"What the fuck? "
The text came at 12:51am that morning. I had been tossing and turning in my bed, unable to sleep because I was too busy stressing over the fact that neither boys had spoken to me after the concert, as well over what Alexis had said about a love triangle and my phone conversation with Elise. Everything had been piled on too high, and I was starting to crumble beneath it all.
So the text couldn't have come at a better time, obviously. Because dealing with all of this wasn't enough, now I had to figure out how to explain myself to Max. I needed him to believe that Louis and I weren't together... I would explain everything to him next month... But for now I just needed him to believe me.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what he meant when he said "what the fuck?" Because who wants to find out the girl you're in love with is in a relationship from the cover of a gossip magazine?
How the hell had this become my life? I yearned for the days when my biggest worry was whether or not Elise got her coffee on time, and it's precise temperature. Now everything was a giant mess.
I couldn't exactly explain something like this over text message, so I told him it was a mistake and to please call me so I could explain. After I pressed send I lay back down and starred at the ceiling, desperately hoping that he would call me.
Minutes passed with out even a vibration to show he had replied through text. I lay in the complete silence, jealous of the fact that Alexis seemed to be sleeping like a baby next to me. I closed my eyes and lay there like that for a while, my mid racing. Just as I felt the drowsiness taking over me, my phone finally rang.
I answered it quickly to silence the ring tone, hoping not to let it wake up Alexis. "Hi, just one second... My roommate is sleeping, I'll go out in the hallway," I whispered in a hushed tone as I climbed out from under the covers, slipped a sweater on over my shorts and tank top as well as put on my flip flops. Then I tip toed across the room, wincing as the door loudly squeaked. It wasn't that I cared whether or not she slept well, I just didn't want to have to explain who I was on the phone with.
"Okay, I can talk now." I told him in less of a whisper as I shut the door behind me. I sunk down against the wall so I was sitting on the floor, the phone held to my ear by my shoulder.
"What the fuck?" He finally said. "I don't know why I'm even talking to you... What the fuck, Stella? Less than a week ago you told me you still love me and now I find out from my little cousin that you're some One Direction douche bag?"
My chest swelled with protectiveness, and I wanted to defend Louis. But now was most definitely not the time. I let out a long sigh, running a hand through my messy bed head. Here goes nothing.... "I'm not Louis or any other member of the band, Max. It hurts that you would even believe the media without giving me a chance to explain myself! I've been spending a lot of time with the boys, in public and at their signings. The fans I guess just noticed me. And because I'm closest with Louis... Rumors just started to fly."
After I finished Max remained quiet. When he finally spoke his voice was weak and the hurt in it made my heart ache. "It...I saw the picture, Stella. It looked like...like you guys were really in love." I wanted so badly to be able to hug him, comfort him and assure that there was no one else I wanted but him.
"Trust me, Max. I'm not in love with Louis. We're just friends. I... I think he's gay," I blurted before I even thought it through. What was wrong with me? Why would I even lie like that?
"Really?" Max asked.
"Yeah..." I muttered, lightly hitting the back of my head against the wall as I mentally cursed myself out. "Louis is... gay. We're just friends. But if it appears we're dating... I think it's just him playing it up to hide his sexuality to the media. Trust me, I love you and only you."
