She walked with her head down, her eyes glued on her phone as she was talking to her friend. Tears streaming down her pink cheeks as her rain boots splash into puddles near her; she doesn't care about the world around her, all she knows is that her heart hurts. The man who she felt she has loved turned out to be liar, her trust destroyed by the power of one person with the intention of hurting her. How could this happen to her? She never did anything bad... She had good friends, she made good grades, she was as close to perfect on the outside as she could get. But on the inside her mind and soul cried out for someone, someone to take the pain away. Her phone vibrated, it was him. She felt her eyes sting as the tears came back, taking over her. She let out a small sob as she started walking faster, but then.
Her body slammed against another, everything that she had flew around her and the stranger. She fell back and hit the hard ground, letting out a gasp. Her curls bounced as she looked around for her stuff, but her eyes met the stranger who was bent over picking up all of things that got tossed around in the collision, "Miss I am so sorry." He said with an accent different from hers, British: "Are you ok? You seemed a little out of it." He extended his hand towards her. She looked at it then back up to his green eyes and his crooked grin. "Well," he said with the chuckle, "I am trying to help you up."
She took his hand and swallowed hard; he pulled up and smiled wide at her. "Th-Thanks." She grabbed her purse from him nervously and smiled slightly at him. "Truly, thanks, I wasn't paying attention." Her heart raced the more she stood in this stranger's presence. She didn't believe at love at first sight so she just ignored it. "I should get going..." She blushed slightly, tucking some loose hair behind her ear.
"Wait, wait!" The stranger placed his hand on his chest, "Let me take you out." He pointed at himself then at her, "It's the least I can do after tumbling you over." His accent made her heart skip the more he talked, she wanted to talk to him more but she knew she had to get to her friend's and help her out. Her expression seemed to be ponderous because he questioned her: "Are you sure you are ok?"
She blinked and locked her dark eyes with his light one's, "Hm? Fine? ME? Yes I am fine." She giggled nervously, "See..." she started walking a straight line, "didn't hurt my head none." Now, I would love to stay and chat but I really have to go..." She patted her purse and smirked. "Thanks again." She blushed then nimbly jogged across the street and towards her destination.
"Wait!" He called out to her "I don't even know you're name—" Her phone that had been thrown to a nearby bush started ringing, caller i.d.: her friend Elena, who's house she was going to. He looked around and answered it. "Hello?" he asked into the phone. There was silence. "Pardon my asking, but, do you know the owner of this phone per chance? You see I ran into this girl and I believe she dropped her phone..." He stood there listening to the other line breathe intensely.
"Oh... My... God!" she exclaimed then hung up on the boy. The boy shook his head and slid her phone into his pant pocket; he patted his hand against it then continued to walk on his way. The girl's face still trapped in his mind.
Mara walked with purpose towards the street that her friend's house was on she just wanted to be with someone who cares about her. But the only thing that gets in the way each time they hang out is her brother, Payton, whom Mara had a recent history with. Even though the two had known each other for nearly their entire lives, once they reached their teens things started to go downhill. Boundaries were broke and feelings were hurt; the only one who suffers is Mara, Payton has moved on completely, but in her heart she believes that they need to be together. She has been told that she is just love sick, but it is more. He used her, abused her. And how all she has left is the scars. Mara knows that going to Elena's house is a fragile place in her heart, but she needs to be strong. She has always been strong. It's what makes her beautiful.
Mara took a deep breath as she came to the front steps to the house; her heart was pounding and her palms sweaty. Her mind wandered. If I see him, I will just smile. Do I hug him? What if he hugs me? Do I even acknowledge him? I hope he isn't there. Is there anything in my teeth? She ran her tongue along her teeth to check, she also ran her fingers through her hair and tossing it over to one side. I am good, I am fabulous! She smiled to herself, gripped onto her bag tightly and skipped up the stairs, skipping the middle step. Before she could even knock, the door swung open and Elena stood there, staring Mara down with her sky blue eyes.
"Come in come in." She grabbed Mara's arm and yanked her inside and whispered, "I need to ask you something..." she looked around to see if anyone was around.
