Zachary's POV

(They were preparing for Rachel's birthday surprise)

"Zach, do you even know how to draw??" Dylan let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Of course I know! Quit nagging at me!" I replied in an irritated tone.

"You call that drawing?"

"It's you who don't know how to appreciate art." I responded dryly and tried my damn hardest to get that hair drawn perfectly.

I was tasked to draw a simple portrait of Rachel.

But, it did not turn out the way I wanted.

The drawing of Rachel's eyes are not symmetrical and looked uneven. Therefore, it took me ages just to draw the eyes. Don't get me started with the nose, mouth and ears. Call me a perfectionist or whatever, I don't care.

"Zachary, we didn't tell you to draw an exact image of Rachel." Jake reminded me while he was writing Rachel's birthday note.

"I know."

I closed my eyes, trying to remember how Rachel look like. While doing so, one side of my mouth twitched up, unconsciously. After rounds and rounds of editing, I finally managed to complete the drawing.

I swiped away all the eraser dust and admired my artwork. Wow, the girl on the piece of paper really looked like Rachel. Nope, I was not the only one praising myself. Everyone agreed with me, including the boys.

"Hey! I didn't know you could draw!" Jake slapped the back of my arm as he grinned at me.

I simply shrugged and said, "It's my first time too."

Both Dylan and Jake said simultaneously, "Oh c'mon."

The girls giggled as they watched the conversation between me and the boys.

"Alright, girls, it's time for you to shine!" I handed over my artwork for them to add colours to Rachel's portrait.

I was starting to write Rachel's birthday letter but stucked after writing 'Hey Rachel'. It's my first time writing this kind of note to someone. Rachel should feel honoured for receiving my note.

"What are you smiling at?" Dylan's question turned my curved lips into a thin line.

"Nothing much."

I twirled the pen around my fingers while thinking hard on what can I write to Rachel. Well obviously other than the usual happy birthday. Ideas did not seem to be my friend today, therefore I walked around the table to get some inspiration from what the boys wrote.

To my surprise, the boys simply wrote three words on the note. Which was none other than 'Happy Birthday Rachel!'

"Are you guys serious?" I tapped my finger onto the note and transferred my gaze to fixed it on the boys.

"What?"

"Don't you find the birthday wishes are a little too short?"

"Nope!" The boys responded in unison.

I scratched the back of my head as my only source of guide was gone. I did not want to write a long message because that would seem like I'm long winded. However, too short seem insincere.

"Zach, Rach wouldn't mind how long or short your message will be." Helen commented as she noticed my dilemma.

Oh right. Why am I even worrying over this? Also, why would I even care how Rachel thought of my birthday note? I immediately shake off that indecisive part of myself.

I grabbed the colour paper and wrote down:
Happy Birthday! Have a blast! ;)

I scanned my eyes through the decoration materials to locate the glue. After pasting on the note, I find that the whole board was kind of empty.

"Guys, do you have any more to add on other than your notes and the drawing of Rachel?" I voiced out my question and made everyone stopped what they were doing to look at me.

"Um, I know you're thinking that it's too plain. We've planned to print out photos of Rachel. For example, a selfie with her, group photo and so on. But, we were busy revising the past couple of days. None of us had the time to collate the photos. So, we've decided to do that part today." Nicole supplied me with the information.

I was nodding my head the entire time. The boys are so childish that they copied my actions.

"Oh, that sounds like a good plan. Since you guys are busy decorating the board, why not I help to collate the photos?" I propsed the idea and received positive feedbacks.

"Alright then! Zachary, by any chance do you have any photos you took with Rachel?"

"Er.. Nope, I don't."

Why would I?

I immediately start on my task as soon as my laptop came to live. I created a Google Document to allow everyone to share their photos easily. I asked for their individual emails, in order for them to have access to the document I created. Currently, they are sharing it on the shared document.

"Zach, Ella say you can email her the document after you finish compiling. She'll do the printing instead." Helen informed me while typing a reply to Ella.

