Strings and Schemes

Chapter 15

I notice something silver, and shiny, and tall out of the corner of my eye. My eyes narrowing to make it out. Is that a -

"STRIP DANCE!" Louis laughs maniacally. My eyes widen, my jaw drops.

"Lou, no." I say, fully shocked and fully not drunk enough for this.

"No, no, we're not asking you to take your clothes off silly." Lou clarifies.

"First time for that, eh Lou?" Liam says, loudly enough for most everyone to hear.

I turn to Liam, "if you're at Independence Day, you have to celebrate in whatever way I see fit, Liam. Regardless of if you agree with my consensual adult decisions. Not that any of them ever have or will ever be your business."

Liam flounders for a second, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." I nod my head curtly.

Zayn puts his arm around my waist protectively, but also asserting his place in my life, in a public display amongst our friends. As a sign of solidarity, or a fuck you to Liam, I'm not sure.

"Yeah, Liam. Only nice things to say about our newly emancipated Raina." Louis glares, unwilling to take it any further.

"ANYWAYS, we've all prepared, and by all I mean, Niall has prepared a strip dance to get things started."

"I'm not keeping my clothes on!!" Niall warns.

Louis hops off the table and runs over to me, proud of his announcement. "I won't take a video or post it on socials, I just want you to let go and do things you'd never do ever before."

I shake my head, "Did everyone here know before me?"

Louis shakes his head, "Just Harry and Niall."

"Alright, but..." I surprise myself with what I say next,  "- take a video."

Louis jaw drops, for the first time ever I actually surprise him with my boldness.

I turn to the bar, where Gemma is offering me more shots. I smile, "thanks, but I need that whole tequila bottle hidden under there." I say, reaching underneath to grab it.

Gemma smiles, "I knew you were fun from the moment I saw you. Though, those magic wands on the flag certainly signalled it to me, too." She winks.

I wink, "look, a good magic wand will get you through the worst of days." Before I pour tequila straight down my throat. Offering some to Zayn, who accepts.

I haven't really had much of a chance to speak to him since our date in public, with everyone able to see us the other day. It feels normal to spend time together like this, with mutual friends, being ridiculous.

Niall comes out, a lime green feather boa wrapped around his Johnson, somehow keeping him in place. On comes Lollipop by lil Wayne and Niall grins; "Alright everyone, I hope you're ready for my debut. I've been practicing and waiting for this moment for a long time. I know you all have been too."

We all shake our heads vigorously to say no, except for Louis who is eating this up and throwing coins at him. American money may be uniform and difficult to differentiate for the naked eye, but it sure as shit hurts less to have it thrown at you than this mess of pounds and pence being thrown straight at Niall. He ducks around it, and then ensues utter chaos of Louis, and Liam teaming up on Niall who tries his best to shake what those potatoes gave him only to have himself welted with coins.

"Oh my god, you're going to get us sued Harry," Gemma shakes her head, refilling everyone's drinks and coming over to sit down.

Harry scoffs, "if any of them remember it, Gem. Then we can figure it out."