Head over Heels || book one.

Count me in, Count me out

Stef’s POV

OMG we all have dates. I bet the guys planned that. Oh well. “Hey, what’s the bet that the guy were trying to see who went out with their girl first?” I asked.

The idea dawned on them both. “Well then, I think they deserve a taste of their own medicine.” Sarah stated.

“That was lame.” I commented. She shrugged.

“So then what’s the plan?” Cassie asked.

“It’s gotta be something a tiny bit outrageous, believable and total payback. But I think that we need to be sure of this, before we do anything drastic.” Sarah explained.

“Fair enough. I think we should go back out there now.” I suggested. We walked out casually and sat back down at the table.

“What’s up with you?” Josh asked Sarah.

“Girl talk, you wouldn’t understand.” She replied, flicking her hair.

“It’s time to go anyway.” Zayn stated and we all stood to leave. The guys paid, which was sweet of them, and we rode home in three taxis.

It was raining really heavily when we got to the hotel. We rushed to the elevator. Once we’d said goodnight to the other guys, we went into the other guys apartment. Louis turned went to turn the lights on, and as he flicked the switch, there was still no light. “Uh, I think the power’s out.” Louis mumbled.

Tingles rolled down my spine, whenever the power went out, something creepy always happened. Somebody grabbed my hand and I thought I was going to scream. “Sh.” Louis put a finger to my lips. “I think that the power’s going to be out all night, so we might as well make the most of it.”

The guys grabbed some candles from the cupboard, lit them and put some in every room. Honestly, it would have been really romantic if that was the intention, but it was just spooky. “Anybody up for some scary stories?” Zayn asked, grabbing the torch and holding it under his chin.

“Oh I got one!” Sarah called. “Ouch. Shit!” She mumbled, followed by a bang. “Sorry.”

“Here.” It was Josh’s voice this time. He must have been helping her up.

“Thanks.” Sarah mumbled and we all sat down on the floor. Zayn handed her the torch. She took a deep breath and began. “Jessica and her family had just moved into this new house. It was kind of old, and scared her a little bit. Well all the kids at school kept telling her that the devil lived in the basement. This made her even more scared. And then one night, her parents went out for dinner. She was in charge of the house and her little brother. And then while she was watching t.v. the power went out. ‘It must just be Ben.’ She thought. She called out to him and he came into the living room. ‘It wasn’t me, I swear.’ He said. She rolled her eyes and he ran off. After a little while, the power still hadn’t come back on, so she called her parents. ‘Come on Jess, there are only thirteen stairs, I’ll count them with you.’ Her dad promised her. ‘Ok.’ She said. ‘1, 2, 3...I can’t go anymore.’ ‘Come on Jess.’ ‘4, 5, 6, no. I can’t.’ She went back up two steps. ‘5, 6, 7, 8,’ She then had a burst of courage and skipped the nine onto the tenth. ‘10, 11, 12,’ ‘Yay Jess, you’re almost there, just one more step, then all you have to do is reach out and flick the switch to turn the power back on.’ Her dad informed her. ‘13.’ ‘Yes. Ok, now just reach out and-’ ‘14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22...’ And she continued on until the phone signal dropped out.” Sarah finished the story there and switched off the flashlight.

“That wasn’t creepy.” Cassie said sarcastically.

“That was really good, and I thought you didn’t like scary stories.” I said.

“Just because I don’t like them doesn’t mean I don’t know them.” Sarah phrased.

“Fair enough. Well, we kinda can’t do anything else and it’s late. I think we should just get some sleep.” Zayn suggested. We all agreed and parted ways.

Sarah’s POV

Oh. I’d actually forgotten about my clothes still strewn across the room from before. But I of course I was the one to fall over them. “Ouch.”

“You’re quite a klutz aren’t you?” Josh joked as he helped me up.

“Sort of.” I mumbled. I put all my clothes away and then changed into my pajamas in the bathroom.

I came out and saw that he was lying there already, with his back to me, but on the near side of the bed. So I went around and lay as far from him as humanly possible. “What are you doing?” He asked. I froze. “I know you’re not asleep.” I rolled over and looked him in the eye.

“I’m trying to get comfortable.” I said simply.

“You want some help?” He asked as I turned back over.

“What?” I asked, freezing up again. ‘What kind of question is that?’ He didn’t answer, just quietly started to sing.

“You can count on me-”

“Like 1, 2, 3, and I’ll be there.” I cut him off.

“And I know if I need it I can count on you like 4, 3, 2, and you’ll be there, ‘cause that’s what friends are supposed to do oh yeah.” He finished. I still wasn’t facing him, but I’d stopped moving. “Better?”

No, in fact it was kind of creepy. I got up and just sat by the window. I looked out the window as the rain pelted it. “This place is beautiful. And you live here?” I asked.

“I don’t actually get to spend a lot of time here anymore.” He explained, sitting down next to me.

He slipped his arm around my waist and I automatically rested my head on his shoulder. I sighed and he looked at me questionably. “Well, it’s pouring rain, the power’s out and I’m sitting here with you by a window with your arm around me and my head on your shoulder. I’m just appreciating this moment.” I explained.

Cassie’s POV

‘Power’s out. No damn heating. And we’re in the middle of London at the end of winter. I suppose it could be the middle of winter.’ I tell myself as I lay there, wrapped up in the doona.

“Cold?” Zayn asks, pulling the doona over him, or what he can get of it.

“I’m frikken freezing.” I complain. I get up and pull open the drawer looking for my sweater.

“Here.” I turn around and see that he is very close. He’s holding one of his grey sweaters above me. He lets it go and I catch it, hastily pulling it on. Then he pulled me to him from behind; and hugged me around my waist. “Cassie,” He murmurs into my hair. “You are smart, funny and beautiful.” Then he turned me around slowly. There was something troubling him though.

His eyes seemed dull and sort of lifeless. “What’s wrong?” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck. Somehow we started to slow dance, with me looking dreamily into his eyes, arms around his neck, his around my waist. We swayed in time with the silent beat.

“But...” He looked away from me and stopped moving. But. That one word that could make you doubt everything you’d ever achieved in your life. I could feel regrets resurfacing like a wave. But. What was wrong?

“But what?” I asked slowly, dropping my hands from his neck as he let go of my waist. I stepped backwards out of his reach.

“But...I don’t know.” He said in barely a whisper. I choked back a sob. I never cry. I’m not going to. He’s a boy. I’m not changing for anyone. Never. I pursed my lips, nodded once and dragged the doona out to the living room, leaving him to wallow in his choice of words.