Stay With Me.

Lindsay's POV

We are currently sitting in a large table near the back of the school cafeteria, where the reunion reception was being held. I was very impressed with how beautifully decorated the room was, covered in navy blue and white balloons, the school colors of course. There are Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling, a great contrast with the room's dim lighting. Classical music was playing softly in the background, although it is going unnoticed due to the many distinct conversations taking place throughout the large room. I suddenly find myself thinking back to prom, which was held in this exact room ten years ago. Oh man it was so long ago yet the memory was fresh in my mind as if it was only yesterday.

Liam and Niall have already made an appearance both with their corresponding gorgeous dates, Emily and Sophia. They were lovely ladies, very down to earth and perfect in my eyes for these two boys...well man now. I am having trouble with the fact that we are no longer teenagers but actually in our late twenties. The realization shook me with fear. Fear of growing old alone and to the fact that i was looking like a complete idiot being here with no date, nonetheless husband.

Both Niall and Liam were speechless when they first noticed me sitting next to Perrie at the table we reserved for all of us. I was soon covered in manly hugs and praises about how much I've been missed. Shortly after i was introduced to the girlfriends who were so sweet, saying things like "oh my gosh i saw you on vogue magazine!" and "You are even more beautiful in person". I couldn't help but blush as i thanked them for their kind words. We all made small talk, me being the one doing most of the talking as I answered the millions of questions being thrown at me but i didn't mind. I told them about life in Manhattan, gushing about my expanding modeling career as well as my first ever encounter with paparazzi. They all laughed at my crazy experience, it was a great ice breaker that one. We were all listening to brunette Niall talk about his accounting job at a local bank when we all get distracted as a loud voice is heard from behind us.

"Oi! I see we have been blessed with the appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Malik!"
My ears immediately perk up by the familiarity of the male voice. By instinct i turn quickly around in my chair, and surely enough a good ole' Louis Tomlinson comes into view as he walks our way looking as marvelous as ever! His scruffy face glows, literally fucking glows as soon as our eyes meet. Only seconds later i find myself being engulfed in a tight Tommo hug as he litters my hair with mock kisses.

"Lindsay Evans? Oh god, Perrie please pinch me I'm clearly dreaming!!" Louis hollers, making everyone, including myself go in hysteria at his words. Surprisingly Perrie actually pinches him, causing him to remove his arms from my shoulders as he rubs his sore arm with his free hand in pain. He was such a drama queen back then and obviously still is, which was refreshing seeing that he was still the same Louis. I pull out the seat from besides me, patting the seat for Louis to sit. He quickly complies, placing a quick kiss on my cheek as a proper greeting. My cheeks flare at the contact, i mean it wasn't weird at all we used to always greet each other with a kiss on the cheek, this is normal. I send him a goofy smile, linking our arms as i lean into his broad shoulders.

Even though i would never admit it out loud, Louis and Harry were my favorite people in the whole world. We were like the three musketeers when we were younger, always getting into trouble, we were a reckless trio. Louis' greeting melted my heart, it was as if all the time that passed without seeing or speaking to each other never happened. Oh i hope its the same with Harry, that would be the cherry to my so far good day.

"You look beautiful love, as always of course" Louis whispers into my hair, only making my smile widen.
"You don't look so bad yourself Tommo, I see you finally grew a beard" I joke, giggling loudly as he rubs his prickly bearded chin across my face as a comeback. He defends himself by saying at least he looks his age unlike myself. I don't know whether that was meant as a compliment or insult, I liked my young face quite a lot thank you very much. I push his shoulders slightly before turning back to the rest of my friends who were engaged in a conversation.

It was as if laughing our arses was the only thing we were capable of doing throughout the night. Listening to the multiple crazy stories about my friends lives was so refreshing and sad at the same time. I would be lying if i said i don't regret leaving for the states, leaving both my family and friends behind for so long. Harry's appearance went unnoticed for a good while as we were too busy sipping on white wine and listening to another one of Niall's series of unfortunate events. Liam was the first to notice him, his face going from a large smile to frown in the matter of seconds.

"I didn't know he was bringing Madeline with him" Liam speaks through his frown, everyone turning their attention to the gorgeous man walking through the room with power and glory written all over him. He was even more gorgeous than i remember, the years have done nothing but magic on him. His once full head of curls were gelled back and away from his face in a nice quiff. After gawking at the young Harry who has turned into this elegant young man, i finally notice what Liam spoke about. Surely enough there was a brunette clinging to his side, clearly enjoying the attention more than he was. Was she his new girl? He is now making his way towards our table, spotting Niall as he was waving his arms in the air. I watch as he generously brushes off people who stand up to praise him for his work.

When he is only a few feet away, Louis suprises me by standing up to greet him in a proper brotherly hug making me smile in adoration, i was so very pleased that they have stayed friends throughout all these years. I notice he whispers something into his ear during their hug, Harry's emerald eyes going wide as he searches the faces from our table. They quickly land on mine, staying there frozen. In the background i can hear Madeline greet everyone from our table simply, but i wasn't really paying attention.

