"This is your flat?" Shane gasps, dropping my bag onto the floor. His blue eyes are enormous, taking in Louis' flat.

"You're drooling," I joke softly, staying on the couch.

"This place puts ours to shame," Derek notes with raised eyebrows, looking around as well.

"My dad owns it," Louis chuckles, reminding them once more. Shane double blinks with a shake of his head. Finn is in the bedroom, still barking because he hears their voices. Louis locked him up in the bedroom while they brought over some of my things. Hannah packed up what she thought I would need for now, and they brought it over so I could relax. I couldn't be more thankful for them.

"You see, you stay with Louis all semester in this suite of a flat and hell, even next semester, and you won't have to worry about that asshole finding you," Derek points out, trying to convince me to stay once more.

"I'm still leaving in January," I note, tilting my head. Shane makes a face of disgust, which only makes me laugh. None of them wants me to go, and part of me doesn't want to go because of them, but it's what's best.

"You have two weeks to decide before it's official. I think we can convince you to stay," Shane chuckles. I let out a tiny laugh before looking down. They all hope my mind will change, but I doubt it will. "Hell, I say we should hang out here more often. Watch some football games, have some guy nights. This flat is far better than any place we usually go to," Shane starts, still stuck on the beauty of this flat. My eyes roll, and I grab my book once more to start reading again. They aren't ever going to leave.

"Oh, Liverpool is playing in a couple of days. It would look sweet, watching them on the screen," Derek adds to Shane's comments. "And I need to keep tabs on them. You know, since they are trying to recruit me. What better place to watch than here?"

"Louis doesn't want you guys inviting yourselves over," I tease.

"I wouldn't mind," Louis shrugs. Oh brother. I sink further into the couch. Shane beams happily, hitting Louis' arm. Back to my book, if I can even focus, that is.

"And in the meantime, now that we're here, you two could explain what happened on that beach," Shane's smug tone is heard behind his words. My face falls, and I drop the book onto the couch.

"Get out," I click my tongue.

"This is the thanks we get for bringing your things over," Derek starts to laugh, earning a pointed look from me. Louis chuckles and mumbles something that I can't make out.

"Fine, you can explain yourselves later. We'll let the two of you be," Shane waves us off.

"Bye," I sing softly. They both head out, and I can relax a little more. Louis shuts the door with a hint of a laugh. "They are too much," I mumble, my eyes straying over him. He has on one of those black, fitted tees that shows off every line of his muscles underneath and grey sweatpants. I love him in this look. I love him in every look he wears. My eyes probably stray over him for too long because he comes over to the couch to join me.

He sits to my left, dropping his phone onto the coffee table. Being this close felt so wrong at one point, and now it feels so right. Finn is still whining in the bedroom, but Louis' eyes are on mine, and he isn't concerned for the dog at all.

"God, you look so fucking good," he breathes out, those blue eyes dark.

"You don't need to lie," I let out a nervous laugh, my head tilting down. I don't believe him one bit. Not with this bruise and stitches.

His hand carefully takes my chin, making me look back at him. My pulse is already thready, and I swallow as these nerves build up. "I've been waiting to be alone with you all day," he whispers in that husky voice that drives me mad.

"I'm not sure if sex is the best idea," I whisper weakly, disappointment taking over every inch of me. I want him desperately, and he knows I've been craving him. The only thing that came out of last night was me falling asleep in his arms, trying to sleep off that migraine from the bar. I would have loved it more if my body were up to it.

"Who said anything about sex?" he chuckles. A fire creeps over my cheeks, and that nervous laugh returns. I look away, this anxiety raking through me.

"You are making me nervous," I breathe out.

"Why?" he flashes a taunting smile. He knows why. My eyes roll, and I readjust myself onto the couch. "I mean, you said it," he teases. If there were a pillow on this couch, I'd be smothering my face into it. "But I could still help you out if you want me to. You don't have to do anything."

My lungs falter in my chest, and I suddenly don't know how to breathe. Heat forms between my two legs, and my knees are pressing together. Another thing that feels so foreign to me is having someone who wants to help me out in that way.

"You don't have to if you don't want to. I'd feel bad, especially since I can't do much for you right now," I whisper, squirming a little in the seat. His eyes move slowly down my body, and my fingers claw into the couch. That lust, pooling in those blue eyes, could end me. How is it that his eyes alone have me in some sort of chokehold?

