Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Insecurities Or How Lily Discovered The Ring

Hi everyone, another chapter already- I hope you like it! :) All the love, Summer xxx

About forty minutes later, my door bell rang. With a smile I opened the door only to reveal a pale Milena standing in the hallway outside. "Hi, come on in." I invited her into the flat and she greeted me with a hug, before she took her shoes off and followed me into the kitchen. "How are you doing, my friend?" I asked her with a smile and gestured to one of the kitchen chairs, before I placed to big steaming mugs of tea in front of us. "Good, good. I just got my degree results yesterday and I managed to get a 2:1!" she told me proudly with a happy smile on her face. 

"That's amazing, congratulations, 'lena!" I reached over the table and gave her arm a light squeeze. "Thank you, of course not as fantastic as your result, but still not too shabby." I shook my head. "Oh stop it, a degree doesn't mean anything. Look at our idiotic pop star friends! Most of them didn't even finish school and they are still not completely stupid. A 2:1 is nearly a first, so you should be super proud of yourself." I told her emphatically and laughed when I saw a hint of a blush appear on her cheeks.

"Sooooo, what did you want to talk about?" I asked her and gave her an encouraging smile, before she averted her gaze and instead looked down at her tea. "I don't even know how to start this." she sighed and took a big sip from her tea, before she looked up at me again. "Alright, risking to sound like the worst friend in history, here it goes: I kind of like Louis. Not as in 'I'm a fan and I really like him', but as in 'he's an amazing person and I really kind of fancy him and could imagine a future with him'." she admitted, her cheeks turning dark red. "I feel so guilty, Claire! I know that he's your ex-boyfriend and I am your friend and I really, really shouldn't be falling for him and I think Louis might like me, too, but he doesn't want to hurt you either, but we, um, we kissed at our night out and I have felt so incredibly guilty ever since, but I didn't know how to tell you this. Please don't hate me!" she pleaded and I could see that she was at the verge of crying.

"Milena?" I asked her carefully and she re-emerged from the behind her hands. "You're one of my best friends, I could never hate you." I told her gently and she visibly relaxed. "Usually I would be all for acting according to the girls code, but you two are two of my best friends and I was the one who felt guilty for breaking it off with Louis and then starting something with his best friend, you know? I only wish him all the happiness in the world and I couldn't be happier if he found someone as amazing as you." I told her and gave her hand a light squeeze. "Really? You're not angry?" she asked me, an astonished look on her face. "No, of course not! I couldn't be happier for you two! I actually think you two are perfect for each other." I added with a wink and she blushed even more.

"You have no idea how relieved I am." she admitted and gave me an embarrassed smile. "So, what happened between you two at the club? You just disappeared and I was too drunk afterwards to remember anything." I admitted sheepishly, but still wiggled my eyebrows at her, making her laugh. "Um, we talked and joked around for a while and then he asked me if I would want to accompany him outside for a smoke and I agreed and somehow we ended up kissing in the corridor which leads to the back door for a bit." she giggled and quickly took another big sip from her tea. 

"Um, Claire? Don't get me wrong, but I have noticed that you tend to get completely wasted whenever you have a massive problem on your hands, so are you alright?" she asked me cautiously and now it was my turn to blush. "I'm fine now, thanks for asking though... I, eh, I know that drinking isn't a solution, but sometimes it helps to numb the pain even if it's just for a couple of hours." I explained to her and buried my face in my hands. "I just don't want to bother anyone with my problems so instead of dealing with them, I try to forget about them." I mumbled into my hands.

"Claire?" Lily asked softly and I hesitantly peeked at her between my fingers. "You are not a burden for anyone and I am sure all of your friends, including me, are always here for you if you need someone to talk to. But maybe talking to a therapist would help you? Someone who isn't directly involved in your life and just listens to your problems?" she suggested and I slowly let my hands sink into my lap. "Maybe I should look for someone..." I agreed and gave her a thankful smile. "Thank you." Milena returned the smile. "Any time, that's what friends are for, right?"

We chatted for two more hours, until we heard Lily's key unlocking the front door. "Hello my favourite flatmate!" she called from the hallway and smiled at us when she spotted Milena sitting at the kitchen table. "Oh, hello, there. How are you doing?" she asked her and pulled her into a one-armed hug, before she pressed a kiss to my cheek and continued to unload the bag of food she had brought in with her. "Niall and I went food shopping." she explained after she noticed our looks. "He told me to buy whatever I wanted because he was paying and...", she pulled out a big tube of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, "because it's food, I used him and his money for the first time in our relationship. Who can say no to an offer like that?" she giggled with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"You're evil!" I laughed at her and then stood up and peeked into the bag to inspect what she had bought. "You bought mousse au chocolate?!" I squealed excitedly and lovingly looked down at the box in my hands. "You are so weird." Milena commented from the table and downed the rest of her tea. "I think I have to go now, sorry Lily, it's not because of you." she explained and Lily placed a hand on her hip. "Hmmmm... sure." she winked at Milena who just rolled her eyes and pulled me into a hug. "Thank you for the tea and the great conversation. And for being so understanding." I smiled at her and followed her to the front door. "Of course, any time." 

After she was gone, I returned to the kitchen where Lily had started to prepare an avocado sandwich. "Oooooh, someone's eating healthy today." I joked and she flipped me off, without interrupting her sandwich making. "So, how's my favourite Irish friend?" I asked her and walked over to the sink to rinse mine and Milena's mugs. "He's doing very well." she replied with a grin. "He's working on some songs at the moment for a solo album next year." she told me proudly and placed the plate with her sandwich on the kitchen table. "Oh, exciting! I'm sure his album will be great, he's got a good taste in music." I commented, before quickly wiping the mugs dry with a towel. 

"I feel like I haven't seen you in ages, are you alright?" she asked me and took a huge bite out of her sandwich. "Is that Harry's ring?" she suddenly added and I nearly dropped the mugs I was about to put back into the cupboard. "Um, yes." I confirmed with a sheepish smile and took a seat opposite her. "It's a long story." I said with a smile and she gestured for me to go on, while she continued to much on her sandwich. 

Five minutes later I had finished telling her the story. "So he flew all the way to London for a couple of hours just for you? And he basically told me that you're his soulmate? And he gave you one of his rings?" I nodded. "Wow, you're one lucky bitch." she said with a wide grin. "I also understand where you're coming from, but I am so happy you decided to keep fighting, C. You and Harry are clearly meant to be." she said and pulled my hand towards her. "Oh, I love this one! It's your favourite one, as well, isn't it?" she asked me with a smile and I nodded. "It only fits on my right hand because it's obviously not made for my small hands." I said with a grin and gently traced the word 'peace' which was engraved in the ring. "So... you up for some friends episodes?" she asked me after she had finished her sandwich. I nodded excitedly and basically bounced towards the living room with a laughing Lily hot on my heels.