Micky woke up the next day with a start, having dreamt about last night all night long. Sunlight shone through her window, inviting her outside. She undressed and showered. While scrubbing her hair, she tried to determine what was dream and what had been real last night. In her dream, Max had been replaced with Louis and she hadn’t told him to stop. It alarmed her that her subconscious self would sleep with one of her best friends. She rinsed off, got out and dried herself off. Harry was sitting on her bed when she opened the bathroom door.

“Good thing I have on a towel,” she said.

“I knocked,” he said, only half apologetic.

“What’s up?” she asked, sitting on a chair across from him.

“The bakery’s closed and your dad is working, let’s go swimming,” he said.

“At the pool?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said, “I’m ready.” He stood up to display his swim trunks.

“Alright,” she laughed, “I’ll get a swimsuit.” She went back to the bathroom, changed, and they walked to the pool together. They arrived at an empty pool, where they both jumped in and started splashing each other.

Louis showed up a few minutes later, “Hey guys.” Harry greeted him cheerfully, not aware of what had happened last night. Micky greeted Louis less enthusiastically than normal.
They swam around until the pool started to fill with people the hotter it got. The three left and while Harry had to run an errand for his mum, Louis and Micky sat on a park bench, not talking to each other.

Micky was dying to figure out what had happened last night, so she eventually asked, “Lou? What...exactly happened?”

He looked up at her, “Well...I found you and Max in one of the resort rooms. He was practically about to rape you, so I put him back in his place and took you home.”

Micky had gasped at the “rape” comment, “Are you sure?”

“You told him to stop and he said something about you being mistaken,” Louis spit out the words, still disgusted, “I didn’t wait to hear more.”

She nodded and they sat in awkward silence for a moment. “Thanks Lou,” she barely whispered, her eyes concentrating on the dirt under her shoes.

He scooted down the bench until their hips touched, threw an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly to his chest, “I‘ll do anything for you Micky.”

She nodded, smashed against his collarbone, “I know.” They sat like that for a long time, until they started wondering where Harry had gotten to, so they went to find him.

They had split and were searching through the supermarket when Micky collided with Zayn Malik, sending them both sprawling on the floor.

“Oh my,” exclaimed Zayn, “I’m terribly sorry. I should’ve been paying more attention.”

“It’s alright,” said Micky, laughing as she picked herself off the ground, “No harm done.” She looked at him, “Zayn, right?”

“Yes,” he replied, grinning, “And you’re Micky.”

“Yes, thanks for last night,” she said.

“Last night?” he asked, confused. “You distracted Max while Liam danced with me. You both got me away from my date for a little while. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, I think,” he said, looking adorably puzzled.

She laughed, “It was a good thing.”

“Ok,” he said smiling, “Good then.”

Louis walked up then and said, “I found him Mick, and you’re going to want to see this.”

“Ok,” she told Louis, “Good to see you again Zayn.”

“You too,” he called after her as they left. Louis led Micky through the store, to find Harry hiding behind a shelf.

“What...” asked Micky, when Harry whirled around, grabbed her and tugged her down to crouch next to him.

“Shh!” he whispered violently. He glared at Louis, who shrugged and smirked.

“What are you doing?” asked Micky, whispering now.

“Nothing,” said Harry.

“So you’re hiding for nothing?” asked Micky, skeptical.

“Umm,” said Harry, “Sure, yeah, that’s it.”

Micky stood up a little, peeking around the shelf. She gasped a little, seeing Max and Veronica heatedly making out against the abandoned meat counter. She quickly crouched back down with Harry, “Spying, are we?”

“Maybe,” said Harry, sticking his tongue out at her.

Louis laughed quietly, “Get ready to run.” Micky and Harry didn’t question but prepared to sprint.

Louis stood up and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Oi! Get a room!” and the three then dashed out, laughing like maniacs.

As they stood outside, attempting to catch their breath, Harry’s mum called, “Hey mum. Uh-huh. Alright. See you in a minute. Bye.” He hung up, “Duty calls.”

“Bye Harry,” wheezed Micky, who was still shaking with laughter. He jogged home to help his mum, while Louis and Micky started toward her house, as it was lunch time.