Tessa's POV
I woke up to the smell of chocolate chip pancakes. Was my mother actually making them? I had been begging her to make them for weeks! I rushed out of my bed, even though I was still in my pyjamas. They weren't that bad, just a white tank top and black spandex. Plus, it's just my family.
When I got downstairs to the kitchen, someone wolf-whistled. I was surprised to find a lot of lads eating my chocolate chip pancakes. I suddenly remembered that it was Wednesday, and the football team breakfast is always held on Wednesday. This week we were holding it, and I completely forgot about it. I felt really awkward and embarrassed, just the usual. I looked around for a familiar face that wasn't giving me death glares or leering looks. Near the end of the table, my gaze settled on Niall. He conveniently had an open spot next to him.
I quickly grabbed two pancakes and made my way to sit next to him. Everyone's eyes finally stopped watching me, and they all went back to eating and talking (at the same time, gross!) and doing whatever it is that boys do. My mother was still near the stove making dozens of pancakes, but she had headphones in to ignore the noise from the team.
Niall leaned down to talk to me so he could be heard over the boisterous team making a racket. "Nice pyjamas." He commented with a quick wink.
"Shut up!" I shoved him.
He put his hands up in surrender. "Just saying what everyone is thinking." I just glared at him and went back to enjoying my pancakes as best I could in a room bursting with testosterone-filled males.
I noticed Jesse glaring at me. "Sorry," I mouthed to him. "I forgot." He just narrowed his eyes and went back to talking to whoever was trying to get his attention. I looked around for Louis just to make sure he wasn't upset with me, too. I caught his eye and looked at him questioningly. He smiled and nodded. Then, he went back to speaking with his friends. I was glad at least one of my triplets wasn't mad at me.
I looked down at my plate and noticed I had only a half of a pancake left. It made me sad. I looked over at Niall's plate, and he had four left. When he noticed my staring, his eyes widened. "No. No way in Hell." He told me and shook his head to emphasize his point.
"Please?" I gave him my puppy-dog eyes. He shook his head but hesitated at first. "Pwetty pwease?" I changed my lettering to sound more like a little kid. I nuzzled his shoulder with my head, then I pressed my lips to it, knowing he would get uncomfortable.
When he tensed, I knew I had won. "Fine." He sighed.
"Yay!" I clapped my hands together once the single pancake was placed on my plate.
Immediately, the entire room got quiet and stared. Almost as instantaneously, the noise got really loud. Everyone started talking at once, and I only got a few bits.
"…Just happened…"
"…She's hot…"
"…Niall never shares…"
Niall and I turned to look at one another. Louis got everyone quiet.
"I see what's going on here, but I don't understand. What just happened?" He then put on the theatrics. "Is Niall cheating on me with my own sister?" He gasped and then collapsed into fake tears.
"Did we do something wrong? And how would Niall have been cheating with me? He just gave me a pancake. What's the big deal?" I asked. I didn't even know what was going on before Louis accused me of cheating. By the looks of it, Niall didn't either. Everyone was staring back and forth between Niall and I. It was as if they were trying to see something tangible between us.
"Niall just gave you a pancake. Not just a pancake either, one of mum's pancaked. Niall never shares food." Jesse clarified, giving Niall a warning look.
"He's my best friend." I shrugged innocently.
Louis got up from his chair, came over to Niall and I, and wrapped his arms around Niall's neck. "He was mine first." He childishly growled. Most everyone laughed because they knew Louis well.
Niall tried to untangle himself from my brother, but Louis held on tight. "Woah bro, back off my best friend." I said, removing Louis's arms from Niall's neck and replacing them with my own. I leaned up to press a kiss on his cheek, something Louis couldn't top. Niall looked thoroughly shocked.
Before Lou could retaliate, Jesse spoke up. "I know we all want a piece of some Niall, but I'd rather not spit up what I just ate." Louis and I both fixated our glares on him instead of each other whilst Niall looked really uncomfortable.
