I am settled on big couch in the Theta Xi’s living room with a red cup in my hand. I am next to Harry who is sitting on the arm, with a red cup in my hand. I’m taking a sip from my beer, when Steph and Niall walk in, followed by a blonde girl that I haven’t met.
Niall is cute as always in a denim jacket, white t-shirt and dark skinny jeans, and Steph is wearing a black minidress, slightly see-through around the shoulders and stomach areas. The girl with them however, is wearing ridiculous, heavy-looking maroon dress. It ends beneath her knees an it has long sleeves, not to mention a neckline up to her neck. Hey, idiot, it’s a frat party! Not the Young Republicans get-together, I sneer in my mind.

“Hey, guys,” Steph smiles and I wave back. “So, this is Tessa, my roommate. She just got here yesterday so I figured I’d bring her along. I’d like her to see how we have fun here at WSU.”

I smile and nod at Tessa, then scoot over so Steph and Niall can sit, too. Zayn shakes the new girl’s hand. I chuckle and shake my head. Figures, he likes blondes. And despite the ugly clothing, I can’t deny that Tessa is kind of pretty.

“Hey, I'm Zayn.” He says. “So what are you studying?" I notice how he raises an eyebrow, when he looks at her outfit and it almost makes me choke on my beer, but I manage to hide it.

"I am an English major," Tessa smiles.

Of course, she is!,I think and next to me, Harry snorts.

"Awesome," Zayn laughs. “What’s your favorite book?”

“Pride and Prejudice,” she says.

Now it’s my time to snort. Jesus, could she be more banal?

"Do you want a drink?" Zayn offers.

"Oh no, I don't drink,” she shakes her head.

"Leave it to Steph to bring little Miss Priss to a frat party,” I chuckle.

“Hey!” Steph snaps.

“Am I wrong?” I say quietly, yet loud enough for Steph (and probably Tessa) to hear.

"I am going to get some air," Tessa says and turns to walk away.

"Do you want me to come?" Steph calls after her, but the blonde shakes her head and makes her way to the door.

“Steph, seriously?” I raise my eyebrows at her. “You are better than that. Just leave her be. If she doesn’t want to hang out, you can’t force her.”

“Well, of course she doesn’t want to hang around. No one likes people insulting them, do they?”

“I wasn’t insulting her, I was just saying what I think,” I shrug and lean back more comfortable on the couch. Harry shakes his head and smirks at me and I wink at him. No one seems to notice our exchange.

“You were being mean!” Steph raises her eyebrows.

”I was mean to you too, at first.”

“I didn’t like you, at first.”

“And now we are best friends. Look how things work out,” I smile and Steph chuckles, shaking her head.

“You were kind of mean, though,” Zayn turns to me and flashes the tongue piercing he got this summer. It really suits him.

“Fine, if she comes back, I’ll be nicer.”

“Well, that’d be something to see. Can you even do nice?” Harry smiles crookedly.

“Can you?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Ouch!” he clutches his chest, pretending I hurt him. I chuckle.

Niall downs the rest of his beer at once and stands up. “I love this song,” he says and extends his arm to me. “Molly, you, me, dancing - now!”

I take another swig of my cup, leave it on the coffee table and take his hand, laughing as he pulls me closer.

“Love your dress,” he says, staring at my chest and I smile knowingly.

I’m wearing a white strapless mini dress with a sweetheart neckline and a bubble skirt. Mine was longer than Steph’s (well, it was on me, anyway. Steph is three inches taller than my humble 5’2), but the neckline was a lot more revealing.

Niall presses me close to himself, gives me a quick peck on the cheek, grabs my hand and heads over to an opening, where a bunch of people are already dancing.

***

Half an hour later, I am sweating slightly and I can barely hold on my feet - I’ve mastered walking on giant heels for long periods of time, but dancing on heels is still hard.

“Ok, I’m done,” I laugh.

“Oh, one more song, c’mon.”

“No, no, I have to take these shoes off,” I press against his chest and look up. “C’mon, take me back,” I smile flirtatiously.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, please, let’s go.”

“Ok, then,” he says, and before I realise what’s going, he grabs me and put me over his shoulder.

“I didn’t mean that literally,” I giggle.

“You said to take you, so I’m taking you.”

I continue giggling as he carries me through the room.

“Hey, guys,” I say to my friends, who are sitting on the couch, when Niall turns around, so I can face them. He grabs my waist and puts me down. I immediately collapse on the couch.

“Man, my feet are killing me!” I whine and start unclasping my heels. “Harry, could you hand me that beer?”

“Sure thing,” he says and hands me a beer bottle, opening it for me.

“Thanks. Where is Steph?” I frown, once I take a swig from my bottle.

“I think she went looking for that Tammy girl,” he says.

“Tessa,” I correct him.

Niall sits next to me and without thinking, I put my legs in his lap. I quickly make a move to get them off him, but he pulls them back and starts massaging my feet. I give him an encouraging smile.

“Yeah, whatever,” Harry starts picking up lint from his t-shirt. I don’t care. It’s not his business what and who I do.

Some time later, I’m still sitting there listening to Niall tell a story, while he’s massaging my feet, when I hear a familiar voice:

“Hey, you, scoot over,” Louis forces his way to sit between Niall and Zayn.

“Oh, god, Molly, I don’t want to see that!” He covers the left side of his face - the one facing in my direction, and I quickly drop my legs from Niall’s lap.

Louis starts rolling up a cigarette, and in the middle of it - turns to us: “You all, should stop spoiling my sister. She gets used to the attention and becomes difficult to be around in the summer.”

“Shut up, Louis! I’m a peach to be around any time of the year,” I scoff.

“Sure, you are - and I am the Queen of England,” he says without looking at me, finishing up his cigarette. ”I’m going out for a smoke. Any of you guys want one?”

“Smoking is bad for you,” I say in a sing-song voice.

“Everyone has vices,” Louis shrugs. “Right, little sis?”

“Well, my ‘vices’ won’t kill me of slow agonising death.”

“Says you,” he shrugs.

“Says science!”

“Do you want me to show you that list of STDs again?”

“I’m not an idiot, I’m being careful. Can you use condoms, when you’re smoking?”

“Stop bickering you two.” Zayn smiles, amused. “Come on, Louis, I’ll come smoke with you,” he says and the two of them head outside.

“So, where were we?” Niall turns to me.

“I think, I’m going to go get something to eat,” I stand up, grabbing my heels and the beer bottle.

“I’ll come with,” Niall makes a move to get up, but I stop him.

“No, that’s ok, I’ll be back in a bit. Do you want me to bring you something?”

“Sure, bring some of the mini sandwiches. Maybe some chips.”

“I’ll help you carry it,” Harry smiles and follows me to the kitchen.

Notes