"Yes? What is it?" Mara narrowed her eyebrows down in question; she averted her eyes around as well. Elena held her finger up to her lips and sprinted up the steps leading to the main floor; she took a sharp turn and nimbly tiptoed to her room, "C'mon!" She giggled slightly as she held the door open for Mara. Mara walked in and tossed her bag on top of Elena's bed; turning to Elena she closed the door and jumped up and down. "Check your phone! Check your phone!" Her cheeks were pink and her smile wide across her face.
"Why?"Mara walked back over to the bed and started digging through her bag, she was silent and her heart sank. Her phone wasn't in her bag at all, "M-My phone isn't in there!" She rubbed the bridge of her nose underneath her glasses, "This can't be... I swear I had it on me when I—" she paused.
"I know!" Elena screamed and pointed at Mara, her voice became hushed, "Someone has your phone! I talked to him..." She put her hands on her hips with a sense of pride.
"Elena, this isn't funny... How do you know someone has it?" Mara sat on Elena's bed and held her head in her hands, "My parents are go'na kill me!"
"I know because I called you because you were taking so long and a boy picked up! Not just any boy, he had an accent, Mara, an accent!" Elena squealed, "was he cute?"
"What makes you think I talked to him?" Her cheeks blushed, "I mean we just ran into each other—I guess he was—that's not important!"
Elena's smile turned into a sly grin, "You thought he was really cute... didn't you?" she poked Mara, "Huh huh! Didn't you?"
"Elena! Please! Let's be serious for like—5 seconds please? All I know is some weird guy ran into me and asked me to coffee then took my phone!" Mara nervously bounced her leg.
"You said NO? To a British boy!" Elena shook her head, "We are not friends anymore, seriously."
"I am sorry that my mind was thinking about something other than BOYS!" She scowled at Elena. She paused then looked at Elena, her posture straightening out, "Wait you said you talked to him...he was using my phone..." She held out her hand, "Give me your phone." She stood up and Elena handed her, her phone. "I'll just call him casually and say hi and ask for my phone back." She paced around Elena's room, "That would be appropriate? Right?" She dialed her own number, "I'm doing it now." She blushed as it rung; Elena held her ear up to the phone as well. Someone picked up.
"Hello?" It was the boy that Mara ran into and his voice was like velvet to Mara's ears. Her hands started shaking. "Hello?" He asked again, "I am sorry, this isn't my phone and I was just hoping that the owner would contact me somehow—I mean—is this she?" There were other voices around him with similar accents, they all laughed and provoked him—"Hey hey! I'm on the phone guys..." he murmured off to them, they continued to laugh, "Hello? Are you there?" Elena shoved Mara, her eyes widened and she hung up.
"Well, you took that rather smoothly..." Elena rolled her eyes. "What happened to 'I'm going to call him and ask for my phone back—you DO like him!" she punched at Mara.
"I am sorry! I choked up..." Mara crossed her arms, "What would you do if some stranger answered your phone?" The phone started ringing; Mara jumped and tossed the phone up in the air.
Elena caught it and answered it, "Hello this is Elena's phone." She put on speaker and smiled.
"Elena? Hi, this number called me a few seconds ago—" He stuttered slightly, the girls heard the background change from a group of boys to the sound of cars driving by, he was outside.
"Yes this phone did call you, it was my friend. I believe you have already acquainted yourself with her, hmm?" a smirk ran across her face as Mara started blushing and reaching up toward the phone.
"Y-Yeah I did, is she there?" There was a taste of excitement in his voice.
Elena looked at Mara, her grin getting bigger. Mara motioned that she wasn't there, "Oh—actually..." Mara sighed with relief, "She is right here! Would you like to speak to her?"
Mara held her breath waiting for his response, which was quicker than hoped. "Yes, Elena, thank you so much."
Elena handed Mara the phone, "It's for you." She winked.
Mara cleared her throat, "Hello?"
"H-hey, it's me, the crazy guy you fell into." His tone expressed a smile that was shining across his face.
"Oh... Hey?" She blushed nervously and played with her hair, looking down.
"Well," he chuckled, "You are the one who called first, so, I am guessing you'd like your phone back?"
Mara nodded but was silent. Elena whispered, "He can't hear you nod, Mara."
"Y-Yes please, I would like that – I mean I'd like to get my phone back." Her cheeks stayed red with embarrassment.
"Well, when shall we have this exchange?" She could hear his smile turn into a small smirk.
