Nicoles POV
Oh. My. Gosh. Why am I so clumsy? Gosh this is so embarrassing. I have no idea what I ran into, but all I know was that it wasn’t very soft. Same goes for the ground. Some hard tools landed on my lap also.

“Nick!?” Zayns voice rung in the dark.

“Zayn?” Nick whispered. With a sudden flick of a switch, the lights came on. I flinched back because of the dramatic light change and hit something hard. Again.

An open box full of clothes fell over and landed on my head, covering up the scene I barely got a glance at. Harry was hugging Nick, his cheek pressed up to Nicks.

"Harry?" I heard Nick question. I heard a few shuffling before Harry spoke.

"Sorry, I-I thought you were-"

"Nikki?" Zayn cut of Harry and I felt my cheeks flush red. I slowly reached up and lifted the box up slightly. I peeked up from under the box and a jacket that was in the box and blushed even more at three different pairs of eyes looking down at me. I opened my mouth to speak, but instead some weird noise left my parted lips.

All three of them burst out laughing, throwing their heads back. I frowned and shifted to get up, but the golf club propped up next to me fell on my hand, making me let go of the box. It landed back on my head, once again blocking my view. I heard the boys roar in more laughter, but I didn't think that it was funny and for once I didn't blush in embarrassment. I nudged the golf club off and took the box off my head. I glared up at them.

"Ow" I whined, but it sounded more like I snapped at them.

"Are-" Harry gasped for breath he was laughing so hard. "Are you-"

"Save it" I said, standing up and angrily pulling the jacket off my head. The tools and clothes fell the the ground and a screw driver hit my bare foot. "ow!" I squeaked and started hopping on my foot, cupping the other one with my hand. The boys continued to laugh at me. I hopped on the screw driver, hurting my other foot.

"Stop hurting yourself" Nick giggled and I tried to glare at him, but failed.

"Ow ow ow" I whined, now hopping on my other foot.

"I found the rope!" Anjelica said, opening the garage door. Wow, I'm surprised that she isn't somewhere with Niall right now.

"AW WHAT?!" Louis shouted from somewhere in the house.

"Now how can the rope not be in the garage?" Nick asked aloud.

"I thought that you were with Niall" Zayn truthfully said and shrugged. Anjelica rolls her eyes but smile while she did. "Whatever." She replied. Anjelica raised an eyebrow at me. "What happened to you?"

"These three is what happened" I said, squinting my eyes threateningly at the three smiling boys.

"Well alright..." Anjelica answered before smiling brightly and turning on her heel "I get to hit the piñata first!" She said, skipping away out of sight.

"Sorry Nick, I could have sworn the rope was in here" Zayn said, scratching his head.

"It's all good" Nick smiled and walked outbid the garage with Zayn.

"So uh" Harry cheekily smiled, "how's your feet?"

"Enough you big bully" I said, pouting an furrowing my eyes at him.

"I'm not a bully!" Harry said, gasping. But his lips still curled upward. I looked into his bright green eyes and tried not to indulge in the fact that we are alone and he's extra handsome today with his tousled curls and low v-neck.

"C'mon Styles" I said, turning towards the door and taking a step.

"Wait" Harry said, unexpectedly grabbing my hand with his. I bit my lip and looked over y shoulder at him. His face was blank and expressionless. "Let me hold your hand" he said in all seriousness. I felt my neck and cheeks instantly burn and I couldn't bring myself to look away. Harry's face suddenly broke out into a goofy smile and he stifled his giggles "don't want you bumping into things" he said, his voice cracking.

"Ugh" I groaned and pulled my hand away even though I didn't want to. I walked out of the garage with Harry right behind me muffling his giggles. Like seriously, there isn't anything funny. Harry and I walked out to the backyard since no one was in the living room or kitchen.

It was windy and cloudy outside, a drastic change from the nice sunny morning. But then again, it's still January as the weather likes to be bipolar right around this time. I tucked my curls into a bun, which still didn't do much to keep my curls from whipping around in the wind.

Liam was finishing tying down the piñata while everyone seemed to crowd around him and watch. "Done" Liam said, standing back and smiling down at the piñata.

"Yes! Gimme a bat!" Anjelica said, smiling wide and practically leaping into the air with excitement.

"Here you go babe" Niall said, stealing a peck to her cheek after handing her the bat.

