No Regrets

*LIZZIE’S POV*

I had practically run after Harry once I pushed Niall off of me, but he was already gone. His long strides were nothing compared to drunk me in heels.

Feeling defeated, I went back to the table that we had started at for the night to find almost everyone else there.

“Have any of you seen Harry?” I asked desperately, knowing how mad he would be. As I searched their blank faces for some ounce of information, I already felt my eyes welling up with tears.

“C’mon love, I think it’s time to get you home,” Zayn said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and turning me to the door.

“No!” I called out, pushing him off me harder than I intended. He stumbled backwards. “I can’t leave without Harry; he’s so mad at me; he’s so mad…” I began to cry. I felt the tears tumbling down my cheeks as Zayn tentatively wrapped his arms around me again.

“Let’s just get you home; he’s probably waiting for you there!” Zayn reasoned, speaking calmly to me. Nodding, unable to say anything else, I let Danielle fix my makeup before we walked out of the club to the flashing lights that awaited us before we got into the car.

“So what’d you do this timeeee?” Louis asked as he leaned forward from the way back seat. Grunting as Eleanor hit his stomach for asking, he fell backwards into his seat again.

“I didn’t do anything!” I said, realizing now that this was not my fault, “it was all Niall!” He turned around from where he was sitting shotgun. I realized how loud my voice had gotten as he yelled back at me.

“You’re the one who sent the fucking picture!” He screamed, face turning red, “so don’t blame me! It’s not my fault at all!”

“It wasn’t meant for you, and you know it!” I felt Danielle at my side trying to calm me down. Pushing her arm off of my shoulder, I leaned closer to Niall, “I told you that was meant for Harry, and you still didn’t FUCKING delete it!” I screamed, fully aware that every eye in the car was on us. I know that I typically wouldn’t be acting this way; I hate confrontation, but I couldn’t help it- I was drunk.

Suddenly, his lips crashed into mine; our mouths moving rapidly in sync with each others’ as my hands immediately wrapped up into his hair, forgetting everything else.

“BOTH OF YOU SIT DOWN AND FUCKING STOP IT.”Liam’s voice all of the sudden boomed behind me, making me jump back into my seat. “Don’t talk to each other until you sober the fuck up.” He said calmly, the edge still in his voice. I thought he was done, but he just took a deep breath and continued. “I can’t believe you two would fucking act like this. Your boyfriend is missing!” The volume of his voice elevated as he turned to me. “Your best friend is missing!” He turned to Niall, full on yelling again. I looked away sheepishly as Danielle began to calm him down, running her hands on his shoulders as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, holding his face in his hands.

We rode the rest of the way in silence. As soon as the car stopped at the hotel, I sprang the door open and practically ran out, ignoring my drunken stumbling. I had to get up to the room; Harry had to be there. Pulling off my heels as I waited for the elevator, I didn’t even pick them up as the doors opened. I pressed the button to the penthouse floor and prayed relentlessly under my breath- and I’m not even a particularly religious person.

Running to the double doors down the hall, I pulled the key out of my clutch and slid it into the doors- shoving them open as soon as the light on the door turned green.

“HARRY??” I called out, still hoping as I ran from room to room- even out to the balcony. As I got back to the living room after several minutes of frantic searching, the realization hit me. He wasn’t there. The rest of the group had made it back to the room at this time, and I could feel their eyes watching me as reality washed over me. Louis began to slowly walk over to me, but I couldn’t be here anymore.

“Lizzie..?” He called out carefully, watching my face as he reached his arm out for me.

“No.” I said simply, grabbing the pair of flip flops next to the door- not even knowing whose they were. “I’m going to find him.” I said as I sprinted out before they could even think about stopping me.

I had walked around for hours. It felt like the previous night, and I was pretty jumpy, but I had to find Harry to explain it to him. I had it all planned out. He couldn’t blame me for the picture, because I meant to send that to him, and I had even told Niall that. He couldn’t blame me for the kiss, because at this point I would just say that Niall started it. I didn’t care. I was beyond pissed off at Niall. He had caused all of this. I had tried calling him, but it would just ring until it went to voicemail. Finally, dozens of phone calls later, the line picked up.

“HARRY?” I called out, as soon as I heard noise on the line, “I can explain, I’m so sorry-” I began, but I was cut off.

“Oh, sorry, Harry’s a little busy at the moment.” I recognized the voice.

“Taylor..?” I asked, hoping it would be anyone but her. Her laugh at my question was all of the confirmation I needed. “Where’s Harry..?” I asked softly. I had no emotions. I was numb.

“Oh, he’s just getting dressed. His pants were in the other room, so he had to go find them.” She said smugly. “Oh here he is now!”

“Who is that??” I heard Harry questioning her in the background.

“Lizzie- want to say hi?” Taylor asked him before I heard a commotion, and suddenly it was Harry speaking to me.

“Liz, I can explain. I’m so stupid; I’m so sorry.” He said quickly. I didn’t respond for a few moments before he spoke again. “Lizzie?”

“Don’t.” I finally uttered, my voice shaky. As he stammered at the other end of the phone call, I hung up before I threw my phone against the wall behind me- watching it shatter into a million pieces. Laughing at the cliché when I realized that’s exactly how I felt inside.

I took my time walking home, knowing that he would probably be there waiting for me since he took a car, and I was a far ways away without a ride. I felt completely sober by this point- all effects of the alcohol had worn off my body.

As I neared the front of the hotel, I was happy to see that at least the paparazzi had left for the night. I didn’t want them to see me in my puffy-eyed, tear-stained state. Trudging through the lobby, I pressed the elevator doors, and regretfully, they immediately clicked open. I knew I couldn’t face him right now. When the doors opened on my floor, it took every ounce of self control in me not to hit the buttons and just ride back down and leave. I walked down the hall and slid my key into the door, hoping for the inevitable- that the curly haired, bright eyed boy wouldn’t be there.

But he was.

I closed the door gently behind me before I took in the scene I was now facing. Everyone was in the room. The boys had obviously been yelling at Harry. I could tell by how they stood around him as he cowered, sitting on the couch- his head perked up as soon as I walked in.

“Lizzie..?” He whispered his voice raspier than ever.

“I don’t want to talk to you.” I said flatly- surprised that the tears had yet to fill my eyes.

“I’m so sorry.” He said, but I just shook my head.

“Sorry doesn’