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littlemissmentallyunstable · 29 days ago

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@talahs-reading-library

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL AMAZINGG TALAH 💘🤭💖🥰🩷😍💘💋🤭 I HOPE YOU HAVE THE BESTEST DAY EVERRR IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLLDDD AND GET ANYTHING THAT YOUR HEART DESIRES!! YOU DESERVE IT MY LOVE!!

YOU’RE ONE OF THE SWEETEST SOULS 🥰🥰 I KNOW AND IM JUST SO SO INSANELY HAPPY WE’VE MET 💖💖 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHINGGG AND I LOVE YOU SO SO MUCH <33

HERE’S YOUR BIRTHDAY PRESENT FROM ME… I HOPE YOU ENJOY…

title: talah’s birthday

pairing: grayson hawthorne x talah

It was before sunrise, when the sky was just about bleeding oranges and pinks and weeping yellows and purples. Grayson watched contently, wondering if he could make the same effect on a canvas to gift to the sleeping girl in his arms one random Tuesday just to see her smile. The thought of that smile made his heart swell there and then, that halo glow that brightened the whole room just with one expression.

Talah shifted slightly in her sleep, the warmth of her body pressed against his. He chuckled softly, brushing a few loose strands of hair away from her face. The silk curtain danced in ripples with the soft breeze that filtered through. Her eyes fluttered open, entrancing pools of brown staring back into swirls of blue grey.

“Morning darling,” Grayson whispered with a gentle smile tickling his features.

Her eyes sparkled, “morning Gray,” she said, still half asleep.

“You look so beautiful this morning,” he murmured, tracing the contours of her face.

She laughed groggily, half rolling her eyes, “you say that every morning.”

“That’s because it’s true every morning,” he shrugged.

She laughed again, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as her cheeks tinted a rosy pink, “well thank you.”

She sat up slowly, leaning back into Grayson, her back pressed against his chest hard enough to feel the steady beat of his heart. She inched her head in favour of his left shoulder to glance up at him.

“Happy birthday gorgeous,” he said with a sweet kiss as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Was that my birthday gift?” she raised an eyebrow, “because it should be.”

“You won’t be saying that when you get your real present,” Grayson replied smoothly.

Talah’s breath caught as her heart skipped a beat. Grayson could be planning anything, celebration seemed to be a speciality for him, big occasions and functions were where he flourished. She had no idea what he had in store for today but knowing him it’d be something amazing.

She traced a pattern on his arm, “you know the anticipation is going to kill me now, right?” she said.

“All good things come to those who wait,” he teased, like some sort patronising teacher.

Talah snorted, “good things also come to people who bite the bullet.”

“Not as many,” he replied quickly.

“How do you know?” she asked, eyebrows pinched together in the centre of her forehead.

Grayson only shrugged softly, “because I do.”

He stole her next sentence right from her, by pushing his lips onto hers and by the time they’d broken away Talah had forgotten whatsver witty response she’d come up with.

She sighed, not feeling as if she could ever be mor contented, “I could stay here all day,” she said aloud.

“What about your birthday plans?” Grayson asked.

She only shrugged, settling herself comfortably into her arms, “I have everything I need right here.”

“What about breakfast my darling?” he raised a brow.

“Screw whatever I just said,” she grinned, scrambling up, “I need breakfast.”

He chuckled softly, eyes fixating on Talah. He eased back onto the mattress entranced by the beautiful woman in front of him. There wasn’t a word that could fully describe what she did to him. Her glowing nature, illuminated something in the depths of his chest, something he didn’t think he fully had. Grayson saw how Nash was with Libby and Jameson with Avery and Xander with Max. He’d seen his brother washed over with the current of love and he never thought he too would experience that. And yet here he was, staring at his person, the person that seemed to have been made for him.

“What?” she laughed, placing her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes at him.

“Sorry I was just admiring you,” he grinned widely, unable to quite help himself.

She folded her arms and rolled her eyes playfully, “you’re taking ages.”

“There’s a lot to admire about you,” he shrugged as he trailed her many alluring features as he slipped out of the bed.

“Can you be lovesick another day?” she joked with an exaggerated pout.

“I’m lovesick every day, darling,” he whispered, the serenade of notes in his voice sending a familiar rush of warmth through her veins. He slipped his arms around her, she melted into them, there and then.