Elena jumped up and squealed, "Tomorrow TOMORROW!" she slapped Mara's arm and smiled large, "Say tomorrow!"
"Alight, alright!" She mumbled to Elena and cleared her throat, "How does tomorrow work?" Her tone came across as unintentionally coy.
There was a pause.
"I mean—what works for you—" She became more nervous, her stomach ached.
"Tomorrow works perfectly; will I be able to contact you on this line?" He inhaled deeply and waited for her to respond, his heart lightly fluttering.
"Yes! I mean—yeah, sure, sound's awesome! You can just call me when you wake up in the morning and we can set up a spot." Her heart calmed down as she paced the room with a grin across her face. Elena watched and smiled as well.
"Actually I already know where I want you to meet me." He chuckled softly into the phone, "My mate's and I have never been to that tall tower—the needle thing!"
"The Space Needle?" She completed his thoughts.
Elena clapped and mouthed the words so romantic.
"Yes, the Space Needle! Is that okay with you?" His attitude seemed to be in hopes. "I mean we can meet somewhere else..."
"No, no. The needle is fine." She bit at her lower lip softly and played with her necklace across the face. "So, call me tomorrow?"
"As soon as my eyes open." He smiled like a fool out on the balcony looking across at the Seattle skylight, "As long as tomorrow is as wonderful as today."
"Alright—" She nervously giggled.
"Sleep well." His voice was sincere.
"You too... Good night."
They hung up. "Oh... My... GOD!" Elena looked at Mara and giggled insanely, "YOU have a date!"
"It's not a date!" She pushed at Elena.
"Yes it is! The space needle is a date!" Elena pointed at her, "We need sleep! He'll call in the morning!"
"It's like 6 o'clock." Mara laughed.
"Then let's start planning! Because you aren't going to mess this up a second time." Elena crossed her arms. "Alright?"
"Deal."
~
The night was laid out differently for the two. Mara spent the entire night asleep, calm and peaceful, with thoughts differing from the day ahead of her; while Louis sat awake all night, looking through Mara's phone and thinking about her. He couldn't wait until the sun came up.
At about 9 o'clock in the morning, Elena's phone vibrated. The two both heard it but didn't move a muscle. They were up late through the night planning what was going to be worn and how Mara should speak and act. It seems that Elena is more excited out of the two for the meeting. Mara isn't welcoming to people she finds strange, and to Mara, the stranger that ran into her yesterday wasn't a man who she'd normally associate herself with. Could it be the trust issues? She does have a problem trusting men, she always has. It's because she keeps her heart too open and she was done with getting herself in venerable situations where she gets hurt. But the boy seemed nice, and to Mara, that is what kept a small light shining on her dim world. So she lied there, her dark eyes open with zero expression as Elena's phone vibrates again; [Text Message: Mara (2)]. She started thinking about him, his eyes, and his voice. Her cheeks turned pink. I should read it. She thought to herself as she reached for the phone, it started to ring loudly. "Shit." She mumbled as she quickly answered, her voice tired and hushed, "Hello?"
"Hello, is this Elena?" It was the boy.
"No... Sorry I didn't respond to your texts—" Mara rubber her face trying to rid the sleep from her eyes.
"No no it's ok, I figured you two were asleep."
"So that's why you called after no response?" Mara smirked softly at the silence.
"You're quick." He chuckled, "So I was right, hm? I told you I'd call as soon as my eyes opened."
"Impressive. What time works best for you to meet up?" Mara didn't pick up on his small talk or his flirtatious tone.
He cleared his throat, "Well, what time can you get to the—that tall—"
"The Space Needle." She smiled wider.
"Yes! That, tell me, what time works best?"
"How about noon? That will give us both time to get downtown." She sat up and looked over to Elena who was lying awake, smiling extremely large.
"Noon works perfect for me." He replied as he got out of bed and walked over to the window, pulling away the blinds. "And lucky for us it's a good day."
"Don't keep your hopes, it may change into rain by 10." She laughed softly, "Also... is it okay if I bring my friend? Just for the ride and such." Elena nodded and crossed her fingers.
There was a long pause, "I guess that's ok, I'll bring one of my mates as well I guess. I mean, if you don't mind." He played with her.
