Funny Kind of Friendship

Chapter 26: (Louis) Secrets

Justine and I walk into our dorm. She immediately goes over and curls up in a ball on her bed. It's been a long day, long story short... Harry got lost this time. We somehow ended up in Wolverhampton and had to stop multiple times to ask for directions. Since Liam grew up there he knew his way around but he was kind of asleep for most of it. Honestly we couldn't wake him up, and when we did he would just fall right back asleep. Justine helped Harry with most of the navigating too, I can see why she's exhausted. Since she's outgoing and good at remembering things, she had to get out at ask for directions.

I sit down next to her on the bed, I am pretty sure she's half-asleep already. I rub her back as she lets out a soft groan.

"You tired, love?" I ask.

"Mmhm." She mumbles.

"Yeah. We better get you to sleep, we both have class tomorrow." She groans again.

"I know, I know." I say standing up, "get dressed and I'll be right back."

"I'm sleeping in this." She says into her sheets.

"You can't sleep in jeans... That can't be very comfy." She sits up and rubs her eyes.

"You're right." She yawns. I go to the bathroom, change, wash up, etc. When I walk out I see Justine looking in the mirror, to my surprise she is wearing one of my red beanies. I hide behind the corner of the wall and watch her. She tilts her head and examines herself. She takes her hair and pulls it over her shoulders, then combs through the tips with her fingers. She looked so beautiful I could hardly contain it. I loved her, I always have. When I moved away it took me years to forget about her, but she was always there in the back of my mind. Our times together would come up every once in a while, but not often. Even though it was hazy, last night couldn't have been more amazing. I've wanted to kiss her for a long time, for real, not like a few days ago when I caught her by surprise. I also knew how she felt about me, but she also knew that I had heard her conversation with Niall. Oh the stupid things I say when I'm drunk! I probably can guarantee that I will never get that drunk again. Ever. I still needed a way to get my car back....

After admiring her for a minute, she all of a sudden lets a gasp escape as she sees me in the corner of the mirror. She rips off the beanie and hides it behind her back. I find myself smirking a little.

"I...uhh...this was just...Er...um how long were you standing there?" She stutters, her cheeks get a light shade of pink as she looks down at the floor and tucks her hair that was falling in front of her face behind her ear. I make my way over to her, and I put my hands on her shoulders.

"Long enough." I smile and grab the beanie from her hands. I fix her hair so that it's once again in front and place it on her head. "There's nothing to be ashamed of." She gives a smile back and gives me a hug.

"You know this smells like you." She says as she pulls away.

"Smells like me?" I ask a bit puzzled. She giggles.

"Yeah, it smells like you... I don't know..." I laugh.

"Is that a good thing?"

"Yeah it is." She chuckles. "Um, are you and Liam... Good now? I mean you guys didn't really fight at all today." This surprised me, I didn't really know if we were okay or not.

"I hadn't really talked to him about why we were fighting, but tomorrow I definitely will." She raises an eyebrow.

"Promise?"

"Promise!" I say trying not to smile, but I did anyway. We get under the covers and Justine shuts off the light. I can't sleep. I looked over at her and she's already fast asleep, still wearing my favorite beanie. She's as fragile as a flower, there is only so much a flower can take. A flower can only hold so much water, if it gets too much it wilts, if you pick it's peddles off it looses it's beauty, too much sunlight... it fries. Justine has been through so much these past few weeks, but what she doesn't know is that there's more coming. I wish I could tell her everything, but it would be too much. I wish I didn't know, that way I wouldn't have to keep lying to her. I wish I could have prevented this, but it wasn't my choice. My accusation was right, some people just need to listen to me. I can't prepare Justine for what's going to happen, but when this storm hits, I'm going to be the sunshine that bring this little flower back standing taller than she did before.