Lana's POV

"Dad, please? Come on, I had a huge fight with Harry today and I'm really not in the mood for one of your business things."

"I'm sorry, Lana. I need you to be there with me. They specifically asked if you could go."

Great. That probably means Aaron asked his parents to make sure I was there. That's fantastic. Now on top of all of this I have to deal with him, too. My phone starts vibrating on the counter. El is calling me.

"Hey, El. What's up?"

"Hey, what are you doing tonight?"

"I have this stupid dinner for my dad. Again. What are you and Louis doing?"

"Nothing, he's busy. Want me to come with you? I don't feel like sitting at home alone. Maybe we can make one of those things fun!"

She sounds a little too enthusiastic. "What are you up to, Eleanor?"

"Nothing! It's been forever since we've hung out. I'll be there in ten minutes to get ready. I'll just borrow your shit. See you soon!" I laugh as she hangs up. It would be nice to have someone else there with me. I go up to my room and start doing my hair into loose curls. El walks in when I'm about halfway done.

"Your hair looks awesome! Can you do mine?"

"For sure."

"Are you okay?"

"Yea. Harry and I had a fight today. I'm fine."

"Okay, well, if you want to talk about it just let me know." She smiles at me and we continue getting ready, doing our hair and make up. When we're both done we go into the closet to pick out a dress for each of us. We're pretty much the exact same size, so El and I always share clothes.

"You should definitely wear this one," I say, holding out a red strapless dress. It's simple enough, so it doesn't look too formal. She looks unsure, so I hold up my pair of black Louboutin pumps. Her eyes go wide and she starts clapping and jumping.

"Are you serious! I can wear those?"

"Only if you wear this dress."

"Done! I love you!" She takes them both and runs back into the bedroom while I try to find a dress for myself. I pick out a blue one with lace going up to the neck and pair it with white shoes. We both get dressed and pick out some jewellery. I look in the mirror and decide I'm satisfied with my appearance. El stands beside me when she has the shoes on and just stares at them.

"You look amazing, Eleanor. The shoes are perfect for you."

"I can't believe your dad let you buy these! They're just gorgeous."

I laugh and we get out bags and go downstairs where my dad is waiting. Here we go.

Harry's POV

"Alright. Time to go. I texted Zayn and told him to meet us at the park." I put my beanie back on and stand up. Niall stands as well. He changed into all black clothes and tried to get me to do the same, but I told him we don't need to look that intimidating. This isn't a fight. We go down to my car and drive to Louis's house to get him.

"I still don't like that he's coming, Haz. It's not a good idea."

"He'll stay in the car, it's fine." Louis gets in the car and leans forward.

"What's the plan lads?"

"I told you, Louis. You're staying in here. We're meeting at the park. If we need you, I'll let you know."

"Fine." He sits back and we drive in silence. I'm not really sure how this is going to go. I drive up and call Zayn.

"Alright, Harry. Liam and I are here. Where are you?"

"Walk to the middle of the field. We'll come out when you're there." I see them come from the far side and walk to the centre of the football field. "Alright, Niall. I'm going to go meet them. When I turn and look at the car, then you can come out."

"Wait, what?"

"They don't know you're here."

"What the hell, Harry!"

"I couldn't tell them where you were. Just trust me." He starts arguing, but I get out and start walking across the field. Shit, I probably should have brought a jacket. I walk up to Zayn and Liam, stopping about five feet away.

"Good to see you, Harry," Liam says. He's standing a step behind Zayn and to his left. I nod at him.

"You too, Liam. Zayn."

"What's this about, Harry?" He asks. I put my hands in my pocket.

"Look, Zayn, I know you're pissed at me. And at Niall. But we've all been friends a long time."

"You're right. We have. Friends don't stab each other in the back." He doesn't show any type of emotion. Liam is looking back and forth between us. He talks next.

"Do you know where Niall is, Harry?"

"Yes." Zayn's eyes go a little wide. "Before you freak out Zayn, just listen. I didn't tell you because I knew you'd come looking for him. He wants out."

"It doesn't work like that. I decide when he leaves."

"You talk about him like you own him! He's your friend, Zayn. Can't you do this for him?"

"You know how bad that makes me look? I can't have the others thinking they can just do whatever the fuck they want to."

"So tell them you never found Niall and you don't want to waste time looking for him," I say, looking at Liam to back me up. He takes a step forward so he's beside Zayn.

"Where is he, Harry?" Zayn asks impatiently.

"Just hear him out, okay? Please? We're like brothers, the four of us. Let him explain it to you."

