NINE

“Wendy Pops!” I grinned, getting up from my table set for two to greet with her with a hug, “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“I know.” She smiled, “It has been a long time.” She sighed, “It’s just that when you moved in with Ed, the boys consume your time. And with Casey and I still living in the suburbs, it doesn’t help.”

“I know I’ve been hanging out with them a lot but you’re right. Even if I was free all the time, I couldn’t expect you to make the trip into the city.” I sighed, shrugging my shoulders and picking up my menu.

“See!” Wendy said excitedly, pointing at me, “You just shrugged. Before you would never shrug it off if the three of us didn’t hang out.”

“Wendy, it’s not that I’m shrugging it off.” I said, defensively, “I just am busy a lot. I got a new job today. I’m the assistant to the official manager for the new band Emblem3.”

“Wow?” She said, completely forgetting about my supposed shrug, “That’s honestly amazing. I’m so excited for you! Casey would be too.”

“Oh.” I said dully, “She didn’t want to come?”

“No.” Wendy answered honestly, “She’s still a little sour that you aren’t really friends with us anymore… I mean your best friends now are the world’s biggest boy band. It’s safe to say that you’ve outgrown us.”

“I may hang out with a lot of famous people, but you knew that would happen when Ed became famous… I mean, I was going to meet some people. And now that I have this new job with a rising band, I’m going to meet more people… I’m bound to find good friends amongst them.”

“But aren’t they all self-centered?” She asked, after giving the waiter her order.

“Surprisingly, no. They are honestly some of the most down to earth people I’ve ever met. They appreciate the little things in life because they can’t have them. Normal people want more, while celebrities, most of the time, want less.”

“What? You think normal are greedy or something? God, Gia, now you’re practically calling normal people a different race or something.”

“No I’m not.” I defended, “Wendy, why would I do that? I’m not a celebrity, I’m not a personality or a socialite, I’m a normal person too.”

“Hardly.” She snapped, “Anyway, I didn’t come half way into the city so I could complain to you… I miss you, G. I want to know what’s going on in your life.”

Smiling, I said, “I miss you so much, too. Um, nothing much… Harry and Niall are both bruised up… I think they may have gotten in a fight over something, I don’t really know. They won’t tell me.”

“How is Harry?”

“He’s ok, I think. I don’t know, Wendy, I’m confused… he’s—he’s one of my best friends and a few weeks ago, I got really upset when he was making out with this girl..”

“Whoa, you actually got upset? That means you like him! Trust me, I know.”

“But then there’s Niall.” I said, looking down at the ground, “I think I might have feelings for him… and Harry is just messing it all up… he’s so sweet to me and hot, Gosh, Niall has gotten so much hotter. But Harry—I just want him to undress me and fuck me so hard.”

“Wow.” Wendy laughed, “I mean, I think you should just try and see which one of them likes you… just flirt with them a little bit… maybe kiss one or something. There’s no harm in that, right?”

***

“Hey.” He said when I opened the door and saw Niall standing there. He smiled, side stepping me and walking straight into the apartment. He stretched his hands in the air, “Who is ready for the club tonight?!”

“I’m not, yet.” I said, pointing to the plain pair of shorts that I was wearing and a tank top. He laughed, shooing me off to my room to get ready so I wouldn’t make us late.

I pulled open my closet and my hands gripped around my tight, white, dress. It was designed to show off what curves I have, and push my breasts up so they could be seen better. I pulled it up my body and groaned, how on earth am I going to get this zipped up? Then I thought about what Wendy had said. She told me to flirt with Harry and Niall to see which one likes me… if one of them even does.

Opening my door, I looked out into the living room. Niall was the one I had in mind, but when I saw Harry now standing in the room, laughing with Zayn about something, I couldn’t resist. The rest of them had arrived, including Harry, so Niall wasn’t the only one anymore. You intended on calling Niall to help you, so do it. I snapped to myself, but my voice betrayed me, “Harry?” I called into the room.

Everyone turned to look at my head poking out from my door, “Yeah, babe?” Harry asked, turning to look at me, cutting off his conversation with Zayn.

“Could you help me really quick?” I then smiled to the boys, “I know one of you is about to complain to me but I’m almost ready, don’t worry.” Louis raised his eyebrow as Harry walked over to my room and side stepped me, going inside. Liam laughed at my comment, while Niall just looked down at his phone.

Harry shut my door, and put his hands in his pocket, “What’s wrong?”

“I need someone to zip me up.” I whispered, collecting my straightened hair to one side and turning my back to the curly boy. He looked stunned that I had asked him this but shook his head, standing close to me. I felt his long and slender fingers grasp the zipper on my dress. It was a rather long zipper, stretching from the lowest point of my back all the way up to my neck. I felt Harry’s fingers on me the whole way.

