Harry's POV

I wait for five minutes before I start worrying. Dakota never takes this long. I excuse myself and jog outside to find my love. That's when I hear the commotion. As does everyone else when I open the doors. Don't tell me it's true.

Security and police pry the girls away from the crowd, but they still fill half the lobby. What is happening? "What's going on?" Liam asks somewhere behind me.

"They're surrounding something," Niall mutters surveying the girls.

"Don't wanna ruin the day," Zayn says, "but they might be surrounding someone named Dakota."

My heart clenches. They're hurting her? On her birthday? The first one she ever celebrated? I run into the crowd without another thought and find the center. Where is she?! Girls scream for me and pull my clothes as I push them aside. I push the last girl aside and almost collapse on what I see.

Dakota lays battered, bruised, and bloody. Her clothes are ripped and her shoes aren't around. I sit down next to her and pull her close to my chest. "Dakota," I whisper wanting to hear her respond. Tears form in my eyes and I let them fall. "Why?"

I look at the now worried girls who are obviously only worried for me. "Why? You guys really don't care, do you? Today, is her birthday! The only one she has ever celebrated because her family and schoolmates would beat her! She would be broken! I wanted to show her the good in the world. Obviously, you guys don't care about her or me because when she is hurt, it doubles for me."

I close my eyes and hold her close.

Some birthday this has been.

*~*~*~*

I sit by her bed waiting to see her beautiful gray eyes. She's been out for a day. The doctor said someone must've hit her head hard enough after his examination. I haven't left her bed since. They bring me food as I try to keep my sanity. My interviews have been cancelled thanks to the boys so I spend my time here.

“I’m sorry your birthday didn’t turn out like we hoped,” I hold her hand. “I wanted to make it the best, but I made it the worst. If it makes you happy, we all got you gifts. The boys left theirs and I couldn’t keep ours here. It’s back at the hotel room waiting for us.”

Dakota smiles making me happy. “It’s okay," She murmurs letting her eyes open slowly. Her smile fades and she settles in her pillow. "Why don't people like me?"

I hold her hand close to me and kiss her knuckles. "They don't understand the concept of happiness. They want to make me happy, but they don't know how."

"By being your fan?" She shrugs.

"That makes me happy for my career, but there's onle one thing that makes me happy. Do you know what that is?" I ask her.

She sighs, "Music?"

I chuckle and sit on her bed. "You," I say making a small smile appear on her face. "You make me happier than anything else."

She leans against me and sighs. "I love you, Harry."

"Love you too," I tell her meaning every word. "Would you like to open your gifts or would you like to wait?"

She sits up and smiles like a child, "Can we open them now?"

I nod, "My gift is in the hotel room so you can choose from the guys, girls, and the 1D staff chose one from all of them."

"Zayn's," She says. I love how her, Zayn, and Louis are friends. Makes me less worried.

I pick up the gift from Zayn and hand it to her. She rips open the wrapping paper and smiles. "Blair Witch Movie. I wanted to watch it," She laughs before I hand her the card. Of course, being so artistic, he drew her on the front. Scribbled in messy writing inside was his little message:

Dear Dakota,
Only Liam and I made cards unless Harry made one too. Anyways, happy birthday to my best friend. You're the only one brave enough to watch horror flicks with me so I got one that you didn't watch.
-Z. Malik

"Signs it like an artist," I say. "Which is next?"

"Louis’,” She says pointing at the small box with LOUIS written in crayon. Yes, crayon. Not Sharpie. A blue Crayola Crayon from the dollar store. His is very small with only a ribbon to keep it together. She unties the ribbon and takes off the lid. She smiles widely bringing out something that reminded me of that candy. A Life Saver.

“What is it?” I ask when she puts it on next to our necklace.

“The Seer Stone that Zoey wears to see Magick in the House of Night series,” She answers in a heartbeat. “She got it from Queen Sgiach in the Isle of Skye after she came back from the Otherworld which Stark saved her from.”

I raise my brows, “You really love those books don’t you?”

She nods, “Can I see Liam’s present now?” I grab his from the table and hold out the card.

Dear Dakota,
Happy Birthday. I wanted to give you this when we were younger, but I was scared I would get bullied if they knew it came from me. My sisters and I made it in year 3, but I never gave it to you. I know it’s a little childish, but I made it young. Something to remember the good times with Harry... and the lads.
-Liam

A nice scrapbook that looks a little old. It’s perfect to keep our pictures. It’s gonna be filled in no time. I hand her Niall’s which is also a small package with no card. Unlike Louis’, his name is written with a black pen.

She quickly opens it and takes it out. A charm bracelet with different colored beads. She takes out the paper with it and smiles. “A bracelet that symbolizes the affinities from the House of Night with a medallion like Zoey got from the the Dark Daughters.”

I laugh and hold her close. “I can’t wait for you to see my present.”

Notes

I was trying to to update within a week which didn't happen since I was gone and off the internet for four days. I wrote this in a few hours so I hope this was good...