☀️ Jenna Walker - October 4, 2015

"Oh Jenna!" A sing-song voice boomed through the the door before loud knocks follow. I groan and flip over on my bed, not ready to tackle the day ahead of me. And just as I let my muscles relax another round of sing-song voices and knocks bellow throughout the apartment. "Jenna Walker!"

Knowing that they wouldn't go away any time soon, I huff and roll out of bed before opening the door to see thee smiling faces. I groan and make my way toward the couch before collapsing onto it.

"Come on, Jen!" Clover shouts while nudging my shoulder. "You're twenty-three today! Aren't you excited?"

"No," I mumble against the cushions. I really wasn't excited to be another year older, I just wanted to stay twenty-two forever. Actually, if it was a choice, I'd choose to be twelve for the rest of my life. So I wouldn't be trapped in a rebellious teen faze nor would I be an annoying little brat. When I smell Zayn's familiar scent, as well as one I detect as cake, I lift my head.

There stood Zayn with a soft smile and a very chocolate cake in his hands with the number '23' written across the top. "Happy Birthday, babe."

I sit up and look between him and the cake before pouting. "I'm so freaking old."

"You're just a few months older than us," Zayn comments. He shifts the cake to his left arm before tucking a strand of my hair with his right hand. "We're following right behind you."

"I'm turning twenty two!" Niall pipes from his spot on the recliner, licking what seemed to be icing off of his fingers. I glare at him for a moment but it's cut short when Clover slaps his arm. I swear, Clover could basically read my mind some times.

After getting over my grumpiness - from being woken up on my day off and turning twenty-three - we all headed toward the small kitchen my apartment had to offer before Zayn set me down on a chair and lit the candles. All three of my friends sang Happy Birthday to me (if you can consider it singing since Niall shouted every line and Clover tended to go off pitch, Zayn sang as beautifully as always) making a smile form on my face as I swapped between looking at the flame and Zayn. The minute I blew the candles out, Niall cut a piece and headed for the couch with a big grin on his face.

"Could you give us a minute?" Zayn asked Clover as she placed a slice of cake in front of me. I thanked her before she walked out with her own piece of cake. He takes a seat beside me at the table and watches as I begin to eat the cake that didn't taste store bought - I smiled remembering how last month Zayn told me he was going to take up baking. "I got you a present."

"You didn't need to do that," I say while putting a piece of cake into Zayn's mouth. "You already made this cake. That's a good enough gift for me."

Zayn smiles. "Glad you like it but I think this is so much better than chocolate cake."

He then pulls out a velvet box from his pocket and sets it in front of me. He encourages me to open it by wrapping an arm around me. I roll my eyes and open the box to come face-to-face with a necklace that adorned a Tennessee charm.

"Wow, it's beautiful, Zayn. Thank you." I press a kiss to his lips. He hums in response, keeping his distance close. "Despite dreading this day, thank you for making it better."

"I'll be there every single birthday you dread. That's a promise."

🎇 🎇 🎇 

(A/N): IT'S OVER, HOLY CRAP, GUYS THIS IS SO BITTERSWEET! ONLY ONE MORE CELEBRATION SPECIAL LEFT! AHHHH, I CANNOT WAIT. I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THIS SHORT STORY BECAUSE I CERTAINLY DID!

I LOVE YOU ALL xx

p.s. gif of our baby zayn x