Harry's POV:

"Do you promise you'll come right over? We have some stuff to plan before tomorrow night!" Riley pesters me outside of the school.

"Yes, I promise babe. I'll be over within the hour." I reassure her, kissing her forehead softly.

"I love you." She whispers, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. All week she's been like this, so lovey-dovey and emotional but I'm not complaining... She's happy again and I feel like i'm protecting her the way I should be. Things are good.

"I love you more." I smile, pulling her waist into me. She gives me one last kiss before pulling away and hopping inside her car. She drives away moments later, leaving me to my business.

I head back to the alleyway where Zayn, Louis, Niall and Liam are all waiting for me with frowns on their faces. I notice that Perrie isn't here which she usually always is, so something weird is going on.

"What's up?" I ask, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. I don't really smoke much anymore, but when I'm with the boys... It just feels natural.

"We have a problem, mate." Louis sighs, sliding to the floor against the brick wall. I look around into the other boys' eyes and they all have a small twinge of panic except for Zayn, he looks like he's about to cry which means only one thing... it's about Riley.

"What's going on?" I ask, trying to keep my cool.

"Seth was doing a lot of talking in Maywood last night... About a lot of different shit." Liam announces and my fists immediately ball into fists.

"What kind of talking? What did he say?" I ask through my gritted teeth.

"Celia chatted with Riley, did you know this?" Niall asks, and I nod slowly. "Well he's pretty furious about that... he thinks Riley fed her all kinds of false information about him--"

"That's bullshit! Riley barely said a word about anything!" I defend her. I know for fact she would never get Seth in trouble with his family, she's not like that.

"I know, but that's what he thinks. He's incredibly paranoid and apparently he's been working with someone at Red to get back at Riley. At the dance. Tomorrow night." Zayn whispers, his words like venom.

"I'm gonna kill him--"

"No Harry! You just got her back and besides, if you get in trouble one more time you're out of Red and away from Riley." Louis reminds me and I punch my fist into the brick wall.

"Fuck!" I groan, throwing my head back. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know, mate. Apparently Brian is gonna be there too... And do you realize what the date of tomorrow is?" Liam asks and my brain rattles.

"December thirteenth?" I ask and my heart fucking drops. "Great. Happy anniversary of your death, Eric." I chuckle, slamming my fist at the brick again.

"Harry mate, cut it out!" Zayn shouts, and I grip my aching hand. I am so infurriated and worried, I don't even know what is left to do.

"She can't go to the dance. She can't go and she's gonna hate me for this all.over.again." I say with a hoarse voice. This is my worst nightmare.

"We can't tell Riley either, can we? It will freak her out too much." Zayn sighs, and I nod. He has a point.

"She's gonna flip out on me." I groan, but I know they're is nothing I can do about this. Her life is more important than a stupid dance.

"In the meantime, we're gonna figure out a plan to make sure Seth doesn't bother her again. We've got your back." Niall shares.

"Thanks for looking out for us mate." I sigh, heading back to my car.

Now to break the news to Riley.


Riley's POV:

"Hi baby." I smile, kissing Harry on the lips as he steps inside my house. He immediately looks back and forth to see who's home and I let out a small laugh. "No one is home for another few hours!" I laugh, pulling him inside.

"Good," He chuckles lightly, "Riley, I wanted to talk to you about--"

"Harry, tomorrow is going to be so perfect." I dreamily state, looking into his big green eyes. "My dress is so me and I finally feel... like happy, you know?" I smile brightly at him but his eyes are telling me something different.

"Riley..."

"Don't be nervous Harry. We don't have to stay the whole time but it's gonna be--"

"We're not going to the dance anymore." He groans and I drop the glass of water I was about to pour for him to the floor. He leans down the pick it up but I stop him with my hands.

"Wait wait wait wait wait... What?" I gasp, forcing him to look me in the eyes. "What do you mean we're not going anymore?" I chuckle, hoping he's joking but his face remains as serious as it was before.

"We can't go to the dance anymore." He repeats and I shake my head.

"Harry, we have to go. Everyone is going to be there and--"

"Riley, I'm sorry but you and I will not be going... It isn't safe." He whispers the last part and my eyes bulge out of my head.

"What? What isn't safe?" I gasp and he looks away from me. "Harry, fucking tell me."

"The dance isn't safe! The whole situation, it won't be safe for you to be there. I don't want to go into detail about why but.. you... you just can't go." He explains.

"Harry! This isn't fair!" I say with tears in my eyes. I realize that I'm sounding like a four year who isn't allowed to stay up past her bedtime but it really isn't fair. It's my senior fucking dance and I can't go because of...

"I know Riley, I know it isn't fair!" He shouts, pacing back and forth. "Fuck Riley, I know I fucked up ok? You just can't go... Do you trust me?" He asks and I close my eyes.

"I trust you." I gulp, holding back tears.

"Then trust me when I say it's not safe for you to be there. It's not safe, it really isn't and I don't know how much I can express it." He stammers, hands shaking and eyes tearing up. I decide it's best to swallow my pride and agree. Agree to this stupid and unfair gesture.

"Fine, I won't go." I sniffle as he comes forward towards me. "But please go, I need some space right now." I whisper through a crackling voice.

"Riley, I--"

"Harry, please give me some time to myself. I love you, ok?" I whisper and he nods, kissing the top of my hand, but not like you'd think. He held it close to his lips and left a lasting kiss, then held it a bit longer.

"I love you too. Thank you so much for doing this." He croaks out and then leaves. I wipe my tears away and decide to call the only person who I think will cheer me up.



"Riley! What's up girl, ready for the dance?" Dixie chirps into the phone.

"I'm not going anymore. Harry told me it isn't safe." I whisper into the phone sadly.

"What?!"

"I know..." My voice trails off and I release a few small cries. I'm acting a little bitch but I was really excited to be able to go out with Harry, show everyone we don't give a fuck what they think and all that stuff. It would have been fun. And now I'm sad again.

"You have to go Riley, that's bullshit! The dance is safe, he just doesn't want to go!" She gasps into the phone.

"Dixie, he said it has something to do with Seth... He wouldn't make that up." I remind her.

"Bullshit Riley, Seth probably won't even go! You have to go... Just go and don't tell him!" He eggs me on and I feel incredibly tempted.

"Dix... I can't do that." I sigh into the phone and close my eyes shut. "Even if I really, really want to." I chuckle lightly.

"C'mon Riley, don't be a wimp! Just go, I'll protect you! It's your senior dance and you're gonna miss just because Harry is a big baby?" She giggles and ponder the consequences.

"Dixie--"

"I thought you were the new Riley? The badass who doesn't give a fuck?" She chuckles and I cringe.

"Fuck! Fine, I'll go. Just don't tell anyone ok? I don't want Harry to find out." I whisper and I hear a cheer on the other end... a guy?

"Who are you with?" I ask and she grows silent for a moment.

"It was the TV in the background but fuck yes, you're gonna have so much fun! See you tomorrow, love you!" She giggles before hanging up.

I can't believe I'm lying to Harry... But it really isn't fair. If I never met him I wouldn't have this problem and I'd have no problem going to this dance. I'm going whether he likes it or not.

Notes

sorry I haven't updated in a while... This story is going out with a BANG!

I've been debating writing a sequel in the future but I don't really get enough reaction out of my 72 subscribers so it makes me feel like this story doesn't deserve one / you guys don't want one ha..

comment & VOTE! xxx