The Exchange

Chapter 45

"Mira, how was your date?" Niall songs as soon as I step I the door after an evening at sweet dreams with Brandon.

"It wasn't a date." I sing back thinking of the nice time we had together as friends.

"Yeah it was." Niall replies rolling his eyes, "don't lie to us Mira."

"I'm not lying, he's just a friend." I protest. I pick Harry's feet off the love seat and sit down next to him. I bring my legs under me and lean in Harry's direction. His arm goes over me and rests on the back of the love seat casually.

"I don't think he thinks the same thing." Niall replies raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, he does." I insist again.

"Guys, leave her alone." Louis states bored, coming into the room with popcorn.

"Yeah, I'm not allowed to date until I'm married anyways."

"Oh please, there are always loopholes." Harry chuckles.

"Yeah, like you didn't go on a 'date' with that other guy last week also." Niall replies.

"Yeah, it kind of sounds like you're two-timing." Liam adds, jumping into the conversation.

"Austin's my friend and so is Brandon from last week, and you can't two-time if you're completely single."

"Are you sure you're single?" Zayn asks, eyeing me.

"Yeah, I think both of them think they're your boyfriend." Harry adds.

"Okay, we are jumping way too far here." I say taking some popcorn from the bowl being passed around.

"We're just informing you from a guys point of view." Harry replies.

"Kay thanks." I finish. The short sentence falls to the ground and droops on the floor.

Something in Harry and Louis expression changes. Kind of like they failed at something. I look around at something else and realize almost everyone's faces are like that. What did I say?

"So which one do you have a crush on?" Niall says quickly from the floor. His words are sudden and trip me from behind. I almost don't realize they're spoken.

"None!" I exclaim, looking shocked. Not that either are bad but not 'for me.' They're young, immature boys I guess you could say. Marley always laughs, I mean laughed, at me for fan girling over 'older men.'

"Don't lie to us Mira." Harry says, chucking a popcorn at me. It bounces off the frizz in my brown hair and lands softly down my shirt in an uncomfortable place. I use my hand to pick it out and immediately fix my composure.

"It's not a lie!" I tell him. Harry looks at me with his eyebrows raised and I shake my head. Why do they think I'm lying?

"Okay fine, you've convinced us." Harry gives in wrapping his arms over me in a sloppy hug.

"Okay, then." I say noticing this awkward moment.

A blink my eyes and it feels like all the boys are suddenly smothering me. Niall, louis, Zayn, Liam and Harry all have there arms around me in a group hug. I have no idea what is going on but I'm enjoying their arms surrounding me.