to love and be loved

five

five

"Wait, which psychologist conducted the 'Little Emotional Albert' study?" Bryn asked, frantically trying to fill her hand with notes written in black ink.

"John. B Watson. Did you even do the notes?"

"There's not bloody way I'm going to pass this exam."

"You're the one who cancelled on our study date yesterday," I teased, "Too preoccupied with that cheeky boy of yours, eh?"

Her cheeks were invaded with a bright pink color, "We laid in the park watching clouds talking about music yesterday, he's perfect."

"And he's the reason you aren't going to pass this class." I added, giggling a bit.

"I'll survive, my mum won't even be disappointed this time, I think she just expects it now." Bryn laughed, before cutting it off short, "Um, is that who I think it is?"

Looking up in the direction her eyes were pointed at, my eyes were greeted with the sight of Liam saying something probably remotely sarcastic and humorous and Sophia over exaggerating her laugh, punching her arm a little. After the small hit to his upper arm, her hand wrapped around his bicep, squeezing it, before giggling some more.

"I knew he was into sluts." I practically choked.

"Don't be ridiculous, he's into you."

As we walked towards to two fondling over each other, Liam's eyes darted up to us.

"Mary! Hi!" Liam tore his arm from Sophia's grasp, walking towards us.

"Well hi to you too." Bryn rolled her eyes.

"Hi girls!" Sophia waved, but her gesture went unacknowledged.

"Where are you two off to this morning?" Liam smiled.

"Psychology, exam day, and I cannot be tardy again. So I'll just leave you two to it." I gave a small wave, just barely flicking my fingers, and pushing past the two brunettes.

"That was weird." Bryn laughed, "and I'm holding to what I said earlier, he's into you."

***

"I was actually just raped by a test." Bryn shook her head in disappointment, "I need a cup of tea."

"Well let's run over to Sally's Tea Shoppe before literature." I smiled, grabbing my small bag from the desk chair.

"Where is Zoe? I haven't seen her since we Saturday night." Bryn asked, curiosity underlying in her words.

"She was actually out with a boy on Saturday and she never came back to the flat. She rang me this morning and said she would probably be late for literature. Mr. Hopkins is going to murder the poor thing."

"New boy?" Bryn's eyebrow raised.

"I can't tell you, because you're gonna run your mouth to Harold."

"No! I won't! Tell me!" Bryn whined, pulling at my sweater sleeve.

"It's Edward." The name didn't phase her, "Edward Styles."

"Wait, what? Isn't he a bad boy? That's not like Zoe at all."

"I don't know, just imagine Harry all sexed up with piercings and tattoos and such. It's quite the sight and quite hard to resist. Instant pantie dropper."

"Does Harry know?"

"I don't know, probably not." I shrugged, "But don't tell him."

"Why would I tell him?"

"Because I know you and I know you say what you're thinking so it might just come popping out."

She opened her mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Edward and Zoe walking, hand in hand, into the small shop doors.

"Oh, hey guys." Zoe smiled, immediately letting go of Edwards hand, but he gave her a strange look and intertwined his fingers with hers again.

"Nice to know you're alive." Bryn smiled.

"Yeah, sorry I didn't come home last night, Edward and I drove to the coast, and watched the sunset from the beach."

"How romantic.." Bryn rolled her eyes.

"It was actually, better than your first date with Harry." Edward smirked at Bryn.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh come on, I bet he took you to get breakfast at that cafe over by the London Eye, told a bunch of corny jokes that you giggled at not because they were funny, but because you are too in love with the bastard to tell him he isn't actually funny. And then I'm guessing he has either talked to you about books or music because that's all he knows about so once he runs out of things to say about that, good luck with him." Edward scoffed, his tongue flicked his lip ring.

"You know nothing." Bryn retorted, even though everything Edward said was almost true.

"I know everything, he's my little brother. I know exactly how the lad thinks." Edward gave Bryn a sarcastic smile, then took a swig of his tea.

"I can see why Harry doesn't like you, you're rude." Bryn gave him a small glare, but that only made him laugh.

"Harry doesn't like me because all his little girlfriends come running to me. because everyone needs a little danger in their lives." He winked, before turning to look at Zoe, "I have to run babe, gotta gas up the bike and such, I'll see you later."

He pecked her cheek before disappearing from our sight.

"Zoe, have you gone mad? Hanging out with him is an awful idea, Harry hates his older brother." Bryn glared at her.

"Harry doesn't own me, and I happen to really enjoy Edward's company. He's mature and sophisticated and his entire outlook on life is so perfect."

"He's covered in tattoos, your mother will never approve."

"My mother will have to get over it." Zoe smiled at Bryn, "I can't be late for class again, so I'll save you guys seats."

Not long after Zoe leaves, Bryn and I are on our way to literature as well.

"I cannot believe Edward said that to me." Bryn said, annoyed.

"Who cares what he thinks, it doesn't matter."

"It's just rude, and really out of line. Completely unnecessary." She sighed, obviously upset about Edward being right.

"Girls! Hey! Wait up!" Niall's blonde hair bolted across the grassy field and over to us, "Walk with me t class?"

"Of course." Bryn and I spoke in unison.

"Oh, and Mary, you should come over later." Niall shrugged, out of the blue.

"Um, okay, why?" I hesitantly asked.

"Because Liam doesn't stop talking about you, I mean he didn't talk about you when Sophia was there, but when she left, you were the only subject for about two hours." He shrugged again.

"How will me being there help that?"

"If you're there, he can't talk about you and I don't have to listen to him so it's a win win situation, he gets to hang out with you, and I get some peace and quiet for an hour or so."

"How does that help me in any way?"

"Because you're into him, duh? Thought that was obvious."