“So am I,” she mumbled into his chest.

“What about your pair we are,” he replied, pulling her face gently back into his view, brushing a few strands of loose hair from those hypnotic eyes.

Golden light poured through the curtains in some sort of beautifully blinding stream of liquid heaven. It hit both their faces, illuminating their features with cinematically perfect timing. It brought out the notes of honey rippling through those light chestnut eyes and the hazel streaks in the stark coffee brown hair. He felt something seize his chest and he could’ve sworn he’d fallen in love for the first time all over again. Grayson had lost count of how many time this had happened but if his heart kept acting up like this he was sure it’s need medical attention.

“Oh!” Talah gasped excitedly rushing to the window, “the sun’s rising!”

Grayson was quick to follow, she couldn’t feel the warmth of his presence behind her. It was only then he smoothly slid past her, sticking one leg out of the window and then the other. Talah was in shock, too busy comprehending what was actually happening rather than asking a nod question or stopping him. By the time her brain had circuited around to that Grayson had completely disappeared from sight. Alarmed, she stuck her head out the window and looked up to the roof where Grayson calmly sat, drenched in the sunny yellow, smiling down at her.

“Gray!” she yelled, “what are you doing?”

“It’s so much prettier from up here,” he called back.

There was a beat of silence and Talah couldn’t believe she was seriously considering climbing up there with him.

“Well come on,” he laughed, reading her thoughts.

She shook her head vigorously, “I can’t come up there!”

He swung down, slick as anything in classic Hawthorne style. Like a true gentleman, he extended his hand, “do you trust me?” he asked intimately, raising a brow.

“Yes,” she replied immediately, a reflex action with him. She couldn’t trust anyone more.

She felt his arm loop around her waist and grip on tightly as he made his way up to the roof. Talah shrieked as the wind rushed through her ears and she clung onto Grayson’s neck. By the time they’d reached the top and he’s set her down gently she was too stunned to speak. With her jaw dropped and limbs slack, all she could do was stare at the glistening earth below its shining mother. The sun was radiantly beaming down on everything and everyone, coating all the early morning beings, from joggers to squirrels to butterflies, in a bath of gilded hue. She could feel the warmth of it on her face, dusting her own cheeks and turning them a little pinker than they already were.

“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered in awe.

Grayson’s hands slipped around her torso from behind, “told you.”

“No need to be smug about it,” she joked, leaning back into his touch tentatively.

They watched in silence as the world seemed to fall into place under the light of day and stayed there for what felt like hours, contented in each other’s hold without uttering a word. Yet their thoughts seemed more interconnected than either of them realised.

“Ready for breakfast darling?” Grayson whispered after a while.

“Always,” she winked back.

Before she could protest, he swept her off her feet, quite literally, as he reinstated her in his arms, bridal style. She yelped in surprise, as they made their way back to the bedroom.

“I could’ve got down myself you know,” she shook her head, giggling a little.

“I know,” he shrugged, “but there’s only so many days a year I get to treat you extra specially and I would like to abuse my power.”

“How very kind of you,” she replied, batting her eyelashes.

“I would be prefer to be referred to as chivalrous,” Grayson teased.

“Let’s not go that far,” she stuck her tongue out.

“Hey!”

He didn’t put her down when the arrived back, infact he carried her all the way down the stairs and into the oak panelled hallway. It was only then did he gently place he in front of the closed kitchen door. He nodded towards the handle, a subtle movement ushering Talah to open it. She wasn’t sure why but something in her chest fluttered as she grabbed onto it, the cool metal beneath her palm suddenly electric. A little hesitantly she pushed the door open to reveal their kitchen. But it wasn’t how she’d left it last night, it was now decorated in banners and balloons and streamers in mixtures of deep reds and shiny golds. Although, the thing that caught her eyes the most were the mini canvases dotted around the room. On closer inspection she realised that on each mini canvas was a mini painting of a special moment between her and Grayson. There was one of them in Paris and another at Jameson and Avery’s wedding, the next was their first Christmas together, the list went on and on.

“Gray,” she breathed shakily, holding one in her hands, “you painted all of these?”

He nodded smiling a little, “you always said I should try portraits.”