"Fine." He folds his arms and looks at Liam, then back at me. I turn around and look to the car. Niall steps out. I look back at Zayn while Niall walks over. He looks pissed, then an amused expression appears.

"Niall Horan. In the flesh. I'm shocked that you're here. I have to hand it to you, I didn't think you were smart enough to pull this off." Niall stands beside me. "Alright, explain this to me. Why should I let you walk?"

"Because we're friends, Zayn."

"Then you should have come to me in the first place instead of taking off."

"You know as well I do that you wouldn't have let me leave."

"Well, now I need you to come back, Ni."

I look at Liam, who is looking back and forth between me and Niall. I can tell he wants to help us, but Zayn wouldn't let that go unnoticed.

"I don't think so," Niall says. "I need to move on from that. I did everything you ever asked, Zayn. Please, just let me stay here."

Zayn stares at him for a while, not saying anything. No one speaks for a while. Liam breaks the silence.

"Mate, let's just go." Zayn looks at him slowly. "They didn't do anything to you. They're right, we've all been friends for too long to hurt them. Let them stay here."

"That's not your call, Liam. It's mine." He looks back at us. "Tell you what. Harry, I already told you I was done with you. I won't go back on that. As for you, Niall," he folds his arms and pauses. "I'll let you stay here. On one condition."

"What's that?"

"You come back to Bradford once every two months to check in with me. If I need something from you, then I'll let you know. If not, you just come back here. After a while I'll stop the meetings. Then you get to live your boring little life here with Haz."

I look at Liam, who shrugs. This seems too easy.

"Alright," Niall says slowly. "That sounds reasonable."

"Good. Then it looks like we're done here." Zayn turns and walks back to the SUV.

"Thanks, Liam," I say. He shakes my hand and leaves. Niall and I stay where we are until they drive away.

"What just happened?" I ask, looking at Niall.

"I don't know...I was expecting that to be a lot more difficult."

I hear a car door shut. Lou runs up behind us. "Well that was boring. What happened?"

"Looks like we're staying," I say, clamping a hand on Niall's shoulder. He smiles and we walk back to the car. I have an uneasy feeling about this.

Kind of feels like we made a deal with the devil.

Lana's POV

"Who wants pie!"

I wince a little. Aaron's mother had the most shrill voice I'd ever heard. I was getting a headache from it. I look at Eleanor, who looks like she's thinking the same thing. I hit her leg under the table and she smiles at me and rolls her eyes.

"Thank you, Alice. That would be great." I roll my eyes now. My dad has been such a kiss-ass tonight. I put my napkin on the table an stand up.

"Excuse me," I say quietly, before turning and walking to the bathroom. As I'm closing the door someone pushes it back open. Aaron forces his way in.

"Fancy meeting you here," he says.

"Get out, Aaron." I say, pushing him back into the hallway. He puts his hands around my wrists so I can't pull away from him. "Leave me alone."

"You don't mean that," he says, pulling me against him. "I know you still want me, Lana."

"You're disgusting. Now let go of me."

"Is there a problem here?" I turn to see El with her hands on her hips. Aaron releases me slowly.

"Not at all."

"You should probably go sit down, then. Your mother is serving dessert." He glares at her and turns to me, giving me a devilish smile before walking back to the dining room. "He is such an ass," she says. "Are you okay?"

"Yea, thanks. I'm going to use the bathroom." I go back in and look in the mirror, fixing my hair. I wish Aaron would just leave me the hell alone already.

I wish Harry was here with me.

I feel a slight ache in my chest when I think about him. What is he doing right now? Is he okay? I pull my phone out of my bag and dial his number. It rings a bunch of times and I'm about to hang up when he suddenly answers.

"Lana?"

"Hi," I say weakly. I don't even know what to say to him. I'm not mad anymore. I just miss him. I realize I've been silent for a while. "Are you okay?"

"Of course, love. Are you? You sound upset?" I look in the mirror to see a tear rolling down my cheek.

"Yea, of course," I say, wiping it away. "I'm sorry about today. I don't know why I got so angry."

"No, don't worry about it. Where are you? Why are you upset?"

"I'm still at the Barlow's. Aaron is being an ass, as usual. I'll text you when I'm home. Will you come over?"

"Yea, of course. Do you want me to get you?"

"No, I'm fine," I say. I love how he doesn't make this dramatic like he could. I was a bitch today. "I miss you," I whisper.

"I miss you too, baby," he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay." I hang up and pull myself together before going back out to the dining room. i give my father a reassuring smile and we finish the dinner, but not quickly enough.

I just want to see Harry.

Notes

will niall and harry be able to stay? happily ever afters? who knows!

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