Lana's POV

"Lana."

I groan and open my eyes a little. My dad is standing next to my bed, hand pressed lightly against my shoulder to wake me up.

"You need to come downstairs for a minute," he whispers.

"Why?" I groan, closing my eyes again.

"Just come down, please?"

I nod my head and sigh in agreement. My dad turns and walks out, so I start to sit up. Turns out that's not very easy when someone's arms are wrapped around you. Shit, my dad totally just saw me and Harry cuddling! That's a little weird. I gently lift Harry's arm off my waist and wriggle out of his grasp. I sit up and look down at him; he's so cute when he's sleeping. His curly hair gets so messy and theres always a tiny gap between his lips. I lean down and kiss him lightly on the cheek before getting up and pulling Harry's shirt on over my tank top. I've worn this so much it doesn't even smell like him anymore.

I shut my bedroom door quietly behind me then head down the stairs like my dad asked.

"Dad what's going on? It's sunday and it's early."

"Hi Lana."

I stop dead in my tracks and snap my head to the left when I hear my mother's voice come from the living room. What the hell?

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk."

I scoff and look at my dad. He raises his eyebrows in expectation. Does he really expect me to have a conversation with her?

"Lana, your mother told me she's been trying to get in touch with you ever since Christmas, but you haven't been returning her calls."

"Because I don't want to talk to her," I state simply, crossing my arms in front of me.

"Langley, I am your mother. I know you're upset with me and that I've hurt you, but-"

"No, there's no 'buts' mom. You hurt me. That's all there is. There's no excuse for that."

"Langley, please just listen to me!"

"Stop calling me that!" I shout back at her.

"Lana, I am your mother and no matter what's happened in the past, you are going to respect me," she yells, louder this time.

"Like hell I am," I shout back. Her eyes widen a little in disbelief. Oh how I love my relationship with my mother. So...special, isn't it? "Mom, things might be a little different now if you had actually apologized for what you did to me, but you didn't. You just came back and expected everything to go back to normal. Well guess what? I'm actually happy now. Dad and I actually have a relationship. We talk. You don't care about anyone but yourself. I don't know why you came back here, but it sure as hell wasn't for me." She's about to respond but I cut her off before she can argue with me. "I can't do this, mom. You have no idea what kind of shit I'm going through right now, and I really don't want to add this to the list. Please, just go. If and when I'm ready to talk, I will call you. But I'm not doing this right now." I bolt up the stairs and run to my room without paying attention. I suddenly slam into something, making me go flying backwards.

"What the-" I'm about to fall when two strong arms catch me, holding me up. I look up to see Harry chuckling at me.

"It's been a while since we've done this," he jokes, helping me stand up straight. I smile weakly at him and go back into my bedroom, crawling under the covers. "What's wrong?" he asks, shutting the door and sitting on the bed next to me. "Did I hear shouting?"

"My mother is downstairs."

"Oh." I fiddle with the sheet and avoid his eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. Can we go back to sleep?"

He nods and lifts the covers so he can slide under them. I move over so he can fit in beside me, huddling against his chest as his arms snake around my waist. I can feel him watching me, but I really don't feel like talking about this. If I'm honest with myself I've been battling internally every time my mom calls me. I want to let her in, but I don't know how. I don't know where we go from here. Do we go back? Or do I forgive her and move forward?

"Lana, what's on your mind?" I look up at him and his brow is creased with worry. Apparently my mental argument is obvious on my face.

"I don't know what to do about her." He hugs me tighter against him.

"I know. I don't know how to help you with this, love."

"This is enough," I sigh, wrapping my arms around him.

"Everyone is going to that parade downtown," he says after a while, rolling onto his back and tucking one of his hands under his head. "Do you want to go?"

I bite my lip and trace his butterfly tattoo. I've been such a bitch to our friends lately. They probably don't even want me there. But I guess I should probably start treating them normally again. They didn't do anything to me.

"Are you sure they want to see me?"

"Babe, they've been begging me to get you to go out with them. Trust me, they miss you."

I tilt my head up to look at his face. Harry is displaying his signature smile, looking down at me hopefully. "Okay, let's go." His smile widens and he leans down to kiss me quickly. "What time?"

