Stranded

Chapter 17: Better?

Harry’s POV

Even after all the arrangements we have made, she looked blue. I thought The Directions would make her feel better, but sadly, she still looked like she’s carrying the burdens of the entire world. Since I saw her awake, I’ve never seen her smile except when I was fooling around last night. Maybe I could do something to cheer her up.

I snuck behind her quietly. She was again staring at nowhere, probably thinking about her problems. I couldn’t blame her. Everybody here seems to be experiencing tough times right now. Only Niall and I are cheerful enough not to have a moment of sadness.

Trying to think of the perfect way to startle her, I practiced making faces. I tried precisely everything. I stuck my tongue out, pouted my lips, stared at my nose to make myself cross-eyed, puffed up my cheeks until they hurt and even did combinations of these things. Unfortunately, before I could even decide about which one to use, she turned around and saw me doing a duck face with matching cross-eyes.

“What are you doing?” She asked, pulling a face, probably curious of what I was doing.

“I was just, um, exercising my facial muscles.” I said. It probably sounded silly but it was the only thing I could come up with that moment. Sad to say, she was fool-proof.

“Rule #9: No gossips and/or lies.” She said in an expressionless and cold way.

You want to play rules, huh? I stared at her in the same manner and tried to remember the rest of the rules included in The Directions. When I finally thought of one, I walked towards her, grinning.

“Rule #14: Have fun.” I said, emphasizing every word. When I saw the shocked expression on her face, I decided to mock her. “You really think you can make me look like a fool, Erin?”

“Rule #11: No fighting. So quit arguing, Styles.” She sounded a bit harsh yet I felt happy. It only meant that my plan is working really well.

“Rule #10: Do what you think is for the good of all.” I retorted.

She raised both her hands as if she was giving up. “Okay, you win. Rule #7: Do overs can be asked. Can we just forget what happened?”

I smiled. She looks better that way. Being the reason why she forgot about her dilemmas for a while, I smirked. Looking at me in a strange way, she flinched. Turns out, she was waiting for my answer.

I nodded. “Let’s go remove that bloody shirt off your forehead.” I said, leading the way back to the clinic. She laughed, probably because she got my joke. Get it? Bloody shirt?

Liam’s POV

Although she doesn’t seem to like me, Lea still followed me go down the cruise ship. I do not know why she despises me so much when I should be the one to hate her. She’s a stuck-up, to be honest. She’s selfish, stubborn and rude, the perfect person to sue because of Rule #1.  If only The Directions state that the partners wouldn’t be “charged”, I’d definitely betray her. We’re not even close to being acquaintances. More like enemies.

“Where are you going?” She asked with the same unfriendly voice. I rolled my eyes and continued walking, not answering her question. I thought she wasn’t going to bother asking me the same question again but unfortunately, she did.She sounded irritated that I had to answer the question.

“I’m going to make some sort of a SOS.” I retorted.

“Come on. You’re One Direction. Maybe Simon Cowell already made all the coast guards from the entire world look for you.” She replied with a chuckle.