I pulled my black high heeled ankle boots from a box in my undecorated bedroom and slipped them onto my feet before clonking down my apartment's hallway to the long full length mirror which was on the wall by the front door. I'd gone for a simple look that wasn't too much but still looked like I made some effort with a long sleeved black and gold dress that just about reached mid-thing, was I mad? It was freezing out there and I was walking there and back since it was only down the road but I couldn't afford to look like crap with this 'online source' probably lurking about somewhere.
As I entered Quartz it was exactly how I remembered it, way too classy and over the top. The walls and floor were a clean, shiny black while the décor was all very glittery, silver, pink or had a glass like affect, handing the doorman my coat I scanned the room for the others until I spotted them in an isolated alcove that was very private compared to the rest of the bar and club area.
"Katie, you look lovely!" Conor smiled standing up to hug me and let me have a seat at the rounded, long, black sofa that surrounded a circle glass table – god knows how but somehow myself, Conor, Harry, Louis, Liam, Niall, Zayn, Beth, Lauren, Jodie, Ashley and Bex had fitted onto it and we still had more to come.
"It's been a while since we've done this!" Louis chuckled over the noise of Nero's 'Guilt',
"tell me about it, too long" Bex agreed looking at him. I moved carefully so that I didn't barge Zayn or Conor who were squashed up next to me,
"Where's Helen?" I asked curiously looking around, it seemed weird not having her here, "she's just gone to meet Tyler at the train station because he doesn't have a clue as to how to get here from Portobello Station" Ashley informed me.
Tyler was Harrys' step-brother, they were practically twins as there was only about 3 or 4 months in-between them, looked scarily alike and did everything together…it was cool he was coming, I hadn't seen him in forever,
"so Beth, Ashley…you said you were models – what sort of work have you guys done?" I heard Jodie ask from across the table, I couldn't help but cringe at the sound of her voice, even though I was in the wrong by abandoning her when she needed me, I still couldn't believe she'd gone off with my boyfriend. Finding the nerve to look across the table at the two of them I stared trying to hide my disgust, she was all snuggled up and clung on to him like an over-friendly koala and he just sat there thinking he looked cool, idiots. He must've caught me swearing because I could've sworn he gave half of a smirk in my direction but I was in too deep thought to even respond.
In fact, looking at everyone individually a lot had changed – there was the whole weird Jodie and Harry situation, then there was Niall and Bex who were obviously appreciating every moment they had together, Lauren and Conor who didn't seem so loved up all of a sudden, Liam and Louis were still their same jokey selves and as far as I was concerned me and Zayn still had the no-strings-attached thing going on.
"I finally found him…" Helen laughed as the rest of us turned to face her and also to see Tyler who was standing just a few inches behind her, "that station is just in the middle of no-where…I don't know how you guys expected me not to get lost" he argued in his defence,
"come sit down" Lauren smiled (for the first time all night) in their direction. Helen shook her head, "shall we go dance or something? We might as well"
-
Clearly a lot of people had decided to come Quartz for a random late Monday night since the dance floor was absolutely packed and it was getting hard for me to keep track on where all my friends were and what they were doing, I'd seen Niall and Bex disappear out the back into the bars garden but other than that the only people I could see were Zayn, Tyler, Jodie and Harry.
"So how long's it been with you'se two now?" I asked trying not to sound bitter,
"it's been about…9 months, right Harry?" Jodie said wrapping her arms around his neck, immediately felt Zayn glance in my direction; he knew what I was thinking. In response to Jodie's answer I simply raised my eyebrows and carried on dancing, I wasn't going to comeback with something sarcastic or clever since deep-down I knew I didn't have the right to say anything – it's not like they wasn't allowed to date. Before any other awkward conversation could take place the DJ switched the song to Rihanna's 'We Found Love'…Perfect
-MEANWHILE-
"I love this song!" Liam grinned, dancing madly throwing his arms around, Louis and Helen looked at him and then at each other a little frightened,
"alright, chill out mate" Louis laughed patting him on the shoulder. The three of them mingled on the edge of the dance floor since it was virtually impossible to move anywhere else due to how packed it was, "so, what about the Jodie rumours – true or false?" Helen asked shifting her eyes back to Louis deciding to let Liam get on with his insane raving dance moves,
"false…" Louis replied almost too quickly,
"you don't know Jodie" Helen scoffed;
"you don't know Harry" he scoffed back. The online source that followed the group of friends around had pretty much sent rumours up in flames about Jodie and Harry and now the words 'true' or 'false' were on everybody's lips.
