Ethan shut the door, waving me off again as he made a call and turned to walk the other direction. I groaned; you could not only see it but hear it. I made sure the moron next to me heard it loud and clear, I really was the queen of scoffing.

"You are such a dick."

He chuckled, it was high pitched and loud like a child. "If I'm such a twat, why did I offer to share my cab with you—"

"My cab douche bag."

"Like I said, your name isn't written anywhere, Elsa, is it?" He smiled. "Also if I'm as rude as you say why did I forgive you for knocking over $30 worth of imported German beer? I could have ripped you hard for that. Especially when you had your boy apologize for you. Your apology wasn't even sincere but I still let it go." He said, pocketing the money, telling the cab driver where to go.

We had at the very least an hour ahead of us since Ethan and I made a lot of trail when we walked around the city until we got to that pub. I braced myself for the worst. This moron wanted me to respond but I wasn't gonna let him get to me. This was going to be like a boomerang of passive aggressive insults. I made sure to move as far as I could near the window.

"You don't have to be so quiet. I wasn't trying to mock on you. Just stating facts."

I turned to him, giving him a real piece of my mind. "Talking is for people who have something in common. We don't, so don't talk to me."

"Well that's not entirely true; we are going to the same destination."

"Whatever, Ethan told you to take me there but I don't need a babysitter and I don't need a pen pal on the way."

"Dare to dream babe. Who said I was babysitting anyone? Man, you jump to conclusions too bleeding fast."

I rolled my eyes, can't believe I'm doing this, "He basically told you to make sure I got back OK."

"Well I don't know your history with him but it sounds like he cares about you a little bit." I looked his way and he smiled again.

"That's not the sign of a guy who cares."

"Last I checked I am a guy. But I'd have to second guess him trusting me as a total stranger in the process. Maybe it's something about my eyes or my smile that got him."

"Whatever, I don't wanna talk about it. It's none of your business anyway."

"Alright then, suit yourself. Just saying if he didn't care, he would have told you to piss off."

My eyes twisted together. "Kind of sounds like he just did. Now I'm stuck with you."

"OK, that's fine. You can think of it that way; I'm not bent up over it. Just observing how much that guy seems to care about you but you obviously don't see it."

What does this guy have like a motor mouth without an off switch or something? I heard something on his end that sounded like a "whatever" followed by a scoff and I prayed that was the end.

After a few moments of silence I tapped the side of the door aimlessly. My face tensed and I was beginning to doubt Ethan's intentions with me.

"Why would he do that?" I whispered, not thinking the guy would hear me.

"Do what?"

"Nothing...forget it."

"O-K well I don't see what was so wrong about what he did."

"Of course you don't."

In spite of all the emo, he's probably a straight guy so he didn't get it. I sighed, ignoring his attempt to get me to talk to him. I have no idea why he would want me to. Ethan should have given me the money, why would he give it to a stranger?

Out of the corner of my eye I watched Mr. Can't Shut the Fuck Up pull off his beanie to fix his hair by ruffling it out. He isn't a horrible looking guy if he kept his mouth shut. I think most guys could benefit from not speaking; it kept the stupid down tremendously.

The rest of the ride was silent and I was grateful for that. I thought he was going to talk again but when I looked over, he was listening to something on his phone and looking out of the open window, his extremely straight hair blowing in the wind like a Bieber video.

I pulled out my phone and slide the lock. Ethan gave me his number before I made a fool of myself earlier; I debated whether to send him a small text. I was pissed off he sort of left me alone for the night, I would have enjoyed riding back with him more than the little boy, know-it-all next to me.

Suddenly I had this really strong urge to hurl but I held it in as much as I could until I saw the ABA building. Thank god it was only 15 minutes or I wasn't going to last much longer. I'm sure boy wonder beside me wouldn't mind the show.

Success, we made it. I had money for the cab but this guy insisted on paying since Ethan gave him the money. I rolled my eyes, checking something in my purse until I heard the receipt printed, making it my cue to bounce out of there. I opened the door and made my way out onto the sidewalk trying to find my footing.

