Chapter 10: Risk

"Harry, you called?"

Dinah stepped in the guy's dorm room. Harry was currently pacing around the room, his hands clutching his head. He kept mumbling things she couldn't understand. She was starting to get dizzy just by looking at him. She blinked rapidly her eyes and stood stiff in front of the pacing Harry, avoiding him from further making her sick. His features bloomed worry and fear.

"I can't keep this from him anymore." Harry mumbled under his breath.

"Keep what from who?" Dinah asked confused. She sighed when she saw the look on his face. "Let's sit down first then you have to tell me everything, comprendo?" Harry nodded and she led him towards the leather couch. Harry was looking anywhere but Dinah, frequently running his hand through his locks.

"Spit it out Styles. Worrying ain't gonna do much."

Harry finally looked at Dinah. He looked like a lost puppy.

"I need your help."

~~~~~~~

"Hello?"

Lauren's phone blared its ringtone from the kitchen isle. She and Camila were making lunch together when her phone suddenly erupted. She looked at the assigned name on screen.

"Lauren, hey how've you been?"

Lauren could easily detect the anxiousness on his voice. She immediately knew Louis wanted help with something. She gave Camila, who was grilling their sandwiches, an apologetic smile. Camila returned the gesture and continued her duty.

"I'm fine, Louis. What made you call?"

Louis sighed from the other line. There was a short moment of silence until he spoke up again.

"I just broke up with Melissa."

Melissa, Louis' girlfriend who he doesn't really talk about that much. They don't even see the girl that much with Louis, only on parties. She doesn't know anything about her other than her name and the fact that she was Louis' girlfriend. The first time she met the girl, she instantly noticed a weird vibe with her. It was at a party at a student's house out of school. She was acting very sketchy and left Louis with her when she came. It almost seemed like she didn't want anything to do with him.

"Oh." was all Lauren could say. She doesn't really know how to feel. She's happy that he finally broke up with her because she feels like she's just using him for something but she doesn't know if Louis is gonna take her reaction. Maybe he'll offend him for being happy of his recent breakup.

"She cheated on me." Louis breathed from the other line. To be honest, it wasn't much of a surprise to her. She's always felt something fishy about the girl.

"I've always suspected that, actually." Lauren admitted to her friend. She felt someone put their hand on her shoulder. She turned towards the source and saw Camila giving her a reassuring smile while pointing her finger towards the table where her sandwich and orange juice are ready to eat. Lauren mouthed a thank you and gave her girlfriend a light kiss on the cheek, making the other Latina blush in response.

"I need you to come over, Laur. I really need your help."

There was disparity in his voice, and need. He sounds like a lost puppy abandoned by his owner on the street. Lauren looked over to Camila on the couch, nibbling on her sandwich while watching another episode of 'Friends'.

Lauren and Camila had been attached to the hip lately. Wherever Lauren would go Camila would follow. Whenever Lauren would go grocery shopping, the younger girl would willingly follow, not wanting herself to be alone in the flat. Camila was utterly terrified of being left alone. It just reminds her so much of what happened and she doesn't want it to happen again.

Lauren ran her mind over and over on what she should do. She kept thinking on what she should say. Should she go to Louis' and comfort her friend or just chill back here with Camila?

"Louis, I don't think I can come over." she sighed in defeat. She really wants to comfort her friend. It's like second nature for her to make sure every single one of close to her is safe and happy. "I can't leave Camz alone. She's traumatized."

"Both of you can come over." he said with desperation. Lauren sighed in relief, at least Louis welcomes not only her but also Camila in a dark part of his life. She felt a smile tug on her lips.

"We'll be there in thirty." she informed, looking at the clock hung on the wall to her right. They said their goodbyes and they hung up eventually. Lauren grabbed her sandwich and took a big bite from it. She sauntered over to her girlfriend who just turned off the tv.

"Who was it?" Camila asked, setting the remote down on the coffee table. Lauren put her phone back on her pants' pocket. "It was Louis. He wants us to come over." She gripped Camila by the waist and pulled her closer to her side. She placed a lingering kiss on her cheeks, making a warm smile and deep blush appear on her face. Lauren felt butterflies on her stomach region just by looking at her girlfriend's content and shy smile.

"Let's go change, yeah?"

Lauren and Camila stood hand in hand in front of Louis' door. Throughout the entire car ride, Lauren was telling Camila the current situation and reason they're going over to Louis'. They looked at each other briefly before Lauren sighed and knocked on the door. The door soon opened and revealed a very fine-looking Louis. It seemed strange to both of them. He welcomed them in and gave them some drinks. They sat comfortably on his couch, both girls looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak. By the look on his face, he didn't really seem hurt or sad. Instead he seems, conflicted. By what though?

"She cheated?" Camila asked. Louis nodded and sighed, scratching his stub. "It's okay to be sad, you know. You can tell us everything when you're ready." Camila openly suggested, not wanting to push her friend. It must hurt to have someone you love cheat on you.

"That's the problem." He looked at the girls in front of him. "I'm not sad, or hurt. I should feel those things, right? But why do I feel free, like weight was lifted off my shoulders? It just doesn't make sense." There was silence.

"Maybe you didn't love her." Camila said bluntly, immediately catching Louis' attention. Oh and including Lauren's. Both looked at the younger girl, curious. Camila shrugged her shoulders. "If losing someone you love didn't hurt you or make you feel sad or heartbroken, then maybe you actually didn't love them. When you were together, you thought you loved them. But now that you're no longer together, it doesn't affect you."

