How To Annoy Your Neighbour

Step 26: Congrats! You've annoyed your neighbor so much, that he now loves you!

*EDITED*

Jamie's POV

  The next thing I knew, I was running towards Eli. He dropped his briefcase and let go of his suitcase. I flung myself into his arms and laughed. I pulled away a little and kissed him. He returned it instantly and spun me around.

  "Ah, I've missed you so much, Cuddle Bug.," he said and rested his forehead against mine.

  "Ditto, Jackson," I said.

  Click, click!

  We snapped our heads to the noise, having forgotten there was, in fact, an audience.

  "Liam!" Kianna snapped.

  Liam raised his arms in surrender, "Sorry! It was just too cute! How can you not take a picture of that cuteness?"

  Xiu nodded, "I agree. That's the kind of cuteness you search for in Pinterest under #couplegoals when you're single as hell."

  We all laughed. Then I realized that his stuff was all scattered on the floor and instantly moved to bring them inside.

  "What are you doing here, Eli?" I asked, "I thought you had some court thingy going on."

  Eli exchanged a look with Kianna, "That was a lie. Kianna called me a day before you called me and told me the plan. I was to come and surprise you for your birthday and under no circumstances, do I tell you this."

  I hugged him once again.

  "And this is for you." he handed me the big cardboard box.

  I smiled and lifted the lid. I gasped.

  "It's.....beautiful!"

  Liam squinted at it in confusion, "It's an.....ice cream machine!?!?!"

  "Yeah, so I don't become broke with all those tubs of ice cream we buy for you!" Eli tapped my nose.

  "You should know I'll be using the hell out of this," I said.

  "I'm counting on it." He grinned.

  I threw my arms around his neck once again, "This is amazing, Eli. I love it. Thank you so much."

  His arms tightened around my waist, "Anything for you, baby."

  I pulled away from him.

  "Well, there are more presents to open! Let's go, people! Chop, chop!" Kianna yelled.

************

  "Holy shit! Metallica in vinyl!? Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I hugged June and kissed her cheek.

  Beaming, she said, "Well, I know you've been complaining about how 'kids these days don't appreciate vinyl anymore' so, I figured maybe I should find you one, and I know you like Metallica. So...." she shrugged, letting that explain itself.

  I grinned and sat back down on Eli's lap. 

  "And that was all!" Kianna said, throwing her hands up in the air.

  I shook my head, "That better be all," I looked around and observed all of the presents I received; a bottle of Jack and a 30$ gift card to Marble Slab from Liam; a 1975 poster and two tubs of (kinda melted but still amazing) ice cream from Kianna and Howie; the Metallica vinyl from June (and Xiu); and of course my present from Eli, that was propped like a queen next to the couch.

  "Except, Eli has an announcement." Kianna quickly added.

  I raised an eyebrow and slid off of Eli's lap as he stood up. He cleared his throat and looked at everyone purposefully. He finally caught my eye, and held my gaze.