I could walk just fine but for some reason my flats were failing me. This did not look good. Behind me was the guy from the cab. I glared at him.

"What are you staring at?"

"Can you actually walk?" He asked me curiously with a mock laugh, lighting up a cigarette.

I huffed forcing myself to get it together. I can do this, I can fucking walk back. Ethan should have been my spotter not this guy.

"Yes, if you must know."

"Alright then," He puffed a long one, making his way to me, close to my face and blew smoke right in my eyes. "Prove it."

Pushing my hair from my eyes I straightened my body out and tried walking a straight line without tittering. I was doing pretty well actually; I gave myself a mental pat on the back until I skidded over slightly. I recovered fine in my opinion.

"I wanted to see if you were paying attention; that was intentional." I said almost too quickly.

"Sure it was babe." He retorted.

I checked back at him as he made his way closer to me, giving me the hand gesture to go ahead. I flipped him the bird and composed myself for another go at it.

This is getting annoying. I can god damn do this. Why do I have to prepare so much like it was scary? I know I can handle my drink I'm so not a lightweight like Ethan and apparently this guy thought.

"Let me know if you need a spotter." I'm starting to hate the British accent all of a sudden.

I could feel the smirk on his face as I tried my hardest to put one put foot in front of the other. I kept thinking of walking down the aisle of a wedding. I kept that image with me until I was a few steps out. Growing more confidant with myself I looked back and smiled my victory as my body came down; I was saved by hands hitting the asphalt. I heard him running to me, feeling his eyes on me as I refused to look at him.

"You alright? That didn't look so good, are you hurt?"

I felt so embarrassed I thought I was going to cry right there but I bit it back; it took everything in me to hold back the tears that wanted to drip down my face.

"Yes..." I looked at his face, ignoring the genuine concern it held and tried to stand up on my own.

His hand helped me support myself as I rose up to meet his height. He wasn't any more taller than I, average for a guy. Ethan was taller. I shook my head, why am I comparing this guy with Ethan? A: I don't even know his name and B: it's not as if there's a competition between the two of them.

"Thank you. There's really no need." I commented as my eyes turned to his hand still holding onto that nearly burned up cigarette. "It's amazing you still held that and me up."

He took an expert puff, smirking at me as he blew a boatload of smoke from his lips. "I'm talented, what can I say?"

I hesitated before I asked. He already knew mine so I figured it was fair to ask.

"What's your name?"

His mouth twitched before responding, "It's Louis."

I nodded, a French name for a guy who, acts pretty fucking French. But right now I didn't feel that from him. I shook off that feeling entirely, praying that I got into my dorm alive tonight.

"Do you need some help?"

"With what?"

He shrugged, "To your room I guess."

Was I going to regret this? I hope not. "Maybe," my headache was coming back and my legs were feeling a little bit wobbly again.

Louis reached out his hand as I gripped it. I'm trusting this guy, can't believe it. Why would he do all these nice things for me? That is the part that I don't get. He wanted me to lean on him and I did as we walked to the front entrance of the building that was almost pitch black inside, minus the dimly lit lights near the elevators. As we stepped inside I shrunk to the corner, almost collapsing, silently telling myself I'm almost there. Louis was side-glancing at me, I'm assuming to make sure I don't pass out. I think if it wasn't for him staring at me every five seconds I probably would have.

He took my hand automatically again as the elevator came to my floor and I fumbled inside my purse for the keys. It was difficult while walking but I managed to fish them out of the bottom.

We finally came to my room and I unlocked the handle as he brought me in slowly. He helped me onto a bed, I didn't care if it was mine or Bianca's, I just needed to lie down, my head was feeling like it was getting repeatedly bashed in.

"Do you have some pain reliever?" Louis asked me but it felt like he was screaming those words; my hearing was getting weird.

