The next morning, while his friends were still asleep, Harry crept out of Zayn's house and decided to head home. It was still early, the sky was grey and fog giving the neighborhood an eery feeling. He noticed the paper boy making his usual route down the sidewalk, the kid's face was red from riding his bike in the cold. Sighing Harry sank into his car, firing up the engine he waited for the inside to warm up a little. As he sat there he remembered he needed to get a new pack of cigarettes and he needed to text someone. Pulling out his phone he typed a quick message to Ben. 'You still playing basketball this morning?' Sending the text he put the car into drive and headed down the road.

When he reached a four way stop he felt his phone vibrate on his lap. 'Yeah, later, maybe around ten. Why?' Ben had responded. 'I'll meet you there,' Harry replied before tossing his phone in the passenger seat. He wasn't sure how much Ben could help, but it was better than nothing.

Across town Abigail was startled awake by her Springer Spaniel jumping on her bed. “Morning, Luce,” She yawned as the dog plopped down beside her.

“Lucy decided you had slept long enough.” She heard from her bedroom door. “Morning sweetie.”

“Hi mom, how's Grandad?” Abigail asked watching her mom sit down at the foot of her bed.
“He's about the same.” Leanne sighed. “Do you want to go to the hospital with me and see him?”

Thinking her mom wouldn't want her to go unless he was ok she agreed. “Yeah, just let me get dressed.” She muttered pushing her blankets away.

Nodding her head Leanne shuffled out of the room, her body tired from lack of sleep. When she was gone Abigail found a pair of black sweatpants and a grey crew sweatshirt, she knew she wasn't trying to impress anyone today. After brushing her teeth she pulled her hair into a messy bun and found an old pair of Vans she had thrown in her closet.

Once she was dressed she headed downstairs to see her mom drinking the last of her coffee. “You ready?”

Nodding once Abigail followed her mom outside. Even though she hated hospitals she didn't want her mom to go alone. For the past few years her grandfather had been in bad health. He had been in and out of ICU several times. It had taken a toll on Abigail's parents. She heard them arguing a few times even though they tried to do it when she wasn't home. It all started when her grandmother died when she was younger. For a while her grandfather came around, had dinner with his family but those visits happened less and less until they found out he was seeing someone else. Then when they announced they were getting married it did not go over well with Leanne.

“Have you heard from Vera?” Abigail asked timidly, she knew how test of a subject this was to her mom.

“No, and if she's smart she'll stay away,” Leanne snapped. A few years ago, before her grandfather got really sick, Vera left him. They had heard rumors she had run off with another man but nothing was even proven.

“When do you think he'll come home?” Abigail questioned, trying to change the subject as fast as possible.

“I don't know, doll. Right now its all up to him and if he wants to get better.” Closing her mouth Abigail sat back in her seat, she could tell by her mother's demeanor she didn't want to talk about it anymore than she had to and she could tell she was holding on by a thread before completely breaking down.

Opening a new pack of cigarettes Harry grabbed one, placed it between his lips before getting out of his car. After lighting it he walked towards the pavement where Ben was shooting free throws. “Damn Styles, I never thought I would see you here.” Ben laughed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “This isn't really your kind of sport, no one getting punches thrown at them.”

“Yeah, yeah, I kind of wanted to talk to you about something.” Harry sighed.

“What?”

“Abigail.”

Shaking his head Ben swore under his breath. “Nope, not doing that.” He groaned, his head falling back on his shoulders.

“What?” Harry's eyebrows rose, he didn't expect Ben to be so reluctant to this.

“I'm not helping you get in Abby's pants, cause I know once you do its just gonna cause problems with me and Kristin.”

“What are you talking about? Why would that cause problems?”

“Cause when you're done with her and forget all about her, like I've seen you do, it will be battle of the sexes. I would be taking your side and Kristin would be taking Abby's. I can already hear the arguments.”

Running a hand through his hair Harry frowned. “Ben, I promise it won't be like that.”
Ben narrowed his eyes, he knew Harry and he knew his game. “Its not like I can help you anyway. I don't know Abigail that well. I mean, she's a nice girl, cool to be around but that's about it.”

“Kristin doesn't say anything?”

“Well I mean she's really protective of her. I don't know what happened, Kris hasn't told me, all I know is Abigail was really affected by it. And before you ask no I'm not gonna harass my girlfriend into telling me.”

“I wasn't going to ask that.” Harry defended.

“Bullshit, you got that look in your eye Styles. When you want something you go after it. And the chase is what you live for.”

“I usually don't get that much of a chase.”

“Aw shut the hell up, I don't need to hear about that.” He shuddered. “Just don't hurt this girl ok? She's not like the other ones you've been with.”

Nodding his head Harry tossed his cigarette into the wet grass. “I won't, I promise, I can already tell she's different. I just hope I get the chance to find out more about her. You should have seen her last night. She acted like I was some sort of monster.”

