Torn

Chapter 18

AN: I can't find a photo of Selena where she looks speechless. I just hope the image above sort of fills that category out :)

I think you'll know what part of the story to enter that picture of hers :)

Selena...

I am uncertain where the pounding ringing on my ears is coming from - my footsteps or my heartbeat that had suddenly decided to go berserk the moment I left the kitchen.

I actually lingered at the table longer than planned as I got lost in chatter with the two beautiful women of the household and in return I got the privilege of being surrounded by festive delights.

Different but delectable sights and scents wafted through my senses, nevertheless all very pleasing. There were various dishes - Gemma gladly naming most for me, having encountered only a few before. I was about to congratulate Anne - having outdone herself with the amount of food in front of us - only to be stopped even before I got a word out. As it turns out everybody had a hand in it - bringing their own casseroles to make it a one, big, giant family cookout.

The Shepherd's pie and Welsh Cawl were courtesy of Matt, Ella and Ben. The Toad in the hole -whose name had me gaping, but thankfully lacked any part of the amphibian - was brought by Gemma's friends' Amy and Luca, while the Chicken Tikka was done by Nathan - Gemma's boyfriend. To my surprise even Cara, Liam, Nina and Louis even had a part in it, proudly showcasing the Fish and Chips and Kedgeree as their contribution - thankfully though, it was only Cara, Nina, Johannah and Karen who participated in the actual food making, none of us trusting in leaving the two men in the kitchen.

While the three cases of Irish beer were a product of Niall's generosity who was currently in the beaches of the Cayman Islands instead, sending his love through the bottles of the brewed drinks.

But of course, no party would ever be complete without the impeccable cooking of the Styles-Twist matriarch, as she had been given the task of dessert. The Cream scones, Mince pies, Strawberry rhubarb pie, Bread and butter pudding and Trifle were all a product of Anne's miracle hands.

Let's see if it gets any more English than this.

Gemma teased, sending me a wink as the table piled up with the British delicacies. She earned no reply from me as my mouth was only able to water in return. There was nothing fancy with the way it was cooked, nor did it contain intricate garnishes with headache-inducing pronunciations. But with just one look, you could tell these specialties have spent hours either on the stove or in the oven being doted upon with watchful eyes and careful hands.

They were meant to be shared at home over silly stories and laughter and to me it made it all the more better. My only remorse was I didn't get to have a share in the potluck supper, to which Anne only scoffed at, receiving a clear order to strictly make myself at home.

Despite having the desire to stay and just observe the appetizing view in front of me while chatting with Gemma and her mom, a nagging feeling in my gut refused to let me sit still, thus leading me on my path to the stables.

Truthfully, I still couldn't decide whether this was the right time to lay all the cards down with him - where one thing could blow off and still be stuck on a weekend with him. It would be downright awkward of course, having promised to Gemma on staying until Monday, and to think it's just Friday. But already familiar with the spontaneous mind of his older sister, no one would know the ideas that could pop up on how to go spending the rest of this little vacation, proving that this might just be the only time I get to talk to him alone.

Well of course, we could still get some privacy and have our discussion once we tuck ourselves in - granted that we're sober, but seeing as we're all here for a birthday celebration, accompanied by the proxies of Niall - I know for a fact that's highly unlikely.