On Tuesday, I walk past him like nothing ever happened, as if we never talked to each other.

On Wednesday, I try to look at him, just to see if he’s fine but he sees it and doesn’t looked too pleased about it so that I completely ignore him again on Thursday.

On Friday he’s still asleep so I throw my change into his cup, wishing I could at least buy him some coffee.

The next Monday, I throw the coins in again and he thanks me, quietly and voice sounding guilty.

The next week goes on like that and by the start of May, we’re back to our old routine. Sometimes I buy him a coffee and a croissant, when I feel like my money will be enough nevertheless.

I’m pretty okay with that solution, being able to care for him and still distance myself.

It’s the first Sunday in May when our exams get a little less and we decide to finally go out as a friend group again. While both Taylor and Liam introduce their new partners to us, I bring Maya for the first time and they all seem to get along very well.

We have some dinner at a cheap fast-food restaurant before we want to go clubbing.

“No, it’s not”, Maya explains to Sophia, Liam’s – “we’re not official, though”- girlfriend and takes a big bite from her fries.

“What is it like, then?”, she asks, wiping of the ketchup sticking to her fingers with a napkin.

I don’t listen to there rather boring conversation about reality TV and turn to the other half of the table.

Joe and Taylor keep flirting in the corner of the table so I ignore them as well, being left with Gigi and Liam, fighting with Niall and Zayn into what club we should go to afterwards.

“No, listen”, Gigi says, “You’re my partner, babe, you should be on my side.”

“Babe”, Niall mocks Gigi, earning a death-glare from her, “you should be on my side, Liam, baby.”

“Niall”, Liam says, “Just because Amelia isn’t here today doesn’t mean you have to search for someone new right away.”

“He’s a little desperate”, I include myself in the conversation and earn three laughers and a slap on my upper arm.

“Ouch”, I whine.

“He’s a little sensitive”, Niall mocks me and grins.

“Children”, Zayn determines.

“Boys”, Gigi says and rolls her eyes.

“That’s sexist”, Liam replies and then we end up discussing if that comment was sexist for ten minutes before Gigi stops us by waving her arms through the air.

“Boys, listen. I don’t care if that was sexist right now, we wanted to discuss where to go afterwards."

I nod. “Club in the south is the better one.”

“Yes”, Liam and Gigi shout, high-fiving me.

Zayn and Niall both stare at me as if they were about to pull out a knife.

“Come on, boys”, Gigi says and takes a sip from her coke, “The drinks are way cheaper there.”

~~~

I shake my head again. “No, thanks.”

The man that’s been trying to hit on me for the past ten minutes now still doesn’t walk away.

“I have a fucking boyfriend”, I say.

I see Niall approaching from my left side and wave at him.

“Hi, baby”, I say and pull him in by the waist.

He halfway falls forward, chest collapsing onto mine and the kiss lasts about half a second before he pulls away confused.

I grin, turning around to the man again, checking if I finally proved my point. Niall seems to finally get it and wraps an arm around my waist, leaning his head against my shoulder.

“Is something the matter?”, he asks, looking at the man with a raised eyebrow, “You better not be flirting with my boy, right?”

The man quickly shakes his head and turns away, leaving as quickly as he appeared.
I giggle quietly. “Thank you, baby.”

Niall slaps my arm. “I have a fucking girlfriend, you fucker.”

I laugh and shrug. “As if Amelia cared you laid your lips on mine with a disgusted look on your face for half a second.”

He laughs too but rolls his eyes, downing the rest of his drink.

“Sorry”, I mutter, “He wouldn’t leave. Wasn’t even pretty.”

Niall laughs again and downs the rest of his drink. “Mate, I think I’m leaving. I’m really fucking tired right now.”

I nod with a look around the room, trying to spot the others. I only see Taylor and Joe making out in the corner of the room so I quickly turn around again and shrug.

“We can send them a message and leave.”

Niall grabs my hand not very softly and pulls me through the crowded room. I wouldn’t admit it but I’m happy he guides the way because I usually get very lost, trying to make my way through all those way too tall people.

When we’re finally outside, I see Maya and Gigi standing a little further, waving at us when we see them.

“We were just leaving. The others still are inside but there was a weird dude hitting on us. Didn’t leave until I told him I’m a lesbian.”

“I had to snog Zayn for a minute before he believed me.”
I laugh, covering my mouth with my hand. “Did he wear this ugly bright yellow shirt?”, I ask.
“How do you know?”

We start walking into the right direction, strolling through the dark street and I try not to shiver at the cold wind.
“He tried to flirt with me as well. Might have used Niall as an alibi.”

“Disgusting.”
I nod before we stop walking at the corner of the street where both Niall and Maya have to turn and leave us.

Niall leaves me as well after a few more meters and then I walk the rest of the way alone, using the flashlight of my phone to see a little bit more, the darkness always scared me a little.

I turn into my street, already seeing the lights of the bakery and smile happily, glad to be back home.

I hear a weird noise and stop in the middle of walking, trying to hear if something happened. I hear nothing and suppose it probably was a cat so I keep on walking, not thinking about it anymore.

When I walk past the bakery, I hear someone whimpering quietly and turn to see the silhouette of someone laying on the ground, curled up.

“Louis?”, Harry asks, “Help me, please.”

~~~

muhahahaha cliffhanger

you'll get the next chapter soon no worries<3