The Challenge

52

"Georgia, I've been so bored. Thank God you're home. Let's go. I'm hungry." Tina proclaimed once I unlocked my flat. I wasn't even hungry but we had lunch plans with Juliette in an hour.

"Okay, okay, let's go."

"How was your romantic evening with your lover?" She asked as we closed up everything in the flat and left the place for a few days after Tina declared love for everything in my flat.

"It was nice. Um.. he had a complete winter wonderland set up with fake snow and trees and it was just amazing. I kind of also told him I was going to take the job!" I exclaimed once we got settled in the car.

"Oh, Gee. That's amazing! I have to tell mum about switching my classes. I kind of already figured you would say yes so I went ahead and transferred to the London campus," she said sheepishly.

"Tina!" I admonished but couldn't help but smile. I pulled out of the parking spot and we headed towards east London where we were meeting Juliette.

"Whatever. I'm excited. And I get to live in your flat and work at the shop and spend time with Gemma. It's going to be so much fun."

"Wait, Tina, Suffolk doesn't offer classes in London, do they?" I asked. My sister went to Uni in Brighton.

"Uh, no. I kind of dropped out and enrolled in UCL Fashion classes. After working with you these last two weeks, I decided I want to do fashion. Fuck teaching. Plus, Gem knew the admission guy and got him to push my application in fast so I already got accepted."

I rolled my eyes behind my sunglasses. "Tina! Mum is going to blame this all on me!"

"I know. Sorry, not sorry," she laughed.

We pulled up in front of the restaurant and went inside to meet Juliette. I figured I would deal with Tina and my mum later that afternoon.

"Gee! Tina!" Juliette exclaimed when she met up with us. She had her arms loaded with bags and tossed them into the booth of the American diner she had chosen for our lunch date.

"How are things?" She asked once we sat down. Tina wasted no time telling her how I was going to be on Harry with tour and how she was taking over for me at the shop with Gemma and taking classes in London and would be living in my flat.

"Wow, look at you girlfriend," she exclaimed. We ordered our food, I just ordered soup and Juliette glanced me over.

"Touring with Harry? I see you made your decision then? Are you happy?" She asked.

I nodded. "Very. It's new and it's fun and it's exciting."

"They call that the honeymoon phase, don't get too comfortable," she commented, sipping her diet coke.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Oh, Gee, you were supposed to have the upper hand in this situation, you gave Harry all the power when you relented to him. I told you this before when I convinced you to make them both work to get you and that was what, two weeks ago?"

"You what?" Tina asked.

I glanced over at her and she gave me a dirty look.

"Nothing," I said.

Juliette pursed her lips. "Georgia, I just don't want him to hurt you again. He's a womanizer, I just hope for your sake he's a bit more discreet in his indiscretions."

"Juliette! It's not like that at all!"

Tina coughed. I kicked her from under the table.

"Look, neither of us is perfect but we're going to do our best to work through this," I said.

She huffed. "Alright, Gee, but if you see him in the tabloids while you're gone with some chick, don't say I didn't tell you so."

Thankfully our food arrived at that point in time. I told Juliette about my birthday/NYE party and she agreed to come. We finished our meals in relative quiet and exchanged presents afterwards. I had gotten Juliette a gift voucher to an adult shop and funny enough she had done the same for me. She got Tina a few bottles of alcohol, claiming she needed to expand her drink of choice from just vodka. We said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways, Juliette off to the airport to go home for a few days and us towards Cheshunt to join my family. When I got in the car, I pulled out my phone and had another text from Harry.

Harry: Just realized I never saw that school girl costume of yours

Me: Whatever

I was annoyed at Juliette's comments about him being a womanizer and unfaithful to me and couldn't help my annoyance being projected in our conversation.

Harry: Are you mad? What's wrong?

Me: I don't have anything to worry about with you and other girls while I'm gone do i?

My phone rang and I sighed as I picked it up. "Really, Georgia? Really? You've been gone from me for two hours now and you're already picking fights? I've been home the last two hours fantasizing about you," he said once I answered.

"I'm sorry, it's just Juliette said some things about you being a womanizer and it got to me."

He sighed. "I don't like her. She's a drama starter. I told you this before and I will say it again. I love you, I want only you, now please let's not fight over stuff that's not going to happen because I only want you. I'll put it on twitter if it makes you happy."

"No! I've gotten like 80,000 followers in the last two hours. No, please don't. You're right, okay, I'm sorry, I love you. I think I'm just freaking out I won't see you for a few days."

"It's okay, Georgia. I feel the same way. But please, I haven't done anything to you to make you think I would cheat on you or anything so have some faith in me."

"I do. I'm sorry. Okay, Tina is glaring at me to go so I need to drive. I'll call you tonight?"

"Counting down the hours already, babe. Love you, bye."

