Chapter thirty-two

After the arena had cleared out a bit, the lads and I went out to the bus to change before we hit the club. I went for a simple black cut out dress, accessorized with pink shoes and clutch.

As I finished putting my earrings on, I walked into the communal living area of the bus to see five rather bored and exasperated faces looking at me.

“What?” I asked them, sliding the last backing into the earring. Louis cleared his throat and looked down at his wrist dramatically. A wrist that was devoid of a watch, but I took his meaning and rolled my eyes at him anyway. “Wow, I really miss Dani, El and Perrie,” I sighed and Zayn laughed.

“Then we really would be waiting forever,” he joked and we all laughed with him. It was true, if anyone took forever to get ready, it was Perrie.

“Are you ready now?” Harry asked, coming over to snake his arm around my waist. His fingers touched my skin where the fabric was cut out.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” I said, before giving Louis a pointed look. He laughed, stood, and slung his arm around my shoulders.

“Well, then, let’s get going.” And that’s exactly what we did. A dark Escalade pulled up and we all climbed inside. I could tell the guys weren’t super pumped for tonight; after all, they were missing their girlfriends. But it was a chance to drink and let loose away from Paul’s scrupulous supervision, and therefore welcome no matter what.

The car pulled up in front of a rather small building that looked disproportionate beneath the elaborate neon sign that it upheld. The lads all climbed out of the car before Harry and I, but soon we were all entering the club together. You could tell it was pretty low budget; there were few people around, no amazing DJ, and the lights adorning the counters were just straight up cheap. I sat down at a table with high stools and waited while the guys grabbed us some beers. They came back, sat down with me, and for a while we just drank in silence; or I should say, they drank in silence. I pulled out my phone, saw that it had only been twenty-five minutes since our arrival and sighed. Harry noticed, his head shooting towards me.

“Why don’t we dance?” He offered. I looked at him, then out to the pathetically empty dance floor.

I shrugged.

“Sure, why not?” I placed my hand in his and allowed him to tow me out. The music was really awful, but we tried to make the most of it. The only really redeeming aspect of this place was the feeling of Harry’s hands once more on my body. I got lost in that sensation for a moment before glancing back at the guys. Niall was dancing, although even he seemed to be bored. The rest of them looked practically suicidal sitting there, not talking and not dancing. I drew away from Harry.

“I think this night’s a bust,” I told him, looking back at the guys. He followed my gaze, his brow furrowing. It eventually smoothed out and he smiled.

“We can’t have that,” he said. “I came to party.”



Liam stepped behind him at that moment, making a face, and I laughed. Harry joined in, slinging his arm around my shoulder and ushering me away from the dance floor.

“Let’s go find some real fun, shall we boys?” He asked the rest of them.

“Thank God,” Liam exclaimed, pulling Niall from the dance floor.

“Where to?” Zayn asked and they all looked at one another.

“Anywhere,” I said. “Let’s just wander!” I smiled at them.

“Lead the way!” Lou said boisterously. And so we left the club, with no particular place in mind, and without bothering with the car. We went to go and just be ourselves in the night.

--

The streets were empty as we wandered farther and farther away from the downtown core. Lights became less brilliant and we felt truly alone. Naturally, this lead to us noisily and boisterously conversing with one another. Louis stumbled over the curbing of the sidewalk, clearly rather drunk, more so than the rest of them at any rate. He laughed loudly.

“Oi!” He called and we laughed as we watched him painfully try and walk along the curb, as if he were on a tight rope. It wasn’t a moment later and Louis fell to the ground, causing us to erupt into fits of laughter once again. I knelt down to help him as he staggered up. “Oh, bollocks,” he said, rubbing his no doubt bruised tailbone.

“You alright?” I asked him.

“PIZZA!” He bellowed, completely ignoring my question, and pointing to a pizza parlour that was in front of us.

“Wow, someone a little hungry?” Liam laughed.

“Not going to lie,” Niall said sheepishly. “I could go for pizza right now, too.”

For the first time in a couple weeks, I was dying for pizza.

“Come on, let’s get some,” I said, ushering Lou in.

Harry looked at me in pleased astonishment and I met his gaze with a smile of my own. He was happy to see me feeling better and I was happy to see the worried lines of his face disappear.

“You guys go ahead,” Harry said. “Zayn, Liam and I are going to grab some beers.” He pointed to the corner store just down the street.

“Yes!” Niall said enthusiastically while Louis just slurred something unintelligible.

“Okay, see you in a bit,” I said as he bent down to kiss my cheek before taking off with Zayn. Niall and I worked to get Louis seated in a chair in the pizza place. Once successful Niall went over to
the till to place the order, leaving me with Louis.

“You look awful, Louis,” I told him.

“So do you,” he laughed, perhaps a little too loudly. I rolled my eyes at him.

“How are you so drunk?” I asked him.

“Did you want Harry asking why you, of all people, didn’t finish their beer back at the club?” He asked me, his head slouching forward.

“No,” I said hesitantly.

“That’s why I drank yours for you!” He smiled at me like I owed him.

“Yeah, and you’re done after two beers?” I asked him sceptically.

“No, of course not!” He scoffed. “But I couldn’t exactly tell Harry to stop buying them could I?” He had a point there. “It would be far too out of character.” He laughed again. I laughed too.

