MISSING YOU; Bradley Simpson

11.

EVELYN

After a few tequilas, I find myself and James dancing to the loud music. The club is packed with people and at first, I didn't think I would have fun, because I hate crowds.

James and I jump up and down to the music, screaming the lyrics.

"I'm gonna get more drinks," I stop, looking at James. I don't wait for his answer, I turn on my heels and attempt to walk away, but a hand grabs my wrist and turns me around. I'm taken aback when James presses his lips to mine and I immediately pull away.

"What the hell was that?" I scream.

"I'm–" I can tell he's just as surprised by his own actions as I am. "I don't know, I'm sorry."

"Oh my God," I burry my face in my palms. "Let's get out of here," I nod my head towards the door. James agrees with me, nodding and following me outside.

"Please don't tell Kirstie," he looks at me with pleading eyes.

"I won't," I sigh, shaking my head as I call a cab. James looks at me thankfully as I tell the driver the club's name.

I knew this was a bad idea. The others always told me James had a thing for me back then, when Kirstie, James and Brad weren't around, but I didn't believe them. Now I know they told the truth, I just don't know why James is doing this. He has a long-term girlfriend, who is my best friend, too. He can't just kiss me like that.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when the cab pulls up in front of us. We both sit in the backseat and I tell the driver my hotel's name. I look out the window, too embarrassed to even glance at James. I play with my hands in my lap nervously. This silence between us is too uncomfortable and awkward for me to bare, I'm counting down the seconds until we're in front of my hotel.

After a few minutes of uncomfortable, awkward silence, I finally arrive at my destination. I pay the driver and say goodbye to James as I climb out of the car and hurry inside the hotel's lobby. I walk into the elevator and let out a sigh of relief. I push the button to my room's floor and lean against the cold metal walls, closing my eyes. All I can see is James kissing me. I quickly open my eyes and hurry back to my room, finding someone inside. My heart starts beating faster as I switch on the lights. A breath of relief leaves my mouth as I see Brad sitting on my bed.

"How'd you get in here?" I ask, taking off my jacket.

"A worker let me in," he stands up.

"What do you want?" I walk past him and sit on the couch, taking off my heels.

"Let me explain. Please," he looks at me with pleading eyes.

"There's nothing to explain. You cheated on me," I shake my head, glaring up at him.

"I know, but... It didn't mean anything to me. The boys and I were clubbing and I got drunk and–" I interrupt him before I can hear the rest of his pathetic excuses.

"I don't care," I stand up.

"Please, Evelyn."

"I said I don't care. Now leave, I need to sleep," I slowly start taking off my dress. There's too much alcohol in my system to wait until Brad disappears and then start changing into my pajamas.

As Brad leaves, I start to feel the emptiness again that I always felt after we broke up. I take a deep breath and stand up, slipping on sneakers and running towards the elevator. It's open, which means Brad is already outside the hotel. I push the bottom floor's button a few times, hoping the lift would start moving faster. I tap my foot on the metal floor as I look at the screen that tells me on which floor I am. When I finally reach the hotel's bottom floor, I run outside, finding Brad walking slowly away in the rain. Why is it raining every time we break up?

"Brad!" I shout his name, but it's useless. He doesn't hear me. I start running, not caring that I'm in pajama shorts and an oversized hoodie I stole from him, not caring that my hair is starting to get wet, not caring that my makeup, which I hadn't taken off yet, is running down my face. All I want to do is fix things with Brad, even though he hurt me. I'm not doing this for only myself, but for my daughter. I want her to grow up with her father around.

"Brad, wait!" I say out of breath, stopping on the corner of the street. Brad turns around slowly, looking at me in disbelief.

"Evelyn?" he asks like I'm not real.

"Don't go," I shake my head, still out of breath.

"But you just told me–" he starts, but I cut him off.

"Would you do anything I tell you?" I ask him before pressing my lips against his.

It clearly takes him by surprise, but Brad eventually kisses back and wraps his arms around my waist. Mine snake around his neck, my fingers running through his wet curls. Never thought I'd forgive him one more mistake, but I couldn't let him go. Not this time.

"What happened? I thought you hated me," Brad pulls away.

"I'm not going to give up on us again," I shake my head. Brad pulls me into a hug, letting out a sigh of relief.

Maybe this is a mistake, but it's worth one more time. Everyone knows how happy we are next to each other, why let it go by a drunken mistake?

"Let's go back to my room," I nod my head towards the hotel when we pull away from our embrace.

Brad nods and I take his hand in mine, leading him back towards the hotel. We walk slowly, not caring about the rain as we talk about our plans for tomorrow.

"I can get you a VIP ticket, if you want," Brad suggests, talking about their concert tomorrow night. By that time, I will be done with the meet&greet and I agreed to go to his and the boys' concert.

"That would be great," I open the door to the hotel and walk ahead, still not letting go of Brad's hand. A few people look at us with weird expressions, but I don't care.

We get into the elevator and I press the button to my floor. I lean against the cold metal wall, closing my eyes. When the elevator dings, we both walk out and I open the door to my room.

"Can I take a shower?" Brad asks, taking off his shoes.

"Yes," I nod with a smile. I take off my sneakers as well and look for something I could wear to sleep, while Brad walks into the bathroom.

"Eve?" I hear his voice calling my name on the other side of the bathroom door.

"Yeah?" I ask, rummaging through my suitcase.

"Wanna join?" he peaks his hesd through the door. I look up with wide eyes. We've showered together a few times, but that was two years ago.

"Um... sure," I mumble, standing up straight. Brad shoots me a small smile and lets me walk inside. I take off my clothes along with my underwear and get into the shower with Brad.

He starts the water, putting it on hot, even though he hates it, but I love it like that. I wet my hair and body, leaning my head against Brad's chest as the hot water runs down my back. Brad tells me to turn around and I do so, feeling him put shampoo into my hair after pushing me out from under the water. I close my eyes, letting him wash my body, then doing the same favor to him.