"The other lads are in the back, so shotgun is all yours." Louis called over the whipping wind, walking around to the driver's side. I quickly hopped in the passenger seat, relieved to feel warmth coming out from the vents. I sighed and leaned back while Louis started backing out.

"Hey Em! What's up?" Harry called from the back.

"Nothing really. Was bored out of my mind until you guys came." I smiled back at him, noticing Zayn looking out the window, being quiet.

"Surprised you weren't with your boyfriend or somethin'. It's the weekend!" Louis cut in. I felt a rush of confusion come over me, wondering where on earth he got that idea.

"Boyfriend?"

"Yeah! That first day of school when I invited you out for coffee, you said your boyfriend wouldn't like that. Who's the lucky lad?" he smiled, glancing over at me before looking back on the road.

"Oh, I don't have a boyfriend. I said that because I wanted to go home." I said bluntly, surprised at my own straightforward-ness.

"Well you sure know how to let a lad down easy." he joked.

The three of us chatted and found our conversation still going strong by the time we got to a table in the diner. Jen was happy to see I was here with the three boys she knew as Suspenders, Hairgel, and Curly, and she came over to help us immediately.

"Hey there! I'm Jen, and I'll be your server tonight, since Em is already with you guys. What to drink?"

She winked at me and walked away with 4 orders of Coke, and a sudden silence washed over the table. I looked over at Louis, who's eyes had followed Jen all the way back to the kitchen. He looked back to me when the doors swung closed behind her.

"What? Is there something on my face?" he asked.

"You fancy Jen." I felt a smile spread across my face.

"Do not!" his voice raised ever-so-slightly.

"Yeah you do. I may be single, but I'm not stupid."

"She's right, mate. You've got it bad, and she's only taken one order." Zayn piped in for the first time tonight.

"Well it's about time you join us." Louis changed the subject as quickly as possible.

"Hey, I'm more of a thoughtful guy. You should know this by now." he defended.

"Gosh, between you and Em, I don't know how I get along with you people. You're both so quiet. How about you two stay here and I'll continue this date with Harry."

Zayn was about to shoot back another line, but Harry jumped in.

"Not a good idea, Lou."

Louis gave him a questionable look, then I saw Zayn bust out in adorable laughter. I wanted to laugh along, but I didn't see the reason to do so.

"What? Are you saying that I'm unappealing?" Louis asked, and Zayn kept on laughing hysterically.

"Here are your drinks. And for the record, I think you're very appealing." Jen popped out of nowhere, setting our drinks down and smiling at Louis. His face went pink and he looked down. Jen giggled as she crouched down next to me, and started to whisper.

"Hey, we have a new bus boy coming in tomorrow. I told the boss lady that I had it covered, but I might need some help. You up for it?"

"Depends. Does he fit the 'attractive' criteria?" I asked, and she too burst out in laughter.

"None of our business, according to the boss lady. You have hairgel anyway!" she said the last part a little louder than intended, but nobody knew who we were referencing anyway.

"Secrets don't make friends." Louis tapped me on the shoulder, pouting.

"You're right, they make best friends." I smirked.

"Then I wanna tell you a secret!" he cupped his hands around my ear and made an awful spspsps sound that both tickled and bothered me.

"Right. What are you guys gonna order?" she broke up the awkward reunion, getting ready to write down our order.

"Large chili cheese chips to share, please." Zayn ordered for the whole of us.

Jen mumbled something under her breath, but I was the only one that noticed she was hinting something about their last visit.

"Coming right up!" she added loud enough for everyoine to hear.

"Thanks, love." Zayn said, and winked at her just as he did me. Her reaction was undecipherable, so I focused on something else. I couldn't help but feel stomped on as I had a tiny bit of hope that Zayn really did have an intrest in me. I brushed it off before someone could ask me what was wrong, and decided to tease Louis just a tad more.

"Hey, in case you didn't catch that at the beginning, she thinks you're appealing." I elbowed his arm.

"You know what? I am pretty appealing." he nodded confidently, and I tried my best not to giggle at this.

"Mate, you're a goof. Better step up your game before I decide she's good for me." Zayn fake threatened.

"I think you're all just jealous because she called me appealing."

