The Space Between Us | L.S

You Get What You Give

Celine unfortunately couldn't make it; being an adult with a family and all. So, Will, Jonas, Sam and I stumbled out of our second bar of the night. A numbness creeps into my brain the way it did when I was a kid drinking too much slurpee too fast.

"Fuck." Will said as he lightly tripped down the path. He raised his left foot up to show the heel of his loafers partially decapitated off the leather sole. "Oh no." He whined.

"Willy and I will catch up!" I screeched up to the others, as I bent down to look at the damage.

"It's no use, they're goners." He sighed

"Jump on." I suggested

"I'm too tall."

"No you aren't, jump on." He finally obliged, and I suddenly felt his entire weight on my back. I stumbled forward half a step, laughing. After a few wobbly steps, I got the rhythm of walking with thirteen stones on my back I walked towards the bar that had a sea of people walking in and out of it. I evaluated the mass, taking note of familiar faces from my classes and the strangers who I have probably passed in the street or waiting at the bus stop with. My eyes fell on a woman who looked sort of like me, I mean the version of myself before I had a mental breakdown and dyed my hair. She was on the outskirts of her friends, in the circle but slightly pushed back. She was laughing along with her group but not offering any help in aiding the conversation along. She looked like she was having a great time, the smile on her face pushing her chubby cheeks up to her eye bags. Was she really happy though? As we got closer to her, my concentration was broken by the swarm of voices that were becoming louder. I peeked up at Willy who was also observing the crowd. "Giddy up." He slurred out, catching my eye. I burst into laughter, slinking my head down looking back at the crowd. The laugh caught in my throat harshly, I swallowed it down as my jaw slightly dropped.

Making his way to the crowd was Louis.

"Bloody hell." I mumbled under my breath.

"What?" Will surprisingly heard me.

"U-uh nothing." I said picking up my step. "Excuse me." I pushed past people, feeling awkward with the tall man still resting against my back.

"There you are!" Jonas emerged from the entrance. "What the hell are you lot doing?" He chuckled, smacking Will's extended leg slightly.

"Me shoe broke." Will exclaimed laughing, jumping off my back. With my new found freedom, I grasped onto Jonas' jacket and pulled him towards me somewhat.

"Louis is here." I whispered.

"What?" he asked confused looking up to analyze the crowd; before his mouth popped into an 'O' and he looked back down at me. "Yep, you are right about that. Do you want to leave?"

I weighed my options; if I left I would more than likely bump into their group in my escape and on the other end if I did not leave I would probably bump into him in the bar. No, no more running.

"Nope, let's get inside." I broke my golden rule and looked back, just in time to catch Liam's eye. We stared at each other only for a split second, and I turned away just as he was smacking Louis' chest and pointing in my direction.

As the night went on, the pub became more packed and humid. Our group was crowded in a corner, sipping drinks, dancing in our spots and shouting over the music at one another. No matter how many drinks I had, the looming presence of being in the same room as Louis was sobering me up quickly.

"I'm just going to get some fresh air." I yelled into Jonas' ear, jutting my thumb towards the side door. I rushed through the bodies of party-goers, exhaling as my hands hit the silver handle of the door. I staggered into the alley, finding my way to the brick wall of the neighboring building. Leaning my head back in a soft thud, my scalp touches the hard exterior and I let out a loud breath. Of fucking course he would be here.