All the Boys

4. Wild Animals

            I didn't bother asking Louis more questions. I was already a bit out of sorts from his last response. I interest him? Absolute rubbish. The rest of the ride was quiet and full of Louis and Harry exchanging glares, Harry's arm stayed around my shoulder. We finally reached the Leicester stop and I stood, Louis not moving.

            "See you around," He whispered before moving out of the way. I scurried off the train and up the stairs, praying they wouldn't follow me to the Café we were eating at. I briskly ran down the road to the Café Rouge, where Nina and Pavarti were waiting.

            "Where've you been?" Nina asked, "We were worried."

            "You wouldn't believe it," I sighed, pulling them inside.

            +

            "Interest him? Sounds like a wolf to me," Nina said, pushing an olive around her plate.

            "Wolf?" Pavarti scoffed, "I bet he's a right cougar, he is."

            "That's gross, Pav," I muttered, "He's a creep! I can't say the rest of them are. Zayn didn't talk much, and nor did Liam. Niall's a cocky prick, but he's not awful. Harry's been the one who talked most, and he's been a bit nice, but they sell drugs. I mean, I suppose I can't judge them solely on the fact that they sell drugs, but they can't be good company when it comes to that."

            "Drugs are bad, for god's sakes, Charlie!" Nina exclaimed, stabbing the last olive.

           "No they aren't. People who make bad choices aren't always bad people," Pavarti defended, waving her spoon around, droplets of french onion soup landing all over the table.

            "Yeah, I mean, look at Pav. She's got a boy for every day of the week, and she's a gem," I explained. Pavarti kicked me under the table as I laughed, Nina stifling a chuckle as she finished her meal.

            "I absolutely hate it. Why couldn't this happen to someone else?" I sighed, "I've got so much to do, and I don't need a group of dealers in the way. I've got to keep a job six days a week, drive my brother places-"

            "-And dealers are pretty dangerous! Those are rich people, Charlie! Rich, powerful people," Nina warned, "I say stay clear of them, move to Scandinavia, change your name to Gertrude and-"

            "I say keep them. Having power like that could help. And if they're rich, you can stop working," Pavarti suggested, sipping her water, "And they're cute, so it's just a double win."

            "Pav, Charlie's not dumb enough to believe that," Nina said harshly, "Right Charlie?"

            "They're a right lot of trouble," I sighed. The waiter came across the room and set down a tray of cakes on the table along with our check. Nina furrowed her brow and looked to the waiter, who looked horrendously unamused with the fact that she was going to speak to him.

            "I'm sorry," Nina said, "But we didn't order-"

            "Table seven insisted we give you a dessert on the house," sighed the waiter, as though it pained him. As he sulked away, I scanned the room, wondering who was at table seven. I wasn't surprised when I caught sight of three unfortunately familiar faces. Louis winked as he hid his face behind menu, while Niall and Harry gave me agonizingly apologetic looks. I pressed my hand to my face and sighed, which only made Louis smile wider.