a renegade; W2S

7

*HÉLILLE'S POV*

I wake up to the noise of quiet chatting. Chatting that's so quiet, it seems like you're not meant to hear it. It's louder than whispering, but low enough to seem like almost nothing. But when you hear your name in it, you start to hang on every word.

"Hélille, what's she doing here?" A girl asks, who's voice I recognise from the coffee shop. The dirty blonde one with the death stare.

"She basically saved Talia's life, so ease up on that yeah," Simon says and I can hear the girl grunt in displeasure. She dislikes me almost as much as I dislike being here, having to listen to each word. I don't want to open my eyes. Ever.

"Who is she?" I hear another boy ask and then a few 'yeah's' to go along with it. And now I bet my face is going as red as possible. There must be at least 5 people here all staring at me like I'm some lost puppy.

"I'll tell you lot later," Simon says and I can almost see them nod then press their eyes back onto me.

I hear noise from the other side of the room. A groggy stumbling from someone who clearly drank way too much last time.

"Talia," Freya says, and I shoot my eyes open. I scare a few of the boys that are basically crowded around me.

"Hélille, what the fuck are you doing here?" Talia grumbles at me as I meet her eyes. They have the largest bags around them I've ever seen.

I start to get up but Simon grabs me to everyone's surprise. This must be the most thrilling thing they've seen in a long time.

"Tell her you love her," Simon instructs me and I feel like my mouth is blocked. I know I love Talia, like I would walk the plank to just see her smile. But my words fail me. And Talia turns around, shaking her head.

"Talia, I love you so fucking much. I never should have left," I pour out, tears threatening for what seems like the millionth time these past few days. "I need my best friend back. I'm not leaving until you are back."

We stare at each other, nobody else seems to matter again. I know all their faces are staring with anticipation but all I see is Talia. And I know all she sees is me.

"Come fucking here," Talia screams and I run towards her and launch myself into her and we fall over onto the floor, laughing like no one's watching. "I swear to god if you ever leave me again. I will never forgive you. You're on probation."

"Come on, Talia. We know you're lying through your slutty little teeth," I quote from what one of her old boyfriend's said to her, well not really boyfriend, more like 7 minutes in heaven kind of thing. I hope she remembers it.

She instantly smiles and laughs again. And it fills me with such pure ecstasy. I feel almost whole again. And I hope she feels the same.

"Err... okay," someone behind us says, causing a few of them to laugh. I forgot they are even still there and I certainly forgot they wouldn't get the joke at all.

"Come on we're all going out for dinner tonight and you guys are going to meet the Hélille, the enigma, the bitch but the bitch I love," Talia says making my heart flutter slightly. It's so strange being away from someone you have a connection with and then when it's back you feel like it never left.

I see the dirty blonde girl roll her eyes and to be honest I don't blame her. This has been so quick. It was only yesterday I had no thoughts about Talia. I feel so horrible knowing that.

"Yea, sure," one of the boys says. He's quite short and got beautiful black skin and one of those smiles. He's cute, but not in a 'fuck me' kind of way. I could give him the eyes, but I don't. I have to give myself at least a week to be over Jack.

"Get out of my apartment and get ready!" Talia shouts at me, but it's not like I really have anywhere I can go to get changed. But with all her friends eyes on me, I'm too ashamed to start my pity party.

I'll just get something from my - suitcase.

Oh shit.

"Has anyone seen a velvet suitcase, looks a bit burlesque," I ask them and then Simon points to beside the door and there she is. Thank fuck.

I have no real plan where I'm going as I leave that door. I don't even turn back to look at any of them, not even hugging Talia goodbye. This is going to be fucking interesting.

-

*TALIA'S POV*

"She seems off," Vikk says, looking at me as Hélille leaves without looking back at all. She leaves and all their eyes fall immediately on me.

"I mean, why does she still wheel a suitcase around if she got back like yesterday?" Simon says and without thinking I run to the door. I check down the corridor, twisting my head so quickly it almost falls off and I see Hélille getting into the elevator.

"HÉLILLE!" I shout at her and she looks like she's seen a ghost. I see her ramming the buttons on the elevator door and as I start to run, I see the elevator doors start to close.

No. Not this fucking time.

I stick my arm out and they stop closing, leaving a rosy-faced Hélille staring back at me.

"You think I didn't know you for 10 years," I say to her shaking my head and laughing, but she's biting her lip. "You can stay at mine. I have room."

"I don't want to look like I'm using you," She says.

"Who the fuck cares what it looks like? Just shut up and come in," I say, and she finally gives in after a bit more convincing.

We get back to my apartment and still most of the sidemen, Freya and Gee are there, as well as both Cal's. This is going to be fun to explain.

"Okay, before you say anything," I say as Freya moves her mouth to speak. "She has nowhere to fucking go. I'm not letting her sleep on some street, whoever she is."

They all just look at me and shrug their shoulders and then I look over at Hélille who rolls her eyes. And I rememeber this Hélille and it makes me smile so fucking wide, the 'I don't give a fuck' Hélille. When she's like this, she's something to behold. It can come off as bitchy when you don't know her, but you realise it's carefully crafted when you do or your on the same wave as her.

"So, when are you hanging a picture of me up on your wall?" Hélille says and I do my best not to laugh, even Gee, who seems like the only one who's sort of getting it tries to hold in a little giggle. But Freya looks like stone and her eyes definitely have license to kill. The boys look confused, slightly petrified even. It's fucking hilarious.

Hélille has an aura, it glows like there's nobody else in the room, it's sometimes blinding but it's always there, the light never fades. If I were bi, Simon would be out the door as soon as my eyes fell on Hélille. She's the most beautiful girl I've ever met, a 5ft8 brunette goddess.

Simon better be worried, Hélille brings my bad bitch out.