*Reagan’s POV*
I woke up a bit disoriented, not remembering why I was home so early or why I was naked in bed. I sat up too quickly and was dizzied by my own movements. When I looked around the room, everything started to come back to me and a smile graced my lips when I think about falling asleep after a lazy half day with Harry. My insides flutter and I cannot believe how in love with him that I really am. Our encounter earlier replays through my mind and even though it was mind blowing without the actual act of sex involved, it wasn’t the best part of spending the day with him. When he genuinely laughs, his smile reaches his eyes and his iris’s lighten to a green so pure that emeralds would be considered tainted if they were compared to them. I saw what he could be when he’s not worried or bothered by anything and though that look wasn’t there for the entire time I spent with him, it was there longer than I had ever seen it there before.

Harry is changing for the better and sometimes I don’t even think that he realizes it. It’s happening in baby steps, but the fact that it’s happening at all shows growth and progress on his part. I reached for my phone to text the man that holds so much of my thoughts and senses and my smile slowly faded when I looked at the screen.

From: Peyton
Have you considered joining us tonight? I promise it’s not what you think it will be. Laurie is dying to see you.

I ran my hand over my face and then looked at the clock in the room. It’s only seven fifteen and if I got up now I could make it. I called Laurie earlier to see if she was really going to come just to be sure that I wouldn’t be alone with Peyton, but she didn’t answer the phone. I don’t want to overthink anything, but I really can’t help the feeling of being avoided by her.

I got up and got dressed in some simple black skinny jeans and an off white cable knit sweater pulling my hair back into a ponytail and putting on my black boots. I opted for my contacts instead of my glasses before heading out. I’ll only go for a moment. I just want answers to a couple of things that happened during my internship to be exact. I hate having holes in my memory. It’s trying to finish a puzzle without having all of the pieces there for you to see the full picture the way that it was intended to be seen. If there’s anything that can be gained from this, it’s a sense of normalcy again. Talking to Channel about matters when she’s thousands of miles away is hard. I like to get her perspective, but it’s much better when I can have a person physically in front of me. I need Laurie back and if this ‘meet up’ can change our relationship back off of shaky grounds I’m all for it.

When I got downstairs I hailed a taxi after texting Peyton to ask him where exactly they were going for drinks and got a reply two minutes later. I gave the cabby the place and when I pulled up to the pub reading BALTIC in big letters across the front of the building, I paid my fair and got out. It was crowded inside and smelled strongly of cigarettes and liquor, sure to leave my hair and clothes stained with the scent even after I leave.

I looked around the bar and landed eyes on Peyton alone at a table. I rolled my eyes out of frustration. I should have known better. I allowed my curiosity to take over my logical thinking and now I’m in the exact situation I was dreading being in in the first place. This wasn’t supposed to be a date alone with Peyton. I turned on my heel to leave fuming with myself for being so stupid when I felt someone tug my elbow and turn me back around.

“There you are. I was wondering where you were. I got us a table over there.”

“I’m not staying Peyton.” I spat the words at him and he let my arm go, looking confused. I happily answered the question that danced in his mind.

“This wasn’t supposed to be a date! You said Laurie was coming. I can’t stay here with you. I can’t believe I fell for it again.”

“She is coming Reagan I just got a text from her saying she would be here in five minutes.” Peyton took out his phone and showed me her message and then allowed a slow grin to curl his lips while putting his hands up in defense.

“No funny business. I promise.” I looked him up and down and held my bag close to me. He nodded his head towards the table and I looked at my watch to check the time, before I found a clock on the wall. It’s eight twenty now. If Laurie isn’t here by eight twenty-five, I’ll leave. You shouldn’t be here in the first place. My focused side kicked in and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I get sometimes when I can tell that something is out of place.

“Do you want anything to drink?” Peyton asked as we got to the table he had reserved.

“A water will be fine. I don’t really want anything to drink.” Peyton nodded his head and then stopped a waitress to order me a water as if I wasn’t capable of doing it myself. When she left he smiled at me one of his most charming smiles that made the blue of his eyes twinkle and it almost made me lose my train of thought...almost.

“Thank you for helping me out the other day with the things that I missed when I was late. I don’t think I told you that.” I spoke and looked at the clock over Peyton’s shoulder. Two minutes left.

“That was no problem Reagan. I’ll always be here to help you if you need it. I know how rough Dr. Koch can be and I’ve barely been working for him as long as you have. The man’s a fucking tyrant.” Peyton spoke and then crossed his eyes and I laughed at the expression on his face before forcing myself to stop and choke it back. I’m not supposed to be laughing with him. I looked at the clock again and just as I was about to stand to leave, Laurie made her way to the table. She saw me at the same time that I saw her and her facial expression looked shocked and confused as she looked from me to Peyton. She continued to walk towards us and as she did, I could have died when I saw who followed behind her.

---

*Harry’s POV*
“Come over here cutie! We’ll have two more sour amaretto’s please.” Zayn nodded his head and then turned around with an annoyed expression on his face and I couldn’t stop laughing. That girl has been trying to flirt with him for the past hour and even though he’s mentioned Perrie’s name several times to try and drop her a hint she was still being overly aggressive.

The bar was packed tonight seeing as how the university had a football game only a few hours ago and they won. Usually I would be annoyed by now because I was a little shaken by my dream the entire drive here, but after popping three aripiprazole and smoking with the lads before our shift started, my mood was far from where it would usually be.

“Mate can one of you make that one for her. I don’t want to go back over there.” Zayn asked looking over at Louis and I as we laughed at his discomfort.