He paused when the zipper was just about three fourths of the way up my back. I could feel his breath on my shoulder, and then a chill was sent down my body when he kissed the skin on my back that he had yet to pull the zipper over.

I shivered, making Harry nod his head, pulling up the rest of my zipper. I turned around to face him. His hand came up and his thumb traced over my lips gently, “You are so beautiful.” He whispered.

“So are you.” I responded. Harry knows he’s beautiful… so he just gave me a small smile. He leaned down to me, his lips connecting with the corner of my mouth sweetly. My hand went up to his neck, my fingers pressing into his warm skin as I pushed against his lips. I was about to kiss him, really kiss him, when there was a knock on my door.

“What are you two doing in there?” Louis’ voice sounded.

Harry pulled back, “You can come in, Lou.”

I stepped away from Harry, sitting on my bed and pulling on my heels just as Louis entered, “Oh. I thought you two were like having a quick go or something.” He laughed, leaning against the doorway.

“Not today.” I smiled to Louis. Then I stood up, “I needed Harry to reach something from the top of my closet, and I know he’s the tallest one.”

Louis nodded, “Gotcha. Now are you ready? We don’t want to lose our cab.”

“Oh! Sorry.” I said quickly, grabbing my clutch and nodding, following him out into the living room. Harry followed close behind me, shutting my bedroom door, “This will be so fun. Is Dani meeting us there?” I asked to Liam.

“Yup.” He said, giving me a big smile, “I can’t wait to see her again.”

“Wendy is coming too right?” Zayn asked.

“Yes, her and Casey are coming an hour late. But they will be there. Why, are you excited to see Wendy?” I teased, grabbing his hand, “Am I not good enough for you now?”

Zayn laughed, “You wouldn’t give me squat, so I’ve left those feelings behind. Wendy is my girl now, you’re just going to have to get over me, Gia.”

I smiled, “I’ll try.” My mind drifted back to Harry and I’s almost kiss when he put his arm around my waist. Suddenly the act felt wrong. I felt like Harry needed to ask me out or something to touch my waist like this. He winked at me, opening the door to our cab. I know he thinks I’m going to kiss him tonight… and I have a feeling that I will as well.

“Gia, Ed didn’t want us to invite you tonight!” Liam yelled at me when we got out of the cab, “But I said no way, because you’re too much fun! He thinks that one of us is going to try to get it on.”

“I think we all know who that one person would be.” I giggled, pointing to Harry.

“I hope so.” He winked.

I rolled my eyes, trying to shrug him off as we entered the club. I checked my clutch and jacket into the VIP coat room then received a drink from Harry. I know he is going to be trying to butter me up all night. He took my hand after a few minutes and tried to pull me on the dance floor. I shook my head, “Not yet.”

“Will you dance with me later, though?”

“Define dancing?” I smirked.

“Will you keep your body pressed against mine for an extended period of time?” Harry said, laughing.

“Probably.” I winked before turning away from him and walking over to the other boys.

CASEY’S P.O.V

When Wendy and I got into the club, we immediately went to the group of boys that looked familiar. The only one that was missing was Harry. Zayn greeted Wendy with a hug and I stood next to Niall, “How are you?” He asked me over the music.

“I’m doing ok.” I nodded.

He gave me the most sincere smile, “That’s good. I hope you have a fun time.” He said to me. Then he looked down at his cup.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked him.

“That’s what’s wrong with me.” He said, glancing over to the left. I followed his gaze until I saw Gia, her ass backed up onto Harry’s front, with his hands on her waist. They were grinding together, Harry’s head pressed against hers. Of course. Gia promised that tonight she wasn’t going to be with the boys the whole time and here she is, grinding with one of them before I even arrive.

I rolled my eyes, turning to Niall, “Don’t let it bother you. I’m trying to do so as well.”

“You like Harry?” He asked.

“No…” I scoffed, “Not at all. Gia and I haven’t seen much of each other and every time she invites me somewhere, she is hanging with one of you guys. I’m just trying to hang out with my supposed best friend again and she’s not really working with me.”

“That’s terrible. You should just talk to her about it. Anyway, we can stick together because I don’t think Harry is going to let go of her anytime soon. Especially when I’m here. We sort of got in fight over her.”

“Does she know?” I raised an eyebrow.

“No… we lied to her about what the fight was about. Harry gave me a nasty bruise on my eye but he earned a split lip and a bruised chin.”

“Just leave her with him.” I said, pushing him away from the sight of the two of them together.

