I Wish

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

My hand subconsciously slapped to my face.

"Okay?" Niall said. "So don't sing it. No one's supposed to know it yet."

I started crying, my hand still over my mouth.

"Why are you crying?"

"Who wrote it?" I mumbled through my hand.

"Ed."

I cried harder.

"Don't cry."

    I tried to speak but my sobs choked every word that tried to sound. He walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me. When I tried to speak again, he shushed me and put his hand on my head. I drenched his shoulder with my tears.

"Are you okay?" He let go of me and looked into my wet eyes.

I nodded and wiped my cheeks with my sleeves.

"Why were you crying?"

"That's the most beautiful song I've ever heard."

He smiled. "Happy birthday."

I wept and buried my face in his chest.

"Thank you." I sobbed.

"Come on," he said, "we're going out for breakfast."

    He herded me out of the room, down the stairs, and into the lobby where everyone else was waiting in a big blob. After calming myself down, I snuck up behind Louis and jumped on his back, causing him to scream.

"Don't scare me like that!" He complained.

I smiled at him and he pushed me playfully.

"I hate you." He smiled.

"You love me." I winked.

"Hey." He tapped me.

"Hm?"

"Happy birthday."

"Thanks." I smiled.

"Okay, so listen!" Paul stood on a step stool, raising him about a foot off the ground.

Louis shushed me and we turned to Paul.

"Okay. Good morning everyone-"

"Good morning, Paul!" Harry and Zayn said together.

Paul continued, looking very unimpressed. "Okay, so first of all, happy birthday, Ayley."

I smiled. "Thanks, Paul."

    Suddenly, the room filled with "happy birthday"s coming at me from every angle.

"Okay, quiet down everyone, quiet down." Paul said.

The room was silent.

Paul continued. "We're going to this little breakfast place called Anne's, then we're going to the museum-"

"A museum?!" Harry exclaimed.

Paul had zero emotion on his face. "Yes, Harry, a museum. So when we get there-"

"I love museums!" Harry said.

"Will someone shut him up, please?"

    Louis, who was standing beside Harry, flung a closed fist between Harry's thighs and Harry fell to the floor, squealing in pain.

"Thank you." Paul approved.

"Was that necessary?" I whispered to Louis as Paul described the museum.