Chapter Five “So you two made out heavily and then you left?” Megan asked as we sat at a table in Starbucks. I needed a major coffee fix after my night. I nodded to answer her question. “But you and Harry kissed earlier.” I nodded again. “Brea you are eternally screwed.”
I groaned, “What do I do?”
Megan shrugged, “Honestly I thought one of them would have given up by now. I have no clue, but you have to decide.”
“Why? I’m technically not with either one of them. I just happened to kiss them both on the same day.” I was ready to scream when Harry freaking Styles walked in and spotted us. He sauntered over smiling and kissed my cheek.
“Hello Brea,” he greeted me. “Hey Megan,” he turned to my friend who smiled politely before standing.
“I need a salted caramel cake pop,” she announced before walking away from the table. Harry took a seat beside me as I watched her go jealously. Why couldn’t she be the one in the situation that I now found myself in?
“So what are your plans for the day?” Harry recaptured my attention.
I sighed, “Megan and I are going to hang out. Her boyfriend is flying in tomorrow so we’re trying to get in some girl time before.”
Harry nodded, ‘That sounds like fun I guess. I’m actually stopping by on my way to management’s office. We have a meeting today.”
“That’s cool,” I gave a generic response. Megan came back to the table with her cake pop. “You didn’t get me one,” I frowned disappointed.
“I’m not your keeper,” Megan protested without a care. Harry chuckled and stood.
“I have to go, but I’ll talk to you after the meeting,” he kissed me; on the lips I might add, before grabbing his coffee and leaving.
I looked at Megan waiting on something. She shrugged and shook her head. This one man only girl was not any help to me.
“Maybe you should test the water. Stay friends with both guys and see who you connect with best.” Megan offered later when we were walking through the mall.
“That sounds fair,” I agreed pulling out my phone to check my Twitter and instantly regretting it. @Real_Liam_Payne: Oh the things you see… I didn’t even have to ask. I knew what he was referring to. He had seen the picture of Harry and me kissing. It probably came up at their meeting, which both guys knew that they liked me and I liked them. Operation Test the Waters had commenced without me realizing it.

“This isn’t fun anymore,” I folded my arms and pouted as I lost yet another game of UNO. It was myself, Liam, Megan, Perrie, Zayn, Louis, Eleanor, and Michael. We were having a game night at my house. Harry and Niall opted out. Niall went home to Ireland and Harry didn’t give a reason.
“Tell me about it,” Eleanor agreed. “I feel like they’ve rigged the game so that we can never win.”
Perrie nodded, “They’re still bitter about losing the karaoke battle.”
Zayn shook his head, “There are two flaws in that theory. We didn’t lose, you girls cheated, and Michael here wasn’t a part of the battle.” Louis smirked and nodded in agreement.
“Then why haven’t we won a single game?” Megan asked the question that was on all of the female minds.
“Maybe UNO isn’t for you lot,” Louis suggested. We all rolled our eyes to some degree.
“Aw don’t worry you’ll win a game,” Liam kissed my forehead sweetly. “Someday,” he added causing the guys to laugh. Perrie and Eleanor exchanged a look. They were prepared to speak when my phone began to ring. I looked at the screen and decided to take the call away from the kitchen table. I walked in the hallway and into the living room before answering.
“Hello?” there was a small smile on my lips.
“Hey,” Harry’s voice came through from the other end. “How is the game night going?”
“It would be better if I actually won a game. You should come over though.”
“I would love too, but Gemma came to visit.” I sighed. “I’ll see you tomorrow though. The three of us can go do something.”
I laughed slightly, “Sounds like fun.” I smiled as Perrie and Eleanor appeared. “Hey Harry I have to go.” As I ended the conversation Perrie folded her arms and Eleanor smiled knowingly.
“Tell everyone I say hello. Bye Brea.” Just like that our conversation was over.
“So are you going to tell us?” Perrie asked.
“Am I going to tell you what?” I asked confused.
“About your kiss with Harry,” she answered.
“And your unconfirmed kiss with Liam which I’m sure happened,” Eleanor added. I smiled at them guiltily and told them everything. Once I had hashed out all of the details and my confusion, they spoke
“I was right about Harry,” Perrie smiled, “but the Liam thing threw me off.”
Eleanor shook her head, “Not me, I saw it coming. He told Louis he fancies you and of course Louis told me.”