“These are gorgeous,” she said, welling up a little, “they’re going all over the house, no questions asked.”

“I won’t argue with that one,” he shrugged.

She threw herself into his arms in gratitude, as he caught her and spun her around gently, “thank you,” she said, squeezing him tighter, “thank you so much Grayson, really.”

“Stop thanking me,” he laughed, “this is the bare minimum.”

Talah shook her head smiling, letting the lad of his thumb brush away the single tear of joy that had sneakily escaped.

On the table there stood a vase holding the most beautiful flowers she’d ever seen, so bold and vibrant, reminding her so much of the colours in that sunrise this morning. Beside it was a plate a salmon croissants that looked like they were to die for, buttery, flakey, fluffy pastry encapsulating the rosiest of fresh salmon.

Talah could barely believe her eyes, “when did you even prepare this?” she managed to ask.

He eye flicked to the watch on his wrist, “breakfast 10 minutes before you woke up, decorations when you were asleep last night.”

“I don’t even remember getting into bed last night after the movie,” she admitted, leaning back against the countertop, unable to help admiring all of the heartfelt decorations around her. The painting alone must’ve taken him months.

“You didn’t,” he replied, with a small smile at the fresh memory of Talah buried under a fort of blankets and pillows fast asleep, “I carried you.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she smiled, tilting her head to the side slightly.

“I couldn’t help myself,” Grayson said, “you looked so adorable with your hair spread across the pillows like some sort of ethereal halo and your eyelashes fluttering against your cheeks.”

“Stop it,” she said, her face tinting a little red.

“Happy birthday Talah,” he responded with one of those dumb smiles men in love are famous for. Not an expression often, if ever, seen on the face of Grayson Hawthorne but he couldn’t help it, she undid him and all his typical tendencies in every way.

He pressed a velvet kiss to her warm cheek before pulling out her chair for her to sit down. They shared the most delicious breakfast of the best buttery croissants that rivalled those made in a Parisian Boulangerie, filled with perfectly salty salmon that contrasted that hint of sweetness in the dough. At one point Talah really thought she’d entered some sort of other worldly goodness when she tasted how fluffy but still flaky the pastry was and paired with the fresh flavour of smoked salmon, it was practically to die for. They shared small talk about something that might be meaningless by tomorrow but in this blissful moment, it was everything.

“Okay,” Grayson said, as they finished up, “now we can get the day really started.”

“I’m intrigued,” she wiggled her eyebrows.

He grinned, “go and get ready and meet me in the car, don’t worry about what you wear or things to bring.”

That caught her off guard. Grayson was a meticulous planner. His idea of spontaneous was one week’s notice.

“Why?” she asked curiously, her brows furrowing.

He only chuckled, “it’s a surprise,” in response.

Talah tried to bite back her infectious smile as she walked upstairs to get ready. After throwing open her wardrobe and analysing every item of clothing about five separate times, she finally settled on a sweet, little pink dress. One of her personal favourites that no matter what mood she was in made her feel pretty. Whilst doing her hair and makeup she wondered where on earth Grayson could be taking her but after concocting as many weird and wonderful ideas as her brain could conjure up, she reluctantly gave up, trying to convince herself to just live in the moment of the surprise.

Once she was ready, she did exactly as instructed and went down to meet Grayson in the car. He, of course, was already in there, convertible roof down, dressed in formal attire. Though not his usual suit formal, more like a holiday sort of formal with a white linen shirt, similar to the material of Talah’s dress. She found it a little sweet that they matched unintentionally.

“You look gorgeous my darling,” he said, smiling so hard his dimples appeared.

“You too,” she smiled back, silently admiring those dimples, “are you still not gonna tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope,” he replied, flicking his sunglasses down and reversing out of their driveway his forearm resting on top of the door, with the other hand on the wheel.

“Please Gray, I can keep a secret,” she batted her eyelashes.

“I’m not going to give in,” he deadpanned but still looked away for fear he might be persuaded.

“You could,” she suggested jokingly.

“But I won’t,” he sang, an amused expression tickling his features, “it ruins the whole purpose of a surprise.”

“What if I still pretend to be surprised,” Talah said.

“It’s not the same,” he replied with a small shrug.

She gasped, putting a dramatic palm to her forehead, leaning sideways in her seat, “but I’m a great actress!”

