Half a Heart

The next couple weeks went by as usual. Work. Work. Work. And lately, I haven’t minded as much. I was actually thankful I was so busy, it kept my mind from wandering, or seeing and hearing any news of them on the tele. But today was my day off. Which left a lot more time than I liked for my mind to wander. So I did like I usually do whenever I get into a mood; clean. I cleaned the entire house from top to bottom. I was in the middle of finishing the laundry when Tori walked in looking alarmed.
“Nora? What’s going on? Did your rat die?” Tori asked as she took in the entire house. “I mean I’m glad you cleaned it definitely needed a bit of TLC, but damn dude.” She always referred to my HAMSTER Louis as a rat. It’s not that she didn’t like him it just took her longer to warm up to him. Most of the time I catch her talking to him, so her calling him a rat was just a cover up.
“No! He’s not even a year old!” I scoffed at her.
“Fuck. Well you could’ve fooled me,” she said sitting right next to me on the couch and started helping me fold.
“Just a lot on my mind.”
“And your ‘go to’ is cleaning?!” I gave her a look. I knew she knew what I was talking about, and that it wasn’t a joking matter, but Tori liked trying to making light of situations. That’s why I loved her. After we were done she stood she gave me a worried look over her shoulder, and headed up stairs to get changed I assumed she yelled, “love you Nor! Don’t let him get to you!”
*FASHBACK*
She and Jaycee were the only two people I told about Harry and me. You couldn’t just not tell your best friends about a boyfriend! Especially if they notice you were more preoccupied recently. AND disappearing to go on “trips”. They FREAKED when I told them. Well actually they laughed in my face until Harry was in our living room one night watching a movie with me. I will never forget the look on their faces. I swear their jaws dropped to the floor the second they walked in. Harry laughed a light chuckle and introduced himself. It took them self to gain control to make a coherent response to him. After that it was pretty much normal thought. They loved Harry until…
They were also the only ones there to help pick up the pieces.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
My phone buzzed bringing me back to reality. I looked down from the laundry in my hands to see it was Niall calling. Like always I ignored it. It seemed like the right thing to do. I mean I loved Niall, but I couldn’t keep hearing his updates or feeling the need to ask. When it first had ended it was reassuring to hear that Niall still called. To know he still cared; Harry never called once. I wasn’t sure what hurt worse breaking up with someone you’re totally in love with or knowing that they never cared enough to call. I know I was the one who pushed him away, but he could’ve ran after me after things calmed down. Maybe that was just me being stubborn and bitter. Probably.
My phone buzzed again. A text from Niall:
WHY YOU IGNORING ME WOMAN! L </3
What would I say to him? I didn’t want to talk about their tour. I didn’t want to talk about what was new with me because honestly nothing was really new. And I sure as hell did NOT want him to bring up Harry. Another buzz.
Niall:
Nora L why don’t you talk to me anymore?
And another.
NORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Before I could even muster up an answer Jay walked through the door grinning from ear to ear, and then frowning looking around. Finally her eyes landed on me with a worried look crossing her features, “did Louis die?”
“That’s what I said!” Tori yelled from upstairs.
I rolled my eyes, “No! Why do I have to be upset to clean the house?!”
Jaycee grinned at me and sat down next to me, “because that’s who you are babe. And I love that about you. Hey, you know who else might love that about you-“
“Jay, don’t start this again,” I groaned falling on top a pile of clean folded clothes. She had this theory that a guy friend of hers from work would be perfect for me. She’s been trying to set it up for months.
“Nora, you cannot just stop dating all together because Harry was an asshole.”
“Actually I can. And it’s not just him that affects that decision. It’s the fact that I think their all like that, and I don’t want to have to deal with a relationship.”
She groaned and landed on top of me, “fine, fine. I’ll quit. For now. But will you at least come to this party with me tonight. I don’t want to go alone.” She stuck out her bottom lip at me in a pout; a look which she knew I couldn’t resist.