"We've got some time, yet. Let's just lay here for a few more minutes."

---

Harry's POV

"Lana! You came!" I pull my hand out of hers as Louis picks her up and spins her around, hugging her. She giggles and hugs him back, then he sets her down. "I've missed you, LangLang."

"Aww, Louuu," she coos, ruffling his hair. The girls and Niall come over, each of them hugging Lana. I warned El and Brooke that Lana hates being pitied, so they agreed to just try and act like everything's normal. The boys don't know anything, so Lana's absence has been kind of confusing for them.

"You look so cute!" El squeals, admiring Lana's clothing. She does, she looks hot.

"Thanks, I can't believe how warm it is out today," Lana responds, putting her hand back in mine.

"I know, isn't it great! I'm so sick of wearing coats all the time. Come on, let's get some snacks!" We all laugh; El is alway so excited about everything.

My phone starts ringing, so I pull it out and hit answer without looking at the name.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Haz."

Zayn. Fuck. "What do you want?"

"In all honesty? I want to fuck the shit out of your girl. She's hot as fuck, bro. Well done."

I ball my hands into fists and release Lana's hand from mine so I can take a step away from the group. "I will beat you to a pulp if you ever lay a fucking finger on her, Zayn."

He chuckles. "It was just a joke, Harry. Calm down. You look a little tense."

What? I spin around a little, looking around in the crowd. "Are you here right now?"

"Couldn't miss all the fun, could I?"

"Zayn, get your ass back to Bradford where you belong. Leave us the fuck alone. I thought you told Niall he was out? I am too, so what the hell do you want?"

"You're never out," he says threateningly. "I would keep an eye on that girl of yours if I were you." He hangs up after that. I scan through the crowd again, looking at every place Zayn could have possibly seen me from. Nothing. Probably just screwing with me, right?

But Zayn rarely bluffs.

I walk back over to the group as they're getting their food. Lana has caramel popcorn. She holds the bag out to me. "Want some?"

"Sure," I do my best to smile at her, but I can tell by the look on her face that I didn't do a very good job of it.

"Is everything okay?"

"Course. Why wouldn't it be?"

She raises an eyebrow, but thankfully doesn't push it anymore. I keep looking around, trying to see if Zayn is actually here. The parade starts and I get nervous as the street becomes more and more crowded, making it way harder for me to sort through the sea of faces.

- - - - - -

We've been out here for two hours and I still haven't seen Zayn.

"Harry, is everything okay? You seem anxious?" Lana asks, tugging on my hand.

"What?" I look down at her and she's giving me a worried glance. "Oh, yeah. Everything's fine." I start looking around behind her.

"Who are you looking for?"

How does she know? "No one. Why would I be looking for someone?"

"You tell me. You've been looking around with this weird look at your face since we got here. What's going on?"

I'm about to tell her not to worry when something, or someone, catches my eye behind Lana. My head snaps up and I see Zayn smirking wickedly at me.

Hell, no.

"Lana, stay with Louis, okay? I'll be right back." I let go of her hand, but she grabs my arm before I can walk away.

"Harry, where are you going? You're freaking me out."

"Just stay here, okay? Stay by Lou." I lean forward and kiss her forehead before turning and walking to where I saw Zayn before, pushing my way through the crowd. When I'm at the end of the street I look both ways, trying to see where he went. I see the back of his head as he turns down an alley. I sprint off in his direction when I suddenly hear someone calling my name behind me.

"Harry! Harry, wait!"

"Niall, what are you doing? Stay with the girls, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" I stop and turn to him.

"I think Zayn is here."

"What!"

"Calm down, Ni. I'm just going to go see what he wants."

"Like hell you are."

"Niall, just relax. The streets are crowded, he's not going to do anything. Just go and watch Lana, alright?"

"No, I'm coming with you. If he is here, he isn't alone, and even you can't take on a bunch of those guys."

Arguing with him is probably pointless, so I just turn and motion for him to follow. He falls into step beside me and I lead him towards the alley. We stand up against the brick wall to the side.

"I think they're back there," I whisper to Niall. He nods and I step a little closer. Then I hear a voice.