Louis looked over towards where Zayn, Jodie, Harry and Katie were dancing further into the middle of the floor, "she doesn't act like it though" he pointed out,
"I suppose but who does?" Helen shrugged leaning backwards a bit to avoid being smacked in the face by Liams windmill arms, "I suppose we'll find out for sure soon enough" Louis smiled. Living in the wealthy but sneaky environment that this group had been used to for so long, the first lesson all of them had learnt was only time can tell – there was no point in pointing the finger and accusing or jumping to conclusions.
"Compliments from the gentlemen at the bar…" a grey haired, smooth barman smiled handing Helen a pink looking cocktail with a sparkler poking out the top, "fancy…" Liam grinned wriggling his eyebrows. Helen rolled her eyes and hit him,
"shut up!" she snapped in a playful way taking the drink off of the barman before looking over at the bar towards a guy who gave her a nod and a simple wave,
"I'm going to go thank him…" Helen smiled, "I'll be back – don't leave without me" she said over her shoulder to Louis as she disappeared into the crowd of people.
Sitting back at our table I let out a heavy breath, I was absolutely boiling and my feet were throbbing after being on the dance floor, "tired?" Beth laughed stirring her drink,
"just a bit, I forgot how busy this place gets" I said catching my breath and reaching for my own drink, "I might actually start leaving soon since we do have sixth form tomorrow" I added,
"oh don't be a spoil sport!" Lauren groaned giving my arm a gentle push, "it's your first proper night out since you've been back…stay!" I laughed; I supposed she was right I hadn't been out properly since I'd been back.
"So Bex and Conor?" I started, trying to read Laurens facial expression and I said their names,
"urgh, don't get me started…" she scowled shaking her head and taking another quick sip of her drink,
"Helen told me they were only pretending to be together because of Bexs' parents though…they don't want her with Niall or something because Bex being with Conor means her dads business will grow?" I questioned waiting for her to confirm if what I'd been told was true or not,
"true but that's no excuse…why should I share my boyfriend for her sake?" Lauren bit back,
"True" I shrugged,
"little slut" she mumbled. Deciding not to take the discussion any further since Lauren was getting so frustrated with it I sat back and stayed silent watching everyone have fun, all in all I was happy to be back.
"What's the time" I managed to croak as I felt the sun burst through the curtains of my living room,
"two o'clock" Zayn replied…"Oh" I yawned rolling over onto my stomach.
Wait, two o'clock?
Zayn?
I opened my eyes wide and frowned, "two o'clock?" I repeated again,
"looks like everybody got a bit too drunk last night" he smirked scratching the back of his neck as I sat up, "so I take it I've missed school…" I yawned placing my hand on my forehead, it was throbbing, I'd never felt so rough. Lifting myself so I was sitting up next to him I looked around my living room squinting, glasses were everywhere,
"did everybody come back here last night or something?" I laughed calling to Zayn as he got up and walked to the kitchen,
"yup, just a few of us" he laughed as he came back bringing in two glasses of water. Then it hit me.
"So everyone came back here and you're still here" I stated raising an eyebrow,
"…That's what it looks like" he chuckled pushing my head at the stupid comment I'd just made,
"did you even leave?" I asked already knowing the answer; he just looked at me and smirked. Well, it looked like the whole no-strings-attached relationship still existed,
"nothing changes" I laughed laying back down not being able to stay upright for much longer without feeling sick,
"just to confirm, you have no intentions in becoming my girlfriend and I have none in becoming your boyfriend right?" he asked blankly, "wouldn't dream of it" I scoffed after kicking him playfully. We weren't like that; we didn't want a relationship with each other.
"Good because there's someone that wants to meet up with you later" he continued.
