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"Chosen family are the people who help you create the version of yourself you always wanted to be."  Oprah Winfrey

Harry beat me home.

We didn't say that it was a race to see who could get back to the apartment complex first, but we were both speeding down the roads as if it were. It was an unspoken battle, and I lost. I even had the advantage since his car windows were still fogged up from what we did in his backseat.

I meet him in the parking lot, and he turns around when I get close to him, bending over slightly. I laugh, running over and jumping onto his back like he wants me to. He's such a little kid sometimes. He stands up, giving me a piggyback ride towards the building. My arms wrap around his neck loosely, and the tips of his curls tickle my neck.

"Thanks for the tattoo," Harry says as he carries me.

I smile, even though he can't see my face. I haven't stopped smiling since yesterday, when he brought me to that spot by the lake and made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I say, "Of course."

I bring my head around the side of his and plant a kiss on the side of his cheek, wishing I could reach his lips. He just devoured me in the back of his car, but I want more of him. He smiles at me, briefly turning his head to meet my gaze.

He says lightly, "I should carry you around more often."

"Last time I jumped on your back, you threw me over your head and slammed me into the ground," I recall that time in the dungeon of the gym.

He says, "You were asking for trouble."

I reply, "You are the one that is trouble, not me."

He only hums in response.

I hop off his back when we reach the building. I get my keys out and open the door for us, stepping inside as Harry follows behind me. He's quiet as we go up the elevator, texting someone on his phone. I unlock the door to our apartment when we get there and push it open, stepping inside the place I get to call home.

I flick the light on.

"SURPRISE!"

I jump out of my skin, letting out a small scream and throwing my keys in the air as the loud mass of voices scares the absolute shit out of me. My heart is pounding in my chest as I see everyone gathered in the living room, smiling at me.

"Jesus Christ," I breathe, my hand on my chest.

"Happy birthday!" everyone cheers enthusiastically.

I look at Harry, who is smirking at me. He's so damn sneaky, stalling me first by asking for a tattoo and then taking me in his backseat. He retrieves my keys from the ground, handing them to me as I stand there, still stunned.

I look at all of my friends, a smile taking over my startled expression. There are birthday balloons and streamers hung up around the apartment, and they're all wearing pointy birthday hats on their heads.

They threw me a surprise party..?

"What? You—" I stumble over my words, too shocked to have any coherent thoughts. "I don't—this is—"

Niall, Zayn, Clove, Louis, and Pen all rush over to me, engulfing me in a lot of hugs. This is all so sweet. I feel like I could cry. My eyes sting a little, and I realize that I actually might start crying soon.

Clove says, "Since Harry hogged you on your actual birthday yesterday, we wanted to surprise you tonight."

"This is too much," I say, feeling overwhelmed with emotions as I take in what's happening. I say, "Thank you guys. This is so sweet."

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