Fireproof

2 - The new guy - L

"Niall is coming", I said to Zayn and Liam after I ended the call.

"Finally! What took him so long?", Zayn asked.

"He's bringing his new roommate", I answered, clearly in a bad mood about this. I don't really want to see people right now, especially no strangers. Only my three best friends or maybe my family would be okay, but no one who doesn't know me. Most of the time I'm able to ignore annoying people. Not today though.

That's why I know that I'm going to hate the new guy. And I know Niall well enough to know that he already became friends with the idiot. He will surely try to integrate him in our friend group but alone the thought of opening the bubble I am in gives me goosebumps.

"Come on, give him a chance", Liam said while we went into the cafeteria and joined the line. He knew exactly what I was thinking.

I looked him in the eyes. I guess he saw how irritated I was because he added: "Or just try just not to frighten him off completely."

"I'll try", I sighed, "but if he is an idiot it is not my fault." I knew that he would be an idiot.

Liam wanted to say something but then Zayn grabbed him by his arm, pulled him closer and said: "You will overcome this dinner, Louis. Just breathe."

Zayn knew that it was pointless to discuss in the first place. I loved Liam and I knew his intentions are hundred percent pure and kind but I was thankful, that Zayn gave me time to be on my own before Niall enters with a stranger.

I knew Liam and Zayn since they came to Uni one year after Niall and I. Niall is nearly two years younger than I, but even in high school we were in the same year. Niall often is just a little kid who is completely into pranks, laughs and everything silly, but he is way smarter than it seems. I am endlessly thankful to have him. And on the same level thankful I am for the other two lads. Even if I know them only for a year they are like siblings to me. Okay, no, in that case Zayn and Liam would also be siblings. That would be gross. Just no. I shake my head to try and get rid of these thoughts. Instead I concentrate on how good Zayn and I understand each other, how much I can trust Liam and how close Niall and I are. Those thoughts comfort me a lot and are very effective.

Suddenly, something hit me and I am pulled out of my thoughts. On opening my eyes, I found a fucking idiot who had bumped into me. He opened his mouth and I hated his voice before he even started to speak.

"Oops", he said.

Oops?! Really?? Fuck my irritated nerves, I couldn't help it, I was ready to explode. But before I could start to opprobriate the guy, Niall appeared.

"Louis", he said, "say hi to my new roommate Harry."

What? This could only be a joke. But than I saw Niall's face and took a deep breath.
"Hi", I managed to get out through my clenched teeth.

Liam pushed me gently to the side and saved me from dealing any further with the situation. Before he introduced himself to the idiot who finally got himself a name, Harry, Liam looked at me with a mix of 'I know what you are thinking, but please try to stay calm, I warn you' and a 'You can do it, just breathe, I believe in you'.

Luckily it was my turn to buy food so instead I concentrated on choosing a meal.
It was hard, because I didn't have any appetite, but I forced myself to get a portion of pasta.

After paying, I sat around a free table and started to eat. If you can define staring at a plate with pasta as eating.

I heard the others sit down around the table, but I didn't look up. Harry made this table an unsafe place. For me.  A place where somebody doesn't know that they should just let me live my life. How damn stupid.

But Harry was that stupid and actually tried to start a conversation.

"Erm, Louis, sorry again that I ran into you. Did you get hurt?"

I slowly raised my head and looked him in the eyes.

"Fuck off, luv."

First Harry looked confused, then his facial expressions changed into something else. He looked very, very pissed. He turned his head away from me and joined the conversation of the others. He really said 'I am too good for you.' As if.

I concentrated again on my noodles and tried to eat all of them. For a split second, through the corner of my eye, I saw a pair of green eyes staring at me. I frowned. Then I decided to block all the thoughts that didn't include pasta. Regardless of that, I didn't manage to eat it completely. When I stood up to throw the rest away,  I felt Liam's eyes on my back. He shouldn't overthink things, atleast I ate something!

I left the cafeteria without saying another word or looking in the direction of our table.

But while opening the door out of the cafeteria, I looked back just for a second. Liam and Zayn looked exhausted, but they weren't angry. Harry was still very pissed and in Niall's eyes I saw - disappointment.

For a second I felt as if someone had stabbed my heart. There was guilt. Not only because of Niall, but also because of Harry!

But this feeling disappeared as soon as it entered me. I wasn't wrong.
As I've said before, it was Harry's fault that he was an idiot. Not mine.
He just shouldn't be such a drama queen.

What a shitty day.

------------

Heyy Luvs <3
If you liked the chapter: vote.
If you have anything to say: comment.
I like you in any case :))
I'll try to update soon!
Hope you're doing well!!
Lu