“Alright, alright. I was going to have a fun filled night of Disney movies with Louis, but I guess I can make it,” I teased pushing her off of me.
A couple hours later Tori, Jaycee, and I showed up fashionably late as always to the party which was held by our best guy friend, Jack. Apparently he was already wasted because he started yelling at the top of his lungs as soon as he saw us.
“NOW THE PARTIES REALLY HERE!” He said as he reached us giving out a big ‘woo hoo’. He pulled me in for a hug first, “Nora! Where has your fine ass been?” I laughed and hugged him back as he lifted me into the air.
Jack was a good looking guy; he was tall, sandy blonde hair that never he never let grow more than two inches, beautiful blue eyes, and on top of that was funny and sweet. He is also probably the funnest person I knew. Only problem he had been dating the same girl since the beginning of secondary school. She was such a sweetheart though that you couldn’t blame him. Her names was Claire; she was this petite, shy, little brunette who you couldn’t help, but love. She reminded me of Bambi, so that’s what I had started calling her. She didn’t mind so it stuck.
“Where’s Bambi?” Jay asked.
“Oh, she’s off…….somewhere.” He said looking around, disappearing in the crowd. As we walked in I noticed there was a small stage being set up which wasn’t a surprise. Jack’s house was so big he always had live music when he threw a party.
“I heard the band is a really good!” Jay said grinning mischievously. Before I could ask her she disappeared as well into the crowd. Probably trying to find the liquor.
“Tor-,” I started as I turned around noticing she wasn’t there anymore either. Great. Not even five minutes in. I tried to search the crowd for someone I knew, but I couldn’t see anyone. I sighed giving up and headed to the kitchen to get myself a drink. If I was dragged to this party I was at least going to get drunk. I was about the grab a red solo cup and fill it, but a hand beat me to it.
“Oh sorry,” I said looking up to a pair of gorgeous blue eyes and blinding smile. He was probably the second most gorgeous boy I had ever seen and I stood their dumbfounded.
“You can go ahead,” he said politely handing me a cup.
“Thanks,” I said turning around hurriedly pouring and heading out of the kitchen embarrassed. As soon as I sighed in relief and got lost in the big crowd of people I felt like an idiot. I just ran away from a beautiful boy who was only polite to me and I ran away like a coward. How was I ever going to be with someone else if I ran away people who mean no harm?
I walked through the crowd trying to see if I could find anyone I knew, but I don’t know how anyone could stand it in here it was so loud that I could barely hear myself think let alone find someone to have a conversation with. And how could I go back into the kitchen after I practically ran out of there?
“Everyone, everyone shush!” Jack yelled over everyone. The room didn’t go silent, but Jack didn’t have to yell over everyone anymore. “I’m pleased to introduce, what I think could be the next big hit band since they just got their first record deal!” Everyone cheered as Jack continued, “Which one of my best mates is a part of! This is 5 Seconds of Summer!” Everyone cheered as the four boys got up on the lifted platform, and I felt like a deer in headlights. It was the beautiful boy up there grabbing the guitar, and standing in front of the microphone. The others were cute as well, but nothing compared to the one.
“You’ve got to be fucking shitting me.” I murmured unable to move.
“Hi everyone! Like Jack said we are 5 Seconds of Summer, and I hope you guys enjoy. This is our song “Try Hard”!” Said one that had dark skin slightly awkwardly. Everyone cheered and started dancing as they started up their first song. At first you could tell they were nervous and uncomfortable, but as the song progressed they started rocking out to it and having fun.
The beautiful boy was the first to sing, “She’s dropping out of school ‘cause she don’t need the grade, the colors in her hair don’t seem to fade, I get dressed up when I go out, but she gets dressed down.” Wow he was really good. Like wow. The boy who announced them started singing the next part, and when they got to the chorus they owned the stage and the crowd. I hadn’t seen anything like this since One Direction. It got to the bridge and it got real quiet as the beautiful boy’s voice dropped low to sing, “you’re so out of reach, and I’m finding it hard ‘cause you make me feel, you make me feel…” and the rest of the boys joined it to end the song.
