stumbling into line (sidemen ff)

Chapter 31: 'My train doesn't have beds.'

12th November 2013 7:48pm

Simon was in serious need of a night out. YouTube, though only currently a small part of his life, had been taking up a lot of time lately. He was trying so hard to grow his channel on his own and not seem like he had to sponge off of JJ to get views and subs. He wanted to prove that to the 'KSI Army' and to JJ, but mostly to himself. If he could prove to himself that some people liked him for him and not JJ then his self confidence would rise and, in turn, boost his popularity. It was a win-win situation, that, unfortunately, had a lose. So, it was more win-win-lose... or something. The loss being his social life outside his online friends.

It was a bright, sunny day, but looks can be deceiving because outside his window was a cold, biting chill that threatens everyone in it's grasp, and he was in a Skype call with none other than Ethan Payne. A person he had known for mere months but had become close enough to sit in a Skype call for hours on end with, casual conversation and comfortable silences floating around freely like steam rising from a November-fighting cup of coffee.

"You should come see me tomorrow, if you stick around." Ethan echoes through the speakers to Simon's computer, that could be mistaken for a dinosaur, or the computer of a student with no money. Either would work.

Simons nods his head a little, it had completely passed through his mind that Ethan was in London. It made him not really want to go anymore. Not that he didn't like Ethan but he, himself, was an awkward excuse for a human being and had never been good with first time meetings. Anyone could tell Simon was awkward from a mile off, with the way his glasses sat firmly pressed right up to the top of his nose, the way he sucked on his teeth or rang his hands out constantly and darted his eyes from anywhere but the person he was meant to be talking and paying full attention too.

"I forgot you were in London. Maybe I will, if I'm not too hungover." Simon chuckles and Ethan just smiles, which is unusual because Ethan laughs at everything.

"Be careful, though." He pleads, "I would love it if you could come see me, so, don't drink too much." He is laughing now, but it isn't a proper laugh. It's an awkward laugh to hide the fact that he probably cares about Simon more than he should. He is just generally a caring person and he cares more about anyone he is friends with than he should. He over compensated about it because he knew that if anyone knew his secret then they wouldn't care about him as much. His screwed up logic was that the more he cared, the more likely people were to care about him. He was basically trying to secure himself in Simon's life for the indefinite future.

"I will!" Simon claims, lifting his arms up and flexing, "Simon Minter is an experienced drinker and lady lover."

Ethan laughs, like he always does and Simon smiles back at him.

Simon had always loved the way that Ethan laughed. It wasn't gradual like most, it was loud and sudden and could be heard over most laughs and Simon liked that.

"You should come with tonight! It's gonna be fun." Simon concludes that meeting Ethan for the first time would be easier whilst pissed out of his mind.

"I'd love to, mate, but I'd be a hypocrite to lecture you on safe drinking and then go out with you and drink illegally." Ethan claims though it isn't true. He's been caught drinking in clubs before and had, surprisingly, spent nights in jail cells until he sobered up. Not that he had to stay as he later found out his parents asked the police officers to keep him instead of bringing him home. Many lectures on why you shouldn't drink underage had been given by the police and his parents and he even remembers a couple of weeks ago, Josh had lectured him on underage drinking, which was unusual because Ethan had heard from Tobi that Josh had been a casual drinker since he was sixteen.