Affinity

All For You

It's come down to the conclusion that my birthday party is way more taxing than I thought it'd be. Besides decorations, there was guests to be invited, those even I know couldn't make it still had to be invited for courtesy, and even more than that, I didn't want to leave anyone out. For example, I simply replied to a guy from 5 Seconds of Summer on twitter and felt implied to invite the rest of his band. It just kept going until everyone that could make it came. I added the list as it drew closer, for example, Beyoncè and Jay-Z came after I invited them this morning. Then came the Jingle Ball, which was pure, joyous chaos.

Adam came, standing right behind the curtain, and we made eye contact a couple times during my performance. It's officially my birthday, I'm not officially 25 yet until 8:36 in the morning though, i think. But the surrounding air is crazy, I can barely stand the rhythmic droning in the car across the pavement heading towards my apartment. I was on my high from the performance, it was crazy loud and everyone was loud and dancing and all my friends were there.

It wasn't that the car was alone, it was loud and everyone was talking at once, but I was zoned out. Adam was next to me, and the only thing I feel is his hand on my knee, his thumb tracing circles. I look to him, too distracted by his touch to notice the others. His eyes search over my face, looking for any off emotion, and then slowly grins, trying to provoke me out of my trance, and I return it, resting my head against his shoulder.

"You aren't too tired, are you, Taylor?" Brit asks, sitting on the opposite end as I am, leaning to look at me.

"No, no. I'm fine, just ready to get there," I say and hide the yawn that approaches into Adam's shoulder so they don't see. I'm a bit tired, but that's only because of the drive over and daydreaming.

Adam leans down, close to my ear. "Are you actually tired? It doesn't have to last long."

"No, I'm fine, really. Just a little sleepy from the ride," I confess, kissing him briskly on the cheek for being thoughtful. I wasn't calling my 25th birthday party short. If anything, I'd let it go later. This was a big event for me.

He puts his arm around my shoulder, pulling me even closer, his smell now overtaking my senses. He smelt of laundry detergent and a boyish scent I've associated with him and home. The hum around us turned to smoother sound as we neared the street and came to a stop by the door.

"Thanks, Jerry!" I shout to the driver and slide out the car, waiting hesitantly for Adam before hurrying inside, a giddy smile already on my face. I can hear the faint bass even from out here, i had told Abigail to leave early and get the doors open so guests could go on and get oriented.

Adam takes my hand as we hurry in, next to the rest of the small group of friends that came to the performance.

The party is going wild when we walk in, just as I imagined it to be as we set up. A photo booth background area is set up against a wall and people such as Nick Jonas and what looks to be Justin Timberlake take pictures as a group. I'm swarmed as I walk in, several people belting 'happy birthday's', others forcing themselves at me in a hug. I barely got a marker on who was hugging me, just a blur and a smiling face. At least they were having fun.

I smiled along, trying to keep track of Adam as best I can. He's staying close but continually distracted by people asking him if he's who they think he is.

"Is that.." Selena points to Adam as he laughs at something Jack Antonoff said a second ago. I nod and she gapes at him, a slight nod and a thumbs up tells me she approves pretty quickly by looks. Taking an outside look on him, he does look like a stunner, I don't really think about it as much because I find his personality so much more appealing, but he really is hot and it sparks a flame of pride inside me that he's mine.