Tangerine

Chapter 41

Soundtrack: AC/DC - Have a Drink On Me

Dedication: christie (@christi3rob3rts) so you're really rad because you and your friend actually read tangerine out loud on a coach trip with your school and if that's not the coolest thing ever then i don't know what is, thanks for sticking with me x

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The boys have left me.

Well, they've left the country but they do have a world of people to meet. My band and I are still in England, focusing on promotional events. We have one last rehearsal tomorrow before we meet up with the rest of the crew in Florida this week and I can't wait to get started. I'm a little nervous about travelling overseas for the first time but anything with the three rowdy lads in my band is an adventure.

Naomi has come over for the night, as we won't be able to see each other for the next month or two. I'm torn over it ‒ having made such a close friend so suddenly and having her taken away just as quick ‒ but I know she'll be over to visit on Niall's watch sooner than I expect it.

I'm sure of that, at least.

"You're doing it again," Naomi's voice fades into my thoughts.

"I'm reading," I tell her, yet my eyes stay fixed on the screen of my phone.

"What are you reading?"

"Literature."

Naomi chuckles impulsively, "Reading texts from snobby boys in bands is not literature."

"Louis is not snobby," my vision shoots up from my phone to gaze at her.

"Thought I'd crack you," the girl smirks, tugging on a single strand of her short, pink hair. "You're seeing him in a couple days, you know."

"I know," I shrug, calmly going back to my phone. "It just- I still feel a little unsure of what's happened. I just like knowing we're okay. And this is proof." I raise my screen to her.

"Yeah, what did he say about the...? Wait-" she takes my phone in her hand and scrolls through Louis' and my messages. "Yeah, here. It's not like we can take a walk on the beach or anything. But building sandcastles in hotel rooms is fun too. With that little happy face. He's basically asking you on a date."

"He's so cute," I can't help but gush.

"Friends," Naomi voices. "Mhmm."

I release a long sigh with a smile on my face the entire time, "I know."

"Stop smiling!" Naomi laughs, handing my phone back to me. "I feel bad for him."

"It's your wine!" I throw my head back. "It's making me giggly."

"It is a giggly wine, isn't it?" she smirks at me, taking a sip.

"Yeah-" I chuckle absent-mindedly. "Wait, why do you feel bad for Louis?"

"'Cause you're leading him on a little with Harry and whatever."

"You know I'm into Louis more..." I internally frown, yet my expression stays calm.

"I don't know that, actually," Naomi shrugs, downing a bit of the deep red liquid in her glass.

"I do," I tell her, watching her without letting my attention stray anywhere else. "And why are you saying I'm leading him on? You're the one who suggested we should be friends in the first place."

"I know. And I still agree with it," Naomi reasons, "but there's that unspoken promise that you'll get back together eventually."

"We were never together."