Stuck in the Middle

Boys And Bathing Suits

So I just want to say thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has been reading my story and has actually liked it so far :) your feedback is what keeps me going. I've made a twitter page for my wattpad account called @SummerSetSparks (I was really surprised that the name was available too) so yeah if you haven't found this story from that account then you should go follow it :) that's all I think. Vote, comment and fan if you like it, please :)

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Chapter Four

When I left the house the next morning for work, Ryan was waiting by my car with a box of chocolates and a grin plastered on his face.  

Weird.  

I quickly walked over to him and thanked him. At least he was actually trying, although I wasn't sure how long it would last. I pecked him on the lips and was about to get in my car until he grabbed me and kissed me passionately, leaving me dumbfounded as he pulled away.  

"Woah, uh thanks Ry." I said awkwardly before getting in the car and driving to work. My head was spinning. I was supposed to enjoy that wasn't I? Yet it felt all wrong. I ignored my thoughts and turned on the radio.  

**** 

At work I would flinch at the slightest sound, hoping it was One Direction, coming to see me. It wasn't.  By the time my last break came around I was so disappointed that once again I headed towards the bar, ordering a coke, I didn't want to risk drinking alcohol at work.

Drinking most of the drink in one gulp, I checked my phone and saw multiple texts from Ryan. Typical. The one time I didn't want to see soppy texts from him I got heaps of them. I ignored his texts and finished my drink, laying my head on the bar in frustration. It wasn't working, I was losing all of my feelings towards him, but I didn't want to crush him while he was trying so hard. 

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I lifted my head up off the bar to once more be looking into the green eyes of Harry Styles. He slid into the seat next to me and rested his hand on my back, before asking "Demi, are you alright?" I considered it for a moment, was I alright? I was now that he was here with me but I couldn't exactly say that.  

"Yeah, just boyfriend troubles." I sighed. Should I have told him I had a boyfriend before? I doubt it would have made much difference, it's not like he could actually like me enough to care.  

"Oh," he paused. "Your, erm, boyfriend. What's he done? Has he hurt you?" He asked with genuine concern.  

"No, no, nothing like that." I assured him. "It's just, we've had some trouble in the past, I guess he's hurt me emotionally in the past, but he's really trying to fix it at the moment. I'm just not sure if I want it to be fixed.." 

"Wait, you want him to hurt you emotionally?" Harry asked with a look of horror on his face.  

"No! No way!" I backtracked, I definitely didn't phrase that right.  

"What I meant by that is that I'm not sure if I want to stay with him and see if it all works out." I swallowed, hoping he wouldn't ask why, because I was pretty sure he was part of the reason I didn't want to stay with Ryan. 

Out of the corner of my eye I saw him smile a tiny smile and then his face returned back to a concerned one.  

"You know Demi, I was stuck in one of those relationships before. I thought she was the only girl for me and each time we broke up, I couldn't stand it and had to have her back. But now that we're over I can see clearly that she wasn't the girl for me, I deserved better."  

I sighed a deep and heavy sigh.  

"I just don't know what to do Harry. He loves me and I know I loved him once. I don't want to break his heart." 

Harry reached across and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet.  

"Well then, think about it for a while, but not right now. Right now, you need to have some fun and take your mind off it." 

"But Harry, I'm working, and I can't have another late night or my mum will start asking questions." 

"Well then, I'll see what I can do. What time do you finish?" He asked as he dragged me along towards the reception desk.  

"Um, seven, listen Harry, I really don't think my boss would let me spend time with you at work, he's not very nice to me." I pleaded before he could embarrass himself. But he walked straight up to my boss and said politely, "Hi, I'm Harry Styles from One Direction. I was just wondering if you would kindly allow Demi to be... My sort of... Escort, for the evening?" 

My boss looked at me, a stunned expression on his face.  

After a long pause he said, "If you would really like that then I'm sure she would be happy to accompany you, wouldn't you Demi?" He was giving me another one of those 'Don't you dare stuff this up' looks, so I quickly said in a very polite manner, "Of course, as long as it's alright with you, boss." We then briskly walked away and I broke out into laughter as soon as we were out of earshot.  

Harry looked at me in confusion. "What's so funny?" He asked. He really didn't see it... 

"My boss, absolutely hates me! And you just made him stand there like a fish out of water. I had no idea you would have that effect on him!" I laughed again, but I was so relieved that I was allowed to spend time with Harry for the rest of the day. 

"I have that effect on a lot of people actually..." He said and he smiled shyly.  

"Anyway, do you have a, erm, bathing suit or anything with you?" He asked in the same shy manner. It just so happened that I did have a bikini in my locker, sometimes I liked to go for a quick swim after work.  

"Yeah I do actually, why's that?" I asked back, although I was pretty sure I already knew the answer.  

"Well, lets go for a swim then! I'll go and get the rest of the boys and you can go and get changed." He said and he practically ran to the elevator in excitement.

****

I looked at my reflection in the ceiling-to-floor full length mirror. I was dressed in my simple black bikini, my long hair almost reaching my stomach and my skin only slightly tanned from the summer sun. I looked at my bikini, it wasn't too revealing was it? I'd never looked close enough but now I was starting to worry about everything. My thighs looked huge. I was so pale. My feet were weird. 

Every single thing that I had ever had an insecurity about were rising to the surface, all at once. I was usually fine about my body. But it was One Direction! And I was only in a bikini. I wrapped a towel around my body and walked out to the pool.

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Okay so that's it for now, I'm about to go and try to surf for the first time in about three years :P but might do another chapter tonight if I'm up to it :) another reminder to vote and comment if you like the chapter and follow me if you want.

Just felt like putting a shirtless picture of Harry to the side. You know he'll be like that in the next chapter ;)