“As amazing as you are,” he kissed the top of her head, “nothing beats authenticity.”

She pouted, exaggerating her bottom lip to guilt him but she failed as his laugh rang out coating her with an immediate bubbly feeling.

The rest of the car ride consisted of very loud karaoke, including a solo rendition of ‘espresso’ from Grayson. Talah didn’t even try to argue when he said he wanted to whole song to himself. The car came to a smooth halt in perfect timing with the last line of ‘that’s what makes you beautiful’, giving Talah a moment to take in where she was.

“Surprise,” Grayson said.

“The beach!” she exclaimed, clambering out of the car as fast as her body would let her, “we’re at the beach! This had officially become the best day ever!”

He grinned, strolling up behind her, staring out on the horizon, “and it’s all yours today.”

Her jaw dropped, “ tell me you’re not serious.”

“But I am serious,” he replied smoothly.

“You rented a beach,” she deadpanned, masking her absolute shock.

“Yes,” he replied calmly, as if it was as regular as popping down to the shops for some extra bread, “you said you loved it,”

“I do love the beach,” she laughed, “but that wasn’t code for rent one for me.”

“It’s your birthday darling,” he said, “we have the money, let’s make it special.”

“You, Grayson Hawthorne,” she murmured in a low voice, turning to face him completely, “are such a wonderful person I can’t quite believe you’re even real.”

Looking down at that face, into those eyes was like an inevitable fate. He had to kiss her. It would be physically impossible not to. He leant down cupping her waist and drawing her in ever so slightly closer as he slowly brushed his lips against hers, allowing his eyes to flutter shut to fully experience the explosion of fireworks in his belly.

“Did that help you believe I’m real?” he murmured.

“Well I’m not too sure,” she smiled shyly, “maybe you’ll have do it again?”

He let out a deep chuckle from the back of his throat before gladly pushing his lips back onto hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and softly kissed him back, something magical blossoming in her soul. The sea air whipped around them, making the moment feel that little more perfect.

“I can’t believe we have the whole beach,” she shook her head laughing as they pulled away.

“Start believing it, my darling,” he said.

“Okay then,” she said, her face splitting into a wide mischievous grin that Grayson always ruled as something dangerous, “race you to the sea!”

And then she was gone. In a flash of pink fabric and dark hair, she’d taken off down the beach to reach the shoreline.

“Cheater!” Grayson yelled out, fully sprinting in attempts to catch her up.

“Snooze you loose!” she called over her shoulder, poking her tongue out at him and speeding up.

She laughed and made the final leg of the race a cartwheeled, instead of running it. The whole beach went upside down as she did but her toes landed exactly in the damp sand and water lapping them gently. Grayson came to a halt mere sending later, panting like a madman with flushed cheeks and a sweaty brow.

“I win,” she booped him on the nose, twirling around in her victory.

“With a ten second head start,” he grumbled.

“It’s not my fault you didn’t start running,” she replied, wide-eyed and innocent.

“I wasn’t ready,” he defended.

She giggled, tilting her head back and holding her belly, “excuses, excuses!” she waved him off.

“I’ll let you have this one because it’s your birthday and all,” he said, rolling his eyes in a playful manor.

She smiled gently, her eyes drifting to the line where the sky met the sea. She fixated on it, addicted to that stunning skyline, romanticised by the cotton candy clouds and the sweet sound of the waves lapping the shore. Although, the tranquility was soon interrupted by a splash. She glanced to her left to see no Grayson and instead ripples from the water beside him. He came up from air, after having dived into the ocean, and began to swim. He looked like an olympian, perfect precision in each arm stroke, bold power propelling him through the waves and a strong core.

“Come in!” he waved her over.

“Not yet,” she called back, desperate to analyse that skyline just a little longer before she started a swim of her own. It wasn’t every morning she could take in a sight like this and then swim straight after. She wasn’t sure Grayson sense that message as he emerged from the water and joined her on the wet sand, a little too prepared to give her a hug.

“No!” she shrieked giggling, putting a hand out to stop him, “I will swim I promise, you know how much I love it but I want to look at the sky for a bit.”

“They sky is always going to be there,” he replied, getting dangerously closer.

