No Strings Attached

Chapter 12

I trudge past the front office and get up on the elevator; I had no will to climb the stairs to the third floor today. I felt my clothes begin to stick to me and I prayed the elevator quickened. Finally it jerked to a stop at my floor and the door opened softly. I stepped out and reached my door. The second the door opened laughter spilled from it. I rolled my eyes. I swear if Dan brought home a guy from work I am so done! As I entered I ripped off my second skin of a jacket and let it plop to the floor and it began to ooze out the rain water.

Dan was on the recliner, facing me. He mouth was pulled into a wide grin. Her teeth glistened under the florescent lights. Her head cocked back as she let a belly bulging chuckle slip out of her. In the sofa in front of her I could see shaggy blonde hair. She tucked a ringlet behind her ear. Her eyes landed on me and she waved, “Oh hey Jaimie’s here!”

She called out and the blonde turned and my mouth fell to the floor. I ran up to him and clung to him. He spun me around and I felt as if I was flying, “Oh my God Niall!”

“Jaimie!”

We stood there in each other’s arms and Dan cleared her throat, “Oh hey uh Niall this is Danielle. She’s my cousin.”

They smile warmly at each other and make small talk. I go over to the kitchen and brew up hot chocolate for all of us.

Niall explains that he wanted to keep the rumor mills going about us so he came to visit. I nodded and stirred my chocolate with a plastic spoon. I dare not bring up Louis. I wanted to somewhere deep inside the innermost of me was dying to hear him talk about him, but instead I burned that innermost of myself with scolding hot chocolate. I stayed quiet for most of the conversation and Dan was the heart of it. Good because I didn’t really feel much like it at all.

It wasn’t long before nightfall crept up on us. I watched it carefully from the window as the sky became a darker gray every minute until it was pitch black. Niall yawned and stretched his limbs.

I got up and fetched a quilt and a pillow. “Here sleep tight.” I winked. He smiled sarcastically back at me, “I was thinking we could sleep together.” We all erupted in laughter except for Dan she just looked away awkwardly. Dan and I walked back to our room and got comfortable.

I shimmied under the cool silky comforter. She shifted unsteadily, “So there’s nothing going on between you and Niall?”

“Of course not! He’s like a brother to me!” I yawn mid-sentence and flipped over on my side. I felt the bed mold to the curves of my body and it felt oh so relaxing. My eyes shut slowly before I dozed off.

~

“Niall! Stop! Oh my God you’re making a mess!” shrill laughter was coming from my kitchen. I glanced over to Dan who was absent, of course. I bite my lip and get up to brush my teeth. I rub my eyes as a powder white blanket covers my kitchen. “DAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” I went back in time to the summer in that hotel room and I jolt to find my cousin. To drag her out of there so we don’t have to live that horrible experience.

Dan appeared with her face covered in white. She looked like the snow bunnies. I wiped at her face and she gripped my wrists, “Jaime! Its flour! Calm down!” She yells as she dodges my pawing hands. Niall had a terrified look on his face as if he’d never met me before as if I wasn’t his best friend, “Jaime you okay? It was just flour I’m sorry really I started it not her.” He began.

I shook my head in embarrassment, “No its okay I just thought she was allergic to it.”

Dan pulled me in for a bear hug, “Jaime I’m allergic to baking powder, remember?” she lied for me and I knew it. I instantly thanked her; she saved my ass from explaining something I didn’t want to.

Niall scratched his head and approached me wearingly, “I uh we made pancakes.” He shoved the porcelain plate full of fluffy heaven like cakes into my warm hands. I set the plate down on the island and we all ate peacefully. Afterwards we cleaned up.

“So do you ladies want to hit the town before I head off to Japan?” Niall rubbed his bloated stomach and he resembled a pregnant woman. “Can we visit Aunt Margie? I’ve been dying to see her.” Dan ran a hand through her hair and hallway down her fingers tangled and she struggled for a moment as she set her fingers free.

I agreed. Mum was overdue for a visit anyways. We all got dressed and drove to my mum’s. Of course a couple of pap’s snapped pictures and Dan was dazed. She’s never had this happen to her. “Fuck off cunts!” Niall hollered as he dragged an immobile Dan from the middle of the sidewalk. Her face showed recognition once his hand touched her.

“Who’s this babe?” They sneered as they snapped away. Niall’s face was red and stone like. It terrified me. Dan looked like bambi in a way as the paps closed in on her. Niall even shoved one away. “For once just leave me alone!” he growled with anger.

Once they met with me in the safety of my mum’s front door did I run to Dan and I held her in my arms protectively almost like a mother. “Dan are you hurt? Are you okay?”

She glanced to Niall who still had his hand on hers, “I am now.” She smiled shamelessly. I rolled my eyes, why can’t she fuck with someone I don’t know? Seriously Dan can never hold a stable relationship. She’s always the home wrecker or the one getting cheated on or just the basic rebound. I mean I don’t care about her personal life but if she messes with Niall she’s cruising for a bruising.