~A/N~

Guys. Louis didn't have sex with Monica lol I pointed out that Zach's timing was perfect when he walked in. That's not a secret or part of the cliffhanger, Lou and Lorena's conversation is! And here it is! Enjoyyyy xx

*******

"Sure love." I gulped and moved more to my right, so Lorena could sit down. She let out a small breath and nodded curtly, before nodding. I could feel the anxiousness in the air; the only reason it wasn't choking us is probably because Zach was near. I made a mental note to offer him a kidney if he ever needs one.

Lorena sat down on the edge of the bed, for a while just looking at her hands. I was looking at mine too, mostly because I was desperately trying to hide my crotch. Jesus Christ, even in a situation like that one, I was capable of having a boner. That's a record.

I looked up at Lorena, who was now tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. When she did that, I noticed her lips were bunched between her teeth, and then all of a sudden she released them, which made them look fuller and redder than they usually did. I noticed a few freckles on her nose, and a small birthmark on her cheekbone. And the small earrings she always wore, silver and heart shaped.

I think it was then that I realized; I could lose her. Just by watching her, the fact that I could really, really lose her sunk into my brain. I'd always known that in the back of my mind, but I could practically feel the fact hitting me in the head like a brick wall as I observed her.

She deserved better than me, a lot better, and I was scared that she'd realize that too. She could be walking to class tomorrow, and there could be a guy that would offer to help her, since her books were almost bigger than her. She'd smile at him and say no, but he wouldn't give up immediately, because let's face it, she is one gorgeous piece of work. Then she'd roll her eyes and let him carry some of her books, and they'd start talking and stuff, and by the end of the break, one of them would have the other one's number. And just like that...

I'd lose her.

I could feel my breath becoming heavier as those three little words ran through my head again and again, and the fact that it could happen was also not helping. The fact that that might be what she wanted to tell me and why she came to my dorm, was also not helping. The fact that she could be walking out within minutes and never return, was not only not helping, but killing me on the inside. Choking me. I could finally start imagining what it would feel like to be kissed by a Dementor.

A few minutes passed in silence, the only noise being the water coming from the bathroom. For a second, I thought of Zach, and how he was stuck with that Monica chick. Even though she was right there, with me just about five minutes before, I wanted to vomit at the thought of her. There was nothing wrong with her, of course, I was making myself want to puke. The fact that I wanted to replace Lorena with a completely random girl, was making me want to die and burn in the darkest and hottest corner of hell.

The silence got to the point where it started suffocating me. I couldn't handle another minute of just sitting and anticipating the moment Lorena starts talking, so I spoke first.

"So, um..." I started, but didn't quite know what to say. "What-What did you want to talk about, Lori?"

I slowly looked up at her, to see her staring at my bed. She must have looked at me while I was speaking.

"Um, well..." She started and cleared her throat. I watched her carefully, scared to even breathe. "I-I never thought I'd be saying this, but... I fucked up."

I blinked a couple of times, widening my eyes at her statement; she fucked up? What did she fuck up? Did she do something? Was there already another guy who had helped her with her books or something?

Had I already lost her?

"W-What are you talking about?" I asked, surprised at how firm my voice was.

"I... You..." She stuttered, fidgeting her hands again. I was about to say something, but she was faster than me.

"I shouldn't have said no."

There I went, blinking again. My lips were parted slightly, and my stomach was turning once again, but not because I felt like vomiting; the anxiousness was, in fact, leaving.

"What are you talking about?" I said again, not realizing that I'd repeated my own words until Lorena rolled her eyes.

"All this time... You'd been proving me wrong. And here I am, rejecting you, even after you changed." She looked up at me before speaking again. "You have changed, you really have, and I didn't realize that until I almost lost you."

Before I could even react, Lorena got up on my bed and leaned forward, so she could hug me. She managed to wrap her arms around my torso and laid her head on my chest. I instantly remembered that date of ours, when she invited me to stay with her for the night; she was all cuddly, while I couldn't dare myself to move. Just like now.

I couldn't believe she was the one who was sorry for what had happened. But then again, she didn't know about Monica and all the shit that would have happened if Zach hadn't stopped all of it. I wasn't planning on telling her about it, God no. I hated that I had to keep secrets from her, but I couldn't risk anything that was related to her. Not anymore.