"Lindsay? What a pleasure to see you, you little rascal"
Oh my god, i nearly cry right then and there. I stand up from my seat, not bothering to push it back in before walking over to hug Harry who already has his arms open. And it felt oh so good, his hugs were always my favorite, my favorite place to be. I notice his body was much more built unlike the scrawny Harry Styles from high school. Due to height differences his arms wrapped around my head and shoulders while mine wrap comfortably around his lower torso. I take in a good sniff of his cologne and just his smell as i lean into the hug.

"Youre killing the girl!" Louis calls out, causing a deep laugh to come out of Harry, his chest vibrating against my body. It was a wonderful sound really, it was the same laugh as always only much deeper.
"Okay i cant breathe now!!" I call out, slapping his back gently letting him know i was dying. Okay not really but fresh air sounds good right now. Harry being the cheeky bastard he is holds me for a second longer before letting me go, his large hands roaming inappropriately down my back as he does so. I catch his stupid dimpled smirk before he goes to greet the rest of our friends, leaving me puzzled.

After we were all fed and had our fair number of drinks, conversation was on full point. Ive come to learn a lot about my friend's new lives. Niall and Emily have been together since Uni, they were both accounting majors so they were lucky enough to get a job at the corporate office of a local bank together. Liam and Sophia live together, they were currently engaged actually. He was a firefighter while Sophia owned her own little interior design business. Louis quite proudly says he is the chair of the theatre arts department at a different high school not so far from here. He does say he is seeing some girl that works at his school but its nothing serious at the moment. Last but not least, Harry was the CEO of his own company, Styles Industries, England's highly ranked electricity company. That had a good ring to it, I was always confident he would be something big in life, he was always so ambitious even at a young age when we all met. They continue to say that he is known all throughout England, becoming an instant success and millionaire. I couldn't help the fond smile i send his way, letting him know i was so incredibly proud. Madeline was about to tell us about her life when Liam interrupts her as he calls out that its time for pictures, oh bless his heart.

"How cool is this, we have two famous friends!" Niall laughs out, snapping a picture of our table without giving us a warning. We all groan and laugh at the gesture, calling out for a retake. I pull out my phone as well, handing it to Niall who was already asking someone to take the picture for us. We all scoot our chairs together so we can all fit in the picture, me being trapped between Louis and Perrie. Harry's abnormally long arm drapes around Louis shoulders, his fingertips holding onto my shoulder.

After taking what feels like hundreds of pictures and selfies, i realize people around us are already standing up to leave. Oh no! I am having too much fun i don't want this night to end. A crazy idea runs through my mind and before i have time to register it, i blurt it out.
"Lets go to EGG!" EGG was the first nightclub we have ever went to back when it was Harry's eighteenth birthday. We had all waited for him to turn eighteen, him being the youngest out of the group. It was a fun experience from what i remember so it would be great to be able to relive it ten years later.

Niall was the first to jump at the idea, saying him and Emily are in. I grin before turning my attention to Perrie and Zayn who also nod their head, Louis obviously all in for it, saying he hasn't gone out in years. Liam though says him and Sophia have a family event early tomorrow morning, so that's a no. All eyes turn to Harry who was by no means paying attention to us, frowning down at his phone.

"Harold?" I call out, catching his attention. He looks around at our waiting faces before he lets out a sigh.
"Harry and i already have plans for tonight, sorry" Madeline speaks up for him, catching everyone by surprise. Even though Harry only introduced her as a friend and business partner, i didn't like her one bit. I turned my attention back to Harry, god please don't let this night end badly...
"Umm yeah, sorry Lindsay but i don't think we can make it" he says, trying so hard to avoid my pleading eyes. And i stay like this for a good while, staring at him hoping he would say its some kind of joke, that he will cancel his plans with her and come and enjoy the night with us... with me. Shit! Nothing, nothing flashes across his miserably sad eyes. Oh come on Harry please come with us! I want to beg him to come when i suddenly feel angry. He knows im only staying here for the weekend, he even frowned at the idea of me leaving back to the states. He can hang out with her whenever but i was only going to be here for a limited about of time. He is being awfully selfish right now and i cant help but dislike him at the moment.

I stand up from my chair, the rest of our friends following shortly. I pull on my light coat before walking over to Harry who was now standing as well.
"Well it was good seeing you Harold. Good luck with your business and lady friend, obviously she is more important than us right? We were like family! But i see that things have changed.. I guess this is goodbye.. see you never again" I say between my teeth as i am standing on my tippy toes to get to his eye level. I begin to walk away before i feel his strong hold on my upper arm, turning me around to face him once again.

He has the same sad look in his eyes as he searches my face, his lower lip caught between his teeth in concentration as if taking in every little detail of my face. For a second i feel like he has changed his mind but i was wrong.

"I'm sorry Lizzy" his use of my old nickname he gave me many years ago stings deep in my heart. To make matters worse he has the nerve to dip his head and place a sinful kiss on my burning cheeks, keeping his plump lips for a second longer before pulling away. I watch as he reaches for her hand before pulling her behind him out of the room and into the crowd of people without giving me a second look.
A tear dares to escape my watery eyes, because this wasn't the first time he has spoke those words to me, walking away shortly after just like right now. He did the same exact thing eight years ago before i decided to move away.

Notes