Liam's POV
"Zayn, Zayn, Zayn," I pushed him back onto the bed. Harry, Niall, and Liam looked at me questioningly while Zayn mutter what sounded like cuss words.
"How was Marisa?"
"Who's Marisa?" Niall hopped on the bed bouncing up and down.
"Awe, yes, who is Marisa?" A sly smile grew across Louis' face.
"Marisa is Charlotte's roommate," Harry state without looking up from the tv.
"Er, yeah, how did you know that?" I asked.
Harry shrugged, "Lucky guess. Is she cute?"
Zayn was trying incredibly hard to hide the grin on his face.
"OHHHHH!" Louis pointed at him.
"She's really nice," Zayn nodded.
"Did you guys talk much after we left?"
"Tons," His smile was now covering his face, lighting up his eyes. "She explained that she was a really big fan and that she couldn't believe that she was eating lunch with me. She was really cool about it though –like she knows that I am really just a normal person. We talked about sports and France and just really random stuff."
"Rebecca to Marisa?" Harry wiggled his nose.
Louis and Niall both gave him a slap on the back.
It was a relief for all of us to hear Zayn say this. Truthfully, as five teenage boys, we had all been through some pretty rough relationship patches. Harry had avoided any situation at all. Louis had ended it with Eleanor. Niall and Amalia hadn't stepped out of the: I want to be with you every second of forever phase. I struggled to get over Danielle, but Zayn, Zayn wasn't one to put his heart on the line. After Rebecca, he had played it pretty safe. The smile on his face told us that he was recovering. If he wasn't fully ready, he was close.
"With all this unexpected Zayn romance we have neglected to interrogate you!" Louis turned the attention to me. "How is little Miss Charlotte?"
"Good."
"And?" Harry asked.
"What?"
"Saturday?"
"Oh, yeah. I asked her. There is a school dance, but she doesn't know if she is going to that so she said she'd let me know."
"How about you text her and tell her to bring Marisa?"
"Guys, come on. You know I don't just get with girls I don't know! I like her as in yeah I think she is a nice person but I'd want to get to know her..."
"Okay then," Harry went about rephrasing his statement. "How about you text Char and tell her to bring Marisa so that they can get to know each other?"
Zayn moaned as he tumbled back onto the bed collapsing his face into his pillow.
"You are so annoying!" he half screamed into his pillow.
"And you couldn't live without us!" I slapped his bare back.
I got up and left to go to my own room. I picked up my phone and threw myself on my bed.
I scrolled through my messages before clicking on a certain name. I began typing away.
Niall came into the room to change his clothes. He glanced at me typing vigorously on my iPhone.
"Tell Char I say hi," he chuckled before leaving.
I rolled my eyes but passed along his message. I was falling quickly; I just hoped she was at the bottom to catch me.
Charlotte's POV
"Thank you for staying with us," the manager smiled at me as I check out. "Good luck with school!"
I thanked him and then grabbed my stuff. I headed to the curb where I caught a cab back to campus. As I climbed into the back seat, my phone buzzed. It was Marisa.
I cannot believe I just ate lunch with Zayn and Liam. This seems so unreal. Zayn is so sweet! We talked for a while after you and Liam left. He... I don't know. He's so sweet! Like he is a real person you know?!?
I laughed at Marisa's excited text. She hadn't struck me as one to get obsessive over a guy so I was curious to see how this would play out.
He's a sweetheart. I replied.
I slipped my phone in my pocket and tilted my head against the window. I replayed the day through my head, dragging on the moments I had spent with Liam.
I couldn't help but smile. It was such a strange thing –the way I felt around him. He was so easy going and carefree that it made me the same way. Compared to how much I liked him, my reactions didn't show it. Typically, I got all awkward and quite around people I had a crush on. For some reason, Liam didn't bring that out in me. Sure, I wasn't entirely confident around him. Whenever I had been with him, I thought through every sentence twice before I said it. I would catch a look at anything that reflected my appearance. In a lot of ways, yeah, I was self conscious around him, but it hadn't stopped me from wanting to be with him –or having a good time.
He always had me laughing and I always felt comfortable. It felt like I knew him better than I really did –that is what was holding me back. I was protective of my heart. I was fully aware of the fact that we had both recently been in relationships.
I let my mind wander, thinking of everything.
I really wanted to go see rehearsals, but Marisa had told me that she really wanted to go to the dance. I didn't want to not be with Liam, but I had spent so much time with him that I felt like maybe I needed a little time away. It might help me sort out what was really going on, but I still wanted to go. I was so stubborn.
Mind still wandering, I stepped out of the cab onto the campus and gathered my belongings from the driver.
"Can I help you with that?" a voice shattered my thoughts. I turned to see the guy I had talked to early during orientation.... He was Madison's friend.
"Ryan," he said. I must have had a puzzled look on his face. "You are Charlotte, right?"
I nodded, "Sorry. I knew I knew you I just couldn't remember your name."
"No worries," he smiled an awkward smile. "This is my roommate Charlie," he nodded towards the blonde haired, green eyed boy standing behind him.
"Hey," he smiled. His smile reminded me of Liam's.
"Seriously though, we are going to see Mads. She is in your dorm right? We can help you. No we will help you. We are gentlemen. I can't let you take away are dignity."
I laughed at his persistence. "If you insist..."
We walked towards the building as I asked Charlie where he was from. He said he was from London but wished he could move to the United States.
"I honestly think that everyone from the US should move here and everyone here that wants to move to the US can move there. It seems like that would make everyone a lot happier."
"Oh Char, you failed to ask him why he wants to move to the United States," Ryan chuckled.
I looked up at Charlie who looked away.
"My girlfriend is playing, erm, soccer for Florida State. It had been both of our dreams to go there. She got a scholarship for soccer so of course she had to go. Me, I'm stuck here. My parents say if I can get good enough grades they will think about letting me transfer."
"Shoot, your girlfriend must be really good! Isn't Florida State ranked in the top ten?"
He smiled proudly, "She's the best."
We reached my room and I pulled out my keys to unlock the door. I thanked the boys.
"See you later. If you wanna, come on down the hall. I'm sure Mads would love the female company."
"I have class, but thanks for the invite."
I wasn't in the door for more than a second when Marisa exploded.
"Did he kiss you? Zayn and I had a bet! I said no but he said yes. Five dollars is on the line here, Char!"
"Woah, calm down." I pushed her back and set my things in front of my bed. "There has been no kissing."
I flopped down on my bed exhausted. I really didn't want to go to class.
"We are just friends," I said flatly.
"That is not what Zayn said. At least he said Liam is crazy about you and that he hasn't seen him that happy in weeks."
I rolled my eyes, "He was probably exaggerating Riss."
"I don't think so... When are you seeing him next?"
"Well, he invited me to go to their rehearsal on Saturday, but I know the dance is that night and well you said you were really looking forward to it."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" She jumped off her beds, hands in the air. "YOU HAVE TO GO!"
"No, I'd feel bad." I glanced at the clock, "but this conversation will have to wait. I have class in fifteen minutes. See you later?"
She shook her head but waved goodbye.
I was halfway to my classroom when my phone buzzed.
Hey Char, so I've been talking to Zayn. I'm not one to play match-maker... but do you think Marisa would want to come to rehearsals on Saturday? Xx Liam
My heart fluttered at the Xx but it also fluttered at the invite.I knew Marisa wouldn't say no, and it just gave me another chance to spend timewith Liam. Maybe this time, we would have time to hangout alone.