No Regrets

*LIZZIE’S POV*

Dani, Eleanor and I had rushed back at the end of the concert (as usual) just so we could see our boyfriends run down the hallways. They’re always their happiest right after their shows. However this time, as the boys came jumping and screaming down the hallways to the dressing rooms, they lacked one. Niall came a moment later, walking, obviously upset but completely ignored by the euphoric rest of the boys.

“Well what are we doing tonight?!” Louis shouted, fulfilling his expected ringleader position. “Party at the penthouse!?” His question was answered by cheers from the rest of the room, an obvious yes. Wanting to take advantage of the party atmosphere so I could talk to Niall without Harry noticing, I began to plan out how I would handle everything.

~~~~~~

The party was insane. Instead of just our group, there were so many randoms there that I had never met before. Harry was surrounded. It was perfect.

“OHHH youuuu suck!” Louis whined as I beat him at yet another round of Flip-Cup.

“Lou, it’s not your fault!” I cooed, only half as intoxicated as he was, “you’ve only just learned how to play!”

“I know! But shouldn’t I have ‘beginner’s luck’ or some shit!” he threw his hands up exasperated, “I give up! Where’s my girlfriend?” He asked to no one imparticular as he wandered off into the crowd. I pulled out my phone- time to deal with Niall.

To: Niall
meet me upstairs? Third bedroom on the right

Deciding it was an okay text, I sent it. He responded almost instantaneously.

From: Niall
b there in a sec !

I made my way through the crowd, making sure that Harry’s attention was diverted (which it was, by the round of shots he was partaking in), and found my way upstairs to wait for Niall.

“Lizzieeee?” an obviously drunk Irish boy peaked his head in as he slowly opened the door.

“I’m right here Niall, come sit down, and close the door.” I answered curtly.

“Ohhh I like where this is headed,” he said with a smirk.

“No Niall, you’re only here to talk. It’s not like that.” I said as he sat down on the foot of the bed.

“But don’t you want it to be like that?” He asked. “It could be like that. We could be like that.”

“No, Niall we couldn’t. And this is my fault. I haven’t been fair with you,” I took a deep breath, feeling the guilt flood into my senses as I remembered my flirtatious behavior. “Harry loves me. I love Harry. You and Harry are best friends. This little…game we have going on,” I gestured into the air at my lack of words, “needs to end. Now.”

“But that’s not fair… Lizzie- Liz-” he stumbled over his words, “I love you..”

“And I’m sorry you do, Niall.” I said before I left the room, closing the door behind me. Not so much as three seconds later, Niall burst out of the room and rushed up behind me, grabbing my wrist and spinning me around to face him.

“I could love you better than he does.” He whispered, his hot breath hitting my face. He reeked of beer and tequila.

“He’s my boyfriend and also your band mate, Niall, and you need to sober up before you say anything else.” I said gently as I pulled my wrist from his grasp and walked down the stairs in the open living room back to the party. As I descended, I found Harry in the crowd. His piercing green eyes darted from me to a space a few feet behind me. Turning to look, I realized that Niall had followed me down the stairs.

Fuck, this looked bad.

~~~~~~

Harry avoided me for the rest of the party until almost everyone else had left. Finally, it was just the five boys, Eleanor, Danielle and I left, so he was forced to face me.

“Let’s play a game!” Eleanor announced from where she sat on Louis’ lap. He was half passed out. “How about truth or dare?”

“I love it!” Zayn exclaimed as he pulled up a chair to join the circle we had formed in the living room.

“I’ll start!” I announced confidently, now that I had quite an amount of alcohol in my system.

“Okay, Liz, truth or dare?” Liam asked as the rest of the group turned their attention towards me.

“Truth,” I answered, not thinking.

“I’ve got one.” Harry said monotonous. It was the first thing he had said this entire time.

“Nevermind, I’ll go with dare then!” I said quickly.

“Well then how about this, I dare you to tell me what the fuck is going on with you and Niall!” He hissed at me across the circle. I felt the goosebumps cover my body as Niall leaned forward to hear my answer.

“Nothing at all.” I said quietly, averting my eyes from Harry and Niall’s intense glares.

“I beg to fucking differ,” Harry said as his lips flattened into a line. His tone was poisonous.

“Are we missing something..?” Louis asked, finally seeming to have awoken from his drunken state.

The room was silent for a moment, no one dared to speak; they were all awaiting an answer which neither Harry nor Niall nor myself was willing to give.

“I kissed Lizzie when she was in California with us.” Niall finally uttered.

“But that was it. Nothing else. Only then. Only a kiss” I quickly added.

“Then.. why is this coming up now..?” Danielle finally asked quietly.. just as confused as everyone else.

“Maybe because I saw Lizzie and Niall leaving a bedroom earlier during the party! What do you have to say about THAT?!” Harry burst. Struggling for words, I looked towards Niall to answer.

“Shut the fuck up, Harry, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” Niall threw back at Harry, his voice escalating.

“Both of you need to calm down!” Zayn said, trying to mellow things out here. I sat there, mortified.

“Oh really, because I’m pretty sure I know what I saw! I saw my fucking girlfriend cheating on me with my fucking best friend. How the FUCK can you tell me to calm down!?” Harry shouted, his face turning red.

“WE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING YOU STUPID PRICK.” Niall shouted, standing up, “LIZZIE ASKED ME TO MEET HER THERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW I LOVE HER, AND HOW SHE DOESN’T FUCKING LOVE ME. HAPPY!?”

I couldn’t handle this anymore. Not knowing what else to do, I quickly stood up and drunkenly ran out of the room, ignoring the shouts of the people behind me.

I ran and stumbled until I couldn’t anymore. I had no idea where anything was in Texas, and my feet were practically bleeding since I had left my shoes in the room. Deciding to finally walk, I pulled out my phone. It was dead. Great. Finally, I came across a 24 hour diner.

Stumbling in and taking a seat by myself in a booth, I noticed I was the only one in there. Choosing to ignore that fact, I rested my head in my hands and willed my brain to stop thinking for a moment.

“So, how do you take your coffee?” A voice asked, suddenly snapping me out of my unwelcome thoughts.

“Black is fine.” I said as I faced the voice, which belonged to a very attractive man standing in front of me.

“Ah, good, so I won’t have to go get anything else.” He said as he welcomed himself to sit across from me in the booth as he slid the cup of coffee across the table towards me.

“Is that an Australian accent I hear?” I asked after I took a sip, hoping to fill the awkward silence.

“New Zealand, actually. Moved here just a few weeks ago, and still not used to the time difference yet. That’s why I work nights.” He smiled and crinkles formed in the corners of his amber eyes. As I took another sip of the coffee, I examined him. He was much taller than me, maybe an inch or two taller than Harry. He had a lean, muscular build. His sandy-blond hair was messy, obviously from running his tan hands through it- something Harry always does.

“I’m Lizzie,” I said as I smiled warmly.

“Ben,” he said, returning the smile. I gladly welcomed this new distraction that took form as the boy sitting in front of me.

~~~~~~

*HARRY’S POV*

Screaming in anger, I threw my phone as it went straight to Liz’s voicemail yet again.

“That’s it. I’m going to find her.” I announced to the room. Niall was still huddled into a ball on the sofa, everyone- including me- was blaming him for Lizzie’s leaving. Grabbing my phone from where it landed, I stormed out. No one even tried to stop me.

Notes