"Will you let the 'appealing' thing go already?" Harry shook his head at Louis' newfound self esteem.

"Nope. I'm getting her number before tonight is over."

"Give me your phone." I rolled my eyes, taking his device and putting her number in from my phone.

"Why didn't you tell me you had her number?!"

"I was hoping you would've asked by now, but I was getting impatient. Her shift ends at 9. Good luck." I warned.

"Well played." Zayn smirked over at me, and for the first time around him, I didn't blush. I just smirked back.

"Now if you could only help Harry with his girl troubles..." Louis started, and Zayn agreed immediately.

"Guys..." Harry whined.

"You see, Em, Harry thinks you're the bees' knees." Louis started.

"No, no, no. It's not like that." Harry blushed, looking nervous. I felt my cheeks get a little hot as well.

"Then, please Harry, do tell what it's like." Louis gave him an expecting look.

"Dick." Harry hissed through his teeth, glaring at Louis.

"Whoa guys, don't scare the girl away." Zayn said before Louis could make another smart remark. Jen couldn't have come back at a better time.

"Here are your chips, sorry for the wait." she apologized, setting the plate in the middle of us.

"I need to talk to you when you're free. You can text me if you need to." she whispered, and I nodded.

"Why do girls whisper so much?" Harry asked, trying to make a friendlier conversation.

"She was just telling me that she really wants to kiss Louis, that's all." I couldn't help cracking one last joke on the subject.

"Em, when I find out who you like, you're not gonna hear the end of it. I promise."

"Well then I'll make sure you won't find out."

"So there is someone, correct?"

"Course there is."

"I know who it is." Harry cut in.

"How in the world do you know who I fancy?" I asked, utterly confused.

"Like you said earlier, 'I may be single, but I'm not stupid'." He quoted, implying that my googly eyes at Zayn weren't as well-hidden as I thought they were.

"Tell me tell me tell me!" Louis demanded.

"No, you're being mean."

"Then tell me!" Zayn exclaimed, and I felt a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"You know what? No."

"Why not?"

"Because Em seems pretty nice, and even though I've only known her a little while, I'd say we get on well. I don't wanna make her hate me any more than she hates Louis over here." he joked, and I mentally thanked him countless times.

"She loves me."

"Do not!" I jumped in.

"You totally love me. I bet you're jealous that I have my eyes set on Jen." he teased me back.

"Oh yeah, that's it." I rolled my eyes.

We talked on and on for what seemed like just a short time when someone pointed out that it was getting quite late. Jen had left the bill a long time ago, so we hurried to the register to pay for our cheap dinner. Louis payed for us all, and announced that he was driving me home first.

"Thanks again for inviting me, guys. You're lifesavers." I gushed as Lou pulled in to my complex.

"Anytime. Just let us know when you're free, because we usually always are." Harry said cheerfully.

"I'll walk you to your flat." Lou assured me as I stepped out of the car into the freezing cold night.

We hurried up the steps and stopped when I got to my door. The walls of the bulding barely shielded the frigid wind.

"Hey, I just wanted to thank you for getting me Jen's number. And I wanted to apologize if I embarrassed you in front of the other guys."

"Me? Embarrassed? I only met them this week! I barely know the guys."

"That's not what I meant. I know you fancy Zayn."

"What-"

"It's plain to see, Em. Harry and I are both surprised he hasn't caught on yet."

"Why didn't you say anything at the table?"

"I'm not gonna be a jerk to one of the nicest girls I've ever met."

"Well now I feel like one. Sorry Lou." I looked down.

"Don't worry about it. Even Steven?"

"Even Steven." I smiled.

"Would it be weird if I gave you a hug, or do you like those?"

"I think I can bear it." I joked, throwing my arms around him, glad to be able to have someone to trust in.

"You know what this means..." he started.

"What?"

"Now you have to be my friend."

"Alright, alright." we both laughed and waved goodbye as I stepped inside the warm little place I called home. I felt different than I did a week ago. A week ago, I would've been snapping at the likes of anyone except Jen or Niall. A week ago, I would've been breaking down in tears, wondering what I have done to deserve the life I have.

But now, things were looking up.