Mainstream

“Your friend who now?” I ask confused as I continue to walk around and gather up all of his socks and tiny toy cars.

“My friend Natalie. She-”

“Wait, what happened to Henry?”

Kaden sighs and it’s clear to me that I’ve agitated 5-year-old so I keep my mouth shut. “Henry and I are still friends, but I’m talking about Natalie now. So anyway, we were… um… we were… I forgot what I was gonna say again.”

“That’s okay because I think”-a car horn honks twice outside-“that that is your cue to leave. But if you remember your story, you can always call, okay?”

“Aw, man… Do I really have to go? Why can’t I just stay with you?”

Oh, boy… This is always the hardest part. I open the door and avoid try to avoid eye contact, but I already know he’s got that pouty face that’ll definitely make me cry. But now he’s hugging my legs so I kneel down to embrace him better and I’m definitely crying behind his back but trying not to let him know that. “I’m sorry, bud. It’s just the way things have to be. I’ll see you again in two months.”

“Promise?”

I squeeze tighter. “I promise. Now, don’t keep your ride waiting, Kaden.”

He rushes out the door where Renee waits by the open door to the back seat. Kaden turns back one last time after climbing in and waves. I wave back but quickly go inside and shut the door. I’ve found that it’s better not to linger.

Leaning my back against the door, I sigh and look around. A bold red circle on my wall calendar catches my eye. Inside, the event reads, “Niall’s birthday dinner at 6!” My eyes widen as I check the time. “Shit!”

~

I rush into the formal restaurant in distress. I’m late. I’m so so late. I weave my way between waiters and waitresses to find everyone sitting and chatting loudly at a table in the back. Out of breath, I take the last open seat between Niall and Lina… across from Harry…

“Katy!” Lina greets excitedly. She gives me a quick hug, which I reciprocate, but her attention goes immediately back to Louis.

I turn to Niall. “I am so sorry that I’m late. I lost track of time.”

He grabs my hand and squeezes it gently. My cheeks can’t hold back a blush but I internally cringe. “It’s alright, love. What’s important is that you’re here. I feel like I haven’t seen you all week. I’ve missed you.”

I sigh, “I’ve missed you, too. I tried to push some of my hours around but things just got… really busy this week.” He assures me again that it’s quite alright and I’m so glad he’s buying into this bullshit.

Niall returns to the conversation he was having with Liam and Zayn before I walked in. I try to jump in but it’s all techy studio stuff that I don’t understand. I sigh under my breath and start to glance around, noticing a heavy gaze resting on me: Harold. And he’s glaring? I quirk an eyebrow at him as if to say what do you want? and he quickly glances away. Ha.

Aside from the weird feeling I got from Harry’s glare, the rest of dinner goes nicely. I down a few glasses of champagne, I eat some amazing food, and I laugh with some great people. Overall, it’s a great time.

On the way out, I realize I took a lyft here and ask Niall if he can drive me home to which he replies, “My car’s being detailed, so Liam drove me tonight. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind though.”

Liam pulls up his car to the curb and much to my delight, Harry is sitting in the passenger seat. Joy. Niall squeezes my hand when he sees the look on my face and explains the situation to Liam as we climb in the back.

“It’s no problem, Katy. In fact, I’ll drop you off first.”

Bless him. I smile. “You’re the best, thanks.”

With my eyes drooping, I lean my head on Niall’s shoulder for the ten minute drive to my house. When we get there he walks me to the door. After I enter, I turn around and give him a sweet kiss. “Happy birthday, Ni.” He leans in to kiss me again but we’re interrupted by the sound of a car horn. I look over his shoulder to see impatient and tired looking Liam and a hurt looking Harry. Oh?

Niall starts to pull away. “Guess that’s my cue to get going.”“No, stay.”

“Pardon?”

“Stay with me tonight.”“Are- are you sure?”

I grab his hands and lean in for a deep kiss, starting to pull him inside. “I’m very sure.”

Niall turns around to signal to Liam that it’s okay for him to leave him here and with that I shut the door.

~A week later Lina and I are cleaning up shop when the whole band decides to walk in with… Taylor Swift? They take up empty chairs at the counter and we give them what’s left of the pickings from today. As I’m wiping off the last table, Niall comes up from behind me and puts his hand on my waist. I smile, turn around, and wrap my arms around his neck to kiss him.

“How was work?” he asks.“Busy. I’m exhausted,” I sigh dramatically to which he laughs.