"Everyone stand back" Liam said in a fatherly tone and we all stepped aside. Louis quickly tied a dark, blue bandana over her eyes an swiftly spun her around five times before letting her go. He stepped over next to Liam who was tugging on the rope it lift the piñata out of reach. Anjelica swung hard, not even facing the piñata.

"Other way" Nick giggled with Zayn. Anjelica noticeably blushed and turned around, now in the direction of the piñata. Liam lifted it high up so Anjelica was blindly swinging at the air.

"Where is it?" Anjelica groaned in frustration, stepping around and swinging. We all giggled and Liam loosed up on the rope, causing the piñata to fall down on her head. "Hey!" She yelled, swinging up and making three hard lows to the piñata body.

"Good job! Nick, your next" Liam said and Niall un tied Anjelica piñata.

"Damn it! I wanted to break it" Anjelica pouted and Niall chuckled at his hard core girlfriend. As Zayn tied Nicks bandana, I felt the wind pick up and the sky grew even darker than it was before.

"Brrr" I shivered and shook my arm to rid them of goosebumps.

"Cold?" Harry asked, draping his arm over my shoulder.

"Just a little" I mumbled, looking up at him.

"Am I even close to it?" Nick asked, and I turned my attention over to the birthday boy. Nick was searching for the piñata with the bat.

"You're getting warmer" Zayn smiled wide at the blind blonde. Nicks bat lightly touched the piñata and Nick cheered.

"I FOUND IT!" He yelled and swung just as Liam pulled the piñata up an out of reach. Nick frowned and we chuckled at how cute he was. Liam slowly lowered the piñata behind Nick back and Nick took us all by surprise when he swiftly turned around and smacked a hole in the piñatas leg.

"Candy!" Louis squealed like a child and was about to run, but Liam held him back with one arm.

"Don't he still has the bat" Liam said and Louis longingly eyed the candy slipping out of the hole. The candy stopped coming though, for the hole wasn't that big. Nick pulled off the dark bandana and became down at the candy.

"I win!" He cheered and picked up some candy.

"Wait, there still is piñata left" Liam said. Nick looked up at the piñata then looked around at us.

"Who wants to go next?" Nick asked and everyone except Liam and I said anything.

"Why doesn't Nikki go?" Liam suggested and I shook my head. I'm not one to get spun around blindfolded.

"Sure" Nick said handed the blindfold to Harry. Harry slid his arm off my shoulders and I couldn't help but feel cold without it there.

"But I-" I started to protest, but stopped when Harry suddenly blinded me with the bandana. I froze when I heard thunder echo across the sky. I felt myself shake and I let out a pathetic squeak.

I have a secret fear of thunder and lightning.

"Is that thunder?" I asked.

"Ah who cares" Louis said and I felt a bat be shoved into my open hands and someone started spinning me. I felt dizzy and uneasy by the lack of sight.

"Go" Anjelica said and I felt someone lightly push me forward. I stumbled a bit and leaned side to side, still dizzy. I heard another boom of thunder and held the bat close to my chest, shivering in the quickened breeze.

"Swing love!" Liam yelled encouragingly and I took a deep breath. I held the bat with both hands and tilted the bat out in front of me. I slowly swung around, trying to find the piñata and smash the stupid thing and go back inside. After taking a few steps around, the bat lightly touched the piñata an I grinned.

An unexpected rush flowed over me and I blindly swung around like a mad woman. I hit the piñata once and felt a few pieces of hard candy hit my tingling skin.

"Yeah! One more Nikki!" I heard Niall cheer in his thin Irish accent. Just as I was about to swing, an enormously loud crack erupted in the sky. I froze and felt a water droplet hit my cheek. I felt a couple more and shook, fearfully waiting for the next loud boom.

"Rain?" Harry said in confusion and all of the sudden the rain started coming down fast. I dropped the bat and took off the bandana.

"Rain!" Anjelica yelled and covered her head with her hands in attempt to stop the rain from curling her straightened hair. Louis started picking up candy off the grass, not caring too much about the rain. Lightning lit the sky and I screamed.

Lightning was loud, just like my parents were when they were married. Arguing and yelling disgraceful things at each other. The lightning was just like them. Loud and scary. Liam quickly collected the rope and piñata while Niall and Anjelica were already running into the house. The rain pelted down and I couldn't help but feel like this was all too familiar. But this time Harry wasn’t yelling at me and everyone wasn’t staring at me. I wasn’t balling my eyes out like a baby and Nick wasn’t protecting me from Harrys wrath.

