Drunk (Harry Styles FanFic)

High School Recall

So all I have to do for the rest of the night is not talk about Kat or my job or my life or drink more or...anything. I basically have to sit at this party for 4 hours and not speak in order to preserve everybody's feelings.

When did this become my life?

"You gonna swim, Styles?" I heard Will ask as he made his way back toward the pool. He had a red solo cup in his hand, I'm assuming full of beer or some other kind of alcohol I currently was not supposed to be drinking. I could practically smell it. This was definitely going to harder than I thought with everybody else drinking but me.

I shrugged, "I don't know, maybe later. I'm just gonna go talk to the others for a bit, y'know, catch up and all." That was a lie. One in a series of ones I will most likely have to tell tonight. If they ask about my career, I have to smile and say it's not as good as being home with them. Neither of those statements are true because the only thing that would even remotely make me happy right now was if Kat walked through that same gate and forgave me. But even I know that's not going to happen.

Fake smile now.

I approached the rest of the lads again. Heather was already headed to the pool with Will in her bikini when I got there. "Wow, you're gonna swim Heather?" I asked in shock. I thought she just wore that to be cute. She never swam before.

"Yeah, I swim all the time now. Whenever I come home Will and I swim, otherwise I just swim at the college. It's really not that surprising." Well if it wasn't then she would've told me. Key word: would've. I can't even kid myself with the fact that we hadn't spoken since I left pretty much. It was just a random coincidence that she was at that pub in the first place. If she wasn't it's not like either of us would've made plans to hang out. Even if she does live in the same city.

"Oh," I hid my disappointment, or at least tried to.

Heather waved before Will tackled her into the pool. "Aren't they just the cutest?" I heard Bea whisper to Abs. Abs just giggled in response.

"Wait," I held up my hand. "They're together? Like together together?" This was a hell of a lot more shocking than her swimming. But it also explains the swimming...

Sam laughed at me, obviously not getting that I was being serious. Chris nudged him when he saw my still confused but dead serious face. "I think he's being serious."

"I am."

"Dude! You live in the same freaking town with her and you didn't even know that? They started dating like year 12, during your...first...tour?" Sam explained.

"What?!" I sighed heavily. This is getting ridiculous. I seriously know nothing about the people that were my best friends for almost all my life. I am a sad excuse for a friend.

Bea slowly gravitated over to Chris. "Not to freak you out anymore or anything, but so are we. Since college actually." Chris smiled widely and wrapped his arm around Bea's shoulder snugly.

I held up both my hands in shock. "Does this mean you two," I gestured at Abs and Sam, "are dating too??"

They looked at each other, pulled a face and said in unison, "Gross, no." I put my heart on my heart, relieved.

"I thought I was gonna be the only one left. Single that is." As soon as I realized what I said my eyes dropped to the floor and I fell silent, as did the others.

Cautiously Abs said, "What happened to Kat Demming?"

I cleared my throat awkwardly, remembering my promise to Heather. "Didn't work out with all the traveling I guess."

Another fake smile.

Sam walked over slowly. "If it's meant to be, it will be." He patted my shoulder and turned to the others. Raising his voice, "This is getting sad. I have an idea." A mischievous grin spread across his face, like Louis'. Louis. I just can't shake the feeling that me leaving is ruining something for them.