“Grayson Davenport Hawthorne I swear to you right now if you dare hug me with-“

He wrapped his arms around her tightly, his ocean drenched body leaching onto her. She squirmed, laughing hard as he pretended not to hear her protests trying to suppress his own chuckles to stay in character. He quickly flung her over his shoulder and spinning her around, until she was too dizzy to say another word. He set her down, wobbly and a little wet with ocean water now.

She swayed sideways into him, colliding with his very shirtless chest, “you are so dead to me,” she giggled, the world still spinning around her.

“That’s a bit mean, don’t you think?” he countered, making sure she was supported feeling a little guilty for spinning her so much.

She was still laughing when everything stopped spinning and once she had her balance, she shoved his chest, catching him so off-guard he tumbled backwards. Though not alone, moments between processing what had just happened and losing his balance, he quickly grabbed Talah’s wrist pulling her backwards with him. She gasped, getting a mouthful of sea water, as she was dragged down into the ocean with him.

“Now you’re extra dead to me,” she grinned, flicking some water into his eyes.

“Don’t start giving me special treatment darling, it’s your birthday remember,” he grinned back.

***

After a lovely day full of swimming and ice-cream and various odd-shaped sandcastles, the two sat wrapped in fluffy towels watching as the sun retreated back into clouds and the moon had her time to shine. Talah leant her head on Grayson’s shoulder, cosying close. The day they’d shared was so priceless she didn’t think she could recall another with so much worth in her heart. She silently snuck a few glances as his and the sea air teased his blonde hair that was beginning to wave with the salt of the sea. Her heart swelled as their eyes met and she suddenly felt like a little girl with a crush once again.

“I can’t believe you pulled me in the ocean this morning,” she snorted.

“I thought you forgave me after ice-cream,” he said, a flash of worry teasing his features.

“I was in my ice-cream coma when I said that,” she reminded him, “you know nothing counts when I’m in my ice-cream coma.”

“I do,” he shrugged happily, “but I’ve decided to ignore it,.”

“You and your denial,” she shook her head.

He pulled her into his lap gently and leant down into her ear, “happy birthday,” he whispered. A shiver ran down her spine and she wasn’t sure if it was because she was cold or whether it was his melodic voice.

“You already told me that,” she replied with a smile.

“I was worried you’d forgotten,” he said quietly.

They fell into a comfortable silence as the pink began to fade from the sky and weep into the deep red that seemed to be swallowing most other colour up anyways with hungry and bloodied lips.

“Oh,” he said quickly, “I almost forgot!”

He pulled a large, expensive looking box out of the beach bag and handed it to Talah. It was a pearly cream colour with a stunning navy ribbon tied to perfection across it.

She peered at it, “What’s this?”

“Your birthday present,” he replied, as her finger traced the ribbon.

“Aww thank you Gray!”

Slowly, tentatively, she untied the beautiful ribbon. It fell into a rippled pile which she scooped up and placed in her pocket to save. Then she wedged open the shiny box, revealing folded over tissue paper over an item. Cautiously, she peeled back the paper as gently as possible to reveal her present.

She gasped upon seeing a pair of knee high leather boots and matching coat. It was one of those effortless, long, chic pieces that she’d been talking about for just about forever. It took her a moment to take it all in before she responded.

“Oh my gosh! Grayson!” she exclaimed in her shock and excitement, “these are so beautiful, I can’t believe it!”

“I’m so glad,” he said, smiling at her face all lit up and sparkling.

“These boots are literally the most gorgeous things I’ve ever laid eye on,” she gushed, running her fingers over the leather a thousand times over, not quite believing they were real.

“I thought that was me,” he teased.

“That was before I saw these boots you vain little thing,” she winked.

“I knew I should’ve gotten you the ugly ones,” he joked, “now I’m second to a pair of stupid leather boots.”

Talah gasped, placing her palms over the boots as if they had ears, “don’t listen to the mean man,” she told them, “he doesn’t mean what he just said.”

“Are you talking to your boots?”he deadpanned, with one sharp eyebrow raised.

“Yes,” she retorted, “problem?”

“Not at all,” he grinned.

“Thank you so much Gray,” she said in barely a whisper.

“You’re welcome,” he chuckled, “they’re going to suit you so well.”

She kissed him gently before her focus was drawn back to the explosion of red and orange leaking from the burning ball of fire in the centre of it all.

