1 Chapter 6

Abby's P.O.V.

Throwing on my black flats I look at myself in the mirror, my hair pulled into a braid, the blue still more vibrant then when I first got it done a year ago exactly for this occasion. I smile at my outfit; a pair of black denim shorts and a grey crop top that Zayn bought me the time we went to the mall thinking back to it that feels like it was yesterday but really it was almost two months ago. The crescent moon on my top makes me smile since I've always felt a connection to the moon. Things in the group have grown a tad bit confusing, Austin one minute is loving and affectionate towards me and the second he's being a complete asshole. Meanwhile Zayn is nothing but caring towards me, he makes me feel special in ways I can't even describe, and he doesn't ever switch up on me. I wonder if he likes me… I don't know who I'm falling for anymore. Before my thoughts, get carried away the doorbell rings and I'm brought back to reality. I'll continue to have my mental breakdown another time I suppose. Opening the front door, I'm met with five wonderful guys, one of them holding a birthday cake. I was surprised to say the least.

"Happy birthday!"

They shout in unison and I can't help but laugh as a smile takes over.

"Thank you, you guys are so sweet come on in"

We've all grown exceptionally close. The boys are like my brothers minus Zayn and Austin I can't figure out my feelings for them. Drake puts the cake on top of the coffee table in the living room and walks over to me and gives me a very big hug.

"Happy birthday Abby"

"Thanks, Draky"

I whisper back to him as he pulls away from the warm embrace. One by one they give me a hug each wishing me a happy birthday.

"Where's my hug Pooh!"

I call out to the boy hiding something in the kitchen.

"Coming Buttercup"

Zayn wraps me up in a tight hug and spins me around. He's special to me in a way that I just can't describe.

"What did you hide in the kitchen Pooh"

I whisper into his ear and hear him laugh.

"You are going to have to wait to find out, but I promise it'll be worth it"

I let out a small sigh as he pulls away and playfully glare at him and slip out of his grip before he has a chance to stop me, I run to the kitchen laughter resonating throughout the house.

"Hey not fair I said you had to wait"

Zayn calls to from where he is, in any normal situation he would have been able to stop me from opening my present before time, but this isn't just a normal situation.

"And it's so not fair that you're using magic to sit on top of the cabinets! Edward tell her she needs to get down!"

He calls out to Edward.

"Not fair you're totally tattling on me!"

I call out to him just before Edward walks into the kitchen to figure out what the hell is going on. When he walks in, I give him a small wave from where I am as I watch his eyes widen.

"Witch or not get your ass down here before you hurt yourself!"

I let out a laugh.

"Not until I open my present!"

I yell sticking my tongue out to both, of them. Sitting crisscrossed, I look at the bag that Zayn hid. Opening it I take out a small velvet box, holding it in my hand I look at Zayn. He's rubbing the back of his neck nervously as Edward continues to rant about me getting down. Opening the box, a smile forms on my lips. It's a necklace, the chain is somewhat thick and half of a heart hangs from it. The heart is a metallic blue and I smile even more when I realize that there's supposed to be another piece to this that I spot around his neck. Taking the necklace out of the box I put it on mentally promising never to take it off. I finally come down and run over to him once again in his warm embrace.

"Thank you Pooh… I love it"

I whisper so only he can hear me. He doesn't say anything but then again, he doesn't need to. The hours seemed to pass after that. The guys sang happy birthday and we ate cake and started to watch movies. We were halfway through the movie Vintage Point and I still had no idea what it was about, Austin seemed to be in one of his bad moods, but I couldn't help but wonder what was up with him lately.

Austin's P.O.V.

My level of annoyance was high the moment I saw them all flirty and touchy with each other. I know it's her birthday and I should be extremely happy for her, but I can't help but get jealous of their connection. I know I shouldn't be acting like a jerk, but I can't help myself I should have asked to be my girlfriend a long time ago but of course I'm impulsive and didn't do it now I don't think there's a chance of there ever being an us. I get up and make my way to the kitchen to try to cool off but then I hear those soft steps following behind me. She doesn't say anything, and I act as if I haven't noticed her presence. That is until we reach the kitchen and she makes her presence known.

"What's wrong Austin?"

She asks, soft worry lacing her words, as I turn to her.

���Nothing I'm fine"

"No, you're not, why are you ignoring everyone"

She keeps her voice low as to not let the rest of the guys hear our conversation. Although I continue to be a dick even when I know I shouldn't.

"I'm not"

"Yes, you are. I'm used to your moods swings with me by now but don't be a jerk to the guys especially when they've always been there for you"

Does she really think I ignore her?