I mumbled an okay in response to Helen.

"Have y'all planned on how to lure Rachel out without her suspecting?" Jake threw the question at us as he leant back on the chair to relax.

"Of course!" Nicole replied in confidence.

Jake quirked an eyebrow to encourage Nicole to tell us the great plan.

"I'll call her to meet us at the park near her house on that day!"

Jake let out peals of laughter as he clutched his tummy because of laughing too much. Nicole was obviously mad at Jake for laughing at her. She had both hands on her hips and her face was as red as a cherry.

"Jake Anderson." Nicole said cooly as a warning for Jake before she charged towards him. Her hands full of shredded papers, rolled up into the shape of a ball.

"What?" Jake was caught off guard when Nicole suddenly ran towards him. Luckily, he was not slow in terms of reaction.

Even though Jake is a fast runner, Nicole's aiming skills are not bad either. The rest of us watch in amusement as the duo are engage in a battle of ball throwing.

Whenever Nicole ran out of balls to throw, Dylan and I will help her to collect the balls she had thrown at Jake and pass it to her.

"Nicole Dawson! Stop! Dylan, Zachary why are you both helping her?!" Jake protested as he was tired of running around the canteen. Fortunately, the canteen was quite empty except for a handful of students scattered around. If not, Jake and Nicole will be deem as public nuisance.

"This is what you get for laughing at my idea!" Nicole huffed as she leant against the table for support.

"Women." Jake muttered under his breath as he wiped off beads of sweat that started to form on his forehead.

"What's wrong with us, women? Care to explain your annoyed tone?" Nicole shot up an eyebrow, silently challenge Jake to refute her.

On the other hand, both of Jake's eyebrows shot up in surprise and grin sheepishly.

"Nothing. They're just too unpredictable, but in a good way." Jake quickly added in the last phrase that probably saved his sorry ass.

"Likewise for men." Nicole replied with a smirk.
____________________________________________

(On the day of Rachel's birthday.)

We have agreed on meeting at the park one hour earlier before we call Rachel.

"Hey, wear this." Ella nudged me lightly in the sides as she passed me a party mask.

I visibly cringed at the mask as it looked damn childish.

"Is this necessary?" I dangled the mask's string with my forefinger and directed the question to the group.

"No doubt, it is." Dylan muttered dryly as he tried on the mask and cone shaped hat. No doubt, he looked ridiculous with those.

"C'mon guys, don't be a party pooper." Nicole said in a sing-song voice, which made all of us rolled our eyes at her.

"Remind me who's idea is this?" Jake asked with a sigh.

Nicole who was standing behind him, hands were already on her hips, ready to refute Jake.

"This idea is surprisingly pretty good." Jake added as he turned around to wriggle his eyebrows at Nicole.

Nicole was obviously trying to hide her smile but failed miserably. She punched on his arms playfully as her cheeks were slightly tinted in pink.

"Where's Ella?" I belatedly realise Ella was not here the entire time.

"She's at the bakery shop, collecting Rachel's birthday cake!" Helen supplied me with the information as I tried on the mask.

"Hey, don't you look adorable here." Dylan started to pinch my cheeks.

If looks could kill, Dylan would be six feet under the ground. But, don't worry, Dylan is a brave kid. He knew that I absolutely hate it when people treat me like this.

I smacked off Dylan's hands and continue glaring at him.

Dylan simply laughed and walked away. Urgh.

"Nicole! Have you called Rachel?" Ella's voice was heard before she even appeared.

"Oh yes. I'm calling her right now!"

Nicole's hand reached for her pockets and swiftly swiped through the screen.

"Cute mask." I sighed in respond, even Ella was mocking me about the mask.

"Get ready guys! Rachel is coming!!" Nicole announced as she put on the hat and mask.

"We've got to hide somewhere." Helen suggested with a huge grin.

"That's not necessary." Dylan shot down her idea.

"Yes it is. C'mon guys. Girls love surprises."