“I love the beach,” she sighed, leaning into him, “and I love the sunsets. But most of all…” she took a long pause as if to say something meaningful, “… I love my boots.”

Grayson scowled in response.

“I’m joking,” she giggled, “it’s you. Most of all I love you”

He grinned, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close as she glowed, even in the sunset.

***

By the time they got back to the house there were stars twinkling, bright sparkles across the sea of black that called itself the sky. Talah opened the door hearing familiar humming coming from inside that she wasn’t expecting at all.

Avery was stood in the centre of the living room balanced precariously on a chair hanging up baby pink bunting across the room that read ‘Surprise Talah’ in silver glitter. Well that was what she assumed anyway as it seemed Avery had only gotten up to ‘Surprise Tal’.

“Talah,” she shrieked, nearly toppling over to greet her best friend, completely abandoning the bunting.

She flung her arms around Talah nearly knocking them both to the ground until they were lost in fits of giggles.

“Happy birthday!” Avery grinned, squeezing her tighter.

“Thanks Ave!” she smiled.

“You’re early,” she crossed her arms, now looking at Grayson.

His eyebrows pinched in at the centre, as he looked down at his watch, “no,” he replied slowly, “you’re late.”

She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut, muttering to herself “damn you Jameson,” before turning back to Talah, “see I was meant o have all the bunting fixed up by the time you got back but Jameson decided to make me late so here we are.”

“It doesn’t matter Ave, I love it anyway,” she replied.

Avery smiled softly giving her best friend another tight squeeze before glancing over at Grayson who was leaning in the doorframe and then back to Talah again, “has he told you yet?”

Her brows furrowed in confusion, “told me what?”

“No,” Grayson replied, looking at Avery, “I thought you would want to, seen as you almost talked my ear off about it for the last week.”

“Sorry I’m a bit lost,” Talah said.

Avery’s smile widened as she held onto Talah tightly, excitably, “we’ve thrown you a party at Hawthorne house!”

“Avery!” she squealed, nearly jumping up and down, “oh my gosh you didn’t have to!”

“Talah please,” she tusked, “you’re my best friend, how could I not? It would be criminal, besides Libby made her famous chocolate cake!”

“I’m sold,” she replied immediately.

“Fantastic,” she grinned, “want to get ready?”

“Yes please!” Talah nodded.

Avery’s eyes flicked to Grayson, “I’m stealing her,”

“No fair,” he pouted.

“You’ve had her all day,” Avery rolled her eyes, playfully, “you can get over it.”

“If she always this mean?” Grayson asked Talah.

“I mean it is Friday,” she shrugged.

“I should’ve known better,” he chuckled.

“I’m still here,” Avery stuck her tongue out at him.

“Believe me, I wouldn’t be able to forget,” he teased, “what am I even meant to do when you take her?”

“I’d just like to add, I’m going with freewill,” Talah piped up

“Exactly,” Avery said, “you can do whatever Grayson just not interrupt us, I haven’t seen my best friend on her birthday yet, do you have any idea how awful that is?”

“You have seen her,” he replied flatly, “you’re standing next to her.”

“You know what I mean,” she tutted, “Jameson will be here in twenty, do you think you can occupy yourself until then?”

“Jameson,” Grayson winced, “please tell him to come later, I don’t think I can deal with him for thirty minutes alone.”

“You grew up in the same household, you’ll survive,” Avery laughed.

“I warn you now,” he said slowly, “if it gets bloody, you let it happen.”

“You Hawthornes are so dramatic,” Avery scoffed, “come on Talah, let’s leave Romeo to his monologue.”

Grayson muttered something inaudible in reply and Talah blew him a quick kiss, as they made their way up the staircase.

“How was your day with grumpy down there?” Avery asked over her shoulder.

“It was amazing Avery!” Talah said, simply not able to wait to tell her every perfect detail, “He rented out a beach, I mean the whole beach and we just spent the day there.”

“That sounds gorgeous,” she sighed dreamily.

“It was so perfect,” she continued, “I swear these Hawthorne boys know how to treat a lady.”

“It’s like engrained into them,” Avery agreed, pushing the bedroom door open, “Jameson once bought me a pony just because I once said I wished I had one as a kid.”

