Hard to Handle (A 1D Story)

Ch. 11 - (Not) Staying The Night

Chapter 11 - (Not) Staying The Night

Thirty minutes later, I started to feel it: the warmth emanating through my skin and the happy sensation through the pit of my heart. The lights in the enclosed space outside the hospital-turned-venue were amazing; laser beams of green and blue cutting through the crowd. The music pulsated in bursts, spelling out words and flowers in my brain or behind my eyes every time I closed them. Every so often, someone would come up and wave lights in Chloe and my faces, in mesmerizing patterns. Tiesto was doing an amazing job behind the stage. I loved everyone and everything in the moment.

For a while, Louis was watching over Chloe and me, automatically assuming the “responsible oldest male” role. He would hold out his water to us at the right intervals and pull us up if we watched a lightshow from a creeper too long. It made me wonder where all his experience came from.

But after a while (or maybe not that long; time didn’t really register correctly), I realized that the steady hand behind my back had turned from Louis’ into Harry’s. I turned around in surprise, watching the green lights play across Harry’s face simultaneously to the beat. He grinned down at me.

“He’s incredible!” he yelled in my ear, gesturing to Tiesto. I nodded enthusiastically, and then reached up to run a hand through his brown locks of hair. Oh my god, it’s so soft.

Harry chuckled, then awkwardly plucked my hand off.

“Sorry,” I apologized in his ear. “I’m rolling balls.”

“I can tell.” He laughed and patted my head in return, running two fingers through the waves of my dark hair.

I swayed to the music and shut my eyes, smiling. “I love you.” And beams of white lights exploded behind my lids.

--

I opened my eyes. The stars in the sky were blinking down at me, seeming like they were getting closer. The laser beams were dimmer here, but the music was enveloping as ever. My arms were wrapped around a familiar neck. Life was a series of jump cuts. Every time the music built up, my heart would race and I’d feel the beauty in my bones and I thought I would burst. I closed my eyes.

--

Open.

I’m kissing this guy. He’s warm. Two sets of hands pulling desperately at light fabric.

Close.

--

Open.

The seven of us were sitting on the sidewalk a ways down the Shrine, awaiting the dreadful come-down. In past experience, E tended to stay in my system for at least the rest of the night. But I was already starting to feel more like myself again. The slight summer breeze felt so nice on my skin.

“Are you okay to drive home?” someone whispered in my ear from behind me.

“Yeah,” I murmured, my voice coming out as a croak. I rubbed the arms around my shoulders, but they weren’t mine, they were his tattooed ones.

“Because I can drive too, okay? Just let me know.” Harry’s voice was a caring and gentle murmur.

I sank back to settle into his chest. “Okay. Thanks.”

We all chatted for a while longer, pointing out girls with ridiculous outfits or talking about funny X-Factor stories. A few barely-dressed girls who recognized the guys came up to ask for pictures (to their enjoyment, I’m sure), but none of them made too big of a deal about it. After some time, Chloe (who had been suspiciously close with Louis the whole night) got up and leaned down in front of my face.