Stranded

Chapter 26: 'Puzzled' Pieces

Lea’s POV

Weirdly, inhaling Liam’s manly scent comforted me, almost lulling me to sleep, but thanks to hearing the constant rhythmic throbs of his heart, it only made me fall into a trance. He held me in his arms and pressed me against his muscular chest, which I could undoubtedly feel underneath the thin material he calls his shirt, making me feel safe and secure. Both of us stood drenched with sweat but we both didn’t seem to mind.

To be honest, I think he sweats cologne….

I was about to thank him but I was interrupted by a faint clicking noise from the door. Judging from the sound, somebody just unlocked it. Liam and I turned to face the door at the very same time, only to find Niall and Liz staring at us with eyes and mouths wide open. 

“It isn’t what you’re thinking.” We both said at once as we not-so-gently pushed each other away, making our audience grin wider than ever.

“Really, it’s not what you think it is.” I added with a groan as I rolled my eyes. “Don’t go assuming things.”

“Who said we were assuming?” Niall chuckled, making his way towards us, or towards the food, rather. He took hold of the basket’s handle, smiling like crazy, looking at the heap of food gloriously, as if he had not eaten for centuries straight.

Rolling my eyes at him, I shifted my gaze to Liz and gave her an obvious ‘don’t-tell-anybody-about-what-you-saw-or-you’ll-be-dead’ look. I looked at Liam though my peripheral vision and saw him staring at Liz with a look I could not perceive. Does he like her?

Oh, gosh. Why do I even care? Absentmindedly, I rolled my eyes at myself.

Grabbing one bottle of water from one of the shelves, I walked out, ignoring the three, who were seemingly on a bantering fit. I headed outside and let the cool, soothing air linger on my sweaty skin and dry it, as well as my shirt, so as to appear a bit (just a tiny bit) more presentable.

The sun started setting. Hues of yellow, orange and pink blended wonderfully in the sky, luring me, making my worries about what just happened go away slightly. I just stood there, staring at the sunset, taking it all in.

Harry’s POV

Hanging out on the deck was the only thing I can do after doing my exhausting assigned task. My pastime is a bit boring, I know, but exhausted as I am, I don’t think I could do anything else anymore.

Sadly, my supposed ‘buddy’, Erin, left me. She went over to Zayn and Angel to help them gather firewood for our small bonfire dinner tonight. We were supposed to be accompanying each other, but like I said, I’m too tired even to lift a finger literally.

Lea stood a little farther beside me, still as the ocean waters, which was good, because hearing her talk is too terrifying even for me. I sighed, staring at Erin, who was busy picking up twigs and stray tree branches along with Zayn. From what I am witnessing, the two are having a little chitchat without acknowledging Angel’s presence. With that, I just couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

“Can you really manage? Angel and I can do this ourselves.” Zayn said, sounding very worried that I’m actually starting to jump into weird conclusions.

“I’m fine.” She lied, smiling to cover it all up. She obviously wasn’t, I could tell. She’s obviously not used to working THAT hard.

“Let me.” He took the bundle of firewood from Erin’s hand, smiling and just being his charming self. He put them down along with the others, clapped the dust off his hands and then ran his fingers through his perfectly quiffed hair.

And Zayn scores.

I let off a loud sigh unintentionally, grabbing Lea’s attention. She looked at me and then to where I was looking at and smirked. The feeling is so petrifying, really. I don’t want to be rude and just leave her so I stayed, trying to bear with her gigantic attitude.

I thought she would just stay there, smirking, but she suddenly faced me, taking me by surprise.

“So you like the Erin girl?” She asked, eyes gleaming.

I answered too fast. “No.”

“I see.” Her smirk grew wider as she watched  Zayn and Erin walk along the beach, stealing each other glances as Zayn told her lame jokes and cheesy pickup lines, which quite amused her. “Aren’t they so sweet? I think I can see ants from here.”

I glanced at her, partly grinning, and shrugged.

“Perhaps you are diabetic.” She added, nodding as she spoke. I avoided her intimidating gaze and shifted my eyes to Zayn and Erin again Through my peripheral vision, I saw Lea move towards me. Soon, I felt her hand pat my back continuously, as if she was comforting me, although she was mocking me in reality. “Yeah, maybe you are. That’s why you can’t stand too much sweetness. Especially theirs.”

Am I?

Maybe yes.

Maybe no.

I’ll settle with maybe. JUST maybe.

“I’m not jealous, if that’s what you are hinting.” I replied.

“But I didn’t say anything about you being jealous, love.” She retorted before leaving me, trying hard not to laugh. Rolling my eyes, I turned to the people I was spying on again.  As if on cue, Erin faced Zayn, tiptoed to reach his towering height and wiped his sweaty face with her own handkerchief. Zayn responded with a smile. A new feeling rose from the pits of my stomach all of a sudden, making me clench my fists surreptitiously. All of a sudden, my knuckles wanted to be in contact with one of my best buds’ face.

What am I feeling?

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I dreamt of the Zayn-Erin scene a long time ago so there. Hahaha. –Shelly Styles