So What? (A Conor Maynard Fan/Pop Fiction)

Chapter 19 - The Alibi

Louise's POV

I never want to go through something like that again. Ever. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. We sat in A&E, police were involved and everything was out of control. I would have been happy telling my mum I'd fallen off my friend's bike in the park and injured myself. Now she's been told I was beaten up while out with my friends. She'll kill me knowing I'm hanging out with people I go to detention with...

"I'm sorry, Conor, but I'm telling them it was your gang." David said, arms folded across his chest loosely. The police had just left our room to call up Conor's family, leaving us all alone.

"You don't understand! I'm not trying to protect them; I'm trying to protect you! You can't say it was them, they'll come and get you!" Conor said, flinging his arms up in frustration. "I warned you about being in the park and I'm warning you again. I know how they operate!"

"Yeah and you did a great job protecting us, didn't you?!" David scoffed, looking away from Conor.

"David, that's not fair!" I joined in. "What could he have done with four people holding him?"

"A lot more than he did!" David said still facing away from us. I was sitting in between them. I looked over to Conor, his head down looking at the floor. His hands were bloody and bruised, he had a black eye, scratches on his face and blood in his hair from the rock that hit him in the head.

"Just be thankful we got out of it!" I exclaimed. "You saw the look in Jason's eyes..." I shuddered.

"Whatever." David said harshly.

"It's not whatever, David. Why the hell did you have to pick that park at that time?" Conor raised his voice. I could see his jaw clench. He blamed himself for this whole thing, I could tell.

"Sorry, what a stupid idea to meet a girl at the local park!" He said sarcastically. "Are you kidding me?"

"Guys..." I added in with the hope they would stop fighting.

"At least I helped Louise out!" David said and it went silent. I felt my stomach drop, my throat went dry. Why was it always about me? I thought it was good we actually managed to get out of that fight with limbs still intact!

"You did well, you know, David." Conor said to him still looking at the floor. "Saving Louise from getting beaten up by Jason? That was brave, man..."

"Well one of us had to help her." David said shortly.

"I was trying to! Sorry I had three people holding me back!" Conor said, sounding angry.

"Yeah well I saved her with words, your mouth wasn't held back was it?"

"No. But I didn't think anything I could say would stop him! He was just ignoring everything I said!" Conor said regrettably.

"Was that it really? Or did you just not care?" David looked evilly over to Conor before looking away from him again.

"That's not fair..." Conor said. "Of course I care!"

"Took you a long time to stop Jason beating me up though, right?" David hissed.

"Oh come on!" Conor shouted. "I pushed Jason off you when I managed to get free!" This was getting stupid. Why were they feeling the need to argue about it?

"Guys!" I said forcefully and they both looked at me. "I think we have more important things to worry about right now, like an alibi that works?"

"Yeah, Conor's gang did it." David said smarmily.

"You can't say that!" I said, watching Conor's expression change to one of anger and frustration. "You can't say 'Conor's Gang'."

"I'll say whatever I want!" Conor shook his head and stood up, storming out of the room. His fists were clenched so I knew he was walking out to stop himself punching David. I went to go after him but David held me back.

"Let him have some time alone." He said softly to me.

"You know, David, I never properly thanked you for helping me last night. Well for everything; Calling me up, wanting to meet up and saving me!" I said, finally feeling it was appropriate now Conor had left the room. Ideally I wanted to talk to both of them, thank them both but those two could barely be in the same room. "I'll do anything to make it up to you..."

"You saved me too. You've made up for it." He smiled at me, unfolding his arms and putting a bruised hand on my hand.

"Don't be silly. I would have done that without a second thought! You stopped Jason from beating me up..." I gazed into his eyes in admiration. "Thank you... So much..." His hand tightened on mine and I turned it over so we were holding hands.

"I'd do anything for you, Louise. And you know that..." He said not moving his gaze from mine. I never realised how pretty his eyes were until now. I finally sat there and took in all of his features. Despite the cuts and bruises he still looked lovely, his eyes still sparkled, his smile still made me happy... I leant forward, barely thinking, and planted a kiss on his lips. I pulled back a little to see his reaction but he pushed forwards so his lips hit mine again. My stomach was doing flips and my heart was fluttering as we kissed. It was the first proper kiss I'd ever had – sad I know – but I'm so glad it was with him, it all seemed so perfect. Well, despite the fight last night. He pulled away but kept his face inches from mine.

"Look, please don't say Conor's gang did it... He did help us yesterday and he's helped me a lot, I just want to help him a little, yeah?" I said softly.

"I guess so. I'll just say a gang jumped us. They wanted our wallets and phones or something..." He smiled at me. It felt good that he was willing to change for me. "On one condition..." I raised an eyebrow and looked at him confused.

"On what condition?" I asked as he grinned.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"