The Exchange

Chapter 24

"So tell us about your night." Harry prompts. I curl up on the couch in my onesie with the cup of tea Harry handed to me.

"It was normal." I shrug. Liam looks over at me from the other side of the love seat we are sharing.

"Nothing to tell?" Liam asks suspiciously, suspecting I'm lying.

"No." I say, sipping on my tea and wrapping myself in the soft blue fabric that covers my body.

"So do you think you'd go again?" Zayn asks

"Yeah, I would." I say calmly, enjoying the simple, small talk.

"I'm sure you're tired now." Louis says.

"A little." I admit, stifling a yawn.

"Well I'm glad you went out tonight." Harry says, picking his tea off the coffee table, "Tt's good that you decided to spend time with people who are your age."

I smile awkwardly. It seems like Harry is talking more to Louis than to me.

"Oh shit! Do we have an awards ceremony on sunday?" Liam exclaims, looking at his phone and changing the subject.

"Yeah the Brits." Harry nods as if he were dumb.

"Man, I forgot!" Liam exclaims, covering his face, "I'll have to cancel with Danielle again."

"When was the last time you guys hung out?" Harry asks.

"I don't even know. We're both busy too often."

"Yeah mate, I know it's hard." Niall says, nodding solemnly.

I look over at Liam. Disappointment crosses his face as he slumps further down in his chair.

In a fragile effort of comfort I pick up Liam's arm and rub it up and down. He curls towards me and looks into my eyes.

"You boys have such a hard job." I say quietly, looking down. Liam chuckles slightly,

"Don't we know it." He sighs and straightens up, looking at the clock. "It's getting late." he informs.

"Yeah we should probably go." Niall yawns, stretching and putting down his tea.

I stifle another yawn and drink more of my tea.

"Are you sure?  You don't have to." Louis says.

"Yeah, it's getting late and Mira looks tired." Niall responds, winking at me and making me feel so much younger.

"You're right Niall. It's already passed my bedtime." I respond, pinching myself. I stand up and give my good-nights carrying my tea to bed with me.

***

"Shouldn't you go with her?" Harry teases Louis, watching Mira shut her bedroom door. Louis looks towards him with a panicked look.

"What are you talking about?" Liam asks with a bad feeling. Zayn and Niall feel the same but didn't want to ask.

"You don't know?" Harry asks looking evil, "Louis spends the nights with her." Harry bluntly exposes with no sugar coating at all.

"Harry!" Louis exclaims, frustrated and embarrassed, very close to tears that his best friend would expose him like that.

"You do?" the boys ask in unison, shocked and confused.  

"Yeah."  Louis says shamefully but not at all ashamed.  Being close to Mira gives him happiness, joy and he knows she's safe whenever they're so close together.  

"What about..."  Zayn trails off.  Louis shrugs and looks at the floor, feeling alone and petrified.  Slowly and cautiously he whispers, more to himself than anyone,

"It's harmless."  

A medley of questions chastized Louis all at once as the boys quietly voice themselves so as not to disturb Mira.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Should you really be doing that?" 

"I thought you wanted to protect her."

"You're taking this too far."

"This might not be right." 

Question after question.  Opinion after opinion, but out of all of them only one stood out.  Spoken shyly but honestly.  The question everyone wanted to know.

"How does it feel?"