"I'm sorry," Lorena muttered, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I was almost sure she could feel my heart break under her hand that was on my chest. No, don't be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about. I'm the sorry bastard.

I finally managed to slowly put my arms around her, as soon as I convinced myself that this was all real and I really wasn't going to lose her. "Listen, baby," I mumbled, leaning down a bit to place a couple of kisses on the top of her head. "Don't be sorry, seriously. I wish I showed more understanding. Please, don't feel bad."

Lorena was quiet for a few moments, before lifting her head up so she could look at me. Upon seeing her, I realized she'd been just a second away from crying, and if I hadn't said anything, my t-shirt would have been wet by then.

I smiled a little, more in disbelief than anything else. "Come on, babe, don't cry. Everything's alright, I'm serious." I raised my eyebrows at her, trying to reassure her that I genuinely wasn't angry or anything.

But she didn't seem to be believing me. That was probably because the previous day I'd told her it was fine, though I wasn't very convincing, and it was obvious I didn't think it was fine. Now she thought I was doing the same thing.

"Lorena, listen to me," I said quietly, my voice a little stern, pulling her hair back so she could see me. "I'm not angry at you. I could never be angry at you."

"No, it's just that..." She started, but paused so she could sit up. I did too, and waited for some sort of an explanation. Lorena took my hand and a deep breath before saying, "I actually want to be with you."

I'm not quite sure for how long I'd been staring at her, my eyes slightly wide and lips parted, but at one point she started waving her hand in front of my face.

"Louis!" She almost whined, and I blinked a few times before closing my mouth and looking at her properly. "Y-You want to?" I almost whispered, and Lorena nodded uneasily. There was no hesitation, she was just scared of how I'd react.

I gulped, only to prove that she should have been scared. Not for the reasons she might have thought; for all I knew, she could be thinking that I didn't want to be with her anymore. When, in reality, I just... Couldn't. I couldn't tell her that I want to be with her too, and make her my girlfriend. Not after I'd had another girl in my bed just a minute before she came. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for being with Monica, even if it was just plain kissing and seeing her naked. It was the fact that Lorena had been thinking about me at the time, deciding to talk to me just twenty minutes before midnight on a school day. And I tried to do everything to erase her from my brain, the worst way possible. So no, I couldn't just pretend everything was sunshine and daisies.

I squeezed Lorena's hand, and looked at her; she was so pale. She almost looked sick. How long had I been silent?

"Look..." I started, before she could start vomiting as well. "I want to be with you, too," I managed to say. "But Lori, you were right. You're not ready. And neither am I."

"W-What are you talking about?" She copied my question from a few minutes before, and I shrugged uneasily. "I just think that... We should take things slow."

"Slow? We'd been going in circles for about two months!" She pointed out, a little pissed off obviously. "Look, if you don't want to be with me, just say it. Don't lead me on."

Oh boy. Just what I was hoping for.

Lorena went to stand up, but I pulled her down hard. I wasn't in the mood for more shit, and I wanted to get that settled right then, right there.

"Lorena, I want to be with you. I really, really do." I gave her my best reassuring look. "But... We can't just do things without thinking about it first. You made me realize that."

Lorena slowly closed her eyes, and furrowed her eyebrows slightly. "So you need to think about whether or not you want to be with me?" When she opened her eyes, I was aware that I had to say another few words so she wouldn't be as pissed off.

"You know what I mean," I said through a sigh, and she looked down. For a few seconds she just played with the duvet, before nodding. "Yeah, I guess I do. Why though? Why do you want to take it slow all of a sudden?"

Because you're wrong and I haven't really changed, but I want to! I want to more than anything! "Because... I'm sorry that I'd come off as angry yesterday, and... And I want to make it up to you." I gave her a small smile and rubbed the back of her hand. I was praying to God that she'd buy my half-lie. Half, because I really did want to make it up to her.

Lorena narrowed her eyes at me, a glint of amusement in them. "Oh, really? And how do you plan to do that?"

I smiled before answering. "Well... If you don't mind, I'd like to take you out on a date, do everything the way I should, and then ask you again."

As soon as I finished, she smiled wider at me. What a sight. "Okay," She said, trying to hide the fact that she was excited. "But if you already plan to do that, make it tomorrow."

"T-Tomorrow?" I said, my eyebrows raised. "But we have school and-"

"So we'll make it a late lunch or something, nothing special. We'll be back in time," Lorena interrupted.

