Imagine A World (Luke Hemmings a.u.) [in editing]

13 Birthday

Luke's POV

Once we're done with the pancakes (and there were a lot), I realize that's it's about 11:30. So, I guess that was a birthday brunch instead of breakfast.

I can't wait to give Madeline her present, but I know that I have to wait until later. I don't know how to occupy myself until then.

After about an hour of sitting around, Madeline speaks up, her head on my chest.

"Would you guys sing me a song?" she asks, sounding a little tired.

"What song?" I ask in return, stroking her hair gently.

"I don't know. One of yours." She adjusts herself into a more comfortable position.

"I'm not doing it if you're going to fall asleep on me."

She groans and sits up, rubbing her eyes.

"It's been a long day," she says.

"It's only 12:30," Ashton points out.

"Yeah, but I think I crashed at about 2 and then got up at like 8, so I'm exhausted." She rolls onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.

I roll my eyes, then gently move her over a little more so I can stand and get my guitar. Michael does the same, and Ashton grabs his drum box (I can never remember it's actual name).

"Come on, Mad, give us a song to sing, any song," I tell her, leaning over my guitar as I sit back down next to her.

"Um...sing me Voodoo Doll, I love that song."

I smile as Michael starts strumming.

"🎶I don't even like you, why'd you want to go and make me feel this way?

And I don't understand what's happened, I keep saying things I never say🎶," I begin, then Michael picks up.

"🎶I can feel you watching, even when you're nowhere to be seen

And I can feel you touching even when you're far away from me!🎶"

"🎶So tell me where you're hiding your voodoo doll, cos I can't control myself

And I don't want to stay, I want to run away, but I'm trapped under your spell

And hurts in my head and my heart and my chest and I'm having trouble catching my breath

So oh, oh, won't you please stop living me to death!🎶"

Once we're finished, Madeline looks far more awake and alert, applauding lightly.

"I love when you guys perform acoustic," she says after I've put my guitar away again.

"Alright, that's it, everything is acoustic from this point forward," Calum jokes.

"Very funny, Calum." Mad rolls her eyes.

We don't do much for the rest of the day up until dinner, when we actually physically go to a restaurant instead of just getting takeout. I already had my present for Mad in the trunk of the van.

We go to Olive Garden, the fanciest place I could think of. Also, I had remembered that Madeline had said it was one if her favorite restaurants, back when we were just texting.

The five of us sat down at a table in the back, away from any possible "intruders", if you know what I mean.

After we order and our food has come, Ashton announced that it's time for presents and pulls out his phone to take a video.

"Ashton, you look like such a dad right now," Madeline laughs. Ash just shrugs and starts to film.

"Me first, me first!" Michael says, wiggling his hand in the air. Mad and I both raise an eyebrow.