Chapter 36
Previously . . .
"Oh no, you guys."
"What Caitlyn?" I asked, wiping my eyes which I hadn't realized till now, had been leaking tears.
"Why am I getting news feed that you and Shane kissed?"
"WHAT?" Shane and I exclaimed.
"Because of this," Nate said, going to the webcam and turning it off. Shane and I looked at each other. Oh no, this can't be happening.
"How long has that thing been on?" Caitlyn asked quietly.
"Since the chat started." Jason said, biting into his apple
"WHAAT?" Caity, Shane and I exclaimed, and Shane went on to yell, "why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Dude, we tried but you cut us off, both times."
"Holy crap!" Caity exclaimed and we all fell silent.
The silence was so deep, we could have had it for dinner. Shane was still standing next to the couch, I was still lying on it, crying, Jason was on the kitchen table, Caity was on the couch's chair, staring at the web cam, and Nate was seated on the other side of the kitchen table.
We had just let the whole world know that Shane and I fancied each other. We were doomed. Zayn and I were probably over. So were Shane and Demi. She probably knows now, why I act aloof around her. Oh no, she is gonna call Joe and tell him . . .
At that moment, his phone started to ring. We all froze . . . that did not mean well. It could only mean one thing . . .
Trouble.
No one moved, at least for ten seconds. We all looked at Shane, who looked a little mortified. We all were. Then he picked it up.
"Hello . . . mum? . . . we are fine here . . . oh, nothing much . . . yes, we forgot the camera was on . . . I really don't know why . . . yes, she is here . . . she is fine," he said looking away from my tear-stained face.
I looked away too, but only because my phone was also ringing. I picked it up and pressed the 'okay' button.
"Hello?"
"I love you too."
"Zayn?!"
He chuckled, "you seem surprised."
"Well, I expected you to get angry at me, or yell, but it is a shock you haven't."
"Why should i? I know that you and Shane have your moments and stuff but I am willing to try us if you are. I mean, why would I be angry if he made a move on you? You are beautiful, and talented, and every guy would want you for himself."
I smiled. I saw Caity look questioningly at me, so I mouthed "Malik" at her.
"I hope you are still okay?"
"Are you kidding me? I am better than okay! You are ama-z-a-y-n!"
We both laughed as I saw Shane stomp out, looking very frustrated, but before he left, he dashed his newest phone against the wall and it broke. It was a pretty loud crash.
"Whoa dude! What's your problem?" Nate asked, as Jason bent over to examine the pieces.
"She is my problem!" he yelled, pointing at me. I held my breath, so did Zayn at the other end. I could tell he heard everything.
"Chill dude," Caity said, going over to him and trying to take his hands but he refused and walked out, banging the door behind him like a mad man would.
"I am sorry I called at this time, but I had to let you know . . ."
"It is okay," I said, trying to ignore the numbing feeling I was getting on my feet.
"Go talk to Shane. You guys should figure out your friendship. From what I heard, you have a lot of pending matters that you should clear before the media start to dog you guys."
"You sure you are okay with it?"
"I am great!"
"Are the other guys with you?"
"No. Just Harry, who is dead asleep right now."
"Well, I will call you later, okay?"
"Bye! And I love you!"
"I love you too."
I got off the phone and looked at my friends who smiled at me and Nate pointed out where Shane had gone. He was probably outside the hotel, by the pool by now. so I dashed out and ran to the lift. I got in as soon as it came and pressed ground floor. There was a couple making out behind me. I ignored them and ran out as soon as the door opened, heading to the direction of the pool.
I was right. He was at the pool, swimming like an angry shark. I felt a little worried but I went and sat by the edge, after taking off my very comfortable flats.
As I dipped my feet into the water, I saw him look at me, and I half expected him to be annoyed, or enraged, but he was neither. He just looked a little lost.
"Are you okay?"
He sighed, then swam a lap, before coming back towards me. I watched him closely.
"No, I am not. My life sucks."
"I am sorry."
"I know"
"So she broke up with you?"
"Pretty much."
I kept silent and looked down to my feet in the warm water. They looked weird due to the refraction.
"What about you?"
"Zayn is okay. He said he . . ." I stopped and remembered this was not about me. it was about us.
"I am sorry I was so distant after you and Demi . . . got together. I know I should have been there but it felt so awkward. I didn't know what to do. I felt all alone and I was also a little envious of her."
"Why would you be envious of her?"
"You guys have history. Remember?"
"History is nothing, when it comes to my best friend, she wins hands down."
"Ha-ha. Really, or you are saying that to get in my good books?"
"Okay, you know me better than I know myself."
"You bet! I am your best friend!"
We laughed a little, and I smiled to myself as I felt the tension fade away. It had been ages since Shane and I laughed out of happiness. Almost half a year.
"I am sorry I led you on."
"I am sorry I moved on."
"You have," he said quietly, and I smiled into the pool, thinking of Zayn and his sweet face and his funny character, and lots of other things.
"A penny for your thoughts."
"More like a dime."
Shane swam over to me and held out his hand. "Please help me up."
"Sure," I said, holding out my hand to him, which he clasped and next thing I knew, I was in the pool.
"Shane! You made me wet!"
"You looked so thoughtful out there, so I decided to drag you in and minimize them."
I swam to him and ducked his head into the pool, and he resurfaced and ducked me in too. Soon, we were chase-swimming around in the pool, laughing and tossing water at each other. Eventually, I caught him and we laughed at how fast I was at swimming.
"You are beautiful, did I ever tell you that?" Shane asked, as he swam a little closer.
"Yes, plenty of times back in the day."
By now we were so close, we could see each other in each others' irises. Shane moved closer and closer and his face was just inches from mine.
"I love your hair," he whispered and I felt his arms snake round my waist, as he drew me even closer. I found myself unable to move out of his grasp, and I expected a kiss but I was so surprised to get a hug instead.
What the hell?!
What Is Wrong With Me?
"AHEM!"
We jumped apart, scared, only to see Caity, Nate and Jason smiling at us.
"So, I am guessing that the cold war is over?"
"Hmm, how about we find out?" I asked swimming over to her then grabbing her foot and pulling her into the water. She fell in and Nate followed because Jason had pushed him in.
"Oh my, you two are as wet as us!"
"Haha, wait till we make you pay for it."
We played around in the pool as Jason took photos of us. Then Shane went and caught hold of him, and pushed him into the pool.
Two hours later, we had to leave, but we all went upstairs, changed into swimwear and went to the Jacuzzi where we sat and recounted the tour and the funny moments, comparing them to the previous tours we went on together.
"Hey, remember that day when the power went out in Hartford?"
"that day Shane cut his palm at Tallahassee? That was crazy!"
"Nate, remember that performance at Springfield when you fell off the piano?"
"Caity, remember that day at Jackson when Nate was crying real tears because Sarah was crying from her fall on stage and Shane had to comfort her?"
"Oh, I have a good one! Remember that day at Cheyenne when Sarah and Shane almost kissed on stage?"
We both blushed. I found myself looking at his mouth, which always looked. . . stop it Sarah! Stop it!
I looked away, but not before Shane caught me staring. Oh, crap!
After an hour in the water, we dried off and went back to the hotel rooms, feeling happier than we had in ages.
Why hadn't we made up sooner? Life would have been easier during tour. Oh well, we still had Europe and this time, I would have my best friend with me.
Awesome was the word to describe it.