"I don't ignore you"

"Yes, you do one minute you're my best friends the next you're acting like I'm just a stranger to you. It's like one minute you give a fuck and the next it's like I'm some chewed up piece of gum on the sidewalk"

"That's not true"

"Yes, it is Austin. But like I said ignore me all you want but don't be such an ass to the boys and don't tell me you're not because you have been nothing but a complete asshole since you walked into the house"

I look at her stone like face and realize that she's completely right. I've been acting like a total jerk to everyone especially her. I let out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry… for being an ass"

"It's fine we all have our bad days, want to at least tell me what's wrong"

"You and Zayn"

I answer honestly and immediately regret it as I look into those ocean blue eyes, as I watch them grow distant from me.

"You know that's my best friend right"

"Yeah but I can't help it… I don't like you guys being so close"

I reiterate in an aggravated voice. The tension between us growing.

"Why would you even care it's not like I'm dating you"

Her voice slightly raises. I watch as she's trying hard to keep herself calm and I can't help but put more gas into the fire.

"Why! Why! Maybe because I'm jealous has it ever crossed your goddamned mind!"

I yell not holding my composure any further.

"Jealous really that's what you're going with. I'm not dating you, correction we barely even hang out anymore as is, so you have no goddamn right to be getting bloody jealous over shit!"

"Because maybe I fucking like you, did that ever cross you damn mind!"

She stops talking and looks into my eyes. Her eyes are distant and almost cold. What did I do…?

"I am not doing this right now, not today"

Her voice just above a whisper barely audible. And with that she turns and runs eyes brimming with tears, you can hear the slamming of the study door.

Abby's P.O.V.

When faced with emotions, my first instinct is to turn and run and well that's exactly what I did. Taking sanctuary inside my study, I slam the door behind me you can hear the splint of the wood breaking with the force I unintentionally put into it. My eyes brimming with tears and I didn't even have a valid reason to cry.

"Happy birthday to me"

I whisper to myself as I pull my knees close to my chest, my chin resting against them. I could hear the distant sound of voices from the kitchen. The hell he thinks he is, he has not right to come to me and tell me something like that. There's a mixture of anger, hurt and something else that I can't exactly name burning within me. I sit here and let the meaningless tears fall until there are no more tears to spill. I hear a light knock on the door, but I don't say a word.

"Buttercup it's me… can you open the door? Please"

His voice is soft and caring. He sounds worried, I don't think too much before I reply.

"Are you alone?"

I whisper back.

"Yes"

With a slight twist of my arm the door opens and closes as soon as he's inside. He sits down next to me and just pulls me close to him. My head against his chest I can hear the soft beat of his heart. Making me feel better, we sit in silence for a little bit before he speaks.

"You want to talk about what happened Buttercup?"

His voice is soft and endearing.

"Austin's a jerk"

"Why where you guys arguing?"

"Because I asked him what was wrong, and he blew up on me"

"He said he was jealous"

"Of what?"

"Of how close we are… so I told him he's got no right because one we're not together and two he's been bipolar with me for months now"

"And how do you feel about that love"

"I'm confused I don't know what to think"

"About what Buttercup"

"My feelings… just everything"

"What do you mean by that?"

Oh, I don't know maybe that I don't know whether I'm falling for him or if I've already fallen for you. That's what I want to say but instead I say something else.

"I don't know he makes me like him one day and treats me super incredible and the next he's ignoring me like a dog. Then he goes and tries to kiss me and then ignores me for months on end. Then he blows up on me and blames it on jealousy. I don't know what he wants from me"

"What's your heart telling you to do"

To stop being a completely child and admit my feelings for you…

"I don't know I don't pay attention to it"

"Does it want to give him a chance?"

Is he pushing me towards Austin? Now he's confusing me. Emotions are complicated.

"I don't know maybe… do you think I should?"

"He's a good guy he just doesn't know how to express himself is all"

Zayn gives me a reassuring hug,

"It's your choice Buttercup"

With that he pulls me close to him again and I let myself get lost in the smell of his cologne. Minutes pass before I decide what I should do. Making my way to the living room with Zayn behind me I call to Austin who can't even make eye contact with me.

"Can we talk…"

"Yeah"

We make our way to the kitchen to talk. Surprisingly he's the first one to talk.

"I'm sorry I freaked out on you"

"It's ok but there was no need to start an argument over nothing"

"I know it's just that…."

"That you like me I know we've established that"

"Yeah… and I guess that I saw you getting so close to Zayn I just… I just thought I was losing my chance with you"

"So, what do you plan on doing about it"

He looked at me eyes full of curiosity and I gave him a smile. It took a while to register what was happening but once it did my lips moved in synch with his and he pulled away. Both of us slightly out of breath.

"Will you be my girlfriend"

"Yeah, I think I can give us a try"

I guess my heart did decide in the end, I just hope that I made the right choice. The last thing I need is another broken heart.