8. And sometimes you'll still miss him although he gave you so little to miss.

The sound of glass shattering ripped you out of your dream about living in a High School Musical movie and dancing along to "Can I Have This Dance?" with Zac Efron. It took you a second to realise that you had spent the night in Tom's bed and it took you another second to realise that you hadn't slept that well in ages.

Your grabbed your phone which was safely placed on Tom's bedside table and made your way out of the bedroom. As you arrived in the living room, you were bombarded with: "Stop!"'s "Stay where you are!"'s and "Careful!"'s

"What's going on?"

"Harry is stupid and dropped some bottles as he tried to carry all of them out. Safe to say his baby hands weren't ready." Harrison explained as you tried to hold back a laugh.

"Go fuck yourself, Harrison."

"How about you just try and be polite for once? As far as I can remember I was the one who let you sleep in my bed last night while I took the couch."

"Okay, first of all, Osterfield, your lights went out on that couch! And where was I supposed to go? The bathtub?" Harry shot back as Tom let out a laugh.

"Tessa's bed in Tom's room would at least mean you would steal sleeping space from a family member."

"You want me to sleep in a dog's bed?" Harry gasped as he threw a beer pong ball he had just picked up in Harrison's direction.

"It's where you belong." Harrison laughed as he threw the ball back at the curly haired boy.

"You'll get used to it." Tom laughed as he appeared next to you while you were still silently observing the two bantering idiots.

The next two hours were spent cleaning, having breakfast and talking about yesterday's party. You found out about Harry daring Harrison to drink a raw egg, Harrison daring Tuwaine to down a bottle of Ketchup and Sam daring Harry to lick the toilet seat before he earned himself a hit on the back of his head and a "Fuck you" from Harry. Everything seemed to have run smoothly with nothing breaking and no one being sent to the hospital which would make it a successful evening if there wasn't that one small part that was still stuck in your mind.

You said your goodbyes to the two boys before heading to the next tube station with Harry who was more or less thrown out with the words: "Go bother your twin brother and not your big brother.". The boy had to go into a different direction, so the company you had, only lasted a few minutes, which meant that you were now alone on a tube, with a thousand thoughts running through your head.

Byron had texted you that he loved you and that he missed you. Of course you would be lying if you said that you didn't care one bit about that text. You still cared. You still loved him and missed him here and there when you were alone with your thoughts, but were you really ready to talk to him again?

You had seen Tom with Jo just yesterday and it still hurt more than you wished it did. The betrayal you had experienced was still stuck in your bones and the pieces of your heart were still trying to clue themselves back together, so seeing and talking to Byron would probably break your heart again. He would break your heart again.

You didn't know what to expect from him anymore. Was he trying to get you back? Or was he trying to keep another option open if Jo decided to try and get back with Tom? And - what if Tom decided to take her back?

It's not like you could tell him what to do, but you knew he deserved better than being cheated on, that he deserved to be the first choice - and that he deserved someone who wouldn't even think about betraying him.

And so did you.

You didn't want to get back with Byron and you didn't want to talk to him. Yes, you missed him, but you were going to get over him and you would do it without seeing him.

The Tube came to an halt at the next station where someone you desperately wanted to talk to walked through the opening doors. You hadn't seen him since he had blamed you for your break-up with his best mate and you had not bothered to talk to him first or text him. Yes, you missed your childhood friend, but him blaming you for Byron being a cheating scumbag had went to far.

Your eyes met Will's as he sent you a quick smile before walking over to where you were sitting.

"This seat taken?" He asked.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Depends on whether or not you're going to be a dick."

"Not. I'm sorry (Y/N)." Will said and you knew him well enough to know that he meant what he said.

"Good news for you, the seat's not taken after all." You smiled as Will sat next to you before ruffing your hair, making you curse at him.

"How are you doing?"

"Surviving," you chuckled, "Surprisingly well to be honest. I've got my bad days but I'm good. How are you?"

"Same as usual, nothing new here."

The rest of your time on the Tube was spent chit chatting with Will about random things, he didn't mention Byron and you never mentioned him either. It was like you had your best friend back. Everything seemed normal, like Byron had never been in your life, like you had never been betrayed and like you were perfectly fine on the in- and outside, but you knew yourself well enough to know that that was definitely not the case.

Twenty minutes later you walked through your front door to be greeted by absolute silence. You enjoyed company once in a while but if you weren't on the verge of a breakdown, you loved being alone. You loved letting your thoughts wander through hundreds of scenarios that only existed in your head. You loved listening to music and singing along. And you loved hearing nothing but the city sounds outside your window, because although the city was always incredibly busy and loud, your thoughts weren't.

Your phone buzzed as you spotted an incoming message on your lock screen.

Will: btw, any wishes what you want for your birthday? Feels like I've got to buy something amazing for being an ass.

What day was today? Was it really almost your birthday? You had been so busy with thinking about life and stupid Byron that you didn't realise your birthday was only ten days from today. Were you going to celebrate? You kind of wanted to but you also definitely did not.

