A Moment in the Crowd

Chapter 40: Nights out

Lily:

"What happened?" Paola is eyeing me up and down with a mischevious grin plastered to her face. 

It hasn't been two seconds that I walked out of my apartement, reluctantly, leaving Harry behind. I have a flowered skirt on and a flowing cropped top for my night out with Paola, and she's already interrogating me on what just happened with Harry. How she knows, is way beyond me.

"Oh c'mon, spill. You're face is glowing brighter than my future. What did you and Harry do?" She knows she's guessed right when I begin giggling like a school girl.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." My words deny her accusation, but my tone tells her she's spot on, and I can't help but giggle through her reaction.

"No fucking way. I didn't think... Lily!" She laughs with me and that's all she seems to need to know.

We can't seem to cease the laughter as we walk towards downtown, away from the university. Our heels click in unison on the concrete and a college guy whistles as Paola passes.

"You are the hottest girl I have ever seen Pao, honestly. Let's get you the hottest guy you've ever seen. Sound like a plan?" She gives me a weak smile in return though.

"What?" I question with a smile, and she stares back at me.

"The hottest guy I've ever seen is Louis." She whines and I put my arm around her.

"Hey, don't worry. Harry said he'd see what he could do. For all you know, you'll be on a date with Louis next week. Don't give up hope, you have a better chance than the rest of the world with him." 

Although it sounds cliché, my comforting seems to work because I can see her eyes regain the temporarily lost light.

"Do you really think I'd have even half of a chance?" She eyes my facial expression, and I give her my most undoubtedly confident look.

"I think Louis would be fucking nuts not to get a piece of you, now let's go have some fun!" I tell her and she laughs with me.

We walk into a crowded bar full of university students undoubtedly, and attempt to make our way to where the drinks are. Since most students here aren't exactly nineteen yet, the bar bends a few rules for us. I figure most of their customers are students anyway, so if they start turning us away, business would probably flop. It works out in everyone's favour though.

"Two beers please." I yell to the bartender who nods and slings a raggy dish cloth over his shoulder.

Paola and I lean against the bar and attempt a conversation through the pounding room. I'm being shoved from side to side because of the crowd and each of us barely have standing room. Girls are, somehow, already drunk and grinding with random strangers everywhere you look. You'd think the bar scene would be calmer than the club scene, but apparently not.

"Isn't your birthday soon?" Paola yells to me from barely two inches from my ear, but I still strain to hear her over the pounding music and chatting of the crowd.

I nod and add, "A little less than a month I think." She smiles and takes a sip of her beer that the bartender graciously brought over without asking for ID. Luckily I would have had fake ID anyway, but it's nice not to be hassled.

For the second time today, I catch the glint of black hair in my peripheral vision, and turn to see Amy dancing with a blonde haired boy. It takes a minute to realize that the blonde is actually Niall. I cover my mouth to hide my smile, and point them out to Paola.

She gives me the raised eyebrow, and I nod my head as I attempt to wipe the imminent smirk from my face. I knew that Niall had something for Amy, I'd just been waiting for him to make his move. It turns out his move is sooner rather than later because I catch the liplock that happens not seconds after I first spotted them.