Perrie shrugged, “Well Brea what are you going to do?”
“Megan thinks it would be a good idea to test the water. You know, see which one I connect with best and go from there.”
Eleanor grimaced slightly, “Someone could end up hurt.”
I sighed, “I know, but I don’t know what else to do. I really like Liam, but I really like Harry too.”
“Just be careful,” Perrie advised. “Don’t get caught up in having the best of both worlds.” I nodded.
“Now come along, Liam’s probably waiting for your return.” Eleanor hooked arms with me on the right while Perrie took the left. We walked back into the kitchen smiling.
“Did you plot your revenge?” Louis joked.
“No they couldn’t have done that, because Megan wasn’t with them.” Michael chipped in. I took my seat by Liam and smiled inward when he put his arm on the back of my chair.
“Now I’m worried,” Zayn looked at each of us suspiciously causing me to giggle. When he looked directly at me I hid my face in Liam’s shoulder. “Brea we have weapons to use against you.” He started walking towards me.
“What is he talking about?” Perrie asked sounding confused.
“Brea is extremely ticklish,” Megan informed her. Realizing that’s what Zayn meant I quickly stood and backed away. Eleanor stood as well.
“There’s nothing to tell,” she laughed lightly.
Louis pursed his lips, “If there was nothing to tell she wouldn’t be frightened.”
“Or maybe I don’t like to be tickled,” I defended myself as I hid behind Eleanor.
“Come on guys. We wouldn’t plot anything without Megan,” Perrie reminded them. Megan nodded in agreement looking pointedly at Michael.
Louis and Zayn looked back at Liam, “What do you think mate?” I looked at Liam pleading for him to believe us.
“I think they’re telling the truth,” he shrugged. I sighed with relief as Louis, Zayn, and Eleanor took their seats. “Besides when Brea’s lying her eyebrows pull together.” He didn’t look at me as he said that. I was surprised, how had he picked up on that tail so quick?
“Someone pays attention,” Megan muttered. Eleanor and Perrie laughed to themselves and I pretended to not hear them. They would not get a reaction out of me.
We were finishing another game of UNO when Brandon came home with his nice girlfriend, Amanda. They walked into the kitchen holding hands causing Megan to silently gag and look away. That was a road I chose to not even think about going down.
“Hey guys...” Brandon trailed off realizing that he didn't know half of the people present. “This is not what I expected to find.” Megan rolled her eyes gathering the cards.
“Guys this is my brother Brandon and his girlfriend Amanda,” I announced. “Brandon meet Eleanor, Louis, Zayn, Perrie, you know Michael and Megan, and Liam.” They all smiled, nodded, or waved at Brandon and Amanda.
Brandon nodded sitting on the island, “What are you all doing?”
“Cheating us out of yet another game,” Perrie answered bitterly. Megan, Eleanor, and I nodded in agreement.
“We're not cheating,” Micheal chuckled. Megan looked at him with a disapproving chuckle. “Or at least I'm not.”
“Nice way to crack under pressure,” Zayn commented.
“Did see how quick he changed his mind?” Louis added sounding highly amused. It was no lie that Megan put the fear of being single into Micheal. The boy knew what to say and when to say it.
“But baby if you say you want me to stay,” Megan started singing obviously swept up into our musical fantasy. I joined causing everyone else, except Liam, to look around confused.
“I'll change my mind. Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away if you'll be mine.”
“They do this quite often,” Liam informed Zayn, Louis, Perrie, and Eleanor who nodded still confused.
“You should hear them at Christmas time. We were watching the weather once and the meteorologist said it was below sixty...” Brandon trailed off as Megan and I interrupted him with more singing.
“Just hear those sleigh bells ringing. Ting ting tinging too. Outside it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.”
“You get the point,” Brandon finished shaking his head.
“Oh,” Amanda gasped, “let's have a riff off. Guys versus girls.”
“What's a riff off?” Eleanor questioned. Megan and I exchanged a look.
“What's a riff off?” Megan demanded. “What's a riff off? Only the best singing contest ever.”
“Basically a category is chosen and each group has to come up with a song to fit it, but the catch is can only interrupt the other by using the word that comes next in the song they're singing. The match keeps going until one group runs out of a comeback and then a new category is chosen.” Brandon explained. Riff offs were quite popular and interesting at our get together.