"Do you see her? What? Okay, then get closer. No, you have like twenty pictures, you fuck! You should be able to see if it's her!" Zayn sounds really angry and my stomach twists when I realize he's got one of his guys watching someone.

Lana.

I look at Niall and his eyes go wide when he comes to the same conclusion as me. I'm about to start running back in the direction of the parade when someone grabs my shoulder and pulls me to the ground. I groan as my back hits the pavement hard.

"You're so predictable, Styles."

I look up to see fucking Max hovering over me. What a tool. He's so stupid, I hate this kid. He was always such a pain in my ass. And he worships Zayn. I rise to my feet slowly and turn to face him. Zayn and another one of the guys I don't remember knowing come up behind Max. Niall is being pinned down by another one of the fighters, Craig. I don't know if we can take all four of them.

"Harry, good to see you."

"What the fuck are you doing here, Zayn? This isn't your turf, you can't do this."

"Yeah, but that pathetic little weak-ass posse they have down here is scared of us, so we don't really have a problem."

"What do you want?"

"Shut up! I'm the one doing the talking, Harry, not you." He steps slightly in front of Max, who takes his left flank. "Did you really think it would be this easy? That I would let both of you just walk away?"

Fuck.

"Well, it's not. You know it doesn't work like that. Friends or not, you betrayed us. I can't let that go unanswered."

"Zayn, I've been gone for six months! What are you gong to do now, kill me?"

"If that's what I have to."

I show no reaction to Zayn's threat. I can't show him any emotions. That's a weakness to him, and it'll only give him more confidence, more drive. My mind wanders back to Lana, and my stomach drops.

"Where's Lana?" I ask, balling my hands into fists. If he hurts her...

"Relax, she's fine. For now."

"What do you want from me?"

"You come back with me, both of you."

"You're out of your fucking mind if you think I'm going back to Bradford."

"I think you will," he says, smirking at me. "Because, if you don't then you die. Both of you," he says, pointing between me and Niall. "And that pretty little girlfriend of yours does too."

My head starts to spin when he says that. My legs go weak, but I try with everything in me not to collapse on the ground. Even if I die, a world without Lana just breaks my heart. The world needs her. I need her. She's everything.

"You can't," I beg, voice shaky.

"There's a simple solution, Harry."

Right. Go back with him. I can't do that, I can't leave Lana. Especially right now.

But I can't let her die, either. And I know what Zayn is capable of; he'll make good of his threat.

"Let me say goodbye," I whisper, agreeing to his terms.

"No."

"Zayn, I'l do whatever you want, just please let me say goodbye."

He looks at me for a few minutes. "Fine. I want you back in Bradford in the morning."

I nod slowly and they all walk away without another word. I turn on my heels and attempt to negotiate. "Niall stays here!" I yell at them.

Zayn turns on his heels and looks at Niall, who's standing up and staring at me in shock. "No, that's not acceptable."

"Please, Zayn, just let him stay. You're getting me back. That's enough."

"Harry, what-"

"Shut up, Niall!" I shout, cutting him off and looking back at Zayn. I need Niall to be here to protect Lana, just in case Zayn keeps threatening her. Zayn looks back and forth between us before giving in, to my surprise.

"Fine. He stays." He glares at Niall, then points to me. "Tomorrow morning, Styles." I nod and he turns around and continues walking to the big SUV waiting down the street. When they get in and speed off, Niall steps in front of me.

"What the hell are you doing, Harry? You can't just go back there!"

"I have to."

"No! That's not-"

"He'll hurt Lana, Niall! You know he will! I don't care what happens to me, I can't let her get hurt."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No," I argue, shaking my head. "You're staying here to watch out for her."

"Harry, don't do this. You're actually going to leave her?"

I close my eyes and run my hands through my hair.

"I have to."

Notes

OMG
is harry actually going to leave?

whats going to happen!!

stupid zayn. i actually love zayn and liam and they're such softies so its really weird making them such assholes in this story. kind of sad.

hope you guys like it :) two or three more chapters in this one, then a sequel.

thank you for reading it means THE WORLD to me. i love you guysss <3
let me know what you think please! suggestions? what do you want to happen?

thanks :) xxx