Moving On (A Sidemen Fanfiction)

VII

     "A party? Are you feeling alright, mate?" JJ laughed, pretending to check my fever with the back of his hand. I understood where he was coming from. The last time I wanted to go out or to a party was forever ago. But this one would be at Mackenzie's and if I would be with her I would go to any party. Josh hit his side and JJ jumped away from me. "A pool party in the middle of winter?" Ethan laughed. "Indoor pool. And trust me it's big enough for all of us and your girlfriends. The room is bloody huge." I said excitedly. "It sounds good to me." Harry agreed immediately when he heard a model would be there. Even if he hadn't said it out loud yet. (In this book, Harry doesn't have a girlfriend.) "As long as I can have a private discussion with this new bird of yours." JJ said. I already knew how that discussion would go. He would say that if she left or hurt me he would hate her forever and she would simply smile and reassure him she wasn't going anywhere. Even if someone was threatening her I could see her smiling. "How about you just see how Simon is with her before you start assuming?" Vik said. JJ rolled his eyes, but nodded anyways. "So is everyone for it?" I asked. I heard a few 'Yeahs' and I nodded. "Freya will want to come too." Josh said. "And I know Emily will as well." Ethan said. "The Cals are in LA so I guess it's just us nine." Harry shrugged. I clicked on Mackenzie's contact and began typing a message.

Simon:
I talked to the guys. They all want to go plus two of their girlfriends xx

Mackenzie:
Awesome. Been dying to meet them

*Mackenzie's POV*

•••

     I opened my arms to Simon when he was stood on my front porch. Ever since that night when we stayed up all night together - which was followed by a meeting I had to go to where I was slightly intoxicated - we had become closer than before. "It's nice to see you guys again." I smiled at Vik and Josh next and they returned the smile and nodded. "This is my girlfriend, Freya." Josh said, standing to the side to reveal a girl a little shorter than me with blonde hair and blue eyes. She had a beautiful smile that was very contagious. "I'm Mackenzie." I stuck my hand out for her to shake and she took it gladly. "I've heard a lot about you." She said. "All good I hope." I said as we released each other's hands. "Wonderful, actually." And then Josh grabbed her hand and drug her away to follow Simon to the pool room. "I'm JJ." A big guy was in front of me next. He had a hard look on his face and it didn't budge when I smiled at him. He didn't even wait for my handshake either. He just left. "He's always mad, don't worry." A girl's voice made me look away from his back. "I'm Emily." She said, shaking my hand. I shook hers too and gave her a smile. "Mackenzie." "This is Ethan, my boyfriend." He gave me a small smile and a nod before following everyone else into the house. "I'm Harry. But you can call me tonight." The next boy winked at me as he introduced himself. "Confident. Nice." I gave him a small smile. "He's been working on that one the entire ride over here." A quiet voice behind him made me look away from his blueish greenish eyes. "I'm Tobi." He added, taking my hand in his. "It's nice to meet you guys." "It's even nicer to meet you." Tobi smiled as I shut the door behind him. He then followed Harry down the hall. I already had alcohol and food sat out. And, thanks to Simon, I learned Emily didn't eat gluten and Freya didn't eat meat, so I set out food that they could eat without a worry too. "This place is amazing!" Harry yelled. He slipped his shoes off and threw his shirt across the room and jumped into the pool without a second thought, joining Josh and Freya. "Guys! This is the bathroom if anyone needs it!" Simon yelled over the crowd, making his way to me. "You've done good." He smiled at me, two beers already in his hands. "I try." I shrugged. He handed me a beer and then clicked it with his own with a small laugh. "Let's get this party started!" JJ yelled. It seemed he had found the speaker and also the controls for the lights in the pool. Loud music started playing and they started cheering. I felt honored to be able to witness this. Absolutely honored.

•••

     I disappeared into the kitchen to empty out the trash from the pool room. Little did I know JJ had followed me. I gave him a small smile when I saw him standing in the doorway. We both were quite tipsy so he leaned against the doorframe to steady his balance. "I haven't seen Simon this...happy in a long time." He said quietly. He hesitated before saying 'happy' almost as if saying Simon's name in the same sentence as the word seemed foreign. I glanced up at him from the sink, where I was now washing my hands. "And I'd like for it to stay that way. So I want you to promise me something." I was drying my hands now and I turned towards him. "I want you to promise me you won't just abandon him. Or any of us because I've grown fond of you tonight." He broke his hard look with a smile and I couldn't help but smile either. "I promise."