“Umm...no. They’re all yours mate. You’re a badman you can handle it. Plus she’s been tipping you pretty nice... Although I'm sure it's only in the hopes to see your tip?” Louis and I laughed again and Zayn looked over to me. Two more people walked up to the bar to order and I quickly approached them so I wouldn't be left looking idle. I took their orders and then stuck my tongue out at Zayn before smiling

“I’m busy. Sorry mate that’s all you.” Zayn’s expression hardened as he took out the drink ingredients and mixed the drink as about aggressively as the girl made her passes.

“You’re both a pair of fuckers and I don’t like either one of you.”

Louis and I laughed again before I turned to the girls pouring out their shots and a shot for myself as they instructed me to. They ordered shots of tequila and wanted salt and limes, but wanted me to put the salt on their hands for them so they could lick it off. I did what they asked me to and then did the same to my hand, looking at the one who was clearly flirting with me as I licked the salt off of and then downed the shot with them before biting into the bitter lime afterwards. She smiled at me and then asked if she could do a body shot off of my stomach and I probably would have agreed to it If I wasn’t so involved with a certain someone else...I wonder what she's doing right now. I smiled and then shook my head no before I replied with a ridiculous half assed answer.

“I didn’t shower today.” Louis was serving another group next to me and started laughing when he heard my excuse causing me to lose my composure as well. She didn't hear what I said due to the buzzin background noise in the bar which made the excuse that much funnier to Louis as he collected his tips and buckled over the bar resting his head on the cool surface as he laughed...stoned.

“No thanks love. I can’t do that I’m sorry.”

The girl pouted but I still received a huge tip from her. I love when drunk Uni students come into the pub.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I took it out to read the message as I wiped down the counter as much as I could before more people came in spilling their drinks on it again.

“You’re in a bloody good mood today mate, Reagan must be laying it on pretty thick.” I shot Louis a warning glance before allowing myself to smile a little as I opened my I-messages.

From: Nialler
Where are you at?

To: Nialler
At work blondie. Why? What’s up?

I continued to wipe down the counter and then gather up the empty glasses on the bar top when my phone vibrated again. I put the glasses down in a tub behind the bar before I read my messages and I know the expression on my face changed as quickly as my mood did.

“Maybe I spoke too soon?” Louis murmured as he walked past me to the other end of the bar. I had to reread the messages to make sure that my mind wasn’t playing some sick trick on me.

From: Nialler
Because I’m in Soho at a pub sitting across from your girlfriend right now.

From: Nialler
She’s sitting here with that Peyton dick and he’s accusing Laurie of being the reason why Reagan had to leave over the summer!

From: Nialler
What type of shite is this?!

“Goddamn it Reagan!” I didn’t even bother to reply. My blood began to boil and just as I was about to call Reagan, Niall’s name flashed across my screen. I answered the phone and spoke before he could even get a word out.

“Where are you?!” there was arguing in the background and I could clearly hear Reagan’s voice along with two familiar others.

“Baltic in Soho" Niall spoke quickly before I could hear his voice fade out. I'm sure that he moved his phone away from his face before I heard him speak again, "Don’t you fucking talk t’ her like that!,” Niall shouted at someone who was involved in the argument and I swear if it was at Reagan, there will be another fight between he and I tonight. My attention was drawn back to the conversation at hand when Niall began to clearly speak to me again.

"You need to get here mate." I hung up the phone and began to gather my shit to leave early explaining to Louis what happened, becoming more aggravated that I had to leave work to go put an end to something that I shouldn’t have to keep on defending. My fingers were wrapped so tightly around the steering wheel that I’m sure that my hand would meld into it if I didn’t get there soon.

The traffic was busy and the longer it took the angrier and more hurt, upset and annoyed I felt myself become. I pulled up outside parking the car in front of the pub, just as they were getting kicked out.

Reagan was in tears and even though her pained expression made my heart feel as if it would fall into my stomach, my aggravation wouldn’t show her sympathy. Laurie came storming out after Reagan, but she would hear none of whatever it was that Laurie was trying to say. Reagan continued to walk towards me and she opened her mouth to speak but I have nothing to say to her.

“Harry I-”

Reagan looked at me and stopped talking and, I’m grateful that she did. I’m so livid with her that I can feel myself physically shaking.

“Go get in the car Reagan.” I could hardly recognize myself when I spoke. She keeps testing me and its pushing me too far, everything is and I’ve been holding it all in for too long. I made my way towards the bar as Niall and Peyton came out being forcefully pushed by the pubs security guard. Niall’s facial almost mirrored mine, while a condescending smirk sat too comfortably on Peyton’s.

“Harry what are you doing? I’m sorry, can we please just go? Please?”

“Reagan shut the fuck up and go get in the car NOW!” I snapped at her and even though I feel like I have the right to, I didn’t mean it to come out as harsh as it did.

More tears began to flow down Reagan’s face as she did what I told her to and Niall started to make his way towards me and say something, but all I saw was his mouth moving. I swear I could feel my blood course through my veins and all I could see was red as I made my way towards Peyton.

Notes

Hi loves! HELLO BEAUTIFUL NEW AND FAITHFUL SUBSCRIBERS!! Sorry it took me a while to update, but I'm done with finals now so things should be back on track again :D How are you all and what did you think of this chapter? It ends in somewhat of a cliff hanger I know but if you want to know what goes down next, be sure to leave me loads of comments, subscribe and vote vote vote. Tell me what you think Harry does ( I cant wait to read the comments!).

PS- Thank you all so much for commenting on my constructive criticism chapter. There were so many uplifting comments and I hope to only get better with the chapters to come. I couldn't have asked for a better bunch than you all :D I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FOR READING!! ~Xx