Across the cafe another loud laugh overpowers him. We look over to see Harry and Taylor laughing up a storm together about God knows what. I roll my eyes. “What is she doing here?”

Niall shrugs. “I don’t know, but they’ve been hanging out all week. My guess is that he’s sleeping with her again. They’ve just both got that look.”

“Huh?” I’m not sure why but my heart just dropped thirty miles below sea level and all of these crushing feelings I haven’t felt since I was 16 came rushing back. I’m with Niall now, I remind myself, so I choke back those feelings. However, when Taylor turns her head in my direction and gives me an innocent smile and Harry turns his head to follow her gaze and smirk at me a few seconds later I know that something just isn’t right.

“Alright, Katybird,” Lina interrupts my thoughts, “I’m going to head out with Louis, but I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.”

“Alright, bye, guys!”

“Bye, Katy! Thanks for the chill muffins!” Louis shouts as they leave. He’s got his arm around her as they walk out, bumping each other’s sides lightly and giggling at everything.Not going to lie, those two are so perfect for each other it scares me, and somehow he’s gotten Lina to be more friendly in the morning. I want to know what he’s doing, but I don’t want to risk any chance of ruining it either. Friendly Lina in the mornings has been such a gift.

Everyone else follows soon after. Even Niall leaves as I double check on everything. As I’m walking out, I hear someone shouting at me to hold up so I pause and try to make out the figure. It’s Taylor.

“So sorry, but I think I left my sunglasses on the counter. Mind if I grab them real quick?”

“Go right ahead.” I let her in and can’t help but think about how nice she actually is. Like, I wish I could hate her but her personality is just so bubbly and kind.

“Thanks,” she tells me as she exits, sunglasses in hand. “It’s Katy, right?” I nod. “Cool shop you’re running. Sorry for crashing it tonight. I was going to just go back to my hotel room, but Harry insisted that I come check this place out.”“Oh?”

“Yeah, but anyway, it’s so cute!” Ugh, her niceness makes me want to vomit just like I wanted to vomit at Harry’s smirk earlier. And that’s when it hits me.

“Um, okay, I don’t know how to say this but you’re like super nice and I’m not trying to ruin anything you have going but I think Harry’s using you.” Oof, not real vomit but word vomit. So much instant regret…

Taylor stares blankly at me for a few seconds then sighs. “Yeah, I know.”

What? “You know?”

“I had a feeling; I just didn’t know what for, but I totally get it now.”“You… do?”

“Yeah, Harry’s using me to make you jealous just like you’re using Niall to make him jealous.”

“Wait, what?! I’m not- I’m not using Niall to make… him jealous.”

Taylor giggles. “It’s okay. I won’t tell.”

“No, I really-”

“So what? Harry’s like an ex-boyfriend and y’all still have mad feeling for each other.”My cheeks flush, and I think God for the shitty lighting outside of this shop right now. “Um, I don’t… I-”

“So that’s a yes but you haven’t worked it out yet. I see, I see.”
“How are you guessing all of this?” I ask, still flustered.

Still giggling, “I’m not. I’ve just dated enough people to see the signs of love.”

“Right…” I really don’t know if that’s sad or… no, I’m actually pretty sure this is just sad on a bunch of different levels. But… she has a point. I sigh, “Okay, so maybe I’m using Niall.” That actually felt good to get off of my chest. “But if you know that Harry’s using you, why stay him this long?”

“Eh, publicity is publicity. And this isn’t hurting me so why not?”

“So you don’t like him?”

“Not romantically.”

“Did you sleep with him?”

She laughs hard this time. “God, no! He’s just one of the few people I know here in London that still tolerates me.” I nod my head steadily trying to process my thoughts. “Anyway, I better get going, but you seem really cool. Friends?”

Ugh, so nice. “Yeah, sure. Friends it is.”

Wow, this day has been weird.

Notes

It took me forever to figure out chapter 9 with all of our old, extremely messy plot layouts and messages from like... three years ago give or take. It's been a while since I've written fiction, so it's probably not good but I really wanted to post chapter 10 because it's been done for about two years and it has all the Louis + Lina feels and I love them, they are so cute. We've had the whole plot layout for a while and I think I actually wanna finish it this summer before I start college. So look out for chapter 10 in the next few days and we'll see what happens from there :)

~A

PS: you heard right, ThatRandomUnicorn is off to college! I got to a point junior year where I didn't even think I was going to live to see myself graduate high school, but I did like two weeks ago. Anyway, I'm going to be studying computer science starting in the fall and I'm suuuper excited.

posted 06.13.18