Moments || H.S

nineteen ; another year

Today, I am another year older.

I was woken with a powerslam. Yes. A powerslam. Harry Styles took it upon himself to enter my flat at 8am and jump directly onto my sleeping body... scaring the living daylights out of both me and Diana.

"Wh- what the fuc-"

"HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY AVERY MASTERS!" Harry screeches, grabbing my face with both of his hands, "you are so old now. Welcome to the club." He shoots himself up, sitting cross-legged on my bed. Diana meows at him, moving towards him and going onto his lap.

"Oh! So he scares us, and you sit in his lap? Typical." I laugh, rolling my eyes.

"C'mon. Get that ass up, you've got presents!" He exaggerates on the word presents, turning up into a sing-songy voice. My face softens immediately.

"Really? You got me presents?"

"Why wouldn't I? You only turn 25 once, Ave."

I sit at the kitchen bench, surrounded by the people I love. Harry is making me breakfast, my parents sitting on the two barstools beside me. Everything is well.

In being alive for 25 years, you'd think that I would have learned a lot. And well... I have, in a way. I learnt my love for music. I learnt appreciation for the finer things in life. I learnt about toxic relationships and how to leave them behind. I learnt about friendship. Love. Soulmates in the purest form. I learnt about happiness, and what it actually means to be happy. In saying that, I still have a long way to go. I am only 25. There is a whole other world that lies ahead of me... adulthood. Marriage. Parenthood. Grand parenthood. Great grand parentho-

You get the point.

"And breakfast is served to the newly turned 5-year-old." Harry slides the plate of pancakes in front of me, brandishing his proudest look. I try and hide my laughter in my hand. "What?" he asks, looking continuously from me to the food.

"Nothing!" I bite my lip, trying to contain my laughing.

"Nice artwork, Haz." My dad says, chuckling lowly to himself. Harry gasps, suddenly realising what both me and my parents found so amusing. On the topmost pancake, he used syrup to try and make what am I assuming is me and Diana. It looks like a wonky snowman with a clump next to it.

"I'm a singer, okay? Not an artist. Cut me some slack!" He laughs, grabbing me a fork from the drawer and handing it over, "did you guys want some?" he looks to my parents.

"Only if you don't do any art on it..." My mum smiles sweetly, an undertone of seriousness to her voice. Harry narrows her eyes at her,

"Deal."

Today, I am another year older.

It's dinnertime at the Styles manor. I sit at the head of the table, looking at everyone who came tonight. Harry- obviously, mine and his parents, Niall, Louis, Liam, Zayn, Mitch, Sarah. Gigi and Eleanor were there too. I feel nothing but love, being surrounded by those who I know care for me.

It was Harry's idea to eat dinner at his place; he insisted, as it was bigger. "More entertaining space, Ave. Plus... I don't get to use my dinner table very much." It didn't take much convincing on his end. His place was bigger. And understandably so; he's a world-renowned celebrity.

"I would like to make a toast." Liam says, lifting his 3rd glass of champagne in the air, "to the wonderful birthday lady." His cheeks are flushed as he smiles lazily around the group. He isn't quite drunk- but is definitely on the way.

"Make it PG, Payno." Louis laughs, swirling the alcohol around in his glass.

Liam looks almost offended as he gawks at his ex-bandmate. "How dare you think of me that way, Tommo. I am truly s-"

"Alright- alright, get on with it!" Harry comes back from the kitchen, taking his seat back at the table, "I heard you're making a toast. Give it your best shot. Someone, you may need to get your phone out."

Phones rise from around the table as Liam decides to stand. "Ave... Avery Masters," He pauses, downing the rest of his glass, "today you are 25. Realistically you are a quarter of the way through your life, assuming you live until 100-"

"Get to the point, Liam!"

"You have done a lot for us boys over the years, Harold especially. I just kinda wanted to say thank you and I'm glad you're here with us. There. Is that to the point enough??" He gently places the glass onto the table, letting his legs drop him back onto the seat. I clap, and soon everyone else does too. Liam looks proud, smiling. He then proceeds to lean over and grab Niall's champagne, taking a few sips from it. Niall shows a face of pure confusion.

Today, I am another year older.

I have had the best birthday of my life.

See you next year, March 18.