“Well if you're serious about this one, and I can see it your face that you are, then just use that Styles charm. And just be patient with her. You never know she might be the one to make you a tamed man.”

Harry laughed. “Lets not go that far just yet. All right thanks for your help. I gotta go. See you later man.”

After saying goodbye to Ben, Harry made his way into town to get breakfast. On his way he wondered if anything could happen with this girl. A part of him wondered why he was so interested in her, usually he was attracted to edgy girls, particularly the ones who threw themselves on him. Ben was right he did enjoy a chase but if something fell into his lap he wasn't gonna push it away. Over the past few years only a handful of girls actually made him work for it, then it just stopped. He missed it, once they gave it up he was no longer interested.

Once he reached town he was stopped at a red light when he noticed a woman and her daughter leaving the hospital. As they walked closer he recognized the younger girl. It was Abigail, but he wasn't used to seeing her like this. Her face was bare of makeup but instead of the usual brightness in her eyes, they were red and puffy, like she had been crying. The older woman wrapped her arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. Hearing a horn honk Harry was snapped out of his thoughts. Noticing the light had turned green he pressed on the gas. Looking in his rearview mirror he saw Abigail and her mom walk towards the parking lot. He wanted to turn around and find out what was going on but by the time he would get there she would be gone. For the first time Harry was grateful for school the next day, even if she didn't want to Abigail still had to sit next to him in Home Ec. class.

Abigail wished she could get that image out of her head. Every time she closed her eyes she saw her grandfather hooked up to several machines, their constant beeping was the only way she knew he as still alive. Nurses said he kept trying to take his breathing tube out so they had to switch him to a mask that covered the bottom half of his face. His arms had been strapped to the bed to prevent him ripping his IV's out, he had tried on several occasions and almost succeeded until someone finally stopped him. When she walked into the room his eyes were closed, she was told he could still hear but when Abigail opened her mouth to talk to him nothing came out. Instead tears clouded her eyes and she just held his hand, hoping on some level he could sense she was there. In the ICU they were only allowed thirty minutes a visit every few hours so before she knew it they were being ushered out. When she was in the hallway she realized she couldn't even tell him she loved him.

“Honey, I'm sorry, I should have told you how bad it was.” She heard her mom say when they reached the car.

“I thought he was just going to be sitting up in the bed complaining about the nurses like he usually does.” Abigail whispered wiping under her eyes again getting rid of any stray tears.

“I wish it was like that,” Leanne muttered putting the keys in the ignition.

The rest of the day passed slowly. Abigail mostly stayed in her room, she tried to keep herself busy by cleaning her closet and organizing her clothes. She had picked out an outfit for the next day, texted Kristin and Charlotte but it seemed like time stood still. All she really wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep but she knew feeling sorry for herself wasn't going to make everything magically better. As she was going through her desk she came across an old journal, the cover completely covered with random doodles and quotes. Smiling she flipped through it, each page filled with memories. The beginning she mostly wrote about freshman year. The time Kristin finally got her braces off so she ate everything she wasn't allowed to until she got sick. Another when Charlotte kissed Billy Collins and she complained he had onion ring breath. The first part of the journal was full of happy times, when life wasn't complicated, everything was just easy.

When she got to the middle of the book she found the first page talking about him. Immediately closing the book she dropped it on the carpet. After collecting her thoughts she picked it back up, opening it to where she stopped. Taking a deep breath she began reading.

'I finally talked to him today! While I was standing at my locker he came over and made a comment about the huge Shakespeare book I was carrying. Then he recited a few lines from Macbeth, I was in a daze, I could barely concentrate on what he was saying. He's a senior, why was he talking to a little sophomore? When he stopped talking I stammered something like an idiot and told him I had to get to Math. Instead of saying goodbye he took my books from my hands and offered to walk me to class. Again I'm pretty sure I looked like an idiot, just nodding my head, not even saying anything. As we walked I was finally able to ask him some questions. I found out he went to a theater camp for two years, hence his Shakespeare knowledge. I was worried he would be late for his class but when I asked him about it he just said he would rather walk a pretty girl to class, it didn't matter if he was a tad bit late. By this time I know I was blushing like crazy.

After I thanked him for carrying my books he said something about eating lunch together, to which I quickly agreed making him laugh. His laugh, I swear I could listen to it all day. Even though I wanted to stay out in the hall with him I heard Mr. Kirkpatrick call my name making me go into the classroom. I heard a few snickers from the class but I didn't care, I was going to have lunch with a senior. Not just any senior but the guy I had a crush on since I saw him on the first day of school. Nothing could bring me down.'

Closing the journal Abigail frowned, she wished she could go back and tell herself to stay away from him. She wished she could spare herself the heartache but reading her words over again put everything into perspective. Things actually were ok at one point. She was happy and with everything she had she wanted that back. Putting the journal back into the desk she slammed the drawer shut, putting the memories behind her just like she had tried to do for two years. This time though, she hoped it worked.