"Good morning beautiful."

"UGH!" I shot up, I had been having an amazing dream, not that I remembered any of it, until SOMEONE had come and woke me up. I turned and opened my eyes to see my best friend cowering under my desk.

"You woke me up." I stated, glaring in his direction. He still sat there, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes, hoping I wouldn't be too angry.

"You know that's a death wish." I said, sitting up and rubbing my eyes, then turning to face him properly, death staring him.

"I know, but, but, but, I wanted to go picnicking!" He pleaded. He got on his knees, begging. "I've already set up the picnic blanket and everything!"

I groaned. I was torn between leaving my warm bed, or being stubborn and staying in bed.

"Where is this so called 'picnic'?" I asked.

"Right there." He replied, as he gestured to the other side of my bed where there was, in fact, a beautiful picnic set up. My heart melted. Ok, so maybe this is a reason to get up, I thought. Grudgingly, I got up, and, believing it safe, he got out from underneath the desk. I went over and sat on the blanket, gesturing for him to join me.

"Happy Birthday." He said, placing a large kiss on my forehead before sitting with his legs crossed opposite me.

"Oh yeah." I mumbled. This answered all of the questions that had been forming in my brain. Of course, that's why he's being nice, but he at least could have waited until I woke of my own accord. "Thanks, I suppose."

I wasn't really a morning person, and to be woken up by my best friend, on my birthday, at 7am, wasn't really my type of morning. But, it had its advantages, if breakfast was as good as it was.

"Wow, this is amazing!" I exclaimed, and I was surprised to see him sigh.

"What?" I asked, curious as he watched me eat. He did look a bit upset, yet, he seemed proud of himself. I'd be pretty proud too if I made a breakfast like that.

"It's nothing, I'm happy you're happy." He said with a smile.

I knew this wasn't the answer I needed. I had been his best friend for years. I knew when he was ling to me, and when something wasn't right.

"Spill." I said, putting down my food and staring at him intently, waiting for him to let me know what was going on.

He looked up, into my eyes and then back down at his hands. It seemed I was making him uncomfortable, which was odd, so I looked away; down at my hands, just as he did. I only looked up when he started to speak.

"Do you remember when we met?" He asked as he looked at me expectantly.

I nodded, grabbing some more food, so as to make things less awkward. I found it weird that it was awkward between us; we'd been friends for so long, it seemed nothing could be awkward between us. Yet, it was.

He continued, "I remember thinking, to myself, I need to make that girl mine."

My head shot up. I dropped the apple piece I had been munching on and stared. Was he really saying this?

"What?" I exclaimed.

He continued on, pretending he hadn't heard me. "Then, we became friends, and I realized that was all we'd ever be. Just friends. And I was happy with that, I was okay with it, it seemed like it was exactly what I wanted. Until I saw you sleeping this morning."

I continued to stare. What had gone through him? No, I thought, he's just playing some sick joke, there was no way he could be saying this truthfully.

"No, seriously. What are you on about?" I asked. I was starting to get angry that he was playing this sort of trick on me, this early in the morning; after I'd just got out of bed too.

"Leila, I love you. It may not be the love I think it is, but, even as a friend, I love you. I have for years."

I finally understood. He meant it. Because I felt the same way. I was confused, because he was such an amazing friend, but I wanted more too. But, I thought, I suppose we can work things out. I looked up and caught his eyes. We were both awfully still as I gazed into them for a little until I made up my mind.

"I… I love you too, Zayn." I whispered, leaning and taking his hand.