Later that day, my BFF Claire comes over. We complete the usual sleepover routine - manicures, braiding each other's hair and having pillow fights in our underwear - and decide to end the night with a healthy gossip session. Claire was just finishing a story about some girl at our school rumoured to be pregnant when I couldn't take it anymore.
"I saw Harry Styles today!" I blurt out frantically. Her eyes widen and her mouth drops, and I giggle manically at her shocked expression. She is a die-hard, cardboard-cutout-of-Louis-in-her-room One Direction fan, after all. "Where? What did he say? Why didn't you tell me before, you lucky bitch? Tell me everything!" Claire demands emphatically. I replay our encounter, from start to finish, which really didn't take that long considering we'd only spoken for about two minutes. Claire, however, seems to think our less-than-ten-word conversation was amazing, and sits across from me with a look of awe adorning her face. She squeezes my hands and lets out a squeal. "Eden, this is so great!" she exclaims enthusiastically. "Harry Styles totally wants you! But first, what about Derek?"
"Derek?" I gulp. What about him?" To be honest, I haven't given him a second thought since I saw him last, and I suddenly feel extremely guilty.
"Oh please, Eden, he's a 6, 7 at most," I roll my eyes at her haughty tone, but she continues, oblivious. "Harry Styles, on the other hand, phew! I would do him in a heartbeat if I didn't have Louis!" she emphasises her point by fanning herself and I can't help but laugh at her crudeness.
"You're deluded! There's no way he would be interested in me."
"We'll see," she replies with a wink.
***