"Oh that's totally fine, I'm sure my friend will be fine with that." She wet her lips and played with her necklace, "So see you at noon?"
"I can't wait." His heart fluttered. "Until then, stranger." He chuckled and they both hung up.
Mara smiled to herself and slowly turned to Elena and made eye contact, "Good morning."
"You totally like him!" Elena threw her pillow at her friend, "Look at you!"
"No I don't like him, I don't even know him!" She stood up and tossed Elena back her phone, "It's 9:40... We should get ready."
"Who are you tryn'a impress? Hm?" Elena got out of bed and giggled.
"Shut up!" She glared playfully, "he's bringing a friend so we both have to look good. I don't want you to look like a hobo too."
They went over to their small pile of clothes they had laid out for the day. Mara chose to keep it simple; she picked out her pink North Face hoodie layered under her white rain jacket that matched her rain boots. She knew that the weather was going to change and she wanted to stay dry, plus the thought of dressing up disturbed her, she didn't want to come across as something she wasn't. But, yes, she still looked attractive. Her hair was kept natural, down with a gentle curl; waves like water down her back. She took her time when she did her makeup, making sure there wasn't any smudge or any visible red blemish. She felt excitement flutter in her stomach, she didn't quite know how to show this emotion either. Mara didn't want to get her hopes up for something to then just get her heart broken, again. Elena on the other hand, was very excited and showed it. She did all the talking as they both got ready and grabbed a quick bite to eat. Mara only had a granola bar, for her stomach in a tussle.
As they walked out the door, Mara put her hair in a loose ponytail and her hair up in her hoods. The rain started to come down. They got into Elena's 1990 Nissan named 'Big Red', turning the heat up, they started on their way. "Mind if I plug your phone into the speaker? I want to listen to music." Mara grabbed Elena's phone and turned it on shuffle. Several songs the two knew came on as they drove down the freeway, the windows rolled down and the sound of their voices belting out the words. Suddenly the song changed from something familiar to Mara to something different, something that Elena only knew this song make Elena scream and jump up and down in her seat. Mara looked over at her in question.
"Please tell me you know who this is, Mara..." Elena turned it down and looked over to Mara.
Mara shook her head and chuckled, "No but I guess they're alright." The song was very mediocre, a boy band singing about how girls are perfect the way they are. But Mara had to give it to the band, the sounded alright. "Who are they?"
"One Direction!" Elena screamed, "They are SO hot! From England! They won the X factor!" Elena got super excited and screamed again and smacked at Mara with one of her hands, "I can't believe you don't know them! They are so hot!"
"Obviously!" Mara laughed and smacked Elena back, "Focus on the road! God." She continued to listen to the song. There was a long silence.
"Go to my photos and look at the album labeled One Direction." Elena commanded.
Mara did as she asked and looked through Elena's phone, and when she opened the album she pressed on the first photo she saw. There were five young men standing together their smiles large. She looked at every one of them carefully, her heart sank when she looked at one of them. He had on red pants and a white shirt with blue stripes across the chest and sleeves. "Oh..." She swallowed hard and her whole body started shaking. She zoomed in closer, her mind in disbelief. Is that? She asked herself, Is that him? She looked closer and saw the same light brown hair styled off to the side and the same hazel-green eyes. "Elena!" She screamed and threw her phone in shock.
"What! WHAT!" Elena freaked out and pulled over at a gas-station, "are you ok? Are they just too hot?" she chuckled, "What is it!" She looked at her friend in care.
Mara just shook, "Oh my God..." She held her hand on her chest and breathed deeply, "Th-the one in the red pants... he's part of this One Direction, right?"
"Well yeah... they all are." Elena grabbed her phone and slid through more pictures.
Mara let out a groan and inhaled deeply to calm herself, "That boy... looks a lot like the guy who has my phone."
Elena just sat there mouth open for a moment.
"And—he had a British accent too..." Mara stared at Elena.
"So you're telling me that we are going to go—MEET ONE DIRECTION?" She smacked Mara and screamed.
"Well I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE! Or who this guy is! They could just look alike!"
"No.. No.. I bet it's him! What time is it?" Elena looked to the clock, it was fifteen till. "Let's GO!" She started back on her way again, Mara still trying to catch her breath.
