Always.

“Alright, who’s sitting where?” Zayn twirls his keys around his fingers on one hand, asking Louis and I who are walking behind, and Perrie who is on his arm.

“I’ll sit in the back with Kelly so she doesn’t have to sit with Louis. Lord knows he’ll drive her crazy.” Perrie’s response causes me to giggle.

“Oh, right! I’m not that bad.” Louis turns and looks at me, “Perrie is just jealous because people like me more than they do her.” He says matter-of-factly.

Perrie turns and looks at him with her perfectly groomed brows raised, and Zayn joins in. They both completely stop in their tracks.

“Oh, fuck off!” he says, and we all laugh as we continue towards Zayn’s car. “So you and Liam, huh?” he elbows me as he walks closer. I know he’s being friendly, but I’m not used to being this close to people I have only really started talking to.

“Uh…” This is kind of an awkward situation to be in.

“See Lou, this is why you’re in the front.” Perrie says.

“I was just asking her a question.” He shrugs/

“Keep your questions to yourself.” She laughs.

Louis looks at me again and gives me a look hoping I’ll tell him, I just laugh and shake my head, playfully pushing his shoulder as we approach the car.

I walk over to the passenger side in the back and get in the car in time to see Zayn kiss Perrie’s cheek and close the door for her. As I pull my seatbelt over my chest and to the buckle to make sure I put it in the right place, my door is yanked open.

I jump in my seat and let out a shriek as I see who is the cause of the scare.

“God, Harry. Scare the poor girl, first Louis now you. She’s never going to want to hang out with us again.

As I listen to her talk and look at everyone staring at Harry, I realize that no one has let me speak for myself since the walk to the car. They may just be trying to make me comfortable, but it’s having the opposite impact. I laugh at Perrie’s remark anyway and let go of my seatbelt.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming with us,” he says while rubbing the back of his neck.

I move over to the middle seat and buckle my seat belt as Harry climbs in next to me. The back of Zayn’s car is very spacious so there was room between the three of us.

“So, the Varsity game doesn’t start till later. So where are we going to eat?” he asks, pulling out of the lot. His music is on, but he can be heard over it.

“How about the Panda House?” Louis suggests.

“YES!” I exclaim! They all look at me except Zayn who just laughs. “What? Have you had their crab rangoons? Because I have and they’re the best things I’ve ever had so,” I shrug and pull my phone from my purse that’s still thrown over my shoulder.

“They are good.” Harry says, agreeing with me. I send him a small smile then turn back to my phone. When I unlock it I see I have a message in my inbox. I click on it, and it’s from Harry, the time stamp says it was sent before he got in the car. I angle the phone towards him so Perrie doesn’t see.
From Harry:
Hey, listen. I’m going to the football game tonight but I want to talk to you. After? If you’re awake… If not I’m coming over anyway. See you, love.

As I read the message, I turn because I can feel him staring at me or the phone, and he is.

To Harry:
I’m awake now.

He laughs quietly as he looks at my phone then pulls his out.

From Harry:
I’d prefer face to face.

To Harry:
I’m sitting right next to you, idiot.

The smirk on my face grows as the conversation continues, but is soon replaced.

From Harry:
Are you mad?

To Harry:
No. . . I’m just, well I don’t know, but I’m not mad at you.

From Harry:
I wouldn’t have left, but Gemma called kind of early and I didn’t want to wake you up.

To Harry:
I understand.

From Harry:
I’m really sorry. If it helps I had a hangover from hell this morning and she yelled at me.

To Harry:
Why are we friends? lol.

From Harry:
Because you loooooooove me.

I look over at him as he typed the last message with a huge smile on his face.

To Harry:
Whatever, Harry… Are we done texting now?

From Harry:
No, this is fun.

To Harry:
Noooo, it’s not. I mean I know I’m fun to text, but you… yea not so much.

From Harry:
Why are we friends?

To Harry:
Because you loooooove me. ;)

We both end up laughing out loud, then covering out mouths when the others look at us.

“I’m not even going to ask.” Louis says turning around and facing out the window.

I smile at Harry then look out the window. Branson isn’t far, but I never realize how close we actually are until we drive out here. Zayn drove in a different way to avoid all the traffic, and since there is a football game there is sure to more than usual… Or maybe not, or maybe. What the hell I don’t know. I never go to away games. I just know that we are close to food, to Chinese food, to general chicken, fried rice, egg rolls, egg drop soup, and crag rangoons.

I’ve never really hung out, hung out with anyone besides Harry so I hope they eat a lot… because then I’m just gonna have a huge thing of food and no one is. Actually, I’m sure they’ll eat a lot because Harry does and that’s good because then they’re used to it. I’m over thinking this.

