Take Me As I Am (Completed)

Chapter Forty-Two

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever read." I muttered, shoving the phone back to Nick. I immediately took my own phone out and dialed TheFantasticalHarry.

"Hello?" He answered almost immediately, his greeting drawn out in the way only Harry can do.

"We're not dating." I informed him.

"Yes, yes I know that." His tone took on a confused lilt. 

"Then why are there a ton of gossip magazines saying that we are?" 

"Al. They're called gossip magazines for a reason, you know." Harry chuckled, confusion gone as he found the amusement in the situation. 

"I don't want people thinking we're dating." I argued.

Silence. Then I heard a shuffling of feet and loud yelling in the background. Then, "Let me talk to her!"

"Al! Hi Al! Give me the phone!"

"Louis, get your greasy fingers off me!"

"I'm going to go now." I spoke, although a small smile had made its way to my mouth. 

"No!" Three voices chorused. Then an Irish accent got louder as I could picture Niall snatching the phone. "Hi Al. We miss you!"

"Miss you too. Kind of. Not really." A full-blown grin snuck onto my face.

"Trinity said you're coming to the party," Liam added in.

"Unfortunately." 

"You get to see us again, how could that ever be an unfortunately?" Louis inputed.

"Whatever. I'll see you guys later. Bye."

I hung up and placed the phone back in my pocket before unwrapping my roast beef sandwich. I then realized that all three of my friends were staring at me like I had five heads. I mumbled through my full mouth. "What?"

"Since you've come back, you haven't been the same. You text and call celebrities like it's no big deal, that's not something our old Al would have done." Devin wasn't accusing, he was simply trying to state a fact.

But I found myself extremely offended. "I'm the exact same as I was before I left."

"That's a lie." Nick tilted his head towards me.

"What are you talking about? 'That's a lie'? What the actual heck, man. I was stuck on a TV show for seven weeks. I'm sorry I've kind of forgotten what real life was like - but in case you forgot, the only reason I was there, was because of you. So." I crossed my arms in frustration, completely appalled that the three guys who've been through everything with me, were suddenly telling me I changed.

"It was a joke, it wasn't supposed to happen." Nick snapped. "And you have got to stop blaming me for that."

"Don't blame me then, for going. Do you know how much I dreaded going? But eventually I learned to get over, because I had to be there. I started having fun, I did some things I never thought I would do. So please, don't blame me for not hating every single second of it."

"That's not the problem." Nick rolled his eyes in a condescending way, something that made me want to punch his little know-it-all look right off his face. "The problem is, you're not the same girl you were when you left. You're friends with them now."

"Oh, heaven forbid! I'm friends with someone other than you!"

"You've changed." Nick shook his head in disbelief.

"You know what? Whatever. I haven't changed. And if you're so adamant in believing it, then fine. Believe it. I'm done with trying to prove differently - if you want to be friends, then you have to act like friends. You know where to find me when you're ready to apologize." With those words, I hiked my backpack onto my shoulder and stalked away. I continued to eat my sandwich as I walked to my next class.

I refused to focus on their words, instead I focused on school and on how stupid boys are.

~~~

La, la, la. I know it's short. Please don't comment that. It's frustrating, because although it might not be a 'fun' chapter and it might not be super exciting, it's still essential to the story. Next chapter is longer, I promise.

I hate anxiety. It seriously needs to go away. 

 

Some of you wanted to see my prom dress, so on Saturday I'll post picture of me on Instagram in my dress. My instagram is MyHeartsMistake :)

IMPORTANT NEWS. IF YOU MADE IT HERE, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU GET TO KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING EXCITING.

I've been writing a short story... It's going to be a spin-off of Take Me As I Am. I'd really like to share a bit of Trinity and Zayn's story. It's going to be called Invisible Love and I'll probably post it when this story is closer to being finished. So make sure you look out for it!

Also, The Lyric Project's prologue is posted! Check out my page, I think you guys will like it :)

Lots and lots of love!

~ Dedication to a commenter (Not if you ask for it, though!) ~