❝ A D O R A B L E ❞

"This passive aggressive birthday gift war is getting a bit ridiculous," Addilyn giggles. "You do know that, right?"

"Shut up and help me wrap this," Aurora huffs, struggling with the giant panda on the kitchen floor. "Blondie will be awake soon."

The gifting war has been going on for the past week, consisting mostly of Aurora and Jack buying and returning gifts for Corbyn's birthday, each one better than their last. It even escalated to the point to where Callie and Jonah had grounded the two from shopping until December.

"Just put a bow on it," Jonah suggests, calmly drinking a cup of coffee as his girlfriend fights the roll of tape.

"But if it's not wrapped, he won't be surprised!" Aurora argues. "And I need every advantage I can get over Poodle because he actually believes he's outdone me this time like a dumbass."

"Hey!" Jack protests indignantly. "Corbyn is going to love my gift."

"What is it?" Callie teases. "A half eaten box of Cheez-its?"

Corbyn comes bounding down the stairs at that moment, preventing Jack from retorting and causing Aurora to shriek as she hurriedly shoves the panda behind the island and out of his line of vision.

"There's the birthday boy!" Daniel cheers excitedly.

"Happy birthday, Corbs," Addilyn states, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek as she slides her car keys off of the counter.

"Thanks," he grins, stealing a bite of her pancakes in the process. "Where are you going?"

"To pick up your gift," she informs him. "Will you watch Mr. Quackington for me?"

"You can't leave!" Carmen argues, gesturing to the grocery bags strewn across the kitchen. "We have fifty unmade cake mixes! You and Daniel are the only decent cooks."

"I am wounded," Zach pouts, crossing his arms. "I'll have you know, Miss Elliot, that my cooking is amazing."

"Oh please," Jonah laughs. "You once caught water on fire."

"I want to go with Addi," Jack chimes in. "I need to pick up Corbyn's gift too."

"Why does Jack get to go shopping but not me?" Aurora questions, crossing her arms and glaring at Jonah accusingly.

"He's not shopping, he's just picking up what he already bought," Jonah explains. "Besides, we need your help decorating anyways."

****

"Aww," Addilyn coos, peering into the small cage in Jack's lap. "Aren't you adorable?"

"Most people say I'm handsome," Jack smirks. "But adorable works too."

"Don't be so full of yourself," she scoffs, shoving the boy playfully before pulling out of the pet store's parking lot. "I was talking to the kitten."

"Ouch," he gasps. "So, where do we have to go to get your gift for Corbyn?"

"It's a surprise," the girl hums.

"Oh, come on," he protests. "I told you where we had to go to get my gift to him."

"That's because I'm the one driving you!"

Jack, who had been beyond prepared to argue, quickly closes his mouth as he realizes she has a point. Grumbling incoherently, he turns the volume up on the radio before sitting back in his seat and sulking.

Addilyn can't help but laugh, watching out of the corner of her eye as the curly haired teen fails to stay upset about being kept in the dark with the kitten constantly reaching one of his tiny paws out to bat at his hands.

Technically, Addilyn had two gifts for her boyfriend - one of which sat inches away from Jack in the glove box. It was the One Direction t-shirt Callie had pointed out to her during their day of shopping at the mall. Knowing how much he hated her comparing him to Niall Horan, of course she had gotten it.

But, the second gift has been kept as a complete surprise. No one knows about it and her plan had been to keep it that way until Corbyn could open it. Which was immediately ruined when Jack decided to tag along.

"When we get to our location, I'll show you what I got Corbs," Addilyn begins slowly, turning down the radio. "But, you have to promise not to tell anybody about it."

"I promise," he instantly agrees, glancing out the windows as her Yukon rolls to a stop. "Wait, why are we at the airport?"

****

Addilyn peeks her head around the front door discreetly, making sure the coast is clear before she waves Jack in with their gifts. From what it sounded like, everyone is still in the kitchen, which made it the perfect time for her and Jack to drag a huge box in without bringing too much attention to it all.

"I think I broke a nail," Jack complains, studying his cuticles.

"You'll be fine," Addilyn reassures him before leading the way to the kitchen. "It's better than breaking a bone."

"We we're beginning to think you two had gotten lost," Carmen states, being the first to spot them from where she's helping Daniel frost a rather tall cake. "You gave Corbyn separation anxiety."

"I'm sorry," she chuckles. Glancing around the room, her gaze lands on someone she had never met before standing next to Zach. "Who are you?"

"I'm Eben," the dirty blond says, flashing her a grin. "And I'm guessing you're Addi."

Mr. Quackington waddles out from behind the boy, quacking loudly in approval.

"Hey, guys," Jonah starts, sliding into the kitchen and sounding rather worried. "Have any of you seen Aurora?"

"Last time I saw her, she was playing with the helium tank," Corbyn shrugs his shoulders casually.

"I saw her driving a toy Lamborghini when I walked in," Eben adds.

"She's probably gotten arre-"

"SURPRISE, BITCHES," Aurora yells in a helium laced voice, causing Zach to scream and fall over as she jumps out of the cake. "LET'S EAT CAKE!"

"They told me she was crazy," Eben mutters to Addilyn as Jonah walks over to pull Aurora out of the dessert. "But, I didn't expect this level of crazy."

"This is actually calm compared to most days," Corbyn laughs. "You should see her when she has her firework bombs."

"Can you open your gifts now, Blondie?" Aurora questions, nonchalantly licking frosting off her fingers as Jonah throws her over his shoulder. "Because I need to prove a point to Poodle."

"I don't see why not," he concedes, offering Addilyn a piggy back ride to the living room. "Which one should I open first?"

"Mine!" Addilyn instantly shouts, nearly bursting his eardrum in the process. "Please? It's the really tall one."

"Alright," the blond gives in, walking over to the blue box that's barely taller than him as everyone gathers around.

Standing on his tip toes and grinning in anticipation, Corbyn hurriedly Yanks the lid off, causing all four sides of the box to collapse and reveal his gift.

"Surprise!"