"No way, it can't be him." Mara shook her head, "maybe I'm going crazy..."
It was silent the rest of the way to downtown Seattle, the one noises that could be heard was Mara trying to calm herself down with her staggered breathing. Her face was bright red and her body shaking intensely, she couldn't think, her heart pounded in her chest and in her throat. What if it is him? What if she just thinks it's him.
They pulled up to the Seattle Center parking lot and quickly found a spot. Shakily, Mara grabbed her purse and opened the door, closing it slowly and carefully. "Elena..." She skipped over to Elena and grabbed her hand whispering, "What if it is him?"
Mara could feel Elena shake as well, "Mara I don't even know, let's just go and get your phone and if it's him, it's him and if it's not it's not!" She squeezed Mara's hand and smiled, "Don't stress, let's get your phone before your parents flip."
The two walked to the Space Needle in silence, they paid at the bottom and rode the elevator up, Elena holding back her fan-girl moment and Elena thinking through what she is going to say over and over in her head. When the two reached the top, they looked around the room that was inside, surrounded by windows to the outside where tourists looked out on Seattle. "Where is he?" Mara looked around the room.
"Maybe he's outside? They are site seeing, aren't they?" Elena followed Mara's lead. Mara froze; she looked straight ahead and saw two boys leaning against the rail looking out at Lake Union. The one that stood on the left looked identical to the picture that Mara saw, his pants were red, his hair was the same, and his shoes were white vans. The only thing different is that he was wearing a black rain coat and a similar black beanie. She swallowed hard and Elena grabbed Mara's arm, her nails digging into it whispering, "That's Niall Horan!" She softly squealed and people around them looked.
"Red pants guy?" Mara whispered and kept walking.
"No NO! The blonde one... He's—Oh my God!" She was breathing hard and shaking worse than Mara ever was.
"Alright! Calm down, Elena. How about you stay in here, get some water and I'll go out by myself then signal you to come back in, kay?" Mara was breathing hard as well now.
"Yeah, I don't want to blow their cover... They're just... So perfect!"
Mara shook her head, "Calm down! I'll be right back..." She took deep breaths as she opened up the door to go look outside; she was standing right behind the stranger that she ran into. She just stood there, looking at him, thinking about what to say. Her mouth was open but no words came out so she cleared her throat slightly. Reaching up she tapped the stranger on the shoulder and spoke out to him, "Howdy Stranger." They both simultaneously turned around and looked at her, her stranger smiling at her.
"Well hello there, I thought you wouldn't come." He smirked and looked her up and down through his sunglasses.
"Of course I'd come," She giggled and wrinkled her nose then looked down, "I mean, I kinda want my phone." She looked back up to his sunglasses.
"Ah, yes," he reached in his pocket and pulled out her phone and went to hand it to her as she reached up to grab it, "But first, your name?"
She sighed and adjusted her weight on her hip, "It's Mara Harford, now please, my phone?" She held out her hand.
"Well don't you want to know who I am?" He took a step closer to her and pointed at himself, "My name is Louis and this is my friend Niall," He pointed to his blonde friend, he smiled. "Also, to clear up the air, I did look through your phone. Just to see if there was any information, there was." He smirked.
"You went through my phone?" She reached up and grabbed it from his hands, "Who the hell does that!" She was blushing deep and her eyebrows narrowed. "Did you go through my photos?"
Louis put his hands up in defense, "I mean you're a very attractive young woman and it was for informational purposes only."
Mara shook her head, "How rude!" She looked at the background of her phone, it was him. She snorted a laugh, "Oh how sweet."
"I put my number in there too, I mean, if you wanted to call..." He looked over the rim of his sunglasses at her and smiled.
She smiled back, her heart fluttering, "Alright buddy i'll look into it." She stood there blushing, "Thank-you, for keeping my phone safe... My parents would've killed me."
"I figured, since they called like eighty times." He smiled and locked eyes with hers.
"Hey! Sorry I had to use the little girl's room." Elena came up and was smiling ear to ear. "Hello, my name is—" She looked at Niall and he locked eyes with her, he smiled, "Elena Happe." She smiled back.
"Pleasure to meet you," Niall held out his hand, "Niall Horan." He winked at her and her cheeks flushed with pink.
Louis and Mara looked over to them as they just stared at each other.
