All the Boys

6. Wear Me Out

          She was a lot like you.

          What was that supposed to mean? She was awkwardly tall and stubborn? On top of the mysterious mention of Louis's ex, I was alone with Zayn's two empty glasses, another one half full, and a bottle of gin. I sighed as I licked my finger and traced the rim of the glass as it hummed. His seat was immediately taken by a shorter, younger guy with short, tousled hair and insanely green eyes. He might have been my age, maybe a year older, but he looked down the bar before looking to me.

          "Would you mind if I sat here?" He asked.

          "Sit where you like," I replied, moving the empty glasses away.

          "Are those all yours?" He asked, a bit concerned., "Do you want me to call a cab?"

          "No, they were someone else's," I replied looking to the crowd for Zayn, or anyone, "But thank you anyway."

          Now that the guy had brought it up, Zayn had drunk a lot. Three glasses, one of which he'd refilled. The bottle was nearly empty. I looked over my shoulder, hoping he wasn't slumped over somewhere. The guy beside me had waved down a bar tender and turned to me as the tender walked over.

          "Fancy a drink?" He asked. I bit my lip and nodded. When in Rome, yeah?

          "I'm Nathan, by the way," He said, holding out a hand to me. I nodded and shook his hand, which was a bit calloused.

          "Charlie," I nodded with a smile. Nathan ordered two beers, and we chatted as they were brought over. We drank and talked for a while, and I found it so strange. I'd never been approached by anyone in a club unless I'd dropped something or fallen over. Nathan was very polite and humourous, and I don't think I've seen many guys like him hanging out a clubs like this. At some point in our conversation, his fingers were tangled in mine on the counter, which I let go for the moment since I was still freezing despite the pulsing heat and energy coming from the dance floor.

          I was in the middle of telling a story about secondary school when I heard my name being called behind me. I turned around and was greeted by Harry, who was holding a beer bottle with the tips of his fingers. His hair had been pushed back out of his face, but one curl had refused and it dangled on the side of his face.

          "Harry-"

          "We're leaving," Harry said quietly, putting his bottle down on the counter.

          "We're in the middle of a conversation," Nathan retorted, tapping his fingers across my knuckles. Harry's eyes momentarily caught Nathan's fingers moving across mine before his eyes flicked up at Nathan again. Harry's eyes, unlike Louis's, didn't go up in flame, but instead, lightning flashed like a storm. He stepped forward, a hand touching my shoulder.

          "Charlie, we have to go now," Harry repeated with a sense of urgency and anger. I turned to Nathan and looked back at Harry, my fingers drifting from Nathan's as the storm in Harry's eyes drifted further from the calm. Nathan's hands grabbed mine and I felt something press to my palm. Nathan stood and kissed my cheek before leaning to my ear.

          "Maybe some other time," He breathed into my ear before winking at Harry and trotting down the steps to the dance floor. I opened my palm and found a slip of paper with a number scribbled on it. Just then, Louis came down the stairs, followed by Niall and Liam.

          "Where's Zayn?" Louis asked as Harry moved his hand off my shoulder.

          "Left," I replied, "I was by myself for a while."