Torn

I wandered around the city centre, side stepping the hordes of crowds that clogged the main streets, like fat within an artery. People were everywhere, moving in every direction, yelling, cheering, crying. A pure force to be reckoned with. In the few spaces between each throng of people, my eyes were affronted with advertising in every shop window, even out on the street. I lost count of how many sandwich boards I managed to trip over, as I dodged each onslaught, armed with prams, bags & children of varying moods.

The air was cold, but the I was practically sweating in my oversized, thick grey jumper & dark blue skinny jeans. I'd taken off my coat, left it hanging on over my arm, the body heat from the crowd made wearing it unbearable! Christmas music filled my ears, as I fought through the Christmas market, my nose filled with delicious smells of hot cider, chocolate & bratwurst. Watching the chocolate fountains fall, I could almost taste it the the warm sickly sweet chocolate, slip down my throat with the slight tang of the strawberry following. I caught myself before I started drooling & made a mental note to treat myself to one later.

Eventually I reached the steps leading to the Birmingham Art Gallery & The Floozie In The Jacuzzi. I didn't think it'd be possible, but it seemed here was even busier! I sighed silently before carefully picking my way through the crowds.

Just before I hit the second set of steps, I heard someone cry out in front of me. I felt the burning liquid hit first before I felt his weight. Somehow I managed to stay upright, despite stumbling back a few steps, my hands reaching up and grabbing his coat, pressing back against his chest, before we became Jack & Jill tumbling down the steps amongst the crowd.

“Offft, sorry love!” His voice was deep and rough, his hands grabbed my waist as we steadied each other, against the crowd

“Are you alright?” I asked feeling eyes on us as I automatically smoothed down his coat where I'd grabbed the material. My cheeks flushed at the feeling, as I tried to ignore the crowd.

“Yeah love, I'm fine. How are...oh my goodness you're soaked!” He commented as I glanced up at him. His eyes didn't raise above my soaked jumper & I followed his gaze, just as the heat of his drinks hit my skin, beginning to burn. My jumper was marked with a trail of hot chocolate that had soaked through the material and again through my tshirt. I glanced round trying to work out the quickest way to a bathroom, deciding it'd be quicker to carry on fighting through the crowds up to the Birmingham Art Gallery, rather than backtracking to the Bull Ring.

“Oi! Haz, you clumsy numskull, what you go spill our drinks for?!” A voice laughed from behind.

“Lou, he clearly used it as an opportunity to chat up the hot chick.” An Irish voice piped up. My cheeks started burning again as 'Haz' looked over my shoulder at the owners of the voices.

“Um, I should go.” I muttered, trying to move past him, desperate to cool down the skin on my stomach. However he held me fast, and I suddenly became aware of my surroundings, the crowd were moving slower around us, the majority of them had their phones out, pointed directly at us, all talking in low hushes. There were a few who shouted something at the boys around me, however the music muffled their yells.

“No, no, I need to make this right. It's my fault you're soaked.” He shook his head, a thoughtful look on his face.

“It's fine, honest, my hotel is nearby, I'll just go and change. It was an accident, no harm done.” I lied, silently groaning about the blisters that would start forming any minute on my stomach. This time he raised his eyes and looked at me directly. I was instantly lost in the depths of the forest, feeling them reading right through my lie. He opened his mouth and faltered for a moment, his stare intense.

“You've got to let me fix this. Just show me where you got the top and I'll buy you a new one.” He told me firmly. I shook my head, a small laugh escaping my lips. An arm landed round my shoulder.

“Look love, yikes you're wet!” The Irish lad exclaimed pulling his arm away. His friend joined him, both level on my step.

“Niall, you fool!” Lou laughed before turning his gaze to me, raising on foot onto Haz's step, closing off our little circle from the crowds. “Listen love, Harry won't let you leave till he's done this one thing. So just let him yeah?” I sighed and shook my head.

“I'll compromise, skip buying me a new top and just let me get to a bathroom, those drinks were hot, and I'd rather they didn't burn me, and that'll put things right okay?” I asked hopefully. There was a sudden change in Harry's eyes, concern filled them but the intensity stayed. His right hand let go of my waist, moving to keep a firm hold on my left elbow, he used his other hand to start moving the crowd out of the way. My waist suddenly felt cold from the lack of body heat as we started to move through the crowds. Lou and Niall flanked me on either side, each with a hand to the small of my back. The crowds parted easily for them, and it didn't take long for us to make our way through to by the Birmingham Art Gallery. I started to turn left to head to the entrance down the side, but Harry pulled me right, down one of the roads just off the square before heading straight into Starbucks. We paused momentarily just inside the doorway as Harry glanced round locating the bathrooms before turning to the three of us.

“Go get 4 hot chocolates and a table, we will come and meet you in a bit.” He instructed the two guys, before leading me downstairs and coming to a halt outside the ladies. He reached an arm out and started pushing the door.

“Uh, I don't think so.” Harry glanced back at me confused. “I'm not an invalid, I can sort myself out thankyou, it's very kind of you to get me here, but that is the ladies, and you certainly don't look like a lady to me!” I quickly hurried inside, shutting the door in his amused face, leaning back on it, as my blush raged and I heard what I'd actually just said. Harry was in a full fit of laughter on the other side of the door. I rolled my eyes and, checking there was no one in either of the two cubicles, pulled off my jumper and tshirt. I grabbed a green hand towel from the dispenser and held it under the cold tap, before carefully placing the cold wet paper against the large red mark on my stomach. A gasp escaped my lips at the extreme contrast of temperatures, causing Harry to call through the door. I reassured him I was fine, and continued to cool down my skin silently.