"You from here?" Niall asked.
"Born and raised, you having fun visiting?"
"Yeah," he paused, "but I haven't gotten to see a lot."
"You haven't?" her eyes widened and her eyebrows perked up, "Oh my gosh..."
"I guess I haven't had the right tour guide." He chuckled.
"Have you been to the aquarium?" She smiled softly at him and rocked her body side to side nervously as she tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.
"No, no I haven't... Is it fun?"
"Of course! You should check it out." She looked down and bit her bottom lip.
"Maybe..." He rubbed the back of his neck then stared at her, "Maybe you'd want to show me?" He looked from Elena to Louis who nodded and winked at his buddy.
Elena looked up fast and beamed at Niall, "Wait really? Me? No... No... I'm boring."
"C'mon you seem fun." He nudged her and chuckled.
She looked to Mara, Mara nodded and rolled her eyes, "Go ahead." She mumbled.
Elena clapped her hands and sighed with happiness, "Alright! Let's go." Both Niall and Elena had a grin smacked upon their faces as they walked away talking to one another.
"Aw, that's cute, it's like they know each other." Mara watched them and tilted her head sighing. "Now I'm alone." She laughed softly.
"No you're not," Louis leaned forward facing the Lake again and smiled, "If it makes you feel better I'm alone too."
Mara smirked and stood closer to him, leaning against the rail as well, "So... about that date." She looked to him, he looked back and locked eyes.
"Mara Harford, are you asking a stranger out on a date?" He chuckled and nudged her.
"It doesn't count, you asked me out first." She nudged him back.
He backed away from the rail, she turned and watched him as he extended his hand towards her, "Would you like to come with me?" He raised his eyebrow and smiled softly and waved his fingers towards himself.
She smiled, blushing and walked towards him, "It depends." They walked together and went down the elevator, "As long as you don't take my phone again."
He smirked and took of his sunglasses as they went down, looked at her and nodded, "I won't, as long as you trust me." He chuckled and put back on his sunglasses. His heart racing and beating as loud as hers, she looked down and blushed.
Before the elevator door even opened, Louis adjusted his jacket and glasses. Mara watched him and chuckled, "You know you look more suspicious with your sunglasses on than you do without them." She looked ahead and watched the doors open; she walked out first and started walking down the way towards the sidewalk.
"Wait wait!" Louis ran for her and walked by her side. Looking around he whispered at her, "You know who I am?" He seemed surprised.
Mara stopped, "Well, to be honest, I didn't know who you were until Elena showed me a picture of you." She crossed her arms. "I just thought you were some creep." She fought back a smile.
Louis sighed, "Can you please keep this on the down low?" He got closer to her and held his hands together, "I don't want a scene."
Mara rolled her eyes, "Whatever." She kept walking, shoving his shoulder aside.
"What is wrong with you?" He followed after her, struggling to keep up with her steady pace. "One second you act like you are into me and then next second you are—well—this!" he shook his head.
"Oh that is SO typical rock star, thinking that I'm all into you?" She blushed and chuckled, "Well, for your information—" she whispered, "Louis," then kept going, "I don't care about you being a super star! I didn't know who you were till this morning!" People started staring at them as they argued in the middle of Seattle Center. She looked down.
"Mara..." He approached her sighing, "I know you don't care! Which is why I want to take you out—to hangout, today." He tilted her head up genteelly with his fingers and smiled, "What do you say?" He took a step back to give Mara space.
She stood there thinking and felt embarrassed, "Sorry I blew up on you." She wiggled her nose and adjusted her glasses, her long eyelashes fluttering fast with nerves.
"I forgive you." He chuckled, "I understand, this is all crazy for you."
"Come with me." She looked up at him and nudged her shoulder against him as she walked forward towards the bus-stop. "I know where we can go."
"Er, do you need me to get us a car or anything?" He followed after her, she, turning back and playfully glared, "O.k. never-mind!"
She giggled as she waited by the bus-stop, leaning against the bus-times pole, "I'll take care of you, Louis, and you want me to trust you? You got to trust me." She stuck her tongue out and wrinkled her nose.
He stood in front of her, looking down and inhaled sharply, "Eh but I heard busses are scary here."
"Where did you hear that!" Mara said loudly then covered her mouth.