I looked down at my hands, not really happy with her suggestion. "But I want it to be special," I mumbled, sounding like a child whose parents didn't want to buy him a bicycle.

"Louis," Lorena said in a happy tone, raising my head up so I'd look at her grinning face. "I don't need anything special. I already have you."

I wasn't quite sure what to say to that; what do you tell a girl when she indirectly tells you you're special? Thank you? Nah, I'm not? So are you?

"Come here." I smiled and pulled her up to me. I didn't quite know what to say, so I kept my mouth shut.

Lorena crawled on top of the bed, and hovered a bit over me. I didn't want to kiss her, not after I'd kissed another girl the same evening, but she obviously couldn't really sense that; with a small smile on her lips as well, she leaned down and kissed me tenderly, just like the previous day.

Besides the guilt that I could feel in my very bones, I was feeling quite happy and fulfilled as well; that is how kissing a girl should feel like. Not forced and like you have to do it, but relaxed and just plain happy.

Despite myself, I kissed her back, slowly forgetting all about Monica. That is also something good; if a girl made you forget about every other you'd been with just by kissing you, don't let her go. Which is exactly what I did- actually, didn't do.

I pulled Lorena all the way up in my bed, and I could hear her giggle as she straddled me, with a little help of mine. From the way she started kissing me then, I could tell she wanted something to happen that night, but oh no, I could barely cope with the thought of having Lorena lie where Monica did. Besides, I'd just calmed my buddy down, and there was no need to wake him up again.

I slowed down our kisses, and rolled Lorena to the side, so she was trapped between me and the wall. She soon pulled away, and just stared at me for a minute, looking like she was admiring the sight.

"You know..." She said, her fingertips brushing my cheek, tickling me a little. "I should really get going. They're gonna lock the building."

I looked at my wristwatch and smiled. "Well babe, seems like this isn't really your evening." I turned my hand around and showed her that it was ten minutes past midnight, and that she was locked in a building she shouldn't have been.

Lorena's eyes went wide, before she started shifting and just, just ruining the moment. "Fuck... Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck..." She repeated, trying to get out of my bed, but I prevented that, and pushed her down again.

"Louis!" Lorena hissed, pushing me as well. "What are you doing? I have to get out of here!"

"No, you don't. And here's why," I said calmly, before turning around and grabbing my alarm clock. "I am going to set my alarm for 8 o'clock, so it wakes us up an hour before first period, which I'm assuming you have... And you're not going to be late. How's that sound?"

Lorena exchanged glances from me to the small, square object in my hand, thinking about my offer for a few moments.

"Eh, it's past midnight anyways," She said shrugging, and laid down on my pillow. I laughed as I put my alarm back on the small nightstand, and turned back to Lorena, to see she already had her eyes closed. I put the duvet over her as well, and hugged her close to me underneath it.

"What is Zach doing in there?" She mumbled, and I instantly became aware of the water coming from the bathroom.

"Um... H-He's probably giving us space." I smiled, and as if on cue, the water stopped and Lorena nodded. "He likes long showers, anyway," I added, more to myself. The girl beside me chuckled, before shifting her body closer to mine, practically clinging on me. I inhaled deeply, and let myself fall asleep.

If only I'd known that half an hour later, Lorena would subconsciously kick me in the balls so hard she yanked me awake, while she kept sleeping like nothing happened... I wouldn't have fallen asleep.

*******

Zach's POV

"No, I am done arguing with you, end of discussion!" I hissed as quietly as I could, since I'd already turned the water off like half an hour ago. I was pacing around the bathroom, and hoping Lorena didn't hear anything.

Monica rolled her eyes, for the fiftieth time since we'd started talking. "I know I'm right. You're delusional." She pointed her finger at me, and now it was my turn to roll eyes.

We'd just spent a good hour fighting about whether Voldemort was evil or just misunderstood. I claimed he was a loathsome son of a bitch and deserved to die in a hole, while Blondie thought it had something to do with his parents or something, and that's why he was like that. Just a load of horse shit, if you ask me.

I don't even know how we managed to fight over that for an hour.

I was just about to sit down again, when my phone rang, indicating I had a text message. I frowned; who could be texting me at quarter to one in the morning?

I opened the message, and sighed a little in relief when I noticed it was from Louis.

