You're Still The One

I rolled over on my back and stared up at the ceiling. My head was magnetized to the mattress. My hand smoothed over the satin sheets where Harry would’ve been lying. I glared at the empty sheets beside me but they never changed. I sighed, defeated. It had only been a week and I was already doing horrible. I missed him so much, it physically hurt.



The dim light provided by the orange-like colored sky nearly blinded me.



Wait. The curtains were drawn. I didn’t open the curtains.



I rubbed my eyes pushing the covers away from my body, I peered my head out of the bedroom door. Loud profanities came from the television and a heavenly aroma filled my senses. Breakfast! The sound of sizzling bacon brought me back to a time of a younger age back when Melissa lived with Mum and me and Dad was still alive. She’d wake us up on a lovely Sunday morning and hum songs that we used to sing at church.



I could see just a sliver of the living room. From the look of it, two long-haired females were sat on the couch receiving entertainment from whatever the hell they were watching on the television. Then, the quirky blonde chortled. I’d recognize that squeak anywhere.



“Seriously?!” I almost shouted joining the two on the couch. “What are you guys doing here?”



They looked equally excited to see me after weeks of not speaking. Bailey jumped from her comfortable spot on the couch to go check on the food in the kitchen.



“Harry asked that we check up on you,” Caitlin answered.



I smiled. His constant worrying about me made me feel so safe. It’s nice to know that even when he’s thousands of miles away, he’s still thinking of ways to protect me.



“He didn’t really tell us why though…” Caitlin said, with a probing look in her eyes. “So, would you care to inform us?”



Bailey scurried as fast as she could back to her spot before I could start the long story as to why I think Harry asked them to come. I didn’t really know where to start because a lot has happened in the course of these past few weeks. Things that I never imagined would ever happen to me. I wanted to quickly jump to the good part of the story but I figured it’d be best to start from what they’ve last seen.



“When we first got here I got to meet the band mates. They were all great. Except that Louis didn’t really like me at first.” I paused to take a quick breath. Bailey and Caitlin’s attention was fully on me as we deliberately ignored the television that filled the room with extra noise. “That same night I learned that he had a girlfriend. Nikki Hayes? You know, the actress-model slash fashion designer and whatever else she does.” I paused briefly. “You can say we aren’t too fond of each other. We physically fought about a week ago and now that Harry’s gone she has shown up here every day since Harry’s been gone. She’s probably looking for another fight.”


The two girls exchanged identical looks with each other, leaving me secluded from whatever awful things they were most likely thinking. My fingers tucked a few strands of stray hair behind my ear, taking in their expressions.




“What?!”



“It’s okay because he broke up with her…and now we’re together.”



I frowned. They both were glaring at me like I was the most idiotic freak they’ve ever seen. Caitlin was so pissed that she couldn’t even think of a solid insult to come at me with. She was so flustered all she could do was shake her head and mutter. Her wavy brown hair, bouncing with every movement as she thought of a witty comment to spit at me.



“Did you hear what you just said?!”



I didn’t say anything because I did sound really stupid and if I said anything more, there’s a slight chance that I could possibly sound even more incredibly dumb but if I didn’t defend our relationship they would think of us as nothing but a joke.



“He had a girlfriend the entire time and you just forgave him like that?” Caitlin snapped her fingers and I felt so belittled. She’s always had a bold personality. I don’t know how we were ever remained friends. Bailey, on the other hand, is quiet who I am sure is silently judging me as well but at least it’s silent.



“Boy, Charlie, you sure do know how to pick ‘em.”



She’s never accepted the fact that I’ve liked Harry. She’s always looking for the worst parts of him and it’s always so difficult for her to see the good. I don’t understand because there is so much good in him.



“I think breakfast is finished,” Bailey cut in, being the peacekeeper that she is. Caitlin got up and followed her to the kitchen leaving me alone for a moment. When I was ready, I followed too. We sat eating in the most awkward, uncomfortable silence I ever had to encounter. The angry expression on Caitlin’s face was so loud. The bites she took to eat her food looked just as angry as well.



My head sharply turned when I noticed my phone light up on the counter. A slight curve played on my lips when I saw Harry’s name array across my screen. I stopped eating to open his text message.