"Just relax, love," his little demand ignites that fire within me. His hand is on my left inner thigh. My breathing staggers as he slowly moves to kiss the nape of my neck. My knees press tighter together, and I already let out a tiny whimper. My eyes fall onto his large hand that I so desperately want to inch up.

"God, I missed you," he whispers. It sounds like his raw morning voice, which is incredibly sexy. Just his warm hand resting on my thigh is driving me crazy. I want those long fingers to feel me, and I want them in me.

His hand inches closer. My legs part a little, and my breathing is rigid. A low growl emits from the back of his throat, just watching me squirm. He already has a bulge in his grey sweats that I want to see.

"Please," I beg quietly, desperately needing his touch. His hand inches further up my inner thigh, his lips sucking slowly at the skin of my neck. His fingers are so close, and my head rests back on the couch. My legs spread apart wider, needing him. His fingers brisk over my shorts and panties, right over my hot, aching centre. My entire body jerks, and I grip his tattooed arm. He curses under his breath, his hot breath fanning over my neck.

His fingers press onto me, and I am short of breath. My hands wrap around his other arm, and I bury my face into his strong bicep. He slowly moves his fingers up and down over me, teasing me some more. "Fuck," he whispers, making me shiver.

His fingers let up before slipping underneath my clothing. The heat of his body pressing against me feels a thousand times better. Except they don't stay long. Two fingers shove into me, and I gasp. Another finger is still felt against that bundle of nerves. He moves his fingers in and out so slowly, my body already clenching around him. My nails dig into his arm, waves of pleasure coursing through me.

"Louis," I let out a shaky breath. His fingers move in and out faster, deep enough to hit a spot that makes my legs tremble every time. That other finger keeps moving against me, making me even wetter.

"Oh my god," I whisper, my head falling back. He moves faster, and my toes begin to curl. His lips are back on my neck, teasing my skin. I can't help but reach over and palm over his pants. He's so hard, and all I can picture is him inside me. He moves even faster, hitting just the right spot. I feel like I am melting right into the couch. My chest rises and falls heavily, and my stomach becomes tighter. Feeling his hard length beneath his sweatpants has my head spinning. My legs begin to tremble, and I moan. I rock my hips against his hand, my legs starting to pinch back together.

"Louis," I cry out just as I start to come undone. He doesn't stop. He keeps going, letting me ride out my high on his hand. That thumb keeps circling over my clit, those other fingers shoving in and out of me as I tighten around them. His lips are on mine to keep me quiet, and my entire body is trembling until it becomes too much. I grab onto his hand, and he immediately stops. I let out a shaky breath, this room feeling like a thousand degrees.

His eyes are dark, staring me down like he is about to tear these clothes off me. He moves his hand from me, and I pant a little, the heat still lingering between my legs. My eyes are drawn to his sweatpants, wanting to help him out.

I swear my body has melted.

"Fuck, I love helping you out," his words void this room of any air. He readjusts himself, but I want to help him.

A knock at the door makes my body tense. "Shit," he curses under his breath before standing, fixing those sweatpants. I fix myself on the couch, my right leg crossing over my left. My hands move through my hair, worried that it looks like sex hair.

Another knock, and he calls out, "one minute."

He quickly heads towards the loo, the sound of the water turning on once he is in there. I'd try to make my way into the room with the crutches, but I have no time. He's already out, no longer showing any evidence of being hard moments before. Finn is let out of the bedroom on his way back and instantly barks at the door. Each bark is like a blow to my head. I pinch the bridge of my nose and shut my eyes.

He opens the door, and Finn's bark turns into a whimper. "Mum," he lets out a shaky breath. My heart stops in my chest. Oh my god.

"I feel like I am moments away from dropping this," his mother huffs, urging him to grab something. My heart is frantic in my chest. He takes a large, brown bag that smells like takeout.

"I said I would carry it for you," another girl is heard. I want to die. Oh, dear god.

"What-what are you doing here?" Louis stammers, still blocking them from entering or even seeing me.

"We came to have dinner with you because it is mum's birthday after all, and she wanted to see you," another feminine voice chimes in. "Now let us in, so we can get settled."

I wish I had time to put on some makeup to cover my ecchymotic skin. I've been self-conscious about my face after getting hit by that car. I don't want to meet his mother and sisters like this, especially after what we were just doing.

He holds the door open wider and steps back. His mother's bright blue eyes widen the moment she sees me here. She's in a black dress, her brown hair is gently curled to her shoulders, and it looks like she dolled herself up for this special day of hers. Her features are soft, far from harsh like his father's are. I immediately recognise the one twin with her brown hair in a ponytail from the coffee shop. Amelia. The blonde with the shorter hair, I remember from that football game. She has to be Sophia. Only they have never seen me, the girl who looks like an absolute mess sitting on Louis' couch. All three are absolutely gorgeous. I swear they all drink from the fountain of youth. His mum's cheekbones are high, giving her such a prim and proper look, but she doesn't appear as snobbish as Josh's mother. At least not right now.

"I didn't know you had a friend over," his mother gets out, with shock behind her words.

I want to hide away, knowing I look like a complete and total mess. Why today, of all days? Why not on a day when I don't look like a complete disaster?

"Anne," Jace is heard before he is seen, appearing at the doorway by Louis' sisters. His brown eyes are wide, immediately flickering to Louis and then me. His face falters before he lets out a small laugh. His hand moves through his black hair as he tries to save face. "I didn't know you'd be here."

Anne, Louis' mother, lets out a tiny laugh. Her blue eyes are stuck on me for a moment longer, and it is harder to breathe. She looks at Louis, and I don't know if she's passing any judgment or is just curious.

"Uh, this is our friend, Megan," Louis speaks up. I have to look away from them. My chest has a slight strain, but I don't speak up. It's because of Elena, I already know it, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. I'm not sure if anyone else can feel the heaviness in the air. Why does it feel like an elephant is stepping on my chest? I refuse to look up. "I mean, uh," Louis stammers once more. I keep my eyes off them still. "We're seeing each other," his low statement brings shivers down my spine.

Something suddenly crashes to the floor. I take in a sharp intake of breath, looking back at them. One of the bags is on the floor, and food is splattered on the marble flooring. Finn is already attempting to go for it, but no one stops him. Amelia's face has dropped entirely, and I swear Sophia appears paler.

"What?" Anne croaks, her lashes fluttering in bewilderment. "You're seeing someone again?" Anne lets out a shaky breath. Already her blue eyes appear to be strained, red lines etching across the whites of her eyes. She glances at Jace, who ducks his head as if trying to hold back any information. She sniffles, her skin becoming more flushed. "How long have you been seeing each other?"

"A couple of months," Louis sighs, stretching the truth a little. Is it a stretch if we had been sneaking around? I don't know, but they don't need to know about that part, either.

"Pardon me," her bottom lip trembles, matching her wavering voice. She turns and walks out of the flat in a rush.

"You've been dating," Sophia breathes out, eyes fixated on Louis.

"You didn't tell me," Amelia smacks Jace's arm. Jace's eyes become wide instantly. "You were supposed to keep me updated on everything," she adds fuel to the fire. Louis' eyebrows raise immediately.

"That wasn't my thing to tell," Jace defends.

"Guys," Sophia hisses quietly before smiling anxiously at me. "I'm Sophia. It is so nice to meet you," she gushes. Louis murmurs under his breath, his hand moving through his hair.

"I'm Amelia. I'm sorry about our mother. She's fine. She'll be fine," Amelia stammers out before glancing at Finn, devouring whatever had fallen to the floor. "Screw the takeout. We should go out. Megan, you should come. Please," she begs frantically.

"Oh, I don't know. It would be best if you guys celebrate her birthday without me. I don't want to be a burden," I start, my voice becoming thin. These nerves are getting the best of me. Sophia hits Louis' arm, and he looks up before shaking his head.

"We insist. Please. She just needs a couple of minutes. You three can get ready," Amelia tries to convince me to go some more. I swallow the lump in my throat before Louis' eyes fall on mine. He smiles weakly, but it hardly meets his eyes. I know admitting that we are together, in a way, already took a toll on him, just by the look alone. I don't want to go if he doesn't want me to.

"Are you alright with going?" he asks slowly. My chest is tight, and I have a fragile smile. I nod, and his sisters are practically beaming.