“They’re crazy,” Talah shook her head, laughing.

“In the best way of course,” she replied, “okay, before we start anything to get ready I wanted to give you your present.”

“Thanks Ave,” she said gratefully, as she was handed a little wrapped box. She undid the wrapping paper gently to reveal a little pink box. Talah shimmied the lid open and inside sat a bottle of orebella perfume, her absolute favourite.

She threw her arms around Avery, now her turn to nearly knock them both over, “thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so wearing this tonight!”

“You’re welcome,” Avery giggled, “so for tonight’s outfit, I may or may not have picked a little something out and if you don’t like it just say but-“

She had revealed a white dress, smooth and classy. It had elegant pleats in the skirt and a cinched almost corseted waist and the neckline dipped a little but not too much. The perfect, sweet, dreamy dress.

She gasped, reaching out to touch the material, “Avery this is stunning.”

“You really like it?” She said, trying to read Talah’s expression for any hint of a polite lie.

“This is like my dream dress,” she said, “how did you know?”

“Call it best friend intuition,” she winked, “and possibly a good long stalk of all the clothes shops you’re subscribed to.”

Talah laughed, “well it’s beautiful and I’m so excited to wear it. What are you wearing?”

“I brought the dress you got me for Christmas to change into,” Avery said, holding the silky purple fabric up.

“Oh you look stunning in that one!” she exclaimed.

“Only because you picked it out,” she smiled in return, “do you want me to do anything with your hair?”

“Could you do those two little plaits,” Talah asked, remembering how she’d worn that style to the annual Hawthorne Christmas party and loved it, “I wanted to leave the rest natural.”

“Of course!” Avery replied excitedly, “let me get started.”

Avery weaved her fingers through the length of her hair, making light work of the desired plaits. Then it was her turn and Talah curled Avery’s hair as requested. She therapeutically spiralled the hair around the heated tool and releasing it over and over until Avery had a head of shiny loose curls.

“Makeup?” she asked.

“Nothing too loud,” Talah replied.

“As if I own anything remotely loud,” Avery laughed.

After a few touches of blush, concealer and mascara and a dash of sparkly highlighter, both girls felt ready. Talah admire at herself in the mirror, wrapping her arm around Avery’s back as Avery did the same to her. They stood together, as if ready to take on the world, in heels.

“We look gorgeous,” Avery grinned.

“We do,” Talah agreed.

They walked back down the stairs to meet Grayson and most likely Jameson who Talah thought she’d heard arrive during makeup. Grayson was waiting for her at the bottom.

As soon as he saw her, that was it. Grayson couldn’t tear his eyes away. She was a goddess, for some reason blessing his unworthy eyes. Her long her tumbled down her back with a few little plaits, looking effortlessly beautiful in place. Her dress hugged all the right places but the skirt still flowed out making accentuating the princess-esque feel to her look. Her eyes looked large and deep, glistening with all her heart and soul, speaking riddles and poems to Grayson he’d never be able to remember, only to feel in this moment. Her eyelashes were long and thick, lips and cheeks a little pinker than usual but face just as gorgeous.

“Eyes off,” Avery prodded his shoulder, using her free hand to snag his car keys, “you can stare at her the whole car ride and the rest of the night but to get there we have to leave on time.”

Grayson didn’t reply, his gaze never wavered from the angel staring back at him. He only wondered how me managed to get so lucky as she slipped her hand into his.

***

They pulled up at Hawthorne House not twenty minutes later and as they approached the door there was an orchestra of crashes and shouts. Talah’s smile widened, she couldn’t be more excited.

“Now the real party starts,” Avery winked over her shoulder, letting them all in.

Talah looked up at Grayson, a questioning look in her eyes, but he only shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. She slipped her hand back into his as he pulled her that little bit closer to his body and pressed a sweet kiss to her head. The music was so loud you could feel it thrumming in your chest but somehow the people were louder (namely Xander and Gigi), all those colourful beings that lit up Talah’s life in a menagerie of vibrancy. And just like Avery said.

The real party started.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS TALAH 💖💖 HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!

#moot birthday fics ౨ৎ #talah *ੈ✩‧₊˚#talah’s birthday 💖💖#moots 💕#bella writes 🤍#grayson davenport hawthorne #grayson hawthorne

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