Always You || Simon Minter (miniminter)

Chapter 19

Five weeks had passed in a blur. I had finally managed to sell my apartment in Manchester, and most of my belongings had already been moved to the Sidemen house. Standing in my empty apartment now, I ran my hand along the countertop one last time, savoring the memories while trying not to dwell too long on the past. The drive back to London loomed ahead of me, and a knot of nerves twisted in my stomach.

Over the past few weeks, communication with Simon had been minimal. I tried to message him, but his replies were either delayed or nonexistent. Even Jide seemed a little... off when I asked about him, insisting he was fine. Strange.

The phone rang, startling me.

"Heya," I answered, recognizing Jide's voice immediately. There was shuffling on the other end, and I hesitated.

"Jide?"

More shuffling. I was about to hang up when he laughed, finally speaking. "Millie! Hello—sorry, didn't realize the call went through."

I laughed softly. "It's okay. I'm just about to leave... wandering around my empty apartment, reminiscing a bit." Memories of good times and bad flickered through my mind. Mostly good, I decided, shaking off the rest.

"Drive safe, okay? We're having a little party for your return," he said, and I could hear his grin through the phone.

"Again? You guys never stop," I laughed, genuinely surprised none of the boys had liver failure yet. "I'll see you in a few hours. Bye!"

I gave the apartment one last glance, then slid into my car. My thumb hovered over my phone as I sent Simon a quick text.

To Simon
Hey, very excited to see you again! Just leaving Manchester now, should be in London in a few hours :)

⸻

Four hours later, I pulled into the treacherous driveway of the Sidemen house, my stomach fluttering nervously. Simon hadn't replied. I couldn't explain the swirl of emotions—anticipation, excitement, and a creeping worry about why he'd been distant. Maybe he didn't like me anymore. Maybe he'd moved on.

I stopped at Tesco along the way, picking up some bottles of beer as a 'I'm back' gift for the boys. Surely, that wouldn't hurt.

As I finally navigated through the parked cars and up the driveway, loud music thumped from inside the house. People were already drunk, and my nerves spiked, though I didn't know why. I hoisted my suitcase, dragging it inside, and was immediately met with stares—some curious, some amused—as if a stranger had barged into a party.

Then came the relief: Freezy and Harry spotted me and practically tackled me with a hug.

"Millie! You're back!" Harry's voice was loud enough to make my head spin. "It's been weird without you!"

Freezy laughed, offering me a sip of his drink, which I politely declined. "Can you find Jide for me? I want to take my stuff upstairs," I said, grinning at Harry. He nodded and dashed off.

Upstairs, my room looked... perfect. Jide had outdone himself. My bed pushed against the wall, my desk with PC and monitors ready, shelves adorned with my photos and plants. He could have a side hustle as an interior designer. I placed my suitcase on the bed and collapsed beside it. Exhaustion washed over me, but so did a longing to see Simon. What had been going on with him?

"Millie!"

I jumped and turned to see Jide standing at the door, arms wide open. Laughing, I walked toward him, letting him pull me into a tight hug and spin me around.

"I'm so happy you're back! Do you like your room?" He let me go, and we stood side by side, admiring his handiwork. It really was perfect.

After a quick change into a pale pink denim skirt, black silk blouse, and black boots, with minimal makeup to refresh my look after the long drive, I headed downstairs.

Freya and Sarah spotted me first, rushing over to hug me. "We've missed you, girl!" Freya exclaimed, leaving a sloppy kiss on my cheek.

"Have you spoken to Simon yet?" Sarah asked, a hint of worry in her tone. I shook my head. "No. But I'm excited to see him," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. They both smiled knowingly. Only they knew about Simon and me.

I excused myself to the kitchen, weaving past groups of drunk guests. The Sidemen kitchen, as always, was stocked to the brim with alcohol. I poured a drink, vodka with cranberry juice, and decided to join Ethan, Jide, and Tobi outside, where they were being their usual ridiculous selves.

"Millie! Welcome back!" Tobi greeted me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. Ethan's grin was wide enough to lift my mood instantly.

"It's really good to be back. I missed everyone," I said, glancing around the garden. Some people I didn't know were scattered around, smoking or laughing. Jide, Ethan, and Tobi soon got lost in conversation, giving me a chance to do what I'd been thinking about all afternoon: find Simon.

"I'm going to go find Simon, guys. I'll catch up with you in a bit," I said, waving before slipping back inside. I moved quietly up the spiral staircase, careful not to stumble on cups or brush past any of the drunken guests.

When I reached the top, a wave of nervousness hit me. My heart raced, my palms were sweaty. Why was I so scared? Should I even be?

I knocked gently on Simon's door.

"Simon?"

The door opened, and my breath caught in my throat. Not Simon. A girl stood there—slightly taller than me, fair skin, dark brown hair and brown eyes. She smiled politely down at me.

My mouth went dry, words failing me. "Is... uh... Simon—"

And then I heard it.

"Millie!"