Just Love

A loud, piercing shriek rang out in the two-storey villa. 

‘Ouch, Éponine! Our ears are sensitive you know,’ Nick winced, plugging his fingers in his ears.  He was sitting on an armchair, looking out of place in his polo shirt and denim jeans against the harsh white colours of the furniture.  Throwing him a quick, apologetic look I pelted into the living room – catching sight of two unmistakeable blonde heads peeking out from the futon - ignoring the pained looks on everyone’s faces (including Tita’s and Louis’s) as they recovered from the sudden increase in volume.  

I glimpsed the plastered smiles on Taylor and Harry’s faces as I rushed over to the other two people that had been missing from my life for two years.  Zayn raised an eyebrow at all of this as he glided out of the room, dialing the number to the pizza place.  I squealed, running up to the six foot American-Swedish teenager who had a massive growth spurt the last time I had seen him.

‘Paul Kevun Jonas – is that you?! You’re so tall,’ I gawked; putting my hands over his face and shoulders just to make sure that this was the right boy that I had known since my first years in junior high or secondary – which was what, five years ago? He bizarrely raised his eyebrow, expecting a rather normal welcome.  Nevertheless, he smiled as I gave him a friendly punch on the arm. 

I spun on my heel, hands on my hips as I rushed over to the golden boy that I had first met in two basketball matches four years ago.  ‘And honestly, Joe Jonas would it kill you to send an e-mail or post something on my Facebook wall?’ I rebelliously demanded the same time he gave me a sheepish grin as I gave him an awkward yet friendly hug.  Maddi had suggested it would be nice to all hang out outside in the garden and catch up with each other.  Micah and Liam hadn’t arrived yet but Maddi informed everyone that they would be here soon.  The sun was starting to set low over the horizon, the hues of pink and purple stretching across the sky.  The temperature was starting to decrease as a soft gust of wind shook the leaves of the trees and the long blades of grass.  Everyone agreed except Harry and Taylor, who insisted that they had to help Zayn with ordering the pizza.

‘We’ll be fine,' Taylor assured, putting his hands on Maddi’s waist. 

‘Are you sure? I mean, I feel guilty…’ I said to Harry, laying my head on his chest and hearing his heartbeat. 

‘I’ll see you at dinner,' Taylor said, tickling Maddi’s neck with the tip of his nose.  She looked at Taylor’s face to see him darting glances at every direction, it was almost like he wanted to get rid of her.  She burrowed her face in his neck, hoping that she was just making it up as she inhaled the aftershave he usually put on.

‘I’ll make it up you, I promise,’ I whispered into Harry’s ear as he sauntered out of the living room.  ‘And don’t order Hawaiian!’ 

‘Dude, I have a bad feeling about this.’ Taylor led Harry away from the stairs and into the lounge.  ‘I’m worried about losing the girls.  Since they haven’t seen each other in ages,’ Taylor said. ‘Not to mention they were best friends that basically hung around with each other – a lot.’

He remembered Maddi telling him how she had always dreamed of getting back with “certain individuals," but that was before they got together.  Now he knew that Maddi was finally happy, but why was he still suspicious about her friendship connecting again with the three guys? It could have been the overly-protectiveness kicking in, but it didn’t seem like that now.  Taylor tried to shrug it off – Maddi would never have an affair behind his back, she was too good for that.  He felt guilty for having the benefit of the doubt, but boyfriends had a right for worrying about losing their girlfriends.  He all seemed so confused about this now; he didn’t know what to do anymore. 

‘Relax, they’re just old friends catching up with each other,’ Harry responded, taking a seat on the chair.  He had a feeling that Taylor wasn’t going to let this go.  Harry was right. 

‘I’m not sure if catching up with each other meant climbing over your ex-best-friend-who-happens-to-be-a-guy in order to get an apple,’ Taylor said, pointing at the window they were facing.  Harry looked at the scene in front of him to find Éponine climbing over Kevin as she wrestled with him for her apple – obvious amusement written out on her face.  Kevin’s arms were pinning her down onto him so she was left floundering as she tried releasing his grip on her back.