Back To December

ten

"So why are they having a bonfire party two days before bonfire night?" Harry asked quietly in my ear as we stood in front of the bonfire, which had yet to be lit. I pulled a face at the muddy field and shrugged my shoulders in reply as he huffed. "What did you and Louis talk about on your walk?"

"Our walk that lasted all of 6.5 seconds?" I raised my eyebrows. "Nothing. He apologised for what he said before I left, told me he'd only said it because he was scared."

"Scared of what?"

"No idea," I tutted. "That's when Liam chased us down the road like the gimp that he is."

"Ahem, that gimp, has just brought you a toffee apple!" Liam grinned proudly, nudging my side as he joined us.

"Ooh! Gimme!" I held my hands out, trying to snatch the toffee apple out of his hands as he held it away from me. "Liiiiaaam!" I whined. "Harry tell him!"

"Did you get me one?" Harry asked curiously. Liam nodded, passing him one of the sticks but keeping the other one out of my reach. "Cheers mate," Harry grinned, taking a bite out of the apple. I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest, looking around.

"Where'd Soph and Louis go?" I asked.

"Sophie was supposed to be helping me bring theses back," Liam told me, waving one of the toffee apples in my face as he took a bite out of his own. I pouted, reaching out and finally snatching it away from him, smiling triumphantly as I bit into it.

"Mmmm…" I moaned.

"Anyway, she was meant to be helping me, but she got distracted by a boy with spiky hair. He looked vaguely familiar, actually. I think you might have gone to school with him. So she's in that area somewhere," he waved his hand dismissively. "And Louis went to get drinks of some sort."

"…And you didn't think Louis would need help?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I couldn't help, I had apples!"

"I'm sure you can hold three sticks in one hand, Liam!" I tutted, rolling my eyes.

"You go and help him," Harry smiled, elbowing me. "I'll keep Liam occupied so he doesn't chase you this time. Look, Liam! Something shiny! Ooooh!"

"Harry." Liam gave him a withering look. I giggled at them and turned around, my eyes scanning the field until I saw him stood over by the drinks stand.

"I'm going to see if he needs a hand," I told them, pointing over at Louis and walking towards him, finished my toffee apple and discarding the stick on the way. "Hey Lou!"

"Oh, hey," he smiled, turning around as he stuffed his change in his pocket. "I got you a drink," he told me, handing me a polystyrene cup. "It's hot apple cider, the lady told me it was nice. So if you hate it, it's her fault!"

"It's lovely," I laughed quietly, taking a sip. "They have this every year, Mrs. Rawley makes it. She has it done to an art, it's amazing."

"…Do I get brownie points for getting it for you, then?" he asked, smiling cheekily.

"Yeah, you get brownie points…" I nodded. "Not that you need them. Umm… You were saying something before, when Liam interrupted us?"

"Oh, I… It's nothing," Louis shook his head, and I thought I saw his cheeks turning pink. "It can wait until later."

"…Harry's keeping him entertained, he won't come running back over," I pressed, gesturing over to where Liam and Harry – and now Sophie – stood. "We can talk, if you want? Sophie will kill both of them if they try and interrupt."