Eleanor

I was stronger; that was one thing I realized.

I've cried for my broken heart and mourned for my wounded soul so many times before that I grew tired of it. I still cry, everyone does, but not as much as I did before. I figured how to tame my emotions.

I also figured out that love, as wonderful it is, can also be very painful. Seeing Louis with another girl hurt much worse than any other pain I've experienced before.

But as I said: I've grown stronger.

I wasn't the same old girl who'd bawl her eyes out whenever the universe decided it was fun to make a joke out of her life.

That's why even though it hurt so bad, I was okay. Not alright, not good, but okay. I was hurting, but I wasn't curled up in a ball and moping around. The hurt was much more than I've had before but it only settled as a constant ache inside my chest because I've grown stronger. I was okay.

But I couldn't help but think that maybe Louis got tired of waiting? Afterall, what he knew was I was still figuring my feelings out. I cared for him; that's all he knew. Maybe he was tired of sticking around with someone who wasn't sure of how she felt about him? Although I already figured it out, I should've told him sooner. He told me he wasn't expecting me to love him back, but that didn't mean he wouldn't get tired of loving me.

Now that my head was clearer and I got to a lot of thinking, the more I regret not hearing him out that night. Maybe he did have an excuse and I was just too stubborn. Or maybe I just loved him too much I was making reasons for him to myself.

One thing I knew for sure; I wanted us to work out.

So as I slipped in my black dress and open-toed pumps, and as I pulled my brown jacket from my closet and let my brown waves down, as I prepared myself for Niall's party and went downstairs to meet Danielle outside the house to ride with her, a mantra of what I needed to was the only thing on my mind.

I'd let him explain his side, tell him how I feel, and just hope things fall into place.

I guess that's what love does. It makes you stronger and it makes you hopeful.

**

"Are you and Louis alright?" Danielle asked.

Oh, it was obvious we were in a bit of a bad situation, I guess.

"Peachy, but I hope we'll be okay after tonight," I answered.

She smirked, "Oh trust me you will."

I cocked an eyebrow at her, "How are you so sure?"

"I don't know, I mean with that outfit ... Damn, girl! Louis' gonna see clearly what he would lose if he doesn't get his sh*t together," she said giving me a quick glance before setting her eyes on the road once again with a grin on her face.

I blushed; well, that was one of the reason I dressed up well but no one needed to know that.

"Says you," I retorted and giving her a once over.

"Oh, I know I'm fabulous. That's why Liam's treating me right."

And we both laughed.

Before I knew it, we were pulling over the place and getting out of the car. My hands started to feel clammy and my heart was pounding against my chest; nervousness seemed to be my norm whenever I go to a party. However, I pushed those nerves aside and held Danielle's hand as we walked inside.

The party was already in full swing when. There was a mass of people dancing to whatever music the DJ decided to play; most of it consisting of bass-y songs that would make the crowd cheer occassionally. We managed to get through them and decided to start looking for our friends in the corner where the tables were placed and where there were less people.

"Niall, you're supposed to eat the food, not inhale them! And leave some for your guests!" I heard a familiar feminine voice said.

"It's my f*cking birthday Perrie! I can eat as much as I want, thank you very much," Niall, obviously, retorted.

I pointed them to Danielle once I saw the group and we quickly walked towards them, hugging everyone after greeting Niall, a happy birthday.

Everyone sat down to where they were previously seated and I looked back to Danielle only to see her already sitting pretty comfortable beside Liam. I pursed my lips before looking around the group for a vacant seat. I saw two of them between Zayn and Niall so started walking to it when someone sat down on one of the vacant chairs. I stopped abruptly.

"C'mon, Eleanor, settle down so we can start a game!" Perrie enthusiastically called out.

Louis looked up to me with an unreadable face and my eyes flickered from him to the seat beside him before I started walking away to find another chair; my nerves getting the best of me.

"Just a moment!" I yelled over my shoulders.

Once I got a chair, I set it down between the loveseat where Danielle and Liam were lazily sprawled out and Harry who was sitting on a stool.