"You're just jealous because I'm in love with someone else." Louis rubbed it in his face.
"Oh, you caught me." Jesse said sarcastically. At that, all of the football team laughed and went back to their food. They all finished rather quickly and stood up to throw their paper plates in the rubbish bin. (AN: Rubbish bin=Trash can in America :D) They all walked outside, including Louis and Jesse. Some went on the patio and the rest went in the pool. I could only hope that went alright and I wouldn't have to clean up puke later. Niall decided to stay in here with me for the time being. I noticed that my mother had left the room during the whole fiasco.
Once everyone had left the room, I scooted my chair, so I was able to prop my legs across Niall's lap. I wasn't very concerned with Niall seeing me in such little clothes; Niall was just my best friend. At least I had some clothes on with him, but with the rest of those lads it was a completely different story. I always made sure to bundle up when they were around. Whenever I used to go to my triplets' football practices, all the team would do is ogle me and make lewd comments. It was very annoying for my brothers.
"So what're we gonna do today?" Niall asked. We had been hanging out every day since we became "best friends." Which means we had spent the past two days doing stuff. Monday, we went swimming in our special place; yesterday, I had gone to his soccer practice and we went to dinner along with Louis and Jesse afterwards. We didn't necessarily spend the entire day together, just a couple of hours or so to "strengthen our bond," as Niall put it.
I thought about his question for a minute. "I dunno. Unlike somebody I know, I have work in two hours."
He pouted. "But I won't be here this evening." He jutted his bottom lip out, to keep up with the theatrics.
I immediately got suspicious. I didn't really care what he was doing, just why he wasn't doing it with me. "What are you doing this evening?" I questioned. He shifted his weight mainly onto his right side, disturbing my foot rest.
He muttered something I couldn't understand. "Niall, I am completely sure we have been over this at least a hundred times. You need to speak clearly, so people can understand you." I teased him, trying to put some humour into the situation. It couldn't be that bad, right?
"I kinda have a date tonight." He stuttered. He ran his fingers through his hair and scratched the back of his neck.
I guess I was right. Or should I say wrong? I didn't know how to respond. That was the last thing I was expecting him to say. I wasn't even expecting him to say that. I had been hanging out with him all week, so when would he have had enough time to plan a date.
"Oh, cool, I guess."
"Yeah. I didn't really know how to tell you." He said. Well, you kinda just did.
"Who?" Not that it mattered, I was just curious.
His cheeks burned at my question. I guessed we still hadn't gotten passed our embarrassment phase. It's with that Sailor girl, the one who took me to the party. On Saturday, she asked me to dinner and a movie so I agreed. It's not a big deal or anything."
It just had to be Sailor. Stupid Niall had to agree to go on another date with that fucking tramp. He could get practically any girl in this entire town, but he chooses to go with the main bitch. Can't he see that all she wants is to get into his pants? She's a bloody whore. How can no one else see it?
I acted like it didn't bother me. "Sweet." I had no idea if I was supposed to say that. I was so confused.
Before this could get any more awkward, Louis clamored through the doorway, make a whole bunch of noise. "Niall! Stop cheating on me with my own sister! Now get out here and join your team!" Louis yelled at him, faking tears again. We were saved by Louis, thank you Allah.
Niall rubbed my legs, making me grateful I had shaved, and removed them from his lap. He got up and left with a wave, leaving me alone in a messy kitchen. I threw away Niall's and I's plates first. Since the team had cleaned theirs already, I started with cleaning up the grill.
Once I had finished, I ran upstairs to get showered and get ready for work in less than an hour and a half.
It was half four when I left Denarii's. I almost went straight to Niall's, but I remembered he had a date with a whore tonight. I decided to call Liam instead, but I didn't get an answer. The same thing happened when I tried to call Cara, too. I sat down on a bench to scroll through my contacts. I decided to call Noah. Almost everyone was back home in England or in New York.
