Chapter 11 - Summers

“Oh God, I’m never drinking again!” I groan when I wake up, the throbbing in my head killing me slowly.

I hide under the blankets and try not to move, but it seems like things spin around me even when I can’t see anything. I hate this, I hate hangovers! Why did I even drink last night? I know I’m a lightweight, I always ask for a juice or coke instead, I avoid alcohol because of this very reason. What possessed me last night to do this?

Oh right… Louis. I was celebrating with him and got a bit carried away.

I do remember last night, at least most of it. Some parts are still blurry and for some I’m not sure if they actually happened or if they were just dreams. Well, I know that the part about running from an alien attack was a dream because I don’t think aliens invaded us last night.

I have a vague memory of Louis carrying me to my room and of us talking. I think I humiliated myself and he said something, but I’m not sure if I really heard him saying that or if it was just part of one of my dreams.

Jamie says Louis has a mega crush on me, that everyone knows it and blah, blah, blah and I know I’ve been trying to tell myself that he doesn’t, and I’m afraid that what I think I heard him say was just in my mind because I want him to actually have a crush on me.

Oh God, I’m thinking too hard and the hangover is killing me.

“Hey, Robin,” I hear a whisper and peek outside my shelter to find Jamie, leaning down. “Here, have some aspirin and water, loads of water.”

And she hands me a big glass of water and two aspirins. God bless her soul for helping me today. This is what best friends are for, to help you when you are a useless bag of potatoes and you can’t even leave your bed.

I take the pills and drink the water, sitting straight on my bed and Jamie doesn’t leave, she sits across me, her eyes glued on me. “So,” she starts and I groan. The pills haven’t taken effect yet. “Did you have fun last night?” She asks, wiggling her eyebrows at me with a cheeky grin on her lips.

I roll my eyes and get dizzy. Seriously, I can’t do this again, I don’t deal well with hangover. “I did have fun,” I answer in a whisper because talking too loud makes it worse. “And no, we didn’t do anything, you naughty idiot.”

Jamie chuckles softly as I drink more water, my head still killing me. “You both were drunk and you didn’t take advantage of the situation? I thought you were smarter than this,” my best friend scolds me and I look at her surprised. Her morals are a bit messed up.

“You’re not suggesting I should’ve taken advantage of our state last night, are you?”

“I’m not suggesting,” she replies. “I’m saying it very clearly. You should’ve,” ends Jamie and I can’t believe it, I even laugh, which only causes me more pain. “I’m very disappointed.”

“Oh hush. He didn’t try anything either and you say he has a crush on me. Even though I was drunk he did nothing. I think your theory of the crush is wrong.”

No, I don’t feel disappointed. It’s just the hangover.

“Ow, and you’re sad because of that? You wanted him to make a move?”

“Shut up!” Oh, I shouldn’t have raised my voice. That hurts so bad! “We’re just friends,” I add next in a whisper, holding my head in my hands.

“Because you didn’t take advantage of the situation. I came here expecting to find him in your bed,” Jamie says offhandedly and I choke on my own spit, which makes my head explode. “I was quite surprised to find you alone, snoring like a truck.”

“I don’t snore,” I say and she just waves her hand dismissively. “And don’t say those things. If I were to admit I fancy him, it would still be too soon for that. I’m not making the same mistake again. Whether it’s with Louis or not, I’m gonna be careful with the next guy I date. This time I’ll pick wisely, so don’t push me, okay? Plus, it’s obvious he doesn’t really fancy me because he would’ve, at least, said something last night.”

You could be with me, you know? I’d love to be with you, I hear in my mind, the words I think I heard Louis said but no, he didn’t. That was part of my dream. In fact, I can remember exactly how it went because it was so vivid.

“You could be with me, you know? I’d love to be with you,” Louis said and my hands flew to cover my mouth immediately, surprised and delighted that he had said that.

“But… isn’t it too soon?” I asked back and he took a step closer, his hand on my waist.

“Time is irrelevant. All I care about is the way you make me feel, Robin,” he insisted in the dream and I felt myself melting inside, becoming a pool of feelings. His voice, the way his blue eyes were looking at me, the small smile playing on his lips… All that was making my heart race in my chest.

“I—I don’t wanna get hurt again,” I confessed, looking down for a few seconds but then his hand was on my chin, making me look in his eyes again.

“I won’t hurt you, I promise. I would never do that.” I felt my heart actually skipping a beat at that promise.