"Just... places..." He nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
"No one will know who you are..." She was looking out at the people walking by, "if that's what you're worried about."
"I'm not..." The bus pulled up, Mara dug in her purse and pulled out her Orca bus card, and he awkwardly dug in his pockets for change. He was down one quarter so Mara paid for the rest. Mara was quick for grab a seat more towards the front where more normal people sat, not crazy drug dealers. Louis couldn't help himself but watch Mara walk down the aisle to where they sat and as they sat down he leaned back and subtly looked at her thighs and hips through his sunglasses, he cleared his throat. "So you ride horses."
She sat back and whispered, "Yes I do. How did you know—wait you looked through my phone." She smiled at him.
"Y-Yeah, sorry." He bit at his bottom lip, his cheeks turning pink.
"I forgive you." The bus came to their stop at Green Lake; Mara stood up and smiled at Louis. "Follow me." She shimmied her way through the people and got off the bus.
Louis followed and looked around at all the people passing by, all the small restaurants, and the sound of ducks squawking. Mara crossed the street and walked over to a small shop named Zoë yogurt. "What's this?" He whispered as they went in.
"Frozen yogurt. I'm a little hungry." She laughed and grabbed a small bowl and started filling it with Cheese Cake yogurt. Louis watched her, holding his bowl and smiled while she tucked a loose ringlet that came out of her ponytail, her expression concentrated as she carefully pulled the lever to get the yogurt. His heart was jittery and his stomach was fluttery. He looked at the different selections and got nervous when people accidently bumped into him. "Having a problem?" Mara approached him and giggled, licking the yogurt that got on her thumb. "If you want it simple, you can just get vanilla." She chuckled and pointed at the vanilla yogurt.
He nodded at her, "Alright..." Louis nervously put the yogurt in his dish then went over to the toppings; his heart was pounding as he looked at Mara who was all ready: her yogurt covered with fresh strawberries. "This-This is it for me." He placed his next to her container to get weighed. Mara reached into her purse for her wallet. "No no." Louis reached in his back pocket and grabbed his wallet, he pulled out a ten and paid for their yogurt.
"Oh, so you didn't have change for the bus but you have enough for yogurt." She giggled as they walked out of the store towards the track around Green Lake.
"Hey now, I was just being a gentleman." He slid a spoonful of yogurt in his mouth, proceeded to talk with his mouthful, "You are quite a handful you know." They started walking around the lake together, side by side.
Mara finished her spoonful and chuckled, "A gentleman? I didn't know they talked with their mouthful!" She nudged him and started walking faster.
He tripped slightly and watched her as she walked away, her hips swaying and hair bouncing; he smiled and went after her. "Well, I guess there are some acceptations to being one." He put some yogurt on his finger then smudged it on her face, "Like that."
She gasped and playfully glared, "you jerk!" she blushed deep.
"Oh I got it don't worry." He grabbed his napkin and wiped her face, his hand lingering on her cheek as they locked eyes. "See, that was very kind, wasn't it?"
She smiled large at him and averted her eyes down, "Take your sunglasses off." Her heart pounds for him.
He inhaled deeply and looked around briefly then slowly slid off his sunglasses, folded them, and slid them in his pocket, "There." He watched her face carefully as she looked up at him and locked eyes with him; they stood there and looked at each other, examining each other.
"For some reason, when I first saw the picture of you I didn't believe it was really you... until I saw your eyes." She averted her eyes to the side; he followed and kept the eye contact.
"I am flattered." His cheeks blushed and he smiled. The two walked again as they finished their treat. There was a spot in the grass that was open and the sun was starting to break out through the clouds.
Mara ran over and sat down in the grass, patting the side next to her, "Come."
He sat next to her, his arms on his knees and watched the light reflect on the water, "I'm having fun."
She laughed, "But we aren't really doing anything..." she pulled at the grass and hummed softly.
"Yeah, I got to be with you." He nudged her and her body rocked. The two sat there taking pictures on each other's phones and talking about their lives. Louis talked about his life being in the band, his family, his friends, and his life. Mara talking about: horses, horseback riding, school, and her family as well as dreams. Unexpected hours went by as well as smiles and laughs. At this point, Mara took off her rain jacket and let her long hair down, she laid back with her head on Louis' lap and him leaning back on his arms.
