Same Eternal Pattern

CHAPTER 7

The night with Zayn was so much fun. I've discovered that Zayn is a whole different person when it's only the two of us, Zayn couldn't stop talking and joking about everything. We played video-games, which he definitely crashed me at. We stuff ourselves on pizza and beers. And we got to know each other more. He told me about his sisters and hobbies, and I told him about mine. At some point of the night, I realized we were so comfortable that we were behaving like we knew each other for years. After having dinner, I dared him to show me his drawings and after minutes of insisting, he finally acceded. And holly shit, he was talented as fuck. I couldn't even draw a stick-man properly.

I left his house around two a.m. even though, he offered me to spend the night in his house, but I already had plans for the next morning. So here I am, shopping with Gemma and following her everywhere she goes. I don't know why I agreed to this.

Every piece of clothes she takes, she shows it to me to give her my opinion, and to be honest, women clothes were amazing. They were so much colourful and alive. Gemma tries a flowery scarf on, it looks good. I would totally wear that. I nod approving her look. She looks at the mirror and her nose twitches not liking what she sees. She leaves the scarf where it was hanging but keep with my attention on it. Gemma keeps walking but stops when she realizes that I'm not following her.

-Harry. – She calls.

-Hold on. – I take the scarf and I try it on. I turn around for her to see me.

She approaches nodding.

-It looks better on you.

-Does it? -I look at myself in the mirror and I like what I see.

-Yeah. You should buy it.

-I think I will. – Clothes are clothes, anyway.

We go from a store to another and we only stop to buy two hot coffees, and I insist that I need more sugar than that, and she treats me with a croissant, which that makes me endure for more time of shopping.

She keeps looking for clothes, and I keep following her till my phone rings, mixing its noise with all the chattering of the people in the shop.

Louis. I see his name popping up in my phone's screen and my steps stop. Standing still, I start becoming aware of myself. I feel my tongue thick in my mouth and a weird twitch starts up on my cheek. This change on me goes unnoticed by Gemma who is busy trying on a fluffy red coat. I turn around for her not to see my face when I accept his call.

-Hello? - I greet.

-Hi, Harry! - His voice sounds cheerful and the way he pronounces my name makes my stomach jolt. -All good?

-Yeah. - I answer quickly. -Why? Something happened?

-No, no. I just wanted to know if you were alright, that's all. - He says calming me.

I know that I'm smiling like a fool right now. Thank god, Gemma couldn't see me.

-I'm fine. I'm shopping with my sister.

-Are you? I hate shopping. Did you get anything for yourself?

-I did, indeed. A pretty cool scarf.

-Cool. – His voice sounds smooth and I can visualize him smiling. – Listen, I was calling you because I've been speaking with Niall, and he came up with the idea that maybe we should go on a trip the five of us to smooth things over between Liam and Zayn. Or maybe they end up killing each other, who knows? -A chuckle sounds on the other side of the line. - But I thought it was worthy the attempt. Would you be up to the trip?

I would have to get my rucksack ready, but I think Niall was right, we needed to solve this situation and a trip together would finish the problem. Although Louis could be right too, too much time together could be fatal. Anyways, too much time for Liam and Zayn together meant too much time for me and Louis, and I liked that idea.

-Totally. What did you have in mind? Camping could be fun.

-Yes, something like that.

-I'm down. – A touch on my shoulder makes me turn around and Gemma is articulating his lips exaggeratedly trying to ask me how she looked. Now she's wearing a different coat from the last one I saw her trying on earlier. I nod and I give her thumbs up. She studies my face, and she frowns. Again, she moves his lips and I kind of get what she's trying to say, "who are you talking to?".

I roll my eyes trying to refocus on my conversation with Louis and I wave a hand in front of her trying to dismiss what she's saying, but she doesn't buy it.

-I can get some tents, if you could also get one it would be helpful or...- Louis pauses. -I can share my tent with you. -I don't have time to hide my reaction and my eyes wide at his words. I wasn't expecting that proposal. Gemma, at my reaction, gets closer to me and I take a step back trying to keep some distance between the two of us for her not to listen to our conversation. Shit. What do I say now?

-I think I have one tent in my mom's house, but thanks for the offer. -Shit. Shit. Shit. The mere thought of me and Louis sharing a tent, laying on the ground in such a small place, together and so close, wakes up my inners. I take a deep breath. An another.

-Perfect then. I'm going to call now Liam and Zayn. Let's see if they agree. They are the lab rats in this experiment after all. -That make us laugh both. -I'll create a group chat and we'll decide all the details over there.

-Sounds good.

-Ok. -Nothing is heard in the other line for some seconds and I turn the phone to see if he had already hung up. -Harry? – There he is again.

-Yeah?

-I'm looking forward to seeing you wearing your new scarf. -And just like that I'm blushing. And Gemma notices. A great grin appears on her face. No, no, no. Hide it away, Harry.

I chuckle to try to recover from his words.

-Ok, bye. -Ok, bye? Really? But what else could I say? "I'm looking forward to seeing just you", or even better, "I'm looking forward to seeing you wearing no clothes at all?".

-Bye. -Before Louis hangs up the phone, I'm already regretting how I ended the conversation.

I don't have time to dig a hole and hide in it because as I put my phone back in my pocket, Gemma jumps at me and shouts.

-WHO WAS THAT? -I look at her as if she just lost his mind.

-Nobody. -I play dumb.

-Rubbish, you got all red. Oh my god, I haven't seen you like this in ages!

-I didn't get red. -I mean, I totally did, in fact I'd bet I'm still redden.

-You utterly did. Are you going to tell me who were you talking to?

-It was just a friend.

-A special friend?

I wish.

-No, just a friend. -That seems to disappoint her. No more than me, sister.

-Are you going to buy something, or we can leave? -I need to change the subject.

-Yeah, I'm going to take this coat. - She spins for me to see the coat she was wearing. It suits her.

-Alright, then go, and buy it.

-OK, but just one more question. -She looks at me pouting her lips and I give in to her insistence.

-What's his name? -She smiles mischievously.

I roll my eyes at her and I look at the ceiling exasperated.

-Go and buy the bloody coat!