Allowing his eyes to scan the expensive items on the self, he sighed before turning away, his eyes setting on the door before making the quick decision to let his feet follow the pathway out to the street. It was the seventh shop he had entered, and then left with his hands still just as empty. He just couldn’t seem to find that perfect item, that one thing that would explain everything he felt inside in an instance.

But that was the thing, she didn’t need items, or objects, to know how he felt.

Stopping out the front of the jewellery shop he had gone into first, he ran his hands through his hair, knowing he had to at least get something. He couldn’t not give her anything for her birthday, just because he couldn’t find the right thing to express his emotion. How did you say ‘I love you’ without actually saying it?

Stepping into the shop again, he listened to the soft jingling on the door as it closed behind him, the blonde behind the counter instantly looking up and smiling as she remembered him from earlier.
“so, you decided on the diamond necklace then?” She asked as she approached him.

just nodded vaguely, already knowing that while the necklace would suit her, it didn’t feel like the right gift, but still handed over the money while he waited for the dainty piece of jewellery to be wrapped.

**

setting the bag down on the coffee table, sighed to himself again as he began to clean his apartment up, wanting to at least feel right about something that night as he set his small dining table with candles and polished cutlery.

The ringing of the phone broke the silence and allowed him to escape his thoughts.

“Hey ,” ’s voice filled his ears, “I was just ringing to let you know that the recording session’s been cancelled tomorrow, someone double booked our room,”

“Okay,” answered vaguely, as continued, his eyes falling on the gift bag. Tom),” He interrupted the other boy, “What did you get for her birthday?”

“What? Well she said she didn’t want anything,” began, “But I still got her this bracelet, why? Isn’t going to be there soon? You did get her a present right?”

“Yeah,” began glumly, “This necklace thing…but it just doesn’t feel like the right thing to give her, but I don’t know what else. I know she’ll like it, but I feel like it doesn’t say I love you,”

“Why don’t you just say it to her then ,” answered him.

The phone call ended shortly, when realised he was running out of time to finish getting things ready, was bringing Chinese, so at least he didn’t need to cook anything, just finish cleaning up. Thinking about what had said to him as he changed his clothes, quickly grabbed a piece of paper before scribbling down some words and grabbing the bag that had the necklace in it, knowing that this way was the most inexpensive, but simplest way to say what he wanted. Carefully unwrapping the paper around the box, he opened it and placed the piece of paper on top, before sticking everything back down again and buttoning up the rest of his shirt.

Placing the bag on the dining table he began to set up the stereo while he waited for her. His ear instantly picked up the sound of the key being slid into the door before he made his way over to it, ready to help her with anything she might be carrying. Instead his girlfriend instantly flew into his arms, greeting him with a quick peck on the cheek and a smile before she carried the bags of food into the kitchen, leaving him to close the door.

He went to follow her, before she told him to stop and go sit down while she got everything ready, no matter what the occasion was, she would never let in the kitchen, even if it was his kitchen, after some of his previous disasters. Letting her go, he sat at the table fiddling with his knife and fork while he listened to her rattling about in the kitchen. Five minutes later, she emerged with two plates of food and her bright smile on her face as she sat across from him. The smile that had fallen in love with.

“Happy Birthday,” He stood up and pulled her chair out, kissing her gently on the mouth as she sat down.

“Thank you,” She grinned again, picking up her fork as sat back down and poured them some wine.

“So, do you want your present now, or after we’ve finished eating?” He asked.

“When ever , but you didn’t have to get me anything,” She shrugged, she didn’t see birthday’s as being a big deal.

Leading her into the small lounge once they had finished eating, sat her on the couch before passing her the neatly wrapped package. Nervously he watched as she slowly unwrapped the paper and lifted the lid of the box. First she picked up the folded piece of paper, as she did, her eyes landing on the diamond that was attached to the chain.

“Oh, it’s lovely , but you really didn’t need to,” She glanced up at him quickly, a small smile on her lips.

“I wanted to,” He shrugged, “But that’s not the main part,” He glanced at the piece of paper she had in her hand.

Following his gaze, carefully unfolded the piece of paper, he eyes reading the three words that had been written on it, a wider smile forming on her face that had not been there moments ago.

“See, I love you,” explained, even though the words were clear on the paper, “And that necklace didn’t say it right,”

“Thank you, I love it, it’s the best birthday present ever,” She hugged him, kissing his lips hard as his arms wrapped around her body.