Guarded

||five||

"Afternoon, Cass," Zayn says without looking up from his paper.

"Hey, Zayn," I reply, taking my seat next to him.

"Ms. Billoway?" The teacher calls on me.

"Yes, Mrs. Rose?"

"You will be switching lab partners. Niall is your new one, please take a seat next to him at his table."

What? I didn't even ask for a new lab partner.

That twit probably asked Mrs. Rose to switch lab partners and he requested me. Something tells me he always get what he wants.

Not wanting to get in trouble, I take my things and sit in the chair next to Niall.

"Hey, Cass," he smiles. "How are you this fine afternoon?"

"Well, it wasn't going that great, but then I got assigned as your new lab partner," I fake a cheesy smile. "And then it got ten times worse," I snap.

He stifles a light laugh. "C'mon, you know you love me."

"I do not," I state. "And don't just go throwing the 'L' word around so willy-nilly."

His smiles grows. "What kind of seventeen year old girl uses the word 'willy-nilly?'"

"I do," I pout.

"Okay, then," he bites his lip to hide a smile. "We should probably get working on this project, shouldn't we?"

"Yeah, I guess," I answer, taking out a pencil.

I can hear Niall giggling and whispering to himself. "Heh, the 'L' word. How cute."

-

"Cassidy!" Louis yells as he runs up to me. "Are you busy Friday night?"

A little taken aback, I reply, "I, uh, no. I'm actually completely free. Why?"

"Well, my girlfriend is coming to visit this weekend and I was wondering if you and Niall wanted to come on a double date, and you could meet her and-"

"Wait. Why Niall and I?" I cut him off.

"Well, because you know, aren't you guys like into each other?"

"Uh, no. Not at all. Louis, where are you getting your information?"

"But Niall said that-"

"Niall. I'm gonna kill that boy," I say in anger.

"No, no. Harry told me that Niall said that he really liked you and you made him feel really good inside and then Marie said that she thinks that you like him and that you guys should totally go out," Louis explains in a simple breath. And then with a confused look, he adds, "Then I guess Zayn whispered something about how he didn't think you were interested in Niall and you could do so much better. I don't know, Harry said he couldn't really hear him. He's always so quiet."

So, Niall does like me. But how could I trust Louis? It's all hearsay anyway.

"Okay, well, we are not dating. We're just friends," I make that clear. "But I'd love to come and meet your girlfriend." I smile warmly.

"Yay," he smiles. "But could you please bring someone as a plus one? I don't want you to feel awkward."

I roll my eyes. "Fine. I'll invite Niall. But he if tries anything, and I mean anything, I'm blaming you."

Louis holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright. I got it. Reservation is at six."

I narrow my eyes. "Good," I snap. "See you later."