"Uhmm, sure. But I actually have plans for the night so I can't stay too long." I murmured while scratching my forehead.
                          
"Ohh..." she looked at me suspiciously as she stepped in and sat down on the white puffy carpet, "What kind of plans and with who?"
                          
Special plans for the special day.
                          
"Alone, but I need to go buy a few things and then get those things to someone's apartment." I told her as I bit my inner cheeks.
                          
I actually came up with this plan just last night when I couldn't sleep. Even though the flight to New York was quiet and peaceful, my mind was swarmimg with ideas and thoughts about everything. I felt like I was obliged to get her a birthday present, something she deserved. I didn't know when she was coming back or was she coming back at all. But I did know that she hadn't sold her apartment and it wasn't empty, so she had to go there at some point and then she would see the gift I got her.
                          
"What are you gonna buy?" Jessie looked at me so dearly.
                          
She was one of the only girls I knew that enjoyed listening what I would do to another girl. Romantic things, I mean. Other women would just be jealous or wouldn't even listen at all. Not that I talked to a lot of women, but still. Jessie wasn't arrogant. She was very down to earth and caring and positive. That was why I really enjoyed her company.
                          
"I'm not gonna tell you. I want to keep it as a secret."
                          
"Aww, party-pooper." she waved me off while getting up from the floor and stretching out her hand for me, "Let's go watch the sunset, dummy."
                          
I stuck out my tongue for her before grabbing her arm and letting her try and pull me up from the bed. I watched her huffing and puffing, struggling to get me up.
                          
"Help me, please." she breathed.
                          
I got up quickly and she almost fell backwards if I hadn't catch her sooner, laughing at her weakness.
                          
"I'm not gonna talk the whole time we're outside." she glared at me and crossed her arms on her chest as we walked out the house.
                          
"Good." I grinned but soon my arm got slapped, hard.
                          
"Asshole."
                          
-
                          
Ava's POV
                          
"I don't know, I think I'm just gonna go out for a walk and then eat some pizza." I talked to Alex on speaker while dressing up in workout attire.
                          
"What a depressing birthday. I'm sorry you have to spend it like this. After all, you can finally get wasted." she answered, trying to sound sorry for me.
                          
"Not that I haven't been wasted before." I huffed air out of my nose, smiling.
                          
"Oh, you nasty gal." Alex giggled before someone started to talk to her in the background, "Sissy, I really need to go. Happy Birthday again!" 
                          
"Thanks, bye!" I replied and then hung up the phone.
                          
Well, at least Alex called me. Abbie hadn't even contacted me at all and my parents just sent me a text with a long paragraph and a picture of a money transfer certificate. Oh yeah, and Chad called me with Bri and their new baby Levi mumbling in the background. That phone call was the best I had ever gotten so far. I loved baby talking.
                          
I grabbed my phone and my Beats headphones and out of my apartment, shutting off the lights of course too. It was almost dark outside and it was only nearing 6 in the evening. But it was the perfect weather for a jog.
                          
-
                          
Justin's POV
                          
My hands full, I struggled to get into my black Land Rover. I put all the stuff I bought in the backtrunk and jogged around the SUV to get to the driver's seat.
                          
"Justin, can we get a picture?" a group of girls approached me as I was just getting.
                          
"Sorry, guys, I'm in a hurry." I apologized to them and threw the door shut. 
                          
A few flashed went off in th girls's phones and the paparazzi's cameras too. But I was fast enough to drive away so more people didn't see me in the street, all by myself.
                          
I drove a few blocks, since the place I was going to wasn't far away. 
                          
I wasn't nervous. I was happy to go put a birthday surprise for the person I would always  love and adore. She never left my mind, ever.
                          
As soon as I reached the right building, I drove next to the front door so the walk wasn't going to be too long. I wanted to get the stuff upstairs all in one. 
                          
Seeing the building and stairway brought back a lot of memories. Good and bad. But especially good. And they swarmed in my mind, leaving my skin tingling and shivering. I cherished every moment I got to spend with her. 
                          
Gladly, I still got a spare key to her apartment so I got in easily. I switched the lights on to that oh-so familiar living room. I smiled to myself, remembering the times we would be watching a movie and she would fall asleep, her head laying on my thighs. And I always stroked her hair and if I stopped, she would rush my hand to continue. It was the most precious thing ever. 
                          
I walked across the apartment to get to the bedroom. All the lights were off and the bedroom wasn't tidied up. The duveet's were still crinkly and there were a few clothes here and there. 
                          
I put the stuff down carefully and started to place them here and there. 
                          
During my flight I had contacted a friend of mine who was a talented painter. I asked him to paint five paintings of Ava, a few of them small and a few of them big. And of them was Esther. His style of painting wasn't too exact. He drew with free hand and never actually planned the painting before starting it. The imprint he left behind was beautifully messy but you could still see what the painting was about.
                          
I was just about to finish when suddenly, I heard the front door open.
                          
I froze completely.
                          
~
                          
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