Forever (h.s.)

Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Never

It was almost February, but between the warm, western weather and the busy show schedule nobody paid attention. In the month since christmas, Greg had driven us to Phoenix, Santa Fe, Austin, and after selling out several stadiums in Texas we were resting in a hotel for a weekend on the coast of Louisiana before the boy's show in New Orleans.

It was lunchtime on a Saturday and we were all out in a local field, playing soccer, when George and Riley showed up.

I was spread out in the warm grass with a book and my sunglasses, half watching harry battle louis for the ball, but looking up when I heard George's voice.

"How's the time off treating you?" He asked.

"I think the boys are enjoying it," I replied, giggling. Liam stole the soccer ball from Cal and kicking it directly past Luke into the goal, throwing his hands in the air and cheering for himself as Fiona laughed.

"I agree," George chuckled to himself. Then he waved his arms, calling out to the boys. "Hey! Boys! Louis! Come here!" I watched with a smirk as they paid no attention, forcing him to run headlong into their game, flapping his arms and dodging flying bodies and soccer balls under his feet as he tried to catch their attention.

I was laughing to myself, sliding my sunglasses back on and opening to my page, when someone sat down beside me. I peered out from behind my book to see Riley looking at me intently.

"Hi?" I said, confused. Riley, though only in his early twenties, was as mysterious as Zayn and rarely joined us in our childish activities.

"What're you reading?" He asked. I tried not to raise my eyebrow at his sudden decision to talk to me.

"Um, Divergent," I answered. "It's really good." Riley nodded, his dark eyes boring into mine.

"Maybe I'll check it out," he answered quietly, with a sly smile. There was a long pause, during which I debated going back to my book, or continuing to interact with Riley.

"Okay," I said finally, hiding my face in Divergent so he couldn't see my look of discomfort. Even so, he remained there, sitting quietly beside me. For that reason, I was extremely relieved to hear George's voice call my name.

"Sarah! I need to talk to the boys, all of them, and there's no way I can herd them up. Help?" I laughed. Setting my book down, I gladly left Riley's vicinity and went up to George.

"It's like rounding up cats, isn't it." He nodded, red faced and frazzled. "I'll get them."

Tearing Fiona from Liam to come help me was much easier than actually carrying it out. I ended up catching Harry's hand as he ran by and pulling him to the side.

"Hi love," he said, his eyes bright when he saw who had grabbed him. "What's up?" I reached up to brush his sweaty curls to the side, buttering him up for the request.

"George wants to talk to you guys, we need to round everyone up." Harry squirmed like an upset kid, drawing his words out long.

"I don't want to, it'll be all about wooooork. Can't we just play some football today?" He gave me puppy dog eyes and I grinned.

"You're giving those to the wrong person, angel. Come on, just for a little bit."

Harry scrunched up his face and instead of agreeing, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, heading back towards the game.

"Harry, hey, put me down! Stop it!" I said, but I couldn't keep the laughter from my voice. "I almost dropped my sunglasses!" Harry cheekily squeezed my bare thigh and let me off his shoulder, only to catch me and hold me with my legs around his waist.