“Others have said the same, yet it’s always I who ends up with the broken heart.” I don’t know if I’m doomed or something, but it’s like that, even in my dreams. Every time, yet I still have faith that I will find a guy who will actually love me and cherish me.

Louis smiled kindly and confidently at me in the dream, as if he knew all the answers in the world. “But I’m not like the others, Robin.”

I nodded because that’s true- Louis, despite the fact that I barely know him, has showed me he is different, not just the self-centred dick head that thinks too highly of himself. Louis is humble and hardworking, he is kind and considerate.

“Robin,” he called my name in a low voice that makes me shiver. “I like you and I think you should give me a chance.”

“I—I don’t know,” I tried to look away but he didn’t allow me to. “I’m afraid.”

“Well, then I’ll have to push those fears away,” Louis stated and started to lean in and I didn’t fight him, I closed my eyes and waited, but right at that moment the mother ship landed on the field and that’s when things got crazy as we fought to survive.

So of course it was part of my dream. He didn’t actually say that when he brought me to my room last night. It’d be too cheesy, right?

 “Maybe he’s too polite and nice,” Jamie suggests, bringing me back to the present and away from the memories of my dreams.

“Or maybe he really only sees me as a friend, that poor girl who always gets her heart broken.”

“Or he is using you to get an article about him. It wouldn’t be the first time,” Jamie adds and I look at her shocked and hurt. “What? You started with the pessimism.”

I roll my eyes and notice my head is a wee better. The aspirins are making effect. Yay!

“Sometimes I wonder why we are friends,” I mumble shaking my head slowly because I don’t want to throw away the little effect the pills have had.

Now that she has said that I won’t stop thinking of it. Plus, the first time we met he mentioned how big of a fan he is of my articles. Maybe he does want to be in one and that’s why he’s so nice. And he’s not trying to get in my panties for the same reason. He just wants me to notice him as a player so I can write an article about him.

God damn it! Why did Jamie have to suggest that?

“If you had just accepted what I suggested first I would’ve have said that. It’s your fault,” she snaps faking annoyance when it’s me who should be annoyed and mad at her.

“You suck,” I pout and she flicks her hair over her shoulder in a very dramatic way.

“You better get a shower so that hangover can wash off a bit. We’ll go for breakfast later and we won’t talk about boys.”

I nod and leave the glass she gave me first on the nightstand. Slowly, I get up and walk over to the bathroom where I get rid of my clothes as the water heats up. I take a long shower, mostly because all my movements are clumsy due to the hangover. I don’t even open my eyes, it’s still too bright.

As I take the shower I force my mind to remain blank. I don’t want to think of any theory of any sort, I just want to feel better so I can face the world.

I shouldn’t think that much of Louis, it won’t end up well.

When I finally turn off the water, I leave the bathroom to dress and then, as Jamie suggested, we go to have breakfast together. Although the aspirins have taken some effect, I still feel like shit but the fresh air is helping as well.

Even when I was planning not to talk about Louis again, Jamie doesn’t drop the topic.

“I know you don’t wanna believe it, but I do think he has a crush on you,” she insists and I sigh.

“I dunno, Jamie. I rather not think about it and just carry on. If it is the case, then it is. But I don’t wanna rush it or anything. Plus, my breakup with Connor is still recent. I need time to be with myself, you know? I don’t need to pursue another relationship for now.”

“Fine, I can respect that. But if you realise you fancy him, please, I wanna be the first to know.” I chuckle at her eagerness for me to fancy someone, Louis in this case.

I sometimes think she only likes Louis because he and Connor are clearly rivals. I don’t really know what’s the problem between them, because it comes from before Louis and I started talking, but I’m sure Jamie loves that Louis hates Connor, because that’s evident for everyone.

“You will be the first to know,” I promise and my friend grins widely. “Now please, let’s get that coffee. I need it like the air I breathe.”

And like that we finally leave that topic and I get my coffee, my precious and so welcome coffee. Oh yeah, life is good again when you have coffee after a night celebrating the victory of your team. A game that, by the way, was amazing… with that amazing goal Louis scored. I still can’t believe I didn’t notice how good of a player he is and all the potential he has.

Something tells me he’ll get far, really far and I don’t know, I’m just excited to see that moment. I want to be there when it happens. And it will happen, of that I’m sure.

-:-:-:-

Dedication to @Nialls_Foodmate. I also hate people like Connor, but that's the problem; there are too many like him.

Bel, xx