There was a pause in their question and answer time where they just looked at each other, Louis smiled the widest he had when Mara put on his sunglasses, which she grabbed out of his pocket, and took one of her curls and put it over her top lip to resemble a mustache. "Would you still be my friend if I looked like this?" she asked him and giggled, trying to keep a serious face. "I'm serious, if I looked like this would you be my friend."
Louis played along, "I don't know if I'd be your mate." He winked and laughed hard, "You look ridiculous." He let himself loose, not giving a care that people were staring at them.
"You suck! I'm your friend and you look like you." She stuck her tongue out and dropped the hair.
"Hey!" he pouted, "That wasn't nice..." He chuckled and she yawned, the sun was starting to go down. They have spent all day together.
Her phone vibrated, they both looked at each other and Mara grabbed her phone and quickly answered it, "Hello?" It was her mom, Louis had a serious face as he listened carefully. "Yes I know... I know I have school tomorrow. I'm with Elena... I swear! We're at Green Lake. Green Lake! Yes. Yes. She has to go soon, I don't know if she can drive me home." Louis got up then extended his hand to help her up, she grabbed it then got up as well. "Mhmm. Well, Daniela and David live like four minutes away walking so I can just crash there. No I don't need my books tomorrow, I have my computer. MOM I'll call you later." She started to tear up as she reached for her jacket, Louis reached down and helped her put on her rain jacket and he put on his as well. She hung up and started texting Elena, "I'm so sorry, Louis, I was supposed to be home at 3—its 6 now." The daylight around them had gone away.
"I understand, I understand." He smiled at her softly and held her jacket for her to zip it up, "Need me to give you a ride home?"
"No, no, no. I'm just going to my brother's its close." She looked up at him, they stared at each other. "Thank you."
He blinked and nodded, "You're welcome?" he paused and licked his lips, "What did I do?"
She shrugged, "You listened to me, you made me feel—safe." She blushed and giggled. "I'll think about putting that number in my phone to use." She put his sunglasses back in his hand and lingered there for a moment. Tucking some hair behind her ear she smiled, "Good night, Louis." She turned and started walking on her way, her arms crossed and head down.
"Wait!" He jogged after her and grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers with Mara's. She stopped, her heart sinking and turned to look at him; her hand unintentionally grasping his. "If your brother's place is so close... at least let me walk you home. It's dark and late and I don't want something to happen."
She nodded and started walking with him, her hand loosening up in his but his squeezing back and he looked down at her. "Are you sure? You don't have to." She laughed softly and they continued to walk toward the direction of her brother's house. It started to rain, Mara felt bad and blushed.
"Mara, there is a difference between need to and want to." With his free hand he adjusted his beanie and kept walking. He noticed a group of girls walking with the same frozen yogurt the two had gotten early from Zoe, snapping pictures with their phones of Mara and himself. He reached in his pocket and put on his sunglasses without breaking his hand with her. "So where is their house?" He leaned in close and whispered, his paces speeding up.
"It's not that far! Why?" Her face got concerned, "Why what's wrong?" She stopped walking, his fingers sliding away.
He was quick to grab her hand back, "Let's just go. Let's get you home." He pulled her and as he turned to walk away the group of girls were in front of them, taking pictures and asking for his autograph.
"Take our picture with us! It's Louis! Oh my God!" They'd make a commotion, "What are you doing in Seattle!" He was kind, he smiled and signed autographs, letting go of Mara's hand. Mara smiled and blinked away her watering eyes.
"How long does this usually take?" She whispered to him. He looked down at her and softly smiled, she smiled back; the girls snapped photos as they were walking away giggling to each other.
"It was quick because it was just me." They continued walking and they arrived at the apartment house and he stopped walking as they approached the door to the stairwell. "So I guess here is where I'm going to have to leave you?" He held both of her hands at his point and smiled. "I had a good time today, I hope you did."
She nodded and smiled back, "I hope to see you again—before you leave."
"You will." He let go of his hands and wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her, "I promise, stranger."
She slowly hugged him back and closed her eyes, taking in everything about him, "Good night, stranger." They pulled away from one another and she waved to him before she walked up the stairs to her brother and sister-in-law's apartment. Mara's heart was racing.