Again

Chapter 37.

Jamie wraps her arms around me in a rushed hug and a wave of deep horror wash over me as I feel her tiny arms tighten around me. I don't know why, but suddenly I feel a deep pang of guilt spread in the pit of my stomach as I realize that I just had lunch with her boyfriend, which she surely didn't know of, and that he might just left me here. I also come to realize that we not once talked about Jamie, that I not once asked how she's doing and how their relationship is going. That I might just have been so deep into the mess I feel like I have created myself that I just didn't care about anything other than some damn information.

My eyes almost automatically travel to the curly haired boy, whose face expression is a mix of anger and confusion. And Eve who’s clinging on his body like a Koala. Her fake fingernails run over his chest, up and down, but he doesn't seem to notice. I can see from the short distance that his pupils dilate as he eyes me up and down. I force myself to look away. So he wanted to meet up with me while being with his friends? While his arm his around her!?

I don't know how to feel about that. I don't know how to feel about anything. No, that's a lie. I feel irritated and desperate at the same time which results in annoyance, towards me, Harry and Eve.

"How are you?" I ask Jamie and try to look her into the eyes. Her blue hair is up in a bun and she's wearing lace shorts and a tight shirt. Which is a lot more than what's Eve wearing. Still, I'm amazed by how confident she's with her body. I cannot even wear tank tops without feeling naked and exposed.

"Great!" She exclaims and drags me along to the booth at the corner. Do they come here often? And did Andrew knew that they were coming today? Where is he anyways? "How about you? I haven't heard from you from so long! I was about to text you but somehow the number got deleted from my phone!"

"I am good," I answer, and try not to stare as Eve and Harry, who share a bench on the next booth, practically straddling his lap like I did in the car.. No, stop Mia! "I was actually about to go.."

"Ow, but you just came!" Zayn says and smirks at me. I didn't notice him and Louis who are sitting opposite from us. "Long time no see."

"Yeah," I say, the words stretched as it leaves my mouth. I look at Niall whose beaming at me as a waiter approaches our table. Everyone orders a beer except for me of course.

"Do you want a sip of mine?" Niall asks, and I am surprised to see no humor in his eyes. I shake my head, declining politely.

"So," Jamie begins. "Were you meeting someone here, or did you have lunch alone?"

I can feel Harry's gaze burn me as he listens our conversation. "Yeah, I was here with a friend of mine," I explain. "Do you use to come here often?"

"No, actually Harry dragged us here," Louis explains to my surprise.

"Hey Jam," Harry's voice straddles. "Where's Andrew?" I know that he knows that I met up with Andrew, and I sincerely hope he won't tell. I don't want them to know.

Now I look up, silently pleading with my eyes. His lips are stretched into a cocky smirk and my pleading stops instantly when I see the amusement in his eyes. He mostly either looks amused or angry all the time. And I don't know which one if worse.

Jam shrugs. "I don't know, he must be here any minute," she explains, sipping on her beer and looking at me. "We are having a party tonight. You want to come?"

Eve, who has been quiet the whole time, mostly because of her failed attempts to seduce Harry, is suddenly speaking up. "Yes, Miranda, you should come. If you change what you're wearing of course."

"Her name's Mia," Harry suddenly snaps and my eyes widen. Zayn turns to look at Harry and even Eve frowns at his sudden action. He doesn't seem to care, though, and for some reason his reaction makes my heart flutter.

Her eyes are cold and her voice full of venom. "Whatever."

"I... I don't think...“ I begin stuttering. This isn't how I imagined my afternoon to be at all. I should be with Finn right now, talking and hopefully beings Friends again. At the thought of Finn my stomachs hurts and I feel like running away. I don't want to be here when Andrew comes, I already feel like an idiot for letting him play me like this and just leave me here.

But at the same time I want to be here and even though I won't admit it, it's because of Harry. Because I am not strong enough to just leave, and even dumb enough to enjoy every bit of attention I get from him.

"Ow, come on," Louis pouts. "It would be so much fun to have you there."

So you have someone to laugh at? I ask myself. But I do not say it out loud. Instead I smile my sweetest smile and get up. Niall is probably the only one out of this group that it'd like the most. Even though I don't know him well, I can tell that he's no so unfriendly like the rest.

"Maybe next time?" I ask and Louis smiles at me. And I could swear that the color of his cheeks turn into a deeper red when I look at him one more time. As I gather my purse, I don't dare to look at Harry one more time. I know what I get from looking in his direction. I will only see Eve, who’s clinging on Harry like her lives depending on it, and Harry who has his arm around her.

So, I don't see him when I get up and suddenly collide with his hard chest. "I'll drive you," is all he says, demands. I can feel the stares of the group on my back as Harry takes my wrist in his hand and leads me outside.

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A/N.: Unedited. Please vote and comment if you liked it! ILY XO

And a happy new year!