I don't know, forgot it even was my birthday soon

Settling down on your couch, you thought about taking a nap, but soon enough realised that you weren't even tired. Your mind went back to everything that had happened yesterday. From standing in the kitchen with Tom to Jo arriving and to Tom walking her home. Thinking about how much you enjoyed being around the boys, you realised that you had never felt that whenever Byron and his friends were around. Of course it was different with Will because you've known him since he learned to walk, but everyone else who was friends with Byron before they knew you, never made you feel as welcome as Harrison's friends did.

Your phone buzzed again, a message from an unknown number popping up.

Unknown Number: Did you get home safe?

Unknown Number: Harrison gave me your number btw

Tom?

Unknown Number: No, the Queen.

Shut up.. and yes, I'm home.

That weird feeling of — feeling safe found its way back into your body. You hadn't felt safe in a while. Of course you always were safe but you had missed that feeling of safety the past months when you were with Byron. He stopped caring about you getting home safe and he usually never walked you home, so seeing Tom still care about Jo getting home safe made you doubt the relationship you had. You thought you were happy, that you were in a perfectly healthy relationship, but where you really?

You missed Byron, but thinking about it, he didn't give you a lot to miss. You didn't feel safe and secure when you were with him, you didn't feel loved towards the end and you definitely didn't feel like he wanted to be with you whenever you had managed to spend some time together.

You missed what you once had. You missed the feeling of being wanted, of being loved — of being the only one in someone's life, but you knew it wasn't what Byron had showed you for the past month. The signs of your ending relationship had been there for a while, you just decided to be stupid and ignore them. You could've saved yourself a heartbreak if you weren't so blindsided by what you felt for him.

The rest of the day was spent watching Netflix and playing Sims because for the first time in a while - you were cool with being alone and doing nothing but take a day off for yourself. It was called self-care, honey.

You were woken up by your phone vibrating like crazy, signalling an incoming call. Glancing at your clock, you realised it was already 10am, which meant that for the first time in quite a while, you managed to sleep in.

"Hello?" You mumbled as you accepted the call without checking the caller ID.

"Shit, were you asleep?" The voice still sent goosebumps to your skin, but this time it was for a different reason.

"What do you want?"

"Babe, we need to talk about the shit that happened." Byron said as you let out a groan, definitely too tired for this shit.

"Listen Byron, we are done. You decided to take the asshole way out and cheat on me. There is no point in you trying to sweet talk me into getting back together."

"(Y/N), I fucking miss you. I made a mistake. Jo was never the one for me, you were. I would change the past if I could, but I can't."

"Aw, did she drop your stupid ass already? Is that why you are annoying me right now?"

"We mutually decided that we had no future together." He said as you let out a laugh.

"Just like you decided to break up with me huh? Or how I was the one cheating? You almost cost me my childhood friend, Byron. If you cheating on me wasn't bad enough, you not having the balls to own up to it was definitely the point where I realised how much of an asshole you are." You said as you finally sat up in your bed, definitely not in the mood to go back to sleep.

"She wants to get back with her Ex and I want to get back with you. There is no way you don't feel the same for me anymore, is there?"

"What do you want me to tell you, Byron?" You scoffed, "That I miss you? That I still love you? It's not going to happen. You fucking destroyed me."

The tears were coming back, you could already feel them. You weren't ready to cry over Byron again. The past two days had showed you that there was definitely life after Byron and that you did indeed not need him to be happy. Putting your phone on speaker while Byron was still waffling about how much he regretted everything he did, you decided on whether to text Harrison or Will when your eyes landed on your recent conversation.

How do I get rid of an annoying Ex-Boyfriend that decided to wake me up with a call?

"- so what I am trying to say is, are you willing to give me another chance? I will try everything I can to get you back." Byron went on - and on - and on - and quite frankly, you didn't fucking care.

"Byron, are you fucking dumb? I. Am. Not. Getting. Back. With. You." You said just before you saw the incoming text on top of your screen, leaving Byron to go on with his monologue again.

Tom: Tell him your hamster died and you have to attend the funeral in a bit

He knows I don't have a hamster

Tom: Fine, then tell him a bird just flew against your window and now you gotta go on a mad window cleaning spree

What is it with you and animals dying?

Tom: Tell him to fuck off and to never call you again unless he wants to get his head smashed in by your friends who go to the Gym 24/7 and are ripped as fuck

Ummmmmm, are you talking about Harrison? And yourself?

"Babe? Are you still listening?" Byron asked.

"I kind of zoomed out after the fifth time you said that you love and miss me. I'm sorry Byron but this isn't happening again. I hope you find your happiness somewhere else, I really do. It wasn't all bad, but there is no going back to the good times, so please, move on - without me." You said, meaning every single word.

"You know I'll fight for you, you know?" You knew him well enough that you could see the soft smile he had currently displayed on his face. It was the smile that made you fall in love with him eventually.