He picked up on the fourth ring. "This is Noah." He said, letting me know that he didn't check the caller ID before answering. I decided to have a little fun with it.
"Noah Grey, where are you? You were supposed to be home over an hour ago!" I fake-yelled in my best impression of his mother's voice. There was a pause and then a crash, which I assumed to be him dropping his phone. There was a scuffling sound and then I heard chuckling. Why was he chuckling?
"Hey, Tessa." He laughed.
My mouth dropped open. "How'd you know it was me?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"Your impression of my mother sucked." He shocked me. I thought I was pretty good.
"What?" I exclaimed.
"Yep. Also, there is this new feature on phones where you can see who you're talking to while you're talking to them. It's wicked!" I could hear the sarcasm dripping in his voice. "Plus, Theresa-"
"Tessa." I corrected.
"Tessa, my parents won't be here until the end of summer."
My mouth fell open again. "So my impression was good. No need to be so rude, you jerk."
"Hey," He said, sounding hurt. "So what did you want?"
I suddenly remembered why I had called in the first place. "Oh, right. I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out sometime."
"Like when?" He asked in a weird tone.
"Like now." I mimicked him.
I could hear him smile. "Sure. I just finished working out-"
"TMI bro."
"-so I need to shower. Meet me at the café in twenty?" I nodded but he couldn't see it.
"Yeah, sure. See you then."
"Laters babe." He said as he hung up. That was awkward.
I got up from my seat on the bench and started to walk in the direction of the café. There was no harm in getting there early. I was walking on the sidewalk when I thought I heard someone calling my name. I was pretty sure I was imagining things, so I brushed it off.
"Tessa!" I definitely heard that. I turned my head and saw someone lightly jogging my way. When they got closer to me, I was able to tell who it was.
"Zayn!" I shouted as I jumped into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.
"Tessa, I thought it was you." He breathed into my hair, still a little breathless from his jog. I let go of him and he set me on the ground. I took a second to just admire him. He was wearing the same attire I had always seen him in: tee-shirt, leather jacket, and skinny jeans so tight they took my breath away. He had gotten even more attractive since the last time I had seen him. He pulled me into an actual hug this time and kissed my cheek as he pulled away.
"Wow, Zayn. It's been a while."
He chuckled. "It's been way too long. I can't do the things I do with you when I'm with your brothers. Makes me happy I see you every other holiday and stuff." He winked.
Zayn is one of the only people I see year-round. He's Louis and Jesse's best friend, so we hang out when we're both in town. We did regular things; a couple of heavy make out sessions, sneaking around, it was always a lot of fun. That was just our way of catching up. It started when he was my first kiss back when we were eight. We didn't talk about it until we were thirteen though. Most people talked over coffee, but Zayn and I liked making out in the dark, where if we heard any noises we would squeal and run away before we were caught. Throughout the year, we talked a little bit. It was just a couple of texts every few months, nothing major.
I laughed at him, remembering everything we did on those holidays. I hugged him again, still not getting over the fact that I was actually seeing him. Everything seemed to be falling back into place.
Zayn slung his arm around my shoulders. "Well, since this is the first time I've seen you in moths, like, can I take you out for coffee? Like, maybe we can catch up and stuff?" He wiggled his eyebrows seductively and pulled his mouth up into a sexy half-smirk.
I smiled at him and breathily laughed. "I really wish you had asked me five minutes ago. I actually just mad plans with a guy friend of mine. You can come along if you want." I offered.
He shook his head. "I'd rather not third wheel today."
"Raincheck?" I asked with hope in my eyes.
"'Course." He said, showing off his pearly whites. He leaned in to give me one last hug and a peck on the lips. "I'll text you later and we can do stuff." I nodded my head. He winked at me, and then turned around to walk back the way he had come. I just stood there and watched him go. I had no idea I would see Zayn at all during the summer.