We Love To Dream Aloud

Sorry, everyone, and thank you for sticking with me even after I stopped writing for such a long time, it means a lot. <3 xx

Chapter 9

It was my third day in L.A. I’d just gotten back from a tall office building inside which I’d had a meeting with a photography company about my work. I settled for a café just around the corner and ordered a coffee to keep me going. 

I took my laptop out and logged into my email account, replying to Caroline’s daily email about how I’m doing. The café filled up quickly and soon enough the bell on the door wasn’t making me jump out of my seat every time it rang. 

“No way!” I heard a voice, but I didn’t look up; who would be here to talk to me? “Lucy?” I kept my head down. “Lucy!” a hand fell on my shoulder and I finally looked up. 

“Oh!” Jay’s head of curly hair greeted me as he pulled me in for a hug. 

“How are you?” He exclaimed, “I didn’t realize you were staying here!” 

“Er…” I’d been taken by surprise and my voice was dry and cracked, I coughed a few times to clear it before looking back up at Jay, “I’m here for work.” I replied curtly. 

“Listen,” He started, taking the seat opposite me, “Things were awkward last time…I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I looked back at my laptop, shutting it down.

“No, it’s not.” He said. I looked up immediately, signaling for him to carry on. “I should’ve said something,” He continued, “But I didn’t, I just kissed you and messed with your head, and for that, I’m sorry.”

“How are you and…Cecile?” I asked.

“Oh, I…er, broke up with her a few days ago, things weren’t going very well.” Jay looked down to hide his face. “So how long are you staying here?”

“Just a few more days, you?” I asked.

“A week or so.” He replied. “Do you…want to come back to the hotel the boys and I are staying at? You haven’t seen them for a while, we could hang out…go back to how things were before.”

I was going to retaliate to this- things couldn’t be how they were before, not after everything that happened; I’d never be the girl who lived with them as their manager and their best friend again- but then something stopped me. 

“Yeah, sure.”

A wide grin spread across Jay’s face.

“So what were you doing in that café anyway?” I asked Jay as we walked down the street toward the hotel.

“Oh, shit!” Jay said suddenly. 

“What?” I asked, frowning. 

“I was supposed to get coffee for the boys…oh, crap.” He ran a hand through his hair, then snapped his head up, “I know what I’ll do!”

“What?” I asked, giggling. 

“I’ll make one myself!” He replied, “They have coffee beans in the hotel, it’s just I’ve never made coffee before, so it’ll probably be crap.” 

“You’re so pampered, you little rock star.” I jumped up and ruffled his hair. 

“Hey, I’m way taller than you, and I’m a popstar, not a rockstar.” He raised an eyebrow. 

“You still don’t know how to make coffee.” I pointed out.

“True…” He replied

“I’ll do it.” I said, “all that time making coffee for the five of you, I’m a pro.” I winked. 

“Me and Nathan stay in this room, Tom and Max stay in the room next door.” He pointed it out carefully, trying not to drop the four coffee cups he was holding, “Siva’s staying with Nareesha in the room next to them, but everyone will be in here; they’re always in here.” He passed me the room key and I slotted it in, pushing the door open with my back. 

“Hey.” I said, taking all five of the others by surprise. They were sat on the bed, talking.

Nathan’s eyes widened. He rushed over and took the coffee cups out of my hands, handing them out to everyone before coming back to speak with me quietly.

“Are you doing this on purpose?” He asked irritably.

“You’re not happy to see me?” I asked, mocking offence.

“We’re supposed to be avoiding each other, remember?” He said, sighing, “And you knew I would be here, I told you before I left!”

“Oh, yeah…” I said, scratching my head and frowning. “Sorry.”