“Well no more when Harry, Liam and Zayn come back,” I told him, and I felt like his mother. “But thank you,” I added after a moment’s hesitation. I realized that he was trying to help me, and I was deeply touched by that.

“Anytime, love,” he slurred again.

“Wow, Lou, you’re knackered,” Niall said, coming back and sitting down at the table opposite from Louis and I. Louis didn’t reply, he just laid his no doubt spinning head on the table.

“He’s been drinking for two tonight,” I explained. A look of recognition lit up Niall’s face.

“That’s where your drinks were going!” He said, seemingly relieved. “I was worried it was you drinking them,” he laughed. I smiled back. “So, I guess you haven’t…”

“Told him?” I finished for him, and gave my head a shake. “No. Not yet. I don’t even know if I am, well you know,” I told him. Although I was really late. Nearly two months late, specifically.
However, I was content being in denial.

Niall didn’t press the matter, which I was appreciative of. However, his lack of perseverance on the matter could’ve had to do with the fact that the three lads we were waiting for appeared at that moment.

“Hey guys,” Zayn said, sitting down with Niall. Liam and Harry pulled over two chairs.

“Pizza almost ready?” Harry asked us.

Niall looked at the clock on the wall.

“Should be about fifteen more minutes,” he said.

“Thank God,” Louis mumbled, his head still plastered to the table.

“What’s wrong with him?” Liam asked. I put my hand on Louis’ head and gently stroked him hair.

“He’s just had a little too much to drink,” I said, giving Liam a meaningful look, one that warned him to change the subject.

“Oh,” he said, comprehension appearing on his face. Unfortunately, Harry pressed the matter.

“Louis you’re going soft, the night’s just began!” He said, nudging his bag of booze that was on the table in front of us all. Louis groaned audibly.

“You know, I saw him doing shots earlier,” I said, trying to help Louis out.

“When?” Harry asked. “There didn’t seem to be anybody doing much of anything in that place.”

“No, I saw him, too.” Zayn agreed with me, giving me a look. “He just got really bored, and I guess, forgot to stop,” he laughed.

“Typical Louis,” Niall interjected. Harry laughed, seeming to believe us; he was so trusting.

“Order up for Horan!” A man behind the counter called, and Niall sprung up so fast you would never know he had bad knees. He plucked the boxes from the counter.

“Thanks, mate!” He called over to the guy, handing him a tip before coming back to the table. The boxes were promptly flung open and the pizza devoured. Even Louis who was a little worse for wear managed to get his fair share. We stayed there in the little pizzeria for over an hour, just talking and laughing with one another. As I was just finishing up a piece of pizza Louis began to groan again.

“You alright?” I asked him, and he shook his head ‘no’. He looked like such a child, I just wanted to wrap my arms around him. I turned to Harry. “Babe, why don’t you call the driver, I think Louis is done for the night,” I smiled gently. Harry kissed my temple and pulled his phone from his pant pocket.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, already dialling the number. I slid out of the booth, too, and went up to the young man behind the counter.

“Hi, would you mind grabbing me a cup of water for my friend?” I asked him, motioning over to Louis. I saw his eyes appreciatively rake over my body before he smiled and nodded, acquiescing to my request.

“Sure thing,” he said in his heavy American accent. I smiled in return. He was back a moment later, and he reached over to hand me the cup.

“Thanks so much,” I said taking it from him.

“No problem,” he said and I turned to leave. “Hey!” He called back suddenly and I turned around questioningly. “I feel like I’ve see you before,” he said, almost as a half question.

I shook my head.

“Sorry, I’ve never been here before,” I told him. “I thought the accent gave that away,” I joked. He laughed, too.

“You just seem so familiar,” he persisted. I glanced back to the lads, anxious to give Louis his water. I saw Liam and Niall looking over at me, and they looked like they wanted to come over and see what this guy was saying to me. Eager to get back to them, I brushed off his comments.

“I probably just have an average face,” I said and turned away from him.

“What did he want?” Liam asked, still looking at him rather than me. I handed Louis the water and he took a tentative sip before gulping back more greedily.

“Whoa there big brother,” I teased Liam and he looked back at me with a smile. “Apparently he thought he knew me.”

“He probably saw you on TV,” Niall said nonchalantly.

“Yeah, I was also on a magazine cover,” I said. Liam and Niall looked at me questioningly.

“What?” I asked them.

“How do you know that?” Liam asked.

“That I was on a magazine cover?”

“Yeah, there haven’t been any back stage,” Niall said.

“I saw it at a pharmacy,” I explained tentatively. They continued to look at me but then Harry was back.

“Car’s almost here, shall we get him outside?” He asked.

“I think that might be a good idea,” I responded. “Come on Louis, up we get,” I pulled him up with Harry’s help and together we supported him from falling over as we waited for the car. Once outside, I turned back to see the pizza guy still staring at me from within the glass window. I’d never seen him before, but I felt like I would see him again.

Notes

Sorry I didn't update on Monday, I had a ton of tests :/ Anyways, so excited to be nearing 100 subscribers! Went over the 70 000 word point in this chapter, too! Going to try and have Monday as my update-day from now on. Please rate/comment/subscribe and usual my lovelies. I would love to get your thoughts on this chapter. What's up with this pizza guy?