Memory

Chapter 1

I stared at the wall behind Dr. Starch. I let my chin fall into my palm as I stared across the room at all of the other students. Everyone seemed absorbed into whatever he was talking about. My eyelids felt heavy, and I squinted to try to focus. Louis tapped my leg and I turned to him slowly. He held out a pack of gum. I nodded and laid my head down on the desk. The last thing I needed was to sit down by Louis in a class I had with Zac. I had to break up with that snarky jerk. The way he treated me about being friends with Louis. Louis treats me better than he did, for sure. I was still friends with Louis, of course. Louis knows I used to be suicidal, and he helped me through it. All Zac tried to do was take my virginity. "Louis?" I whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I broke up with Zac today."

"Why? I mean I know things weren't going very smoothly--"

Dr. Starch cleared his throat. "Mr. Tomlinson and Miss Wood?"

I looked up and I knew my face had an awkward expression. A wave of chuckles spread across the classroom. "Please pay attention to the lesson."

"I was, sir," I said.

"So was I," Louis agreed.

"Very well. May we continue?"

The Smart Board displayed a colorful but bland screensaver and the class felt the need to point it out, every one of them. First period went by slowly. I just needed to avoid Zac and maybe find Diana and tell her I'm going to the party on Friday. I'm single, I'll be able to drink legally a day after the party anyways, so what the hell. I finally found Diana's wispy red hair and called her name. "Jessie! Everything okay?" she smiled.

Diana could always make me feel better. "Yeah, I'm trying to get over Zac but it's hard," I said quietly.

"It's ok. Just know he was never worth it, and be glad you didn't let him take your--"

"Diana!"

"Sorry, sorry. I just didn't want you in my situation with Liam."

Diana always had a habit of just... saying things she shouldn't be saying. She was my roommate, and I loved her like a sister but she didn't have to bring up the time Zac tried to take me home with him. Having sex before I get married isn't my morals anyways. I shook the thought out of my head and focused on getting to Sociology.

Later during lunch I sat by Zayn, Perrie, Louis and Niall. "Can I drive you guys to the party?" Niall asked.

"No, Zayn rented a party bus. Everyone on this table can go."

"Zayn! Always ahead of me."

I was thinking about which one of them I could go to the party with. Zayn was dating Perrie, who was very pretty. Niall was dating Diana. Louis said he wanted to go with Eleanor, but he might change his mind. Eleanor doesn't seem like his type. She's nice, but not... Louis nice. I wouldn't go with Louis romantically anyways. If everyone of my guy friends was single I'd pick Zayn. But he's perfect with Perrie. I forgot the thought and asked for a chai tea. Someone stood behind me. "I can pay for that," he said. Louis,

"No, it's all right Lou, I can pay for my own drink."

Louis had already handed the cashier two ones. "Oh, well you didn't have to do that. Thanks Lou," I said. He was always generous ever since first grade.

I sat back down next to Niall. "So, did you hear what happened to Harry?"

"Harry Styles?"

"Yeah. He got beat up behind the school last week. Some kid named Jeffrey."

"Oh, that sucks." I would always feel sorry for Harry. He would always get beat up at school.

"Niall?"

Niall got up to get his coffee and I decided to call Diana. "Hello?"

"Hey, we're at Starbucks. Where are you?"

"Eleanor's apartment. You should stop by once you get your stuff!"

They called Perrie and I responded to Diana. "No thanks. You come over with us! Get a chocolate chip frappe!"

Diana sighed and I heard Eleanor talking in the background. "I'll be over. Can El come?"

"Sure."

She hung up. They called Zayn so I was talking with Niall, Louis, and Perrie. "Eleanor and Diana are coming. Is that ok?"

"Yeah."

They called me and I met up with Zayn there. "Zayn, Eleanor and Diana are coming."

"Okay."

He returned to his seat and I took my tea with me back to the table. It was silent, the only thing I heard was faint music. Zayn looked me in the eye a few times. "Uh, Zayn?"

He blinked a few times and he gestured for me to follow him. I got up and hesitantly walked towards him. Perrie tapped his shoulder but he ignored her. I looked back at Perrie and she looked a little but confused. I smiled at her but it felt like a plastic smile.

Zayn took me into the janitor's closet. "Zayn, what do you want from me in a janitors closet at a Starbucks? Perrie's gonna be suspicious, not that I--"

"I know, I know. Just be quiet."

"Zayn, I'm serious, what do you want--"

He grabbed my waist and his lips crashed onto mine. My eyes popped open and I shoved him off of me. "Zayn! Perrie is out there and she doesn't know what you just did!" my mind was racing.

"Who said anything about Perrie?" he said with rasp in his voice.

"Me--"

His lips met mine again. I felt his hands against my back and I kissed him back for a second and broke the kiss. "Zayn," I began. "You're a great friend, but not a friend with benefits. You are perfect for Perrie but not me!"

"Jessie, you are beautiful. You are sexy."

Adrenaline and estrogen melted through my veins as Zayn stared me in the eye. He kissed me again and I leaned into him and grabbed his waist. He held onto the very edge of my hips and he breathed into my mouth. It felt terribly wrong and I felt bad for Perrie. I looked Zayn in the eye again and he smiled. It was almost a cruel smile. Perrie's light lavender hair pulled into a ponytail appeared in my head and I ripped my eyes from him. He walked me back into the restaurant.

"What happened?" Perrie asked.

"Nothing," I replied.

I could have sworn I saw Zayn wink at me. I chugged down my tea and pretended it was alcohol. My phone buzzed and it was Louis. "We're sitting right by each other," I chuckled.

"Read it," he said.

*Will you be my girlfriend, Jessie?*

I read it and looked up at Louis. He was smiling his usual bright smile that made everything about him a bundle of joy. I looked at Zayn, who looked at me suspiciously. I eyed Perrie, who was holding his hand. I remembered Zayn's kiss and his hands on my hips and the thousands of memories I had with Louis.

*Yes ;)* I responded.

He put his arm around me and pulled me towards him. I snaked my arm around his waist and texted Zayn.

*I'll see you at the party this vday :)*

Zayn looked up and smiled a smile with mixed emotions. I looked up at Louis and met his lips. He seemed surprised but kissed me back.

"Remember when I dared you to kiss me in fifth grade?"

"Yeah."

"Look at us now."

"Oh, memories..."