"Please don't." You mumbled, "Bye Byron."

"I love you." He said before you managed to end the call.

You hadn't realised that there were tears streaming down your face. You hadn't realised that you were a lot more affected by everything he had told you than you wished you were. You hadn't realised that you were far from over your heartbreak.

It sucked that it took more than just two good days to get over someone. It sucked that it took more than a few good friends to get over someone and it definitely sucked that you currently craved the relationship you had tried to forget.

You craved the feeling of falling asleep next to Byron. You craved the feeling of seeing him walk through your front door with a smile on his face. You craved the way Byron made you once feel.

But you knew he was your past. He was the one who decided that he wasn't going to be your future and you just had to convince your present self that you didn't need him and you were doing just fine by yourself.

Another incoming text ripped you out of your thoughts.

Tom: Excuse me? I've seen the guy, I could easily take him

I'm just going to ignore that

Tom: I could and I just so happen to know how we could prove that I can indeed win against him

You're not fighting him

Tom: I could if I wanted! I'm ripped as fuck.

Lmao shut up ... idiot

Tom: Feeling better now? :)

You really were feeling better. There was something about Tom and him being able to lift your mood within seconds that fascinated you about him. It had been the same the day you broke up with Byron. Of course, you had been crying like crazy, but there was something about Tom that had still made you feel comforted.

Surprisingly, yes.

Tom: Wanna talk about it?

Did you want to talk about it? You weren't so sure, but you didn't have much of a chance to decide since your phone went off with an incoming call, Tom's name popping up.

"I didn't say I wanted to talk about it." You smiled.

"And I didn't say that I cared if you wanted to or not. So, tell the ripped guy what the small weak guy did?"

"Oh fuck off." You said as you let out a laugh, "Is this how it is going to be right now?"

"It is." Tom laughed.

"He called to tell me he misses me and that he loves me and, uh that — uhm.." You didn't know if you wanted to tell Tom about Jo trying to get back with him and about them breaking up.

"And?"

"He, uh, kind of told me that Jo and him broke it off already and that he realised I was the love of his life or something and that — uh, Jo wanted you back." You had a hard time getting out that last past, so it came out as almost a whisper.

You were met by silence from Tom's end. You knew this would hit him as much as everything Byron related hit you, "Tom?"

"I'm still here. I just — don't know what to say, because I don't want her back to be honest."

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding in. You didn't know why you had been so tense before hearing his response to what you had told him.

"You don't?"

"No, not really. What did you tell Byron?"

"That I hope that he moves on with his life and that he finds happiness somewhere else — and that we could never go back to the good times. He told me he'd still fight for me." You recalled the last words that were exchanged as a lump formed in your throat.

"Do you think he's going to fight for you?" Tom asked.

"He might, but he'll soon enough realise I'm not worth the trouble." You answered, your voice merely a whisper.

"See, that's where you're wrong. You so are worth the trouble, the idiot just realised it too late." A smile appeared on your lips after hearing Tom's words, "Did you smile?"

"I did." You laughed as another tear rolled down your cheek, "Thank you, Tom."

"You're welcome." He chuckled.

Tom was becoming kind of your lifeline when it came to Byron stuff. He had been to one to first be there for you after everything went to shit. Of course, technically Harrison had been the one you went to, but Tom had been the one to catch you - to keep you from falling apart within the first two hours. Maybe it was because he went through the same shit that made talking to him so easy, but maybe -- he was just a really fucking good friend.

"Any plans for today?" Tom asked, bringing you back from your thoughts.

"Going to a funeral for a hamster before going on a mad window cleaning spree." You grinned as Tom started laughing.

"Wanna go on an adventure?" Tom asked, "I'm bored as heck, Harrison is out with his Family for the day and my family decided to take a trip out of the city - without me, and my other friends are probably busy."

"Wow, so I am the last choice huh?" You teased him.

"To be completely honest with you, my family has definitely gone on a trip , but Harrison is probably going to be back within the next three hours and I haven't even asked any of the other people if they were busy or not, so no, (Y/N), you're the first one I'm asking, so what are you saying?"

"Yeah, sure, let's go on an adventure." You laughed as you couldn't seem to keep your smile off your face.

"Hmm let's see what is there in and around London that screams adventure." Tom said his thoughts out loud, "Ohhh! I know! Let's go to Thorpe Park!"

"Thorpe Park? Really? That's a lot more adrenaline than I was going for." You laughed as the little kid inside of Tom seemed to come out a little.

"Pish Posh, you and I need some of that shit." You could almost see the grin on the brunette's face when he said that, so who were you to deny the kid the piece of cake.

"Fine, let's go on rollercoasters and some of that shit then."

"Nice, I'll pick you up in 20." He celebrated, "Maybe 40, depending on Yours Truly, the good ol' London traffic."

And with that, the two of you ended the call, ready to go on your adventure for the day. Riding rollercoasters — because you definitely needed some of that shit.