No Regrets

*LIZZIE’S POV*

As I slowly came to my senses, I became aware of a couple of things. First, this hangover was going to be killer. Second, and most importantly, I became aware of mostly everything that had happened last night. Rolling out from under Harry’s grip on my waist, I stumbled out of the room and down the hall to find water. The place was totally trashed. I couldn’t remember how I got back here, but I know it was thanks to Harry, because the last thing I remember was calling him at the party. Unfortunately, I remembered everything almost perfectly that had happened before that. Stumbling into the kitchen, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge before I sat down on the cold tile floor with my back to the cabinets. Someone had changed my clothes, how nice. Slowly, the memories from last night began to replay unwelcomed in my mind. I cringed everytime I thought of Ben. I could practically still feel him on top of me... inside me…

Still though, I partially blamed myself. I led him on. It was my fault. I kissed back.

No. I still told him to stop. No. No. No.

“Lizzie??” Harry’s gentle voice snapped me from my thoughts. I realized I had started crying. “I guess we need to talk.” He said as he came and sat down on the ground next to me.

“Where do we even begin..?” I said quietly after a moment.

“I want to say I’m sorry, first off.” Harry said, his green eyes locked downwards on his fingers. “I should have trusted you more with the whole Niall situation. I’ve just been a bit paranoid that I would lose you to him.”

“I appreciate you saying that Harry, but you should know that I’m yours. I’m not going anywhere.” I said, attempting to make him feel better.

“But the thing is,” he began, his beautiful green eyes now staring into mine intensely, “you say that, but then you leave. Like last night. I thought we agreed to stop running away from each other when we had a problem?”

“I’m sorry, Harry. I’m so sorry about everything last night.” I said, my voice getting softer as I felt the tears filling my eyes, “I just don’t do well with yelling. My dad used to yell at me all the time growing up, and it gave me bad anxiety.” His gaze softened.

“You should’ve told me. You can tell me those things.” He said as he reached over and pulled me into his lap as he adjusted his legs. “You have no idea how scared I was last night. I can’t even put it into words. And then once we got you out of there, you were so drunk I thought that we might have had to take you to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.”

“How did you get me out of there?” I asked quizzically, “the last thing I remember is calling you. Even though I wish I could just forget the entire night.” I said shaking my head at the thoughts that were emerging.

“Trust me, you’ll hear several stories from the rest of the lads about saving drunk Lizzie,” he said with a small smile before returning to his serious expression, “right now, I’m just worried about what happened to you. Do you want to talk about it?” I shook my head, unable to speak, as I felt tears come again. Damn, I was crying a lot.

“That’s okay, love,” Harry said soothingly as he kissed the top of my head and held me closer, “you don’t have to. Just please do not blame yourself in the slightest for whatever may have happened. That Ben guy was a total prick. I just wish I had been there to stop him before anything happened. It’s my fault.” He said resting his head back on the cabinets with his eyes closed.

“Harry, this is not your fault in the slightest.” I said quietly in disbelief that he would even think that.

“But it is, I didn’t stop you from leaving. It’s my job to protect you.” He said, his voice shaking, “and I failed at my job. Seeing you hurt like last night was the scariest moments of my life…” he trailed off, and I was left speechless. “Just please, don’t ever leave me again.” He finally whispered.

“I won’t,” I said as I nuzzled my head into the crook of his neck and his arms instinctively tightened around me.

“I love you, Lizzie.”

“I love you too, Ha-” before I could finish his name, his lips had found their way to mine. The kiss started slowly, but Harry sped it up. Within mere seconds, his tongue was in my mouth as I readjusted without breaking the kiss so that I was straddling him with each knee bent on either side of his hips. His hands found their way to my butt, and I entangled mine in his hair. As I pulled at his soft curls, he moaned into the kiss.

“AHHH!” We heard a shout from behind us, causing me to jump off of Harry in surprise. “What the fuck, can’t a lad just come and make his girlfriend a cuppa tea!?” I felt my face turn bright red as we turned to face Louis. Harry rolled in fits of laughter on the floor.

“LOUIS?” Niall and Zayn rushed into the strange scene, “what happened?!”

“Well I came down here half asleep, just mindin’ my own damn business, and then I round the counter and find these two having a proper snog on the kitchen floor!” Louis cried out all exasperated, causing Niall and Zayn to join in Harry’s continuing laughter. The noise must have woken the others, because within seconds we were joined by Liam, Danielle, and finally Eleanor.

“Glad to see that everyone’s made up and happy here,” Danielle said sleepily, “I would’ve been more glad to see it about two hours later this morning after I could’ve slept in for a bit!”

“Speaking of sleep, how are you up so early, Liz?? That hangover must be KILLER.” Zayn said with a slight smirk.

“Trust me, it is.” I groaned before I downed the rest of my bottle of water.

“What do you say we go upstairs and get you some rest, love?” Harry asked as he stood up with me.

“HA. Rest my ass. After what I just saw, there’s going to be NO resting going on in that room!” Louis joked which was followed by a round of laughter from everyone else. Ignoring them, Harry took my hand and led me upstairs.

“Sex is good for hangovers!” Eleanor called out as we reached the top of the stairs.

“Thank god,” I said, a bit too loud, because it was followed by another round of laughter from everyone else, including a chuckle and a wink from Harry.

Notes