"Nikki?! Let's go!" Harry said, running up in front of me. I latched into him, not caring how stupid I seemed with my heart racing. I always get worked up when there's lightning. I can't help it. Harry rushed me inside, Liam not far behind us. Liam shut the sliding glass door and locked it with a happy sigh.

"That was weird" Liam chuckled, but then looked down at me with concern "are you okay?" he asked.

"Y-yeah" I breathed, closing my eyes and nodding. Hello? Reality here calling to say that you're a freak, I thought to myself. No one gets freaked out over lightning. I opened my eyes again to see Liam still looking down at me with concerning eyes.

"I'm fine" I said reassuringly and I was glad to have his attention diverted away from me when there was a loud knock in the glass door. Louis was still outside, holding wet candy in his hands.

"Let me in!" He shouted, his voice sounding distant. I smiled and Liam chuckled as he unlocked and opened the door. Louis ran in and almost slipped due to his wet, bare feet.

"You left me out there on purpose" Louis huffed.

"Did not" Liam said and Harry shook out his dripping curls.

"Ah Harry!" I giggled, now in good spirits. Harry's hair flicked around, sending water my way.

"Sorry" Harry sheepishly grinned, giving me the honor to witness his beautiful dimples. My dimples aren't as deep as his....

"Let's go change" Liam suggested and I nodded.

"I'll just borrow Nicks clothes" I said. Liam headed off to his room and Harry and Louis headed off to the room they shared. I walked up the steps after them and stopped in front of Nick and Zayns slightly ajar door. I slowly opened it a little more and peeked inside. Nick was sitting on his bed in his pajamas while Zayn kneeled in front of him, gently drying Nicks hair.

."Sorry it rained on your birthday" Zayn mumbled as he rubbed the towel against Nicks hair.

"It's alright" Nick replied, definitely liking the way Zayn scratched his scalp.

"It's not. I wish I could have gave you a perfect birthday like you did for me" Zayn sighed and set the towel down.

"As long as I have you, it's the best birthday ever" Nick smiled down at Zayn, then blushed red in shock at what he just said and stumbled awkwardly over his words "and the boys and my sisters of course" Nick said.

"Sisters?" Zayn asked, tilting his head up and to the side.

"Yeah, Anjelica and Nikki. My sisters" Nick said. My heart warmed at his words.

"You're so cute" Zayn chuckled and stood up. Nick blushed more and tried to brush it off by attempting to fix his hair. Right about now would be a good time to walk in like I wasn't easedropping on their conversation.

"Ease dropping I see?" Harry whispered into my ear and I stumbled forward through the doorway. Darn that boy, I thought. I watched Harry scurry away and I looked over to see Nick and Zayn staring at me.

"I um, just came for some dry clothes" I coughed awkwardly and quickly retrieved some of nicks clothes. I used the bathroom down the hallway to change and thankfully my undergarments weren't wet since I wasn't soaking wet. After I changed into a pair of sweats and an Ed Sheeran t-shirt Nick got when he went on his tour, I went to the laundry room on the other side of the house and put my clothes in the dryer to dry.

I quietly hummed to myself as I walked down the steps with cold, bare feet. I trailed my fingertips on the handrail, tapping my fingers against the painted wood to the song I hummed. Once I reached the bottom of the stairs, I put my hair into a neater bun and stretched out my limbs. I looked down and wiggled my toes, randomly mentally checking myself to paint my toenails a different color than pink. I walked into the living room where I heard soft talking coming from.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Louis asked, rocking back and forth on his butt as he hugged his knees. Nick was sitting on the couch with Zayn and Liam while Niall and Anjelica were in there usually spot cuddled up in the love seat, and Harry sits on the floor next to a rocking Louis.

"Well.." Nick pondered, rubbing his chin comically.

A screeching thunder clap roared and all the lights went off.

"Not again" I whined in the darkness. It wasn't as dark as it was in the garage, but all I could make out we're some outlines of things and people.

"Is this a power outage?" Nick asked in the dark. After some shuffling around, a small light cast on Nicks face. Liam then shown the light on his face and smiled creepily.

"Yes" Liam said. "I'm gonna go find some candles and more flashlights. Lou come with me" Liam said and Louis left without complaint. They must know exactly where everything was because they came back rather quick with more flashlights, lanterns, candles and some matches.

"I'll help" I said to Liam as he was trying to light a candle. Harry and Louis were busy already lighting their third candle while Liam was still on his first one. Liam sighed in defeat and I demonstrated to him how to light a match.

"Thanks..." Liam said a little embarrassed.

