Our Messed Up Thing

chapter 14

I wake up to the sound of someone knocking aggressively at the door. I look over to see if Nancy is in her bed. She's sobbing and drooling so I decide to look away and check to see who's outside. I decide to open it slowly and take a peek at this bizarre person knocking at a dorm room's door this early in the morning.
        I rub my eyes to clear my sight and twist the doorknob.

"What the hell?" Archie screams. I can't decipher if he's worried or excited.

"What are you doing here?" I try to ask but my morning voice gets in the way.

However, he manages to understand me and responds "You were in the Late Late Show last night?! With Harry Styles?!".

"Keep quiet!" I whisper-shout. I signal him to come in and he does. Yesterday before falling asleep I decided that I won't tell anyone about that until they find out for themselves. I don't want anyone bombarding me with questions. I don't want the attention. "I would really like it if you didn't go screaming something I would like to keep a secret for everyone in between these walls to hear."

"Well then tell me-" He starts. I don't get why he is so worked up.

"First of all," I interrupt, taking a step closer and pointing a finger sternly at him then abruptly placing it on his chest. He is quite surprised by this. So am I to be honest, but I can't let him know that. "Nancy is asleep, so shut it." I whisper with sass. Wow. "Second of all, why is this bothering you so much?" I ask crossing my arms.

"First of all," He repeats, mocking my voice. "I don't care if she's asleep. Second of all, 'why is it bothering me so much'? Seriously? Gigi, it's not bothering me. It's just so fucking surprising-"

"Swearword," I interrupt, looking at the floor.

"I don't care." What is up with him? "You were on live television and you are on Youtube now. Did you expect anything other than me storming in here when finding out to ask you about this?" He rhetorically asks. He does have a point. I wouldn't have expected him to be calm in this situation; but I didn't expect him to feel this triggered either.

"Yeah but still, you are overreacting." I mumble, scared of his reaction.

There's a short silence before his voice fills it in. "Fine, sorry." His apology catches me off guard. Completely.

"Fine?" I ask unsure.

"Fine. It's fine. I just want to know everything that happened." I told him about me going to Target and feeling sorry for Bernard the worker. That I approached him and asked for his help. I ignore Archie's obnoxious comment on how I shouldn't talk to psychopathic strangers and continue to the part where he made me read a T-Shirt saying that it was all a prank and that Bernard was actually Harry Styles.

"Wow, that is... intense." He comments.

"I wouldn't say intense is the word to describe it..." I reply awkwardly.

An uncomfortable silence fills the room. I'm surprised Nancy is still asleep. She might be awake, just pretending that she's sleeping to eavesdrop on our conversation.

"So, how's Poochy?" He asks; trying way too hard to make smalltalk.

"We had to give him away. My parents couldn't manage a dog in the flat so they decided it's best for him if he lived with my uncle in Texas. He picked him up before us coming here. I really miss him." I answer.

"Why? 'Cos dogs are a human's best friend?" He laughs.

"Basically, yeah." I reply, unaware of the things Archie can infer from this.

"I can be your dog from now on. I know I haven't been the bestest of a companion these days. I'm sorry." I would usually start teasing him now on how annoying his personality changes are. This time it's different though. I simply nod shyly and pull a piece of hair behind my ear while looking down at the wooden floor.

"I care for you," He quietly adds. I feel weird staying quiet instead of repeating the same thing to him.

Nancy finally wakes up saving me from this embarrassing moment. I really think she was awake this whole time and decided to save me; like a friend would do.

"Good morning," I sigh with a smile while turning around to look at her. I then look at Archie, expecting him to excuse himself and go back to his dorm. He doesn't.

"Hey, G. Why you up so early?" She whines and I giggle. "Ooh, I forgot to tell you!" Aaaand she's back to her usual bubbly personality. "My group wants you to have lunch with us today!" She exclaims.

I automatically say "Sure" at the same time Archie says "She's having lunch with me". I glare at him then turn back to Nancy and assure her I'm going with a nod. Arch's eyebrows are furrowed and he's biting his bottom lip, trying to control his anger.

Nancy giggles at us before adding "Oh, and Pattinson really liked you,"

"Who's Pattinson?" Archie asks, with a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Kade, his name is Kade." I correct.

"Only for you," Nancy laughs; making it even worse.

"Who the hell is Kade Pattinson? And why the fuck are you having lunch with him?" OK, he is definitely mad at me.

Oh, Archie...