Wake Me Up

Chapter Nine: This Is Eloise

"How did you manage to sprain her nose!" I heard Liam scream at Harry from the room over as I rubbed the small bandaid-like thing that folded over my nose to keep it in place. The second we had walked through the door of the hotel room, Liam had grabbed Harry by the shoulder, and dragged him up the stairs and into the bathroom for a firm scolding. Niall grinned at me from across the small table where we sat, snacking on spanish chips. He shrugged.

"I don't know," He said subtly, bringing a handful of the small crisps to his lips, crunching loudly. I nodded, looking down to my hands that had folded calmly on my lap. I didn't know why things were so... awkward between us. I'm not usually as shy as I am right now; I'm typically the talker. I could be Ms. Congeniality, if asked. But I'm not, for a number of reasons. But that's beside the point. If I could find something, anything, to discuss with Niall, maybe things wouldn't be so unpleasant.

"Hey! Nialler! We're back!" I heard someone scream from the doorway. Their voice was quite high-pitched; much like a female's. He laughed, jumping over a male with dark hair and riding on his back as he messed up the poor guy's hair. They came to an abrupt stand still, though, once they spotted me. I found myself counting the seconds their eyes bored into my shaken, impared figure with ponderous scrutiny. Niall coughed loudly to fill in the blank silence. One minute, 47 seconds.

"Uh... Mates, this is Cara. Cara, this is Louis and Zayn." He introduced us, his kind smile guiding across the room gracefully. I offered my hand out to them, a friendly smile playing across my lips. Zayn smirked, returning the gesture.

"Hello Cara," He said, letting Louis down off his back. Louis scowled at me. 

"Who is she and why is she here?" He demanded an answer, his eyes skimming over me, his frown ever present as he did so. I don't know what I did to him, but I was three hundred percent sure I've never met him before. Niall shook his head in disbelief.

"Why, mate? Cara's a nice girl- she hasn't done wrong yet. Leave 'er be." He commanded, snaking his arm around my waist in my defense. I smiled gratefully up at him. Louis chuckled bitterly, plopping down into one of the chairs. 

"I'm just saying that we came to Spain to stay low on the radar. A girl... Wouldn't be real good for that request, now would it?" He conveyed, picking up an apple from the small basket centered on the table, taking a large bite out of it. "And from what I hear, coming from the bathroom just up the steps..." He pointed. "She's caused quite a bit of a row betweenst buds." Niall scoffed at this recognition. Zayn sighed.

"C'mon Lou. Let the girl be. She can't be of too much harm, she is, after all, just a girl. Liam and Harry will be over this little thing by tonight, when we go out." He asserted, patting his friend on the shoulder. 

"Now, Cara, would you like to go out for a little bit of fun tonight?" He asked me, taking my hand in his. I nodded, watching as he lifted my smaller hand to his lips. "Well, let's get you dressed then."

~~~

"I haven't got any clothes." I affirmed once again, watching as Zayn threw all sorts of shirts, shorts, and bathers all over the room in an attempt to find me something nice to wear tonight. I watched with great interest as his shoulders slumped back in defeat. He laid back on the floor beside my suitcase, covering his face with his large hands. 

"How do you not have any nice clothes?" He muttered in an almost inaudible breath. "Nothing you own is close enough to presentable. Presentable, Cara. All of the clothes you own... They're all crap." He continued to bash my garb, his accent making it quite entertaining. I didn't take offence to it, no. I knew my clothes looked horrible. Not even Beyonce could make it look better, and if that doesn't tell you how bad it is, I don't know what will.