5 minutes later, I wiped down my ruined t-shirt, saving it as best as I could before pulling it back on. I looked at my jumper, attempted to remove the mark but eventually gave up, shaking my head. It was an old jumper that had served me well over the years. But clearly it's time had come, I slung it over my arm with my coat, pulled my bag onto my shoulder and headed back out into the corridor.

“'Everybody Looks Famous'. Do they indeed?” Harry chortled, his eyes landing on my top. I rolled my eyes and headed back upstairs.

“They're a band.”

“Ahh I see.” Harry smirked and grabbed my hand as we reached the top of the stairs beginning to lead the way to the other two. I pulled away surprised. Harry glanced back in surprise, and I quickly started rifling through my bag to cover what happened, pulling out my purse as we arrived at our table. I glanced up again as Harry pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit, I thanked him blushing, as Niall pushed a hot chocolate towards me. I smiled at him.

“Thankyou, how much do I owe you?” I unzipped my purse, starting to pull out change. Harry picked up the change I had started laying out on the table and poured it back into my purse.

“Nothing more than a smile.” I rolled my eyes, my blush getting brighter.

“Eye rolls cost a tenner!” Louis laughed.

“Then I must be badly in debt.” I giggled, smiling at Louis. I thought I felt Harry grow a little rigid beside me, before I heard him move in his seat, I turned to look at him, and found him turned to fully face me, his eyes burning with curiosity.

“So tell me about this band.” He indicated towards my top. I smiled, biting back my excitement as I started to tell him, Niall and Louis, about the unsigned band I had fallen in love with a few years ago.

They were a pop punk band based in Birmingham, who had been going from strength to strength. They'd released their debut album & several Eps. They also were friends with several other excellent bands whom would often all support each other. Building up a wonderful support network within the area, which led the fanbases to often merge and create a family like feel.

The guys just sat and listened to me talk. Niall would take loud gulps of his drink from time to time, before shooting apologetic looks at me after each elbowing from Louis. Harry just sat and listened, asking the odd question, seeming to forget his drink for a while, before taking a sip just after I did, as though watching me drink reminded him of the warming cup between his large hands.

“Sounds like we need to check this band out! When are they next performing?” Louis asked as I rounded off my ramble. I hesitated slightly.

“Uh, I'll find out.” I started hunting through my bag for my phone, pulling out notepads & random pieces of scrap paper, with various notes all over and placing them on the table. Harry grabbed a piece of paper that had escaped and fallen to the floor as I pulled out my phone.

“Tonight by the looks of things.” He noted, turning the ticket over in his hands. I blushed guiltily, stuffing everything bar my phone back into my bag.

“I thought tonight might be a bit short notice, I was going to see when they were next in town.”

“Tonight's perfect!” Niall grinned, pulling out his phone, jumping up and heading outside, the phone pressed to his ear.

“We better find you a new outfit, seeing as I ruined that one.” Harry nodded towards my top. I shook my head.

“Don't be silly, I can head back to the hotel and change before the gig. It's no big deal.” I shrugged, finishing off my drink. Harry raised an eyebrow, glancing me over, before pulling his eyebrows into a confused frown.

“Where's your jumper?”

“It was an old jumper, I chucked it. I was going to throw it away before the gig anyway.” I shrugged offhandedly.

“I'm getting you a new outfit.”

“Don't be so silly.”

“I'm not being silly.”

“Listen...” Louis gave a slightly horrified look. “We've been chatting all this time, and yet I have no idea what you're name is!”

“Roxy.” I smiled accepting Louis's extended hand, while Harry muttered something I didn't catch under his breath. I shot him a confused sidewards glance, but he didn't repeat himself.

“Pleasure to meet you Roxy, I'm Louis, this muppet here is Harry, and the excitable Irish elf with a phone stuck to his ear is Niall.” Louis indicated to where Niall was stood outside our window. He let go of my hand and continued in a more serious tone.

“Listen Roxy, Harry is stubborn, and clearly you are too, so you're a good match together. However, we don't have to put up with you 24/7, we do Harry. So hows about a bit of good Christmas will and save us from the torture and just let the poor boy take you shopping, yeah?” I giggled at Louis' little speech. He was practically begging at the end. I nodded in agreement, taking pity on him.

“Alright, seeing as it's advent, and it'd be the 'Christian thing to do'. At least it's an excuse to give my halo a polish!” I laughed. Louis grinned thanking me as Niall reappeared, phone back in pocket, cheeks pinched pink from the cold, eyes sparkling with the biggest grin on his face.

“Hey, reckon you could organise us 8 tickets for tonight?”

“I'll see what I can do.” I smiled, picking up my phone from the table and moving to stand up, Harry placed a hand my arm.

“To ring Roy.”

“You'll catch a cold out there, just stay here and ring him.”

“I'll be fine.”

“Now who's being silly? We all want to hear what happens anyway, just ring him in here.” I opened my mouth to answer but after a sharp cough from Louis, I sighed and sat back down.

“Who's Roy?” Niall enquired.

“Everybody Looks Famous' manager.” I replied, pulling up Roy's number, hitting the call button.

“You have their manager's number?” Harry gave me an impressed look.

Notes

Hello!

New story & new user! Woop! Haha. I hope you enjoy this, it's been a while since I've written anything, so it's great to get back in the swing of things.

Anywho, I'll leave you for now, and I'll have the next chapter up soon! :)