"No problem" I waved him off and looked over to see Nick and Zayn making shadow puppets on the living room wall.

“A bird” Nick said, moving his hands around. On the wall it looked like a bird flapping its wings.

“A bunny” Zayn said, attempting to make his shadow look like a bunny.

“That does not look like a bunny” Nick giggled.

“Yes it does! See, these are the ears” Zayn said, wiggling his fingers to show that they were bunny ears. I tilted my head to the side trying to believe that it looked like a bunny, but it really didn’t. It looked more like a deformed dog.

“Sorry Zayn, but that’s not a bunny” Niall snickered and Zayn huffed.

“This is a bunny Zayn” Louis said, plopping down next to Zayn. He interlocked his fingers in a weird way and held it in front of the flash light. “see? A bunny” Louis said, but the truth was, it looked worse than Zayns.

“That doesn’t look any better” Anjelica bluntly stated with a smirk. Louis imitated Zayns huff and we giggled at him. Liam and Harry finished lighting up the candles that illuminated around the room. It casts a small glow in the room.

"So birthday boy" I said, placing my hands on my hips. "Is there still anything in mind that you want to do?" I asked.

"Get drunk" Nick said in all serious. My eyes widened in shock and I choked on my own spit.

“W-what?” I gasped and shook my head “No way.”

“I agree!” Louis said and I was surprised that he was agreeing with me “with Nick” Louis said and I frowned. Should have known.

“Nope. No way” I said.

“Hey, it’s his birthday, we do anything he wants to” Louis said and I sighed at his words. ‘Tis true.

“So does that mean I can?” Nick asked, rebellion in his eyes.

“A little alcohol couldn’t hurt” Zayn shrugged and I narrowed my eyes at him. Darn Zayn and his loyalty to fulfill all Nicks wishes for today. And probably the days after today.

“I don’t know” Liam said. Thank gosh there’s someone here other than me who has common sense. “I mean the alcohol is in the liquor cabinet and its locked” Liam said.

“Are you serious?” I said, shaking my head “I can’t believe that you’re even considering it” I said.

“Well I know where the key is” Louis smiled mischievously.

“Ah yes, now it’s gonna be a real party” Niall said and Anjelica smiled. Why does everyone here like to drink? Now I really do feel like virgin Mary.

“Hold up” I said, holding my hands out to stop the movement of everyone getting up. “Don’t you think Simon will catch us? Isn’t coming home from work soon?” I asked. As if on cue, Louis cell phone rang and I perked up.

“It’s Simon” Louis said, checking his phone and I perked up.

“Ha! That’s probably him calling to say that he’s on his way home” I said “Well go ahead, answer it” I said to Louis, crossing my arms over my chest. Everyone seemed to glare at me. “I’m just telling it like it-” I stopped talking and flinched back at yet another loud boom in the sky. The rain came down harder and I could hear the rain pounding on the windows and roof.

“Hello?Louis spoke into the phone “What’s that? I can’t hear you” Louis said after a few seconds of silence. Louis furrowed his eyebrows and intently listened. After a couple minutes, Louis broke out into a cocky grin. “Yes, okay. LOve you and be careful” he said and hung up.

“Well?” I asked and Louis stood up.

“Ha! In your face!” Louis sassed.

“What?” I asked in confusion.

“Simon said that the storm is too strong to drive all the way home in and is just going to stay at the hotel close to his office” Louis said and everyone but me whispered a silent ‘yes.’ My luck just sucks doesn’t it?

“What?!’ I practically yelled in disbelief.

“To the liquor cabinet!” Nick cheered, jumping up and running out of the room with Louis.

“Oh my gosh” I said, burying my face in my hands.

“C’mon virgin Mary” Harry said “It could be fun.”
“No, there are a million things that could go wrong” I protested and sat down on the couch next to Zayn.

“It could be an adventure” Zayn said.

“I don’t want to go on an adventure though” I pouted. Louis came back carrying a gazillion bottles of alcohol, most of them a honeyish color.

“Alright, so Nick wants to start off drinking interesting” Louis announces, setting the bottles on the living room table.

“Oh?” Harry smirks and flips his curls out of his eyes, swooping them across his forehead.

“Never have I ever” Nick smiled and Louis leaves the room momentarily to get glasses. I groaned and shook my head. I remember playing Never have I ever, but with apple juice instead of alcohol.

“Louis you better be bringing me some non alcoholic drink or I swea-”

“Don’t get your granny panities up in a knot Nickster, I got some apple juice right here” Louis said, walking in with glasses and apple juice.