From: Lou
Get monica out of there. lorena is sleeping here so be careful.

I stared at my Nexus for another few seconds before locking it, and shoving it into my pocket. "Come on, you're leaving." I held my hand out for Monica and she took it, standing up. I hadn't quite noticed how tall she was until then; it was like watching Hagrid, even though she was slim and just about half an inch taller than me.

"Be quiet," I whispered and slowly opened the door. We both walked on our tiptoes on our way out of the room. I looked at Louis, who was surprisingly looking back at me, and sure enough, I could see another unconscious body next to him. I gave him the thumbs up, and he just nodded with a smile. It probably meant that he'd gotten things clear with Lorena, and they were together now. I couldn't wait to tease him about it!

A minute later I was knocking on the small window on the door that led out of the building, so the guards can hear me. "Yo, Sampson! Unlock the door, we have an impostor here," I joked, and Monica hit my arm. She was smiling, but I could see the nervousness on her face. Ah, it must feel great to be a teenager, I hadn't been one in almost three years. Which reminds me; even though it's kind of disgusting, I couldn't wait to tease Louis about almost having sex with a teenager slash minor!

"What's this all about?" Chris Sampson asked as he unlocked and opened the door, a stern look on his face, though I could tell he was kidding. He might have been angry that he had to open it at almost one in the morning, but eh, it wasn't the first time.

"Nothing, nothing." I smiled, deciding to keep my mouth shut about Monica as I led her out. I really didn't need the guards to know there was a minor at the building.

"So... I think you can find your way home from here," I said when Monica and I were at the gates. To my surprise, she looked down and stepped forward.

"Could I... Could I give you my number?" She asked, almost shyly, and I'd be lying if I said the sight wasn't adorable. Sadly for Blondie, it wasn't adorable enough.

"Well, let me think." I put my finger on my chin, as if I was seriously thinking about it. "Do I want to go out with the minor Louis Tomlinson almost had sex with?" I said quickly in one breath, laughing sarcastically at the end. "Hell no." My facial expression was all of a sudden serious, even stern. Monica widened her eyes and looked like she was about to slap me.

"Goodnight!" I said cheerily and before she could mark my cheek, turned around and started quickly walking back to the dorms. I was sober now, but more tired than I'd been in ages.

A minute later I was grinning at the sight of my bed as I opened the door of my and Louis' dorm slowly, and closed it the same way. I'd already brushed my teeth four times, lacking better things to do while I was stuck in the bathroom, so I just stripped down to my boxers and slipped into my bed.

Before I closed my eyes, I caught a glimpse of Louis and Lorena, and turned to take a better look at them. Even though I was going to make his life hell for having a crush for the first time since I'd met him two years ago and for not telling me about it, I couldn't help but smile at the sight; I couldn't see Lou's face, but I noticed he had his arm tightly around Lorena. He'd only had a couple of girls stay overnight, but never had he held them so close to him. If I were a girl, I'd probably be crying; I was so proud of him. He was literally growing up.

I grabbed my phone.

To: Lou
Ur growing up! so proud. :D

I smiled and pressed 'send', and turned around in my bed. Luckily his phone was on silent, so it only vibrated when he got the text. I decided to turn my ringer off as well, in case he decided to answer. And sure enough, about five minutes later, my phone vibrated as well.

From: Lou
Shut up.

I had to hold back a laugh; he had no idea what was coming his way.

I soon stopped laughing when I got another text.

From: Lou
I love you, u dork. xx

Well now he was just trying to unnecessarily make me cry.

To: Lou
I love u 2. dont let her go.

Several seconds later, buzz-buzz.

From: Lou
U bet ur balls i wont.

I decided to stop texting Louis so I really wouldn't start crying, and put my phone on my nightstand. I saw Lou doing the same thing, and we simultaneously smiled at each other, before we both turned around on our beds.

Ah, now, let's see; one sheep, two sheep, three sheep...

*******

~A/N~

So there's something cute and cliffhanger-free for a change.. I'm sorry but I'm kind of in love with Louis and Zach's bromance thing hehe :'D
Good news is that in the next few chapters nothing particularly bad is going to happen, but brace yourselves because shit is going to start going down sometime after 30th chapter (◕‿◕✿) not necessarily bad shit, but still, shit! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
Ok so pleeeeeeeaaaaaase comment and vote. That's all. I love you :D