The common room was warm and packed with fledglings. All of the TV's were on and showing a range of programs varying from cartoons to the news to action movies. All the fledglings were smiling, talking, laughing and just enjoying a snow covered Christmas Eve. In the far left corner of the room sat Zoey's friends. Damien sat in an armchair with his knees pulled up to his chest. He was in deep conversation with Stevie Rae who sat precariously on the arm of his chair. Stark sat on the sofa which he and Zoey usually share. Their beautiful dog sat asleep on his feet as if she couldn't bear to be more than a room away from him. Shaunee and Erin sat cross-legged on the floor arguing with Stark whilst caressing the sleeping beast's golden fur.

Zoey was still holding my hand as she dragged me through the dorms approaching her friends.
"Hey y'all!" her voice sounded perky and cheerful. They all whipped around at the sound of her voice, faces beaming…then they saw me and their faces fell. Damien shot up from his seat with the smile still plastered on his face "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

As the others all remembered that it was Zoey's birthday they started to jump up and produce perfectly wrapped presents. Stevie Rae's face was glowing as she started to sing happy birthday, by the end of the song the whole common room was singing along. I sat down in the big chair which previously held Damien and Stevie Rae. She was now eighteen and that is a massive thing for teenagers and fledglings alike. I was happy for Zoey's extravagant birthday separations but I did feel left out.

I felt a face in front of mine and a soft hand upon mine before I realised Zoey was talking to me.
"Come upstairs with us please. I want you to be there…" Then she turned around and walked up the stairs struggling to carry all her presents.
"Wait!" I ran exuberantly after her and reached her side just as she turned around to face me. I took all her presents from her arms and held them comfortably in my longer and stronger arms.
"It's your birthday and you shouldn't have to do any hard work." She looked into my eyes and said a simple thank you, and then she turned and began to climb the stairs. I just stood there. For the first time in this life a smile just crept across my face.

In Zoey's room many fledglings were crammed into any spare corner and presents filled any extra space. When I burst through the door Zoey smiled at me and pointed to her bed
"Just put them on my bed and don't mind 'bout the cat, Nala doesn't deserve to have a whole bed to herself anymore." I wandered over to her bed and tried to place the presents gently down but instead they just collapsed and made a god almighty crash. Zoey made joke about my clumsiness and laughter echoed around the room. I attempted to apologise but she made no big deal of it.
"Great who invited bull boy" and with that remark I just knew how today was going to go…