I pointed to the closet and popped open my eyes as I watched his face grow confused. "My gym bag, there's a bottle at the bottom. Ugh..." I groaned, feeling the effects begin to consume me.

I felt the bed shift in weight as I began to sit up halfway looking at the glass of water in one of Louis' hands and pills in the other. I silently took them as I stared at him watching me intently.

"Thanks."

"Yeah." He said, hiding his face.

"I guess..." I paused as he turned his attention to me. "I didn't think you would actually do it."

"What?"

"Make sure a stranger actually got home safe."

He looked at me from the side before staring forward. "It's not a big deal. You should probably get some rest."

I realized this was my bed and I pulled the small blanket I had laid out before over my shoulders. "Yeah, I should."

Louis nodded and stood up from my bed heading to the door. "See you around I guess."

"You guess?"

"I don't know, it's a New York thing, stranger things have happened than us meeting, like us meeting again, in an even weirder situation."

I smiled feeling the blush on my cheeks looking up at him. I was too weak to stand up so I placed the water down and secured the blanket around my shoulders even though the chill was leaving my body. I realized Bianca wasn't in her bed, odd. I'm going to be alone tonight.

"Can I ask you a funny question?" I licked my lips, waiting for his answer.

"Sure, always love those."

"Can you—is it a problem if you...I'm sorry this is too strange for me to ask."

He closed the door and came closer to me so he was eye level.

"Go on."

"Is there any chance you could stay over until I fall asleep?" I asked wincing.

"Ahh usually the dinner comes first before the sleeping over."

I glared at him playfully. "I already had dinner. Sorry, that was stupid to ask."

His brows rose at that. "Why is that stupid? Did you mean it?"

I bit my lip unable to control the honesty that seeped through. "Yeah..." I tried to control the break in my voice but it didn't take. "I did."

Louis looked around the room. I followed where his eyes traveled. There was a chair in the corner of the room, it was at the shared desk, it was fluffy enough. I didn't know why I asked him that I just didn't wanna be alone. Not after it felt like I was rejected on the first day of being here.

"Mind if I sit there?" Louis asked as he pointed to the chair near the desk.

"No," I said shaking my head, in shock he agreed to do this for me.

"Can't believe you trust me not to murder you in your sleep."

"I can't either." I laughed and he joined me. It wasn't hilarious but it did make us both laugh.

He's quite sarcastic, like me, and a bit of a realist, like me. I'm clearly after Ethan, why do I need to count the pros of this Louis guy? We're not interested in each other. Part of me thought he's doing this out of guilt. Maybe he's secretly Jewish and it'll sneak up on him. Don't know many Jews in the UK though.

"Did you think it would turn out like this?"

"No." I knew exactly what he meant.

"I didn't either. My family raised me to care about people so..."

"So this is your community service?"

"No," he smirked at me. "It's a favor for someone in need."

"You know I could have handled myself if you gave me a third try, it's the charming number you know?"

"Actually that's half the saying, "third time's a charm". And no I don't think you could have done it on your own, no matter how many times you tried. You were too knackered."

Not entirely disagreeing with him there. I leaned back, relaxing against my pillow, curling up in my little blanket, semi-shivering but I didn't want to get inside the covers yet. I might fall asleep and I didn't want to do that. Talking to Louis was warming me up, in ways that a hot cup of a tea would.

"I almost got it right, at least give me that. My brain is %60 coherent and rising in percent every minute."

"Points for trying." He winked and checked his phone.

"It's late isn't it?"

"If you call half passed 2am late, nah."

I rolled my eyes rubbing my blanket against my body.

"You don't have to stay if it's really after 2am."

He shrugged, "Maybe I want to. You talk a lot. You ask a lot of questions and I seem to be answering them. That hardly happens with other people. Usually they bore the shit outta me fast."

I chuckled sitting up as I stared in his direction. "Well OK, thanks for the compliment."

Louis folded his arms behind his head, looking at me with a tilted head. "I bet you have to get up tomorrow morning."

