Unpredictable

Chapter 8

Ten minutes later, Harry pulled the car over in front of a small diner and we got out. The awkwardness had eased somewhat over the journey but I got the feeling that something was still wrong. Nevertheless, as we entered into the restuarant Harry held my hand, and kissed my forehead.

The diner was small but cute, with little booths and tables covered with red checked tablecloths. There were big, airy windows and smiling waitresses serving the other seven or eight customers.

Niall led us to a booth in the corner, explaining, "This is our place. We always sit here."

Everyone else rolled their eyes, but followed him anyway.

I slipped in between Harry and Perrie on the red leather seat of the booth, as everyone else bustled around, finding the best seat.

"That was a good band rehearsal tonight," remarked Liam, when we were all sitting down. "I reckon we're close to nailing Midnight Memories, it's almost perfect."

Niall laughed, then tried to stifle it.

"Jesus, what's so funny?!" Liam asked, bemused.

"You... Reckon... We've almost nailed it!" He gasped between laughter.

Everyone else groaned. "Come on Ni, how was that even close to innuendo? I think you've had one too many bottles of beer tonight." Zayn sighed.

"Right, sorry." He tried to look serious, but burst out in giggles.

Louis shook his head. "Why don't you tell us about you, Ella? Where do you go to University?"

I blushed. "I'm not exactly at university."

Niall put his hand up for a high five. "Nice one, Harry, scoring yourself a high school chick!" But everyone ignored him.

"No, I'm not in high school either, I'm taking a gap year, you know, working so I can go to college." I explained.

"Can't your parents pay?" Liam asked.

"We're not all as rich as you are, Liam." Snapped Harry. Why was he so on edge? I rubbed my thumb over his clenched knuckles, hoping to calm him down. I didn't mind being asked about whether my parents could pay or not: I could just think something up.

"It's fine, like I want to pay. I don't want to stress out my parents." I lied.

Everything went quiet, and then the waitress arrived. "Can I take your orders?"

"Yeah, a pint of lager and a large cheeseburger, chips and onion rings for me!" Niall called, and everyone rolled their eyes and ordered. They all got achoholic drinks, apart from me, Harry and Perrie.

"Do you not drink?" I asked Harry.

"Nah, not really. When I get drunk I tend to say stuff I regret." He explained.

"Yeah, like when you drunk called me?" I raised my eyebrows and nudged his leg with my toe.

"Oh, God," he laughed. "Don't remind me. I am sorry about that, by the way."

I leaned into him. "Don't be."

We sat for a while, his arm around me, watching everyone tease Niall and getting steadily drunker. We chatted as well: not important stuff, just talking. It felt like everything was how it should be, like Harry hadn't gotten grouchy earlier, and there were no awkward questions. It was only halfway through the meal that I noticed Perrie and Zayn weren't at the table anymore.

"Where's Perrie?" I frowned.

Harry looked around, his hand on my knee, craning his neck to see over the tops of the other booths. He looked slightly worried, but he just shrugged. "Maybe they went out for a cigarette?"

I nodded, and went back to my salad, my index finger tracing circles on his thigh.

I happened to look outside the window, just at the exact moment that Perrie slapped Zayn full across the cheek and stormed inside, into the ladies bathroom.

"Shit." I got up. "Um, I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute." I kissed Harry on the cheek and went through to the loo. Inside, Perrie was crying, leaning against the sink. Mercifully, there was no-one else there.

"Perrie?" I stepped closer to her. "Are you alright? I saw... Outside..."

She sniffed, trying to wipe away her tears but more fell. "Oh, Ella." She enveloped me in a hug, and I hugged her back. "Ella, I don't know what to do."

"Hey, I'm sure we can figure it out." I rubbed comforting circles on her back.

"No!" She cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Ella, I... I think... Ella, I'm pregnant."

(A/N: mwahahaha cliffhangers! Jk (; i'll update again soon!)