We soon pull up in front of the Panda House and I am already practically salivating. I’m the first through the door to look at the menu. I guess in the car they decided that we would get it to go and just eat at the game which isn’t a good idea because the car is going to smell so good and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stop myself from eating the food in the car.

“Ladies first,” Zayn motions for Perrie to go before him and I stand by Harry and Liam cause I’m sure Zayn is paying for Perrie. They order and then Louis goes because I make him and he pays for himself. I urge harry to go ahead to and he does, rude guys should take notes from Zayn… even if I forced them. I mentally laugh. What throws me off is when Harry asked me what I want.

“Uh, I-uh…” I looked at him and he urged me to go on. “Can I have the general chicken with fried rice? One egg roll and two crab rangoons, please. Oh and a water?” The lady behind the counter nods and asks if that’s all.

“Yea,” then he says to me. “I got it.”

I nod and let him pay. I’d probably make more of a fight about it if we weren’t with his friends. Actually maybe I wouldn’t because I’d be happy to let him pay.

We walk to the stadium, each of us with our own carton. No one said anything about Harry getting my meal except that it was nice. As we approach the bleachers, Zayn leads in walking to the student section. The wind starts picking up when we do walk out there and up to guest section. I see Liam sitting in the middle of the stands, but he doesn’t see us yet.

We walk closer to him and he finally notices when Liam yells something at him. His eyes meet mine and he smiles, and I do to as I walk over to him.

“Hey,” he smiles as I take my seat on the chilly bleacher.

“HI!” I bite my lip and put my food on my lap.

Zayn, Perrie, Louis, and Harry sit a row behind us which is okay, and a little awkward, but okay.

“I’m glad you came.” He says.

“I’ll tell you after if I am too.” I joke, and he laughs. I open my food and break my chopsticks ready to dig in. I take a bite of my chicken and almost moan, but I don’t.

Liam is watching the JV game and whispers, “come on, come on, come on. Dammit!”

I giggle and ask, “What happened?”

He looks at me and answers, “He didn’t make it to where he needed to be by his 3rd down.” I feel kind of dumb as I just stare at him with a confused look on my face, but he sends me a warm smile anyway. “It’s okay, I’ll teach you tomorrow.”

I laugh and nod my head. “Okay, good.” I grab another piece of chicken with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth. I look towards Liam who is looking at me, “Do you want a bite?” I offer him a piece and hold it up.

“Sure, thanks.” He says, moving his head forward to meet my chopsticks. It’s not weird sharing food with him because I literally share food with anybody. Well, okay ew, not anybody. Hygienic people, is that mean? No, because it’s true, plus no one can hear me. Kelly, Jesus focus. “General Chicken is my favorite from there, it’s so good.”

“Wait, Kelly can I have some?” Louis asks.

“Uh, yea.” I say, and hold out my food to him, turning around to meet him. “HEY! Do not touch my eggroll!”

He laughs and grabs a piece of chicken, then so does Harry who just shoots me a smile. I roll my eyes and turn to Perrie and Zayn, who also take a piece… Why no one else just bought general chicken is beyond me.

The rest of my food is split between Liam and I, but he doesn’t eat a lot of it. For every four bites of my own, he took one. . .maybe. But soon we were finished and the first game was going to end.

“Alright, I have to go to the locker room.” He says, “Let me take your trash.” He holds his hands out and takes it.

“Thank you.”

“Yea, of course. Wait, do you have a jacket or anything?” he asks concerned.

“Uhm,” I look down at my dress and my crossed legs from the chilly wind. “No, I wasn’t really planning on coming when I left the house this morning.” I laugh.

“Oh, well here.” He starts pulling his letterman jacket of himself.

“Oh, Liam no, I” I try to protest.

“No, it’s alright. Really. I’m not going to use it during the game, and I rather you not be freezing.” He says as he hands me the jacket.

I finally accept it and shrug it on, “Thank you.” I smile shyly. He’s too sweet.

He puts his hand on my arm as a ‘you’re welcome’ and stands up. “Thank you guys for coming. You better cheer really fucking loud!”

“You better do really fucking good, mate.”

“Yea, mate.” Louis says, obviously making fun of harry.

Liam laughs as do Perrie and Zayn, “All right, I’m off.” He looks down at me again, “I’ll see you later.” I smile and nod before he walks off with a wave.

“So you and Liam, huh?” Louis asks again.

“No, me and Zayn. Sorry, Perrie.” I send her a joking glance as Louis rolls his eyes.

“Can no one just give me a solid answer? I need to be in the know with these things. I’m gonna go to the bathroom and reevaluate my life decisions… and maybe find new friends.” He hangs his head as he walks off, but winks as he disappears behind the bleachers.

I take that as my chance to move into his seat between Harry and Perrie.

“You’re gonna have to tell me what’s happening.” I smile at Harry.

“Yea, okay.” He answers with a smile on his lips, but being his best friend I know he’s faking.

Notes