GIA’S P.O.V

Harry dragged me towards the other side of the club, the corner. We had already been dancing for like a half hour. Harry was getting a little sweaty, but I didn’t mind. He pushed me against the wall, his lips crashing down on mine. I fed into it, wrapping my arms around his neck. Harry lifted me up off the ground, thrusting against my front. I groaned against his lips, opening them so Harry could slide his tongue across my teeth.

Then it occurred to me… Harry was holding me against the wall in the dark, his hands wandering down my body. I opened my eyes; I’m just like every other girl that he has been with. My mind fluttered back to that stairwell, Harry had been pushing her against it in the dark, kissing her probably the way he was kissing me.

I shook my head, breaking off from Harry. He allowed me to slip to the ground, a confused look on his face, I kept my hand in his hair, “What am I to you?” I choked out.

“What?” He asked.

I looked away, “I don’t want to be just another girl, Harry. If—I want someone who actually loves me… not just wants to get in my pants.”

“You think that’s what I want?” He questioned, with hurt in his eyes. The then pushed off me and turned his head to the right, looking down at the ground.

I suddenly felt bad… I didn’t want to do this to him… I hate it when he’s upset. I tried to bring him back to me, putting my hand on his cheek and forcing him to look at me, “I don’t know, Harry. That’s why I said it. I know you care about me Harry; I just don’t know what your intentions are. I’m not saying they are bad, I’m just saying that I’m not sure.”

“My intentions aren’t what everyone seems to think.” He said, drooping his head down, his curls covering his eyes in a fluttery way, “I haven’t taken a girl out on a date because I have loved you this whole time.”

Heart freezing, body pausing, mind blanking. I shook my head. I’m so confused… to say the least. Harry has loved me the entire time? What time, “What?”

“I have loved you since your eighteenth birthday party when we almost kissed.” He whispered, not looking up at me. I leaned my head back against the brick and tried to think of what to say… I had no idea. Harry has been in love with me? At first, it came as a blessing into my heart, but then came as a curse in my mind… Harry has never been in a real relationship… would he cheat on me?

To say that I love Harry would be an understatement… I have loved Harry this whole time… I have been lying to myself, that’s all. I know it… I knew it. I would gladly throw myself into a relationship with him but I have to be careful… would he cheat on me? If he were to break my heart, or vice versa, I would freak. I don’t know if I could handle it… and that would mean that I would lose everyone else as well… Zayn, Louis, Liam, Niall… they’d all hate me or would just stick my Harry.

Harry looked up finally, breaking my thoughts, “I just want you to think about it, Gia. I don’t want to pressure you into anything right now…”

“But—” I said, knowing my answer to his question that he hasn’t even asked. He wants to know if I love him too, and I do. I love Harry.

“No, I don’t want an answer tonight… not tomorrow… or even the next day. Gia, I need you to think about this. My feelings are true… they don’t think so… the boys don’t think so. Just… I love you so much and I want you to love me too.” He said before kissing me one more time. I felt his plump lips move against mine with passion and feeling… I don’t want them to stop. I slid my hands up into Harry’s hair, fisting his curls. Then he broke off from me, making a gasp escape from my mouth as he pulled away, walking off into the crowd.

I plopped down into the chair next to Niall and Casey who were having a conversation. I didn’t know where Harry went and I didn’t bother to find him. Niall immediately turned to me, “What’s wrong?”

“Harry.” I said.

“What do you mean? What’s he done?” Niall asked, anger rising in his voice.

“Harry’s left… he didn’t say why.” Liam said, coming to sit next to me at our table.

Niall looked back at me, “What did he do, Gia?”

“He told me that he loved me.” I said, still frozen. I stared into space as Niall’s choked on the air around him. Why was he so surprised? I sighed, “He told me that he loved me then he left.”

Liam got up quickly, grabbing Casey’s arm and pulling her away with him. She gave him a dirty look but he whispered something in her ears. She gave me a sad look… or was it an angry one? Then she bit her lip, covering her mouth as he walked away, trailing behind Liam. Well, that was weird.

“Are you happy that he told you?” Niall whispered.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what my feelings are. I mean, I think I love him but I love someone else as well. I know I love this other person, I just know it… but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Why can’t you do something about it?” Niall asked.

“Because he’s Harry’s best friend.”

“Louis?” Niall asked.

“No.” I said, still staring off into space, “It’s you.”

Notes

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHAPTERS OK.

alrighty so can i ask all yall somethin

niall and gia or harry and gia

and tell me why pls
bc i havent even decided who she is going to end up with, or even if she will end up with either one yet