"You too, bye." I hung up the phone and started the car and pulled away from the restaurant heading towards Cheshunt.

"I agree with Harry, I don't like Juliette," Tina commented.

I pursed my lips. I liked Juliette, I just didn't like that she was very vocal about her dislike for Harry. It was weird but nothing too out of the ordinary instead of just a concerned friend, right?

"Hush, she's nice."

We arrived at my parents house around 5 and were greeted happily by my mum and dad who wanted to hear all about London and everything as we settled in and freshened up for dinner with my aunt and uncle. The evening went by quickly, actually the whole holiday did to be honest.

We had dinner with my aunt and uncle that evening and managed to get through the meal my mother had catered for us without any major drama. Thankfully, Tina had been respectful of me and listened when I asked her to not repeat my romantic life or future career to my parents. I would break that bombshell to them when the time came. Probably before I left to head back to London, knowing me.

Christmas Eve was relatively quiet as well until I decided to go on Twitter and saw it was Louis birthday. His fans were wondering where he was spending his birthday since he hadn't been spotted in Doncaster yet.

I decided to text him knowing full well I shouldn't have but I couldn't not say happy birthday.

Me: Happy Birthday! xxxx

I didn't get a response from him until that evening as I was getting myself ready for bed. My phone buzzed with a few text messages.

Louis: Thanks, hasn't been the best

Louis: Are you in London?

Me: No, I'm in Cheshunt, are you in London?

Louis: Yup. Alone. Best birthday ever

Me: I'm sorry, can I do anything?

Louis: Come keep me company?

I hesistated. I knew I shouldn't go, but he was alone and it was his birthday and Christmas Eve. He shouldn't spend that alone.

Me: It will take me like an hour to get there.. are you home?

Louis: Yup. I'll be here all night. Will you really come?

Me: Of course, I can't let you spend your birthday alone.

Louis: :)

Fuck. I quickly redressed and checked the time. It was nearly ten which meant my parents would be going to bed soon. If I was going to use their car, I needed their permission until I remembered I had my rental car. I stuffed my house keys in my purse and dug out my rental keys and shrugged on my winter coat over my simple outfit of a blue sweater and a black jeans with boots.

I crept quietly out of the house and was thankful I had parked the rental on the street to avoid interrogation from my family and Tina. I started the car and head off towards London, wondering if I was actually making a smart decision. With how things had been with Louis, I kind of owed it to him to be supportive and a friend to him so that justified my decision of going to spend some time with him even if I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that grew with every mile that passed as I got closer and closer to London.

When I pulled in front of Louis' after parking the car and pressed the buzzer pad to open the front gates, I knew I was still up in the air. I knew, just knew, Harry would be upset with me for going there and I knew he would more upset at the fact that I didn't tell him than at the fact that I was going there. At least.. that's what I would hope for until I told him - which I had all intentions of doing, just not until after the fact.

I knocked on his Louis' front door after my mental argument with myself and he didn't answer. I called his phone and after a few calls, he answered and opened the door to greet me, his hair disheveled, his glasses askew and dressed in just his boxers. I stared at him wide-eyed. The heat emanated from the house and greeted me with warmth as I was taken back to the familiar times the two of us used to spend together in his house, just us.

"Georgia!" He enveloped me in a hug and smelled like liquor. I hugged him back and he stumbled away from me as he pulled back.

"Have you been drinking?" I asked knowing full well the answer was yes.

He giggled. It was actually kind of cute. "Yes. Now, Georgia, this party is a no pants party so take off your clothes!"

I stared at him. "Louis! No!"

He laughed more. "Gee, I've seen you naked how many times." He stepped towards me, closing the distance between the both of us. "I've kissed you how many times? I've been inside of you how many times? You think it matters that you decided to cast me aside and pick Harry over me?" God, Louis, really? Perfect way to start off this conversation.

I frowned when his alcohol-laced breath hit my cheek as he hovered close to me. He reached out to grab my shoulders. "Georgia," he said.

I glanced up and looked up into his blue eyes. "I'm sorry," I said. I had been staring down at my shoes unsure of what to say when faced with such a direct memory of our past that hadn't really been that long ago.

He rolled his eyes. "Don't lie to me, Georgia. You're not. You're happy with Harry. Please, just humor me. It's my birthday, I'm wasted and I'm alone. This is the worst birthday of my life."

I stepped back out of his grasp. "Why aren't you home in Doncaster with your family? Why are you here alone?"

He shrugged and leaned against the wall. "I didn't want to be with anyone. The person I really wanted to be with didn't want me. But I guess birthday wishes do come true because you're here now."

Oh, God. What did I get myself into?

"Louis.." I said softly.

He moved close to me once again and reached up to touch my cheek. "Gee, please, just for one night pretend you picked me."

He looked so vulnerable. His blue eyes were shining behind his thick-rimmed glasses despite the fact his fringe fell across his forehead. His sinewy muscles were taut across his chest and his touch was still sending radiant heat through my body.