“Nikki let loose just for once” Nick begs and I shake my head.

“Someones gotta keep an eye on you” I say, sitting down in front of the table where everyone else started to gather around.

“Party pooper” Louis said, making an L with his fingers and putting it against his forehead “And lossserrrr.”

“Knock it off” Liam said, smacking Louis upside the head “If anything you should be impressed how she isn’t easily persuaded into doing things she doesn’t want to do” Liam said, giving me a proud smile.

“Thanks Liam” I smiled and he pours me a glass of apple juice while Zayn fills everyone elses with alcohol. It smells bitter and my lip twitches in disgust. “Ew, I can’t believe you guys like this stuff” I said.

“It’s not bad after a while” Anjelica shrugs.

“You are a betrayer missy” I say, shaking my head at her from across the table. “You made a pledge in school not to drink.”

“NO, that was a pledge about drugs, and I have honored that” Anjelica counters and takes a sip from her glass.

“Hey! NO drinking until we start!” Nick said. I look at my glass in front of me and notice just how alike all the glasses filled with liquid look. Its also poorly lit, so I could easily lose my glass and mistakenly drink alcohol. I grab my glass and tightly hold it in my hands, not planning on setting it down.

“I’ll go first” Niall volunteers and Nick happily agrees. “Alright..hmmm..” Niall ponders for a second before perking up. “Never have I ever had a henna tattoo” Niall said and everyone, even me, took a sip from their glass. “Really? Even Virgin Mary?”

“I hate the nickname for one, and two, Nick forced me to get it” I said, looking over at Nick who just shrugged with a big grin on his face. Zayn chuckled and shook his head.

“Of course he did” Zayn smiled.

“Alright, now Harry” Niall, looking to his left where Harry was sitting.

“Never have I ever....” Harry smirked over at Zayn “spent more than 5 minutes on my hair.”

“Damn you Styles” Zayn and Nick said, but smiled after taking a gulp from their glasses. Anjelica and I also took a sip from our glasses.

“That was a cheap one” Liam said, setting his glass down on the table.

“Zayn” Harry said, tipping his glass towards Zayn.

“Never have I ever...” Zayn bit his lip and concentrated on the table “gone swimming.”

“Cheap!” Liam shouted before taking a long drink from his glass. I took a small sip and noticed that everyone else were taking eagar gulps from there’s, not caring if they would lose first.

“At this rate, I’m gonna win” I joked and made the stupid mistake of setting my glass down in the middle of the table. Everyone else set their glass down, but I didn’t seem to notice since I was starting to have fun.

“Nick” Harry said, turning his body towards Nick.

“Never have I ever...had a cat” Nick said and everyone reached to drink from their glass. I grabbed what I thought was my glass and took a big gulp. My eyes went wide and I choked, trying to stop the warm bitter liquid from sliding down my throat, but it was to late.

“Ugh!” I gasped and set the glass down with a loud clink.

“Hey, this is apple juice” Nick said, looking down in his glass, then his eyes widened and he looked at me. I roughly wiped my tongue and shook my head in disgust. Everyone burst out laughing while I kept whining over how gross and bitter alcohol was.

“That was awful!” I said, wiping my tongue on Nicks shirt.

“Oh c’mon, it’s not that bad” Louis said.

“You took a big gulp too” Liam said, rubbing my back. Nick set down the glass back on the table and I wasn’t paying attention exactly where he set it down with the other glasses.

“Well, I knew she would try it sooner or later” Anjelica shrugged and I gasped.

“What? No!”

“Hey, even Mona Lisa was a little naughty” Harry giggled and I could tell that the alcohol was already giving him a buzz. That, and the alcohol that Louis chose was really strong. I started to feel warm and fuzzy.

“I feel funny” I said.

“Never have I ever..” Louis started, ignoring me “played in a tennis tourniment”

“Screw you!’ I said, pouting. “I don’t know where my apple juice is.”

“Here” Harry said, holding out a glass to me. I stupidly took it and chugged it down.

And it wasn’t apple juice.

Notes

My babies!
I'm so sorry! I really need to stop promising things that I don't fulfill! I know that I haven't updated and I'm a pickle brain for that. Truth is, I'm not very motivated to write since some of you don't message me anymore or tell encourage me to update.
Thank you though for being oh so patient! You all are amazing, beautiful butterflies! I love you all so much :)
Oh and sorry about the cliffhanger....couldn't resist ;)