From: Harry

Good morning beautiful x



I bit my bottom lip, trying to figure out what I should reply with. My thumbs lingered over the screen before I quickly wrote back. After sending the message, I stared at the text he sent me before I placed the phone flat on the countertop. I looked up for a moment and Caitlin was staring at me with grisly eyes.



“Was that him?” she asked as if it were any of her business.



“Caitlin, please!” Bailey yelled. Her voice held strength and boldness that made Caitlin back off. “Did you see that smile on her face when she read that text?” Bailey pointed to my phone as an example. “She’s happy. Let her be happy. Don’t be a miserable bitch.”



Bailey’s never stood up to Caitlin the way she just did and I almost couldn’t believe it. Caitlin didn’t murmur a word. She stared down at the plate in front of her and kept quiet. I noticed Bailey smiling at me and I smiled back at her.



*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*



My phone was surprisingly buzzing all day with texts from Harry but I couldn’t reply to this particular message as fast as I normally would because of my wet nails. The girls and I thought it would be nice to get out of the house and get our nails done.



The lady sat behind the wooden table had just put a fresh coat of cool red polish onto my fingernails. Caitlin, whose nails had been dry for a while picked up my phone and read the message, without my knowing.



“Ooh sending naughty messages are we?” she smiled, her eyes wide.



I could feel my cheeks flush as her eyes read my most private thoughts that I share with only him. My focus was drawn to my phone that was clasped by Caitlin. My only wish at the moment was to have it back in my possession.



“Charlie, you’re a very bad girl.”



“Give me my phone!”



“Ooh, Harry’s got a dirty mouth.”



“Caitlin!” I shouted.



“Bailey, you have got to read this.”



Caitlin placed the phone right in front of Bailey’s vision and she read our conversation. Her eyes wide with shock and her mouth hung dry. She took the phone from Caitlin and continued to scroll through endless texts. She didn’t say anything aloud, but her expression said enough.



The frail woman painting my nails wore a fragile smile probably at how ridiculous Caitlin and Bailey were being. She told me that I was finished and that I could put my hands in the dryer so the paint would dry faster. While doing so, I couldn’t decipher whether or not to kill Caitlin.



After my nails were dry, I went through my own texts to see just what the hype was about. I know I sent Harry a naughty picture telling him that I was at home thinking about him but it wasn’t x-rated but it wasn’t exactly a picture that I would send to my mum either. Harry’s reply from what I can see is what all the hype was about.



From: Harry

At a sound check having thoughts about throwing you up against a wall somewhere…



I bit my lip, staring down at the phone in my hands. The message sent tingles emerging through me. For a quick second, I actually imagined him throwing me up against a wall and dominating me…sorta like what he did in Zayn’s bathroom. Wondrous times we shared.



As I was trying to think of something to say, Caitlin rushed to my side rather excitedly.



“Holy shit! Nikki Hayes just walked into the nail salon!”



I frowned especially when I noticed her coming towards me.



“Are you stalking me or something?” I didn’t hesitate to ask her.



“Charlie, I’ve been looking all over for you. I came by the house every day this week but you just left me to stand in the cold.” She made me sound so cruel and heartless to those who were listening in on the conversation. “I only wanted to let you in on what’s going on.”



I waited for her to continue. I had nothing else to say to her.



“Your life from this day forward will never be the same…” She stared down at me. I just wanted to warn you. Bye. Enjoy the rest of your day.” She said with a gracious smile as she walked away.



“She is soooo beautiful,” Caitlin complimented while I’m freaking out internally. What the actual fuck did she mean my like won’t ever be the same? “I wonder if she would give me her autograph…”



“Caitlin! Shut up!” I yelled.



“What? She hates you, not me.” She said finally and I was ready to strangle her.



“Charlie, you can’t feed into whatever that girl says,” Bailey comforted. “She’s one of those girls who, gets satisfaction from sucking up other peoples happiness. Your life is constantly changing and you’ve overcome all of that. Don’t let her push you around. You’re a strong girl.”



I appreciated Bailey trying to help but Nikki is obviously a lunatic. She has to be crazy. I’m not joking, how else would she find me out in public with my friends getting my nails done? London isn’t a small city so how’d she find me?



I don’t know but all I do know that she is bloody crazy!

Notes