“It's really fun,” I added. Everyone agreed to play. Each person wrote down a category on a slip of paper and placed it in the cup. We moved our gathering to the den. The guys got the first draw after a coin toss.
“Disney songs,” Louis read looking over at Liam. “Thanks mate.” Liam shrugged as I laughed. He was still a kid inside. “Coach said to fake right and break left. Watch out for the pick and keep your defense. You...” Louis sang being joined by Liam until Amanda interrupted.
“... strut like you mean it.” Megan and I joined her excitedly. “Free your mind. It's not enough just to dream...”
Michael interrupted with a red face, “... it can be kind of fun. It's really you but no one ever discovers.” We all burst into laughter effectively ending that round. “I have little sisters,” Micheal explained embarrassed. He cleared his throat sitting up straight, “Besides that round goes to us.”
“Darn it,” I groaned. We had just started and already were losing. The next category was drawn by Perrie and it was popular girl band songs. We won that one. Zayn drew Justin Bieber songs which caused me and Megan to groan.
“Me plus you. I'm gone tell...” Brandon started. Right as Liam joined he was interrupted by Eleanor.
“You know I love you. You know...”
“I smile. When you smile I smile.” Liam sung. “When...”
“You l-l-l-l-l-love me. As long as you l-l-l-l-l...” Perrie interrupted and we girls joined her immediately.
“Love me love me say that you love me,” Brandon took back the claim. Liam, Louis, Michael, and a reluctant Zayn joined him. “Fool me fool me oh how you do me.” As they sung I looked over at Eleanor who shook her head apologetically.
“Two to one,” Louis chuckled. “You ladies are off your game tonight.”
“More fun for us,” Zayn teased.
“No one likes Justin Bieber,” I proclaimed. Liam looked at me strangely. “Okay you do, but you're weird.” He frowned slightly. “A cute weird,” I added smiling at him.
“Aw so sickening,” Megan commented.
“Did you Michael take a page out of the same How to Be a Wimp book?” Amanda asked shaking her head. I rolled my eyes as Megan took a draw. The guys won that round and we won the next. The score was three to four and it was my turn to draw. Everyone drummed their hands on the table. I stuck my hand in the cup retrieving the last slip of paper and frowned when I opened it.
“Ugh Megan,” I groaned. Megan laughed and clapped her hands excitedly. I set the slip on the table and everyone else leaned forward to read it before leaning with similar expressions as mine.
“Why?” Amanda questioned shaking her head. Megan shrugged her smile never faltering. The category was songs about sex.
“Black dress with the tights underneath. I got the breath of the last cigarette on my teeth.” Michael began to sing being joined by Brandon. “And she's an actress.”
Amanda interrupted, “But in this jungle you can't run...” Louis wagged his eyebrows.
“Cause you make me feel like I've been locked out of heaven for too long. For...” Zayn and Liam had joined him, but Perrie interrupted.
“...too big. Too wide. Too strong.”
“It feels like the first time. It feels like the very first time.” Louis sang. This was getting highly competitive. I have waited a lifetime. Spent my time so foolishly but now that I've...”
“... found you in the darkest hour.” Megan sang with a mischievous smile. I joined her. We wanted to win badly. “I found you in the pouring rain. I found you when I was on my knees...”
“... and live while we're young.” Liam interrupted smiling confidently as Zayn joined in. “And...”
“...girl you need only ask.” I interrupted signaling for Zayn to stop singing feeling confident. “I'll make love to you.” Megan and Amanda joined. “Like you want me to and I'll hold you tight baby all through the night.” Perrie joined as well. “I'll make love to you. When you want me to. And I will not let go until you tell me to.” The guys were scrambling for a comeback but they couldn't think of one.
“We won,” Eleanor announced happily. She turned to Perrie and they high-fived.
“It took long enough,” Zayn muttered.
“You're welcome,” Megan laughed winking at Michael before walking out of then den.
We cleaned up our mess. It was getting late and my parents were soon to return. When things were nice and tidy people began to go. The last person to leave was Liam. We stood in the doorway.
“I'm busy tomorrow, but I'll try to call you.” he informed me. I nodded. He smiled leaning in for a kiss.
“Brea Harry is calling,” Megan announced stopping suddenly. “Oh, my bad. I didn't mean to interrupt.” She offered me my phone and I took it before turning back to look at Liam. He smiled sadly before walking off. Was that hurt on his face?