No Strings Attached

Chapter 14

I cried. I cried like a small child knowing she is lost in the middle of a big mall. I felt confused and mediocre. “Louis I-I-”

“Don’t say anything please.” Was it me or did it sound as if he was fighting against tears of his own. “Louis I like you, a lot and do you know how much it hurt to see you with her?” Anger had finally found its way back into my voice and for a small while he said nothing. All I could hear was the fabric of his sweats shifting.

“Trust me I know, I saw you with Niall remember?”

“It was fake. We’re nothing but friends; I just wanted to show you how it felt.”

“NO WAY? Really?! Wow this is uh fantastic I-I can’t believe it! Oh my gosh!” I could hear his lips pull up into a grand smile, “I’m coming first thing in the morning!” he exclaimed and I could hear the faint zip of a suitcase and the haphazardly stuffing of clothes.

“Louis are you for real?”

“Baby I haven’t felt this real in ages! I’ll be there before the crack of dawn! Bye baby.”

He clicked. I felt numb and weird; I got up and danced around the apartment. It was like a cocoon had exploded inside my belly causing millions of butterflies to erupt and flutter all around. I leaped and then I fell back on the couch and flailed my arms and legs widely as I squealed in utter girlish joy! “Gee what has your panties in a twist?” Danielle was leaning on the edge of the couch with a sly look etched into her face. I jumped on my knees and held her forearms giddily, “Louis is visiting! We fixed everything and now all is good!”

“What about Niall?” her eyes were wide and full of hope. Hope for something more.

“I’ll call him!” The hope in her eyes soon died away like a diminishing camp fire, “What about Eleanor?”

I shrugged, “He probably dumped her! Dan can’t you be happy for me?”

Her shoulders heaved slightly, “You know I’d love to kiddo but what if he just wants to mend your friendship? Nothing more.”

Now I, too, was feeling diminished but I forced a smile in response. I wasn’t going to let her see she got to me, “I know that’s not true. I mean he just confessed his true feelings for me.” I said a bit fretful but Dan just smiled and hugged me, “Okay now call Niall!”

We erupted in laughter and I called Niall and I was hoping for a response that I was in dire need of but he was the same as Dan, doubtful.

“I just hope all ends well.” His voice was solemn, “He’s going crazy packing and shit, I swear he’s fucking nuts! Do you know he’s been nice to me since we woke up? Jesus Christ. Wait hold up- Yeah Lou I want them scrambled- okay yeah so what if he does go tomorrow what’s that going to do?”

I chewed on my cheek and thought about it. No matter how much I despised Eleanor I could never be with him at the same time he was with her. I tried to speak but I couldn’t it was like an allergic reaction and it had closed up my throat and now my nose and I can’t breathe and I'm struggling and I feel dizzy and everything seems to go dark in a polka-dot sort of way.

“Jaime you still there?” Niall rasped and like that I was back to normal. I nodded quickly before realizing that we were talking over the phone and not face to face, “Uh yeah I was just- I blanked out.”

He wheezed his infamous laugh, “Yeah I can tell, so about us. Are we off?”

“Yes Niall we’re officially off.” I felt my cheeks bulge as I smiled.

“Good cause I’ve been forgetting about our deal, almost got caught by some paps too!” I was still in my own little bubble, busy with thoughts of tomorrow to really listen until he said, “So Danielle is single right?” His voice was timid and soft, something that rarely happens, knowing him. I loved both kids with all my heart, but Danielle was never one to be held down by anyone.

“Yeah she is, but Danielle i-“

“Okay thanks hey listen we’re about to send Louis off so I’ll visit as soon as possible! Love ya kiddo!”

“Bye Niall.” I plopped on my bed.

He clicked rather fast and soon I was engulfed with thoughts. Thoughts of Louis. Thoughts of Eleanor. Thoughts of what is to be of tomorrow. I even had silly scenarios play inside my head, in one Louis proposed, but it was still too early for that. In another he brought Eleanor and she swore and kicked and punched the hell out of me. In another one he told me how it was all a lie and I admit it scare me shitless.  I trembled and it wasn’t long before Danielle entered the room. In one hand she held a pizza box and some chocolates. I met her warm eyes and she smiled.

“I thought we could use a girl’s night in.” Her features were wide and doe looking, which was all an act. She had a knack of doing this to get what she wants. Rather than argue I took the chocolates from her hand and patted down on the free area beside me. She squirmed to my side and flicked open the cardboard box and out poured the steamy aroma of cheese and grease. She took a slice a greedily ate it while I picked at the chocolate.

It was those cheap valentine ones that have a flavored filling but are in a way really fucking good. I popped a couple into my mouth as Danielle began to drone on and on about how tomorrow could mean everything or nothing. I then proceeded to stuff myself more as the conversation prolonged. I ate about four or five slices and then I finished ninety-nine point nine nine percent of the chocolates! By the end of our “girl’s night in” I felt like a complete and total blimp.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, “Next time you offer a girls night in, please remind me to decline!” We giggled in harmony as we rolled around the bed full of joy and fat and quite honestly I didn’t mind. Usually I’d slip on some running shoes and run it off, but I seriously needed this. I needed Danielle and here she is rolling around like a giggly pig beside me.

Without fully processing what was going on I pulled Danielle into a big hug and kissed her warm cheek. “I love you.”

She smiled warmly and returned the gestures, of course. With that we gently went to sleep but still the thought of tomorrow haunted me, like a call home from the principal. As the time drew near I became more flustered and soon I had to take two sleeping pills before finally slumber kicked in and shut my eyes once and for all.