They played a few more songs and at the end the boy on the drums yelled the cheers and claps, “thank you, thank you! We are taking a short break and we’ll be back!” I watched as they were being rowdy on the stage as they all got up to take their break. You could see all them glow from the excitement as they raced into the kitchen. Someone grabbed the back of my arm I turned to see Tori.
“Oh my god! They were amazing! Like one of the best bands I have ever seen.”
“They were alright.” I said trying to act unimpressed. Why? I wasn’t sure.
“Just alright?” A familiar voice said from behind me. I flushed as I turned to see the beautiful boy. “So you’re unimpressed with my manners and my band?” He said chuckling lightly with a questioning look.
I flushed even further, “Uhm…well yeah I guess I am.” I said gaining a little confidence back into my voice at least. I crossed my arms across my chest and leaned slightly on my right foot.
“Really? Mind if I prove you wrong love?” I froze that’s what Harry always called me, but I had to remember a lot of guys just said that. Or was he flirting with me. Or was I just over thinking things now?
“Well you have to go back up there anyway so I suppose you could try. Don’t hold your breath though.”
“Hmmm. Want to make it interesting?” He said with a smirk in his voice. Like he knew something I didn’t.
“How?” I said flatly.
“If you’re impressed I get to walk you home.” He said ear to ear in a grin.
“Don’t get too ahead of yourself,” I scoffed.
“I’m not.”
I laughed loudly, “On second thought hold your breath.” If it was possible he smiled even bigger and chuckled, turned around, and walked back into the crowd. I turned to see Tori gawking at me. “What?”
“Did you not notice him totally flirting with you?! And asking to walk you home?! How romantic is that?”
I rolled my eyes, “He was just being a boy, Tori.”
She got a grimace on her face, “Yeah and I’m a walrus, Nora.”
Jaycee finally found us, “Did you guys see Luke? He rocks right?”
“Who’s Luke?” I asked.
“The guy who just hit on you Nora.” Tori pointed at the beautiful boy, apparently named Luke, getting back up on stage smirking in my direction. “Jay has been trying to set you guys up forever.”
“THAT’S him?” I gawked at Jay. She smiled proudly. “Shit.”
“Alright everyone, this next song is our debut of our new album that we have started to record that will hopefully be coming out next summer! Hope you’re impressed.” Luke said staring at me the entire time he spoke.
As soon as it started I knew I lost, so I just started dancing. What the hell. I smiled up at Luke as he started to sing, and you could tell he was trying not to laugh as he got into the song. And by the second time the chorus came around everyone was trying to sing along.
“You look so perfect standing there in my American Apparel underwear and I know now, that I’m so down. I made a mix tape straight out of ’94 I’ve got your ripped skinny jeans lying on the floor, and I know now, that I’m so down.” They finished a song with a bang and thanked everyone for coming out, but they had a big day the next day, and had to leave. The party went on without them as they packed all of their stuff. I turned to Tori and Jaycee with a look of help on my face.
“Oh no. Don’t look at me like that Nor. He’s just a boy you can handle him.” Tori said as she patted my arm, grabbed Jay, “see you at home!” She said as the disappeared.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” I needed another drink. I strolled into the kitchen, filled my cup to find a bunch of girls flooding in as the four boys walked out with their stuff. Maybe he would totally forget and leave.
That was shortly lived as I heard a yell from inside the crowd, “don’t go anywhere you owe me a walk home!” Fuck. Just what I needed another band boy. I chugged the rest of my drink and threw the cup behind me.
Luke came back in waving goodbye to the rest of the boys I assumed. He turned to see me and puffed his chest and strolled over. I laughed.
“Ready?” He asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Notes