"Louis, I don't think that's a good idea. I came here as your friend, I hope we can still be friends despite everything." I shrugged off my coat and set it on the floor next to my bag to at least get more comfortable. I looked up to meet his blue eyes and to tell him that I would not be joining him in his no pants party but I didn't have a chance before he opened his mouth.

"You're so beautiful, Gee," he said just before his lips crashed against mine. His tongue sloppily licked my bottom lip before I snapped back to reality after a momentary lapse in judgment.

I pulled away. "Louis!"

He stopped, his fingers brushing across his own lips. "I'm so sorry," he fumbled over the words and stepped back from me, turning around and walking into the kitchen. I followed him, a few steps behind and found him in the kitchen his head resting in his hands. I touched his arm gently.

"Louis," I said softly. "I don't think this is the exact kind of scenario you want to do on your birthday, is it?"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Gee. I'm just really drunk and I'm not over you yet."

Fuck.

I sighed. "Louis, I'm sorry, I have an idea, though. Go get yourself dressed."

"You will still stay?" He asked, removing his face from his hands and glancing up at my through tear-soaked eyes.

I nodded. "Of course, we're still friends." But I couldn't help but feel guilty for being here. I hadn't told Harry for this exact reason and I knew he would be beyond angry to find out I had gone to Louis' and he kissed me which meant I had to tell him. But I should probably save that conversation for when I was in the same room as him. Although, thinking about that, maybe over the phone would be a bit better because then if he was going to be super angry I wouldn't be directly in his warpath.

He went up to his room to change and emerged a few minutes later dressed in black jeans and a grey sweater. I had used the time while he was gone to fix my appearance and straighten out my hair and try to wipe off all traces of Louis lips on mine. It was Christmas Eve and the last person who kissed me wasn't even my boyfriend.

Louis emerged from his bedroom a few minutes later watching me but not speaking much. He followed me out to the car after we had put on our coats and I grabbed my bag.

"Fuck, it's cold," he said, rubbing his hands together and putting them in front of the heater in the car.

"I know, freezing!" I turned the heat on high blast and headed towards the park.

"Where are we going?" He asked when I pulled the car onto a side-street and turned it off.

"Just trust me," I said as we got out of the car. He followed me down a few sidewalks before we stopped in front of an old building. I pulled the back door open, taking off the fake lock and tossing it aside. We climbed the five flights of stairs in relative silence until we reached the top and I pushed the door open to reveal the roof terrace covered in plants. Although, at this time of the year, the plants were strung with Christmas lights. I wandered over to the plug and pushed it in illuminating the area set before us.

"Wow. How did you know about this place?" He asked as he looked around us.

"A friend showed me this place years ago. I come here to think sometimes."

"What is it?" He turned back to face me, his eyes meeting mine finally.

"I'm not 100% but some sort of community garden that's semi-private. I've never seen anyone here but someone obviously takes care of it. It's pretty cool though, right?" I glanced up at him to see him smiling down at me.

"Very cool." He grabbed my hand and pulled me in the center and we sat down before laying back, not caring that it was freezing cold as we watched the stars. We layed like that for a long time, in silence, the only sound each other's breathing, warming ourselves off the body heat that radiated between the two of us. I must have drifted off to sleep because I heard my phone going off and pulled it out to see I had a few missed texts from Harry and a missed call from Tina. I checked the time and saw it was 5AM. I rang her back and she gave me the third degree, asking where I was and who I was with but I shrugged off her inquisition and told her I would be home soon. I couldn't bring myself to read the texts from Harry yet.

"Louis," I said, shaking him awake.

He mumbled and rubbed his eyes. "What?"

"It's 5 in the morning. I have to go home, it's Christmas," I said.

"Fuck." He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He stood up and pulled me up with him and we left the building making sure to turn off the lights before we left. As I pulled up in front of Louis' house, I had a feeling of déjà vu overtake me as I glanced over at him.

"Merry Christmas," I said, biting my lip. This had been a weird night.

He smiled back at me. "Merry Christmas, Gee. Thank you for spending my birthday with me."

"Of course," I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek and he hugged me tightly. He pulled back after a few seconds, staring into my eyes.

"You made it a better birthday than it was, Gee. Thank you."

I squeezed his hand before he got out of the car and walked towards his front gate. He glanced back at me before he punched in the numbers and shut the gate behind him. I sat in front of his house a few seconds longer before driving away. My phone buzzed as I turned onto the M25 twenty minutes later.

Harry: Merry Christmas! I love you and can't wait to see you again!

I cringed. Fuck. Nothing happened with Louis and I but I still couldn't help but feel beyond guilty for going to see him. I dreaded having that conversation with Harry.

A/n: soz for the lack of updates, I don't have internet at my new house yet!