"Okay, what game?" I asked.

"Seven Minutes in Heaven," Niall shrugged and I thought I saw a sly smirk appear on his face.

I almost choked on my own spit, "W-what?! But there's couples here and- and-" I looked from Liam and Danielle and then to Zayn and Perrie, expecting them to protest, only to see their bored faces.

"Dani? You're okay with this?!" I asked, astounded.

"We're all friends here, I'm certain everybody knows their boundaries, yeah?" she looked at all of us.

Everyone agreed on her and I started wondering what in the Earth was happening that they all seemed to be okay with the ridiculous idea.

I groaned, "Do we really have to do this?"

Perrie shrugged, ugh why are they all just shrugging this off? "We've got nothing better to do. Paps are all around and now no one's in the mood to get wasted only to see their sh*t-faced self on the news the next day."

"Can we just play another game?" I whined but then I realized I was being a party pooper when I noticed no one else was protesting besides me. I scanned the group once more and my eyes stayed a little longer on Louis. Maybe this could be a way for us to talk. I rolled my eyes, I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. "Ugh, fine."

The group, mainly Zayn and Liam, erupted in a lame cheers. I looked at them suspiciously and saw them either whispering to or eyeing their respective girlfriends, then I finally get why they liked the game so much.

"Hey! Keep your hands to yourselves, lads, the game hasn't started yet!" Niall yelled in amusement. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who was observant.

Both boys detached themselves sheepishly from the girls before scowling at Niall.

"Let's start?" Perrie asked.

**

Not halfway through the game and Perrie bandmates Jade, Jesy and Leigh-Anne arrived and joined the game.

After a couple of pairs who were sent to the stockroom under the stairs with seven minutes each, and we had Liam with lipstick stains on the side of his mouth with a smirking Danielle, a disheveled Harry with a flustered Jade, and laughing Perrie and Jesy, (Well, and a pouting Zayn since he wasn't paired with Perrie) who did whatever they did; I didn't dare ask.

I had been paired with Niall but all we did inside the room was talk and well, in Niall's case, eat, since he managed to sneak foods in.

We were all sat down once again while waiting for the next random pair. I thought I saw Danielle widening her eyes at Zayn and Perrie's direction but I paid no attention to it.

As Liam brought his hand down to spin the bottle to select the next pair, I heard Danielle call my name.

"Yeah?"

"Do you, erm, I mean..." she stammered.

"Huh?" I cocked an eyebrow at her.

"What was I trying to say again? Ah! Yeah--"

Danielle was cut off by Liam's voice, "Eleanor and Louis."

I snapped my head towards Liam's direction.

"What?" Louis and I both say simultaneously.

"You're the next pair," Liam shrugged.

"But--" I started to say.

"I was talking to Zayn; I didn't see the bottle spin. Can't we just do it again?" Louis asked.

"I agree!" I said loudly since I was the exact same thing; I was distracted by Danielle to watch the spin of the bottle.

I didn't know why I didn't want to do it, though, since I could remember telling myself a while ago that this might be a way for us to talk. So my heart that was pounding hard against my chest wasn't really supporting that statement.

Despite our protests, Danielle started pushing me to my feet and Zayn did the same to Louis. I sighed deeply, trying to calm my nerves before slowly making my way towards the dark room, accepting defeat. The calmness didn't last though, since I felt Louis' presence following me not long after.

Okay, here goes nothing.

A

/N: (unedited) if u don't know what this is then that makes the two of us. Lol anyway, I'm sorry for the delay, uni started last week so I don't really have much time to write again. This was supposed to be longer but I didn't want you guys to wait much longer than you already have so. Anyways, fun fact, whenever I write every chapter and it exceeds 1000 words, only then can I say it's safe to end it.

Also, please excuse me if I shift from American to British english sometimes. Here in Philippines, we are taught of American English but since the characters are british, I try my best to make them sound british but tbh idk that much british terms lol

I've posted another short story called Admire and it's finished; it's a Louis fanfic (kinda). Check it out. Ciao! Till next time!