"Maybe, don't you have to sleep too?"

"Probably. Just waiting for you to lay back and sleep before I can actually get there."

He was right, I suppose the second I prepare myself for sleeping, the more I will feel tired.

"Touché."

"You know, I gotta say not many people would stick around you. You have the kind of personality that scares most men away."

I gestured, smiling. "Again, with the compliments." I said smiling, then it left my face. "Maybe that's how I scared Ethan away."

"Oh boy...you talk about that bloke way too much. Yeah he finds you cute but I don't know if he's as interested in you as you are in him."

"Suddenly you're an expert on knowing whether we have chemistry or not? I don't know, maybe I got nervous or something. It was literally my first day, I met this great guy and I can't help but think he's blowing me off already because of earlier."

"Maybe he is maybe he isn't, why do you care?"

I shrugged, playing my hair, "I guess I shouldn't."

"Well not caring at all sucks but caring more than the other person does, I don't know, I say if it's clear then you'll know."

I can't believe I was actually taking Louis' comment seriously. But I wasn't going to let him know I agreed.

"Yeah, whatever. If he's interested he'll show it." Or not he's a teacher and that's bad but I'd still want him to.

Louis leaned back in the chair, laughing and covered his eyes. "You're something, Elsa. I've never met a girl quite like you."

"Woman." I corrected, smiling and turned red even though I didn't mean to. The way he said that wasn't sarcastic, it sounded comforting oddly.

I felt his eyes on me and it was true, he was looking at me but glanced at his phone again before raising his brows.

"Feeling sleepy."

"Thank fuck, it's about time." He winked at me, smiling as he fixed on his jacket.

An awkward beat followed and I skipped that, moving to sit up but it was a bit of a challenge. Louis came forward but I put my hand up signaling it was OK.

I stood up and joined him by the door, "Thank you, this wasn't unpleasant."

"Why thank you, it wasn't tiresome on my end either. Oh here..." he pulled out $40 from his pocket. "Take it."

I contorted my face. "What? I thought you used Ethan's money to pay the driver?"

Louis cleared his throat, shrugging. "Sod his money, you keep it. Tell him you deserve a better night than tequila shots after midnight."

He pushed the money into my hand before I could say anything. Begrudgingly I took it, reflecting over the night suddenly.

"Tonight was pretty cliché wasn't it? I did nothing wrong with him and he leaves, I spilled hard earned beer all over you and you paid my cab tab and stuck around." I said, almost not believing it as I said it.

"Actually the cliché would be if you ended up with the man of your dreams and not me. Suppose it was meant to be this way, tonight was not cliché though." He said as his eyes looked down then up at mine.

It looked weird when he did that. "I guess..." I hadn't meant for that to come out in a whisper.

I felt his breathing speed up as mine grew with it. I didn't know what was happening and I groaned before rushing to the bathroom, throwing the money somewhere. Who cares? I could feel my organs following everything that came out of me right now.

My face was buried inside the toilet as I felt like I emptied the entire contents of what I ate for the last two days, good fucking god.

"That's an awfully familiar sound. Feel better?" Louis' voice barely registered to me as I wiped my mouth.

I rested against the wall; I looked like Courtney Love circa post Kurt Cobain's suicide. Why is Louis still here? Probably to laugh at me. I looked over at him and I didn't see him laughing. I just saw him standing there, looking unsure if he wanted to leave or stay.

I nipped this in the bud, my throat was killing me but I forced myself to talk. "Yes, very."

"What's going on here?" I heard Bianca's voice chime in.

I focused my eyes better and saw her walk inside the room looking between Louis and I.

Louis bowed out while nodding to both of us, leaving the room pretty quickly as Bianca looked into the hallway.

Moving to get up I could already feel the questions she was about to ask so I put a stop to it before it began.

"Who was that gu—"

"Nobody, literally nobody."

Notes

Thanks for reading! Let know what you think. :)