went perfectly with it. I didn't waste too much money, I just needed to remember and buy some food before I went back to the foodless apartment. Kyle left as Dan had called him explaining that he needed him in to the studio. I made sure that I didn't forget about getting Dan his 'precious' Nutella plus a few odds and ends.

When I got back home, I wrapped the jumper and the box of converse up and tied a bow onto it. The last time I was in the house alone and I did some snooping which has now came to use as I found a loose floorboard. I was sure Dan didn't know anything about it so I hid the present under there. I thought I was a genius, but getting him a jumper and a pair of shoes didn't seem enough. After many hours of extreme thought I finally had an idea. I walked into the music room shut the door and then my ideas came to life.

That was probably the only time that the pointless amount of hours I spent with my teacher writing music has now done me a favour. I sorted out melodies, harmonies, choruses, verses and lyrics. It took me a while to get it right but three bin-fulls of crumpled paper later, my masterpiece was finished. I took my finished project and titled it 'For Dan' and hid it along with my other present. I also needed to sort out a place for the party and work out a guest list. I started to list people's names that the guys had already told me to invite when Dan came in cheerfully whistling away. I managed to hide the list before he get anywhere near close. He strutted straight over to me, leaned in from behind the sofa and planted a wet kiss on my cheek, then went back to the whistling. Something's made him happy.

"What's gotten into you?" I asked.

"Nothing, just the fact that every single gig for the Australia tour has been sold out completely." He had a genuine smile on his face which made his dimples appear on either side of his cheeks.

"No way! That's great! I told you Bastille were getting bigger and bigger."

He started jumping around like a child with excitement. He picked me up and span me around the room.

"Ow Dan my bruises."

"Oops sorry love." He said quickly and kissed my forehead as an apology. He walked into the kitchen when he started singing. He was way too hyper.

"What has Kyle done to you?" It took him a while to reply which started to scare me.

"How did you know I was with Kyle?" He stopped what he was doing and leaned his elbow in the counter the his other hand on his hip. I started to panic, my cheeks were getting hotter and my hands became sweaty.

"I-I just assumed that...that because you were at the studio so were the rest of the guys." That was a reasonable excuse right? He squinted his eyes at me picking up some items and putting them away, I blew out with relief. He walked back over to put more stuff away and he was back to being hyper.

"Oh I feel overjoyed."

"Clearly." I said. He helped me put away the food, that's when he found the Nutella...

"You bought Nutella!"

"Well yeah...you did ask?!"

"Then, does that mean...you'll do anything I ask?" He smirked raising his eyebrow also biting his bottom lip. He snaked his arms around my waist then I did the same except around his neck.

"Don't get your hopes up. You'll be lucky if I make you a cup of tea."

He growled at me and poked my sides which made me laugh and squirm.

"I'll see about that." Again, he poked my sides but I ran away before he could do anything else and packed away the rest of the shopping.

"You can run, but you can't hide. Just you keep that in mind." He said as he walked away after ruffling my hair.

"I can run, but I can't hide? Why don't you just keep in mind who has the same size of lungs as a mouse and hides like a camoflaging chameleon."

Nice authentic simalie Literate Laura.

After I packed away the shopping, I went into the bedroom while Dan was in the living room watching TV. I texted the guys so I knew who else to invite, I wrote down the rest of my list and it was done. I had decided that the party was going to be held here, it will end up in a complete bomb site with drunken people lying all over the place but it doesn't matter, it's a party.

What's the worst that could happen?

A/n: Agh shitty chapter again, but I'm glad someone's reading it. Wow these reads just keep on going thanks so much!! Just telling you guys, I go away on holiday on the 28th for 5 days, so I don't know if I get internet but if I don't I'll still be doing some writing. I'm driving down to York, buzzzzzzzing.