just the beginning ➣ one direction

chapter 25 // casey

chapter 25!!!!!

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"Wait what?" I ask for her to repeat.

"We're going to the carnival together." Hayley said.

"Like on a...date?" I asked.

A pinkish red glow blossomed on the mount of her cheeks, as she glances at Louis, and looks back at me. She smiles and giggles at my comment.

"Psh, what no." She threw her hand back, "Just friends."

"Uh-huh."

Hayley immediately changed the subject. "So, I'm going to get ready, pick Rachel up, and drive back here. Cool?"

I nodded, and she smiled. She nudged herself towards me and inched in for a small quick hug. She lets go and does the same to Louis. He walks her out the front door and comes back inside wandering at me.

"You should go get ready." Louis reminded.

"What happened to Sarah?" I completely ignored him.

"I'm gonna go get ready." Louis passes by me, and straddled up the stairs into his room. He ignored me, like I ignored him. Brother like sister. I follow him up the staircase, making my way inside my room closing the door behind me. I stripped off my current clothes, wrapped myself inside my towel, and went inside the bathroom. I took a quick warm shower, and walked back inside my room. I towel dried my hair, and left it up on my head. I decided to wear dark denim ripped jeans, with a sweater pullover. I settled in my worn black converse, and placed on a skeleton bracelet. I dried my hair with a blow dryer, and brushed it several times. 

I grabbed my phone from my untidy bed sheets, and received 2 text messages from Hayley.

4:39PM - i'll be there in an hour x

5:12PM - i'm right outside, rachel's gonna ring

Right after that, I hear the doorbell ring from downstairs. I shoved my phone and other important valuables inside my bag, and ran downstairs. There stood Rachel and Louis all bundled up and ready to go. Rachel gave me a hug, and complimented me several times although I didn't really made myself look very presentable.

We head inside the car, and it was mostly Louis and Hayley talking. Rachel and I were listening to every word they were saying, we didn't have a choice anyway. Few moments later, Hayley parked off at the boardwalk's parking lot. We all got out of the car, and I looked up at the sky. The sun was setting, and it was getting dim every time we moved farther away from the sun. I checked the time on phone, realizing it a quarter past 6. 

We all made our way through the parking lot, and inside the carnival. Even though it opened only 15 minutes ago, the sight was packed. Crowds of people reeled in from left and right, and I almost lost Rachel in the horde. 

"Text me if you need anything." Louis grabbed Hayley's arm, and led her through the pack of people.

"Have fun!" Hayley screamed over the crowd. 

I responded by smiling, and waved as they head off. Rachel locked my arm with hers as she dragged me through the mass of people. 

"Come with me to the stand I'm watching."

"What stand are you gonna watch?"

"It's like this game," She explained, "where you throw a ball to hit the bowling pins bla bla."

I nodded, as we walked to our destination. As we walked, there were loud screams, shots, and dings of people trying their luck at various booths. Loud music occurred, often conflicting with the music from just across the way as people tried to shout over the noise. The sight was also vibrant, incandescent, and eye catching. There were bright lights, loud colors, and movie objects.

We finally reached the arcade stands, and Rachel pointed to her stand. We walked closer and we saw a girl with light brown hair with glasses sitting on a stool playing games on her phone. I tap her shoulder.

"Saige?"

She looks up, to see us staring at her.

"Casey!" She inches in for a hug, and looks at Rachel.

"Hi, I'm Rachel." She extends her arm for her to shake it, "I'm gonna be watching the stand with you."

Saige smiles as she shakes Rachel's hand.  "Hi, I'm Saige."

I look closely into her eyes, and recognized something.

"Are you wearing makeup?"

Saige nods, and her face flushes bright pink of embarrassment. "My sister did it for me."

"Winged eyeliner?" Rachel observed, "How does she even do that?"

"I don't know," Saige crosses her arms, "She's a geek, I'm surprised she knows what makeup is."

"How old is she?" I asked.

"She's in college right now," She answers, "2nd year at U-Penn."

Rachel's mouth drops open, as her hands cover her mouth. "No way, she's in Ivy League."

"Yeah, she's like really smart apparently." I noticed Saige slightly rolling her eyes.

They just kept talking and talking, first about colleges, and now something else. I've decided to leave them alone to bond and whatnot. I began to slowly walk away from them as I came to a distance where I couldn't see them anymore. I heard my phone vibrate from the back of my pocket. I fished it out, and saw a text message from Harry.

where are you?

I replied.

near the game stands, wbu and emma?

we just came, if you see niall tell him to call me.

I didn't reply, but I look up to see Naomi and Niall at a fair distance holding hands as they explore at there surroundings. I stood there and watched them as they inch closer towards me. Niall glances at my direction, notices me, and waves with a big smile on his face. I wave back, and Naomi looks and does the same time. Naomi lets go of Niall's hand, and runs toward me. She gives me a great hug, as Niall follows her and greets me.

"So wheres your date?" Niall asked.

"I don't have one."

"Are you trying to make her feel bad?" Naomi rolled her eyes at him.

Niall gave her a pout face, and Naomi just laughed causing Niall to laugh also.

Naomi wore the purple dress Rachel and I suggested, and curled the strands of her hair. She checked her phone from inside her small purse, and notably focuses on her phone.

"Be right back." Naomi doesn't look up from her phone and walks to the corner of the hot dog stand and receives a call.

Niall stuffed his hands inside his pockets, "Harry told me we're all going to meet up near Nathan's Hot dogs by the end of the boardwalk."

I nodded, and looked down at the floor. A moment later, I looked back up to see Niall gazing at me.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing, you just seemed lonely,"

I shook my head, "I'm not."

"You can hang out with me and Naomi for the rest of the night."

"Nah, I don't want to disturb your date."

"I don't mind."

end of chapter 25