Camila ducked her head. "I've felt that once." She felt someone's hand intertwine with her right one. She looked up and saw Lauren giving her a tight lip smile, silently telling her it's okay. Camila returned the gesture and squeezed Lauren's hand, telling her she's fine. Louis looked at them with a sad smile. Lauren caught this, Louis hanging his head and fingers fumbling each other.

"I'm jealous of you guys." The conflicted guy said. This caught Camila and Lauren's attention. "What do you mean?" Lauren carefully probed, reaching for his shoulders and rubbing them for comfort. He looked up and eyed the girls, a sad smile on his lips.

"I'm jealous of the love you have. I don't think I could find a connection as strong as yours."

"I'm hopelessly in love with someone who doesn't like me." He mumbled. The girls stood up and sat on each side of Louis, both rubbing his back.

"Do they know?" Louis shook his head weakly. "Then how do you know they don't like you if they don't even know you like them? Tell them your feelings. It'll make you feel good and would clarify things for both of you." Lauren said, looking at Camila as memories came flooding back to her.

"I can't. He likes someone else."

Camila perked up. "Wait, he?" Louis nodded weakly. "Who is it, Louis?" She asked softly. He hung his head low, contemplating if he should tell them. He did call them over because he needed help, but now he's not so sure anymore. He looked at the girls beside him who were looking at him with soft gazes. This tore his walls down and his brain told him these girls cared for him.

"Harry." He muttered under his breath. The girls caught it because of the dead silence of the room. The girls gave him a reassuring smile, telling him everything's gonna be okay.

"You should tell him." Lauren urged. Louis shook his head and hung it low again. "I can't. He likes someone else. He likes Dinah and Dinah likes him." He admitted in defeat.

Camila and Lauren looked at each other, confused. By what they know, Normani and Dinah are dating. How could Dinah like Harry if she's dating Normani?

"But Mani and Dinah are dating though.." Camila said slowly. Louis furrowed his brows in confusion. Dating? Wait what?

"Dating? I Thought her and Harry were dating. I mean, they've been like so close and they're always laughing when they're around each other."

"I think you're confused Louis. Let's take a step back and see what's really going on." Lauren said and stood upright, putting on her thinking face. Everyone was on the deep ends of their thoughts. Dinah and Harry didn't tell them anything about them, only Dinah dating Mani, which was just recently brought to Louis' attention. That's it. Maybe the girl in question might have some answers. Lauren fished out her phone and dialed her number. Camila looked at her curiously. Lauren gave her a look saying she got this. Camila smiled and kissed her comfortingly on the cheek, which elicited a smile on the green eyed girl's face, Dinah's voice booming out of the small device.

"Whassup Lauser." Dinah's cheery voice said from the other line.

"Can you come over to Louis'?" Seriousness was etched on her tone, which made Dinah's playful posture cringe. She just chose not to question the girl further, fearing she might get some words later on.

"I'm on my way." Dinah said, Lauren hung up. She put her phone back on her jeans pocket, expression still serious. Camila reached over and intertwined their hands, squeezing it afterwards. She gave her a small smile which easily broke down the green eyed girl's hard exterior. Lauren smiled then looked back at Louis who was still in deep thought.

On the other side...

Harry and Dinah had just finished talking. Harry had finally come to terms with his feelings, making Dinah exceptionally happy and proud of him. They've gone over a plan to make his dream boy fall for him. Harry is such a perfectionist. He wants every single thing to be perfect, even the little details. Dinah almost gave him a Polly beat down when Harry kept complaining on the lack of attention on small details. The guy squirmed on his seat, afraid of the Polynesian girl. They reviewed the plan over and over again until Dinah's phone blared out it's annoying ringtone. She looked at the name on the screen, Lauren.

"Whassup Lauser." She said in her usual cheery voice, cheerier than before at the thought of playing Cupid again. It gave her a wave of nostalgia, remembering the time she helped Lauren win Camila over. A wide smile spread on her face. It quickly disappeared when she heard Lauren speak from the other line.

"Can you come over to Louis'?" There was a distinct seriousness on her tone. It sent shivers down her spine, imagining how scary the green eyed girl could get. She gulped.

"I'm on my way." With that Lauren hung up. Dinah sighed and stood up. Harry was scanning the plan written on a yellow pad. His brows were furrowed together, lips quietly muttering the words on the paper.

"Harry, I need to go." She announced, making Harry look up with a smile on his face.

"Thank you so much Dinah. You're awesome, you know." Harry stood up, leading the girl out of the door. Dinah laughed and put a smug smile.

"People say that a lot about me." Both laughed at her playfulness.

"No but seriously, thank you so much. I couldn't have done this without you." Harry engulfed Dinah in a hug. She smiled and patted him on the back. They separated and Harry opened the door for her.

"I'm gonna come back later then we can put the plan in action. For the meantime, go eat some lunch. I know you haven't eaten anything."

Harry laughed. "Sure Dmac." Before Harry could close the door, Dinah stopped it with her hand.

"Remember what I told you. 'If you want it, go for it. Take a risk. Don't always play it safe or you'll die wondering.' Keep that in mind, Styles."

Harry smiled and playfully pushed the girl. "Yeah yeah, now go you still have duties to attend to."

A/N:

Pretty uneventful chapter but I'm getting to the good stuff. Sorry for the wait guys I've just been jamming out so much to 7/27 coz omfg it's the definition of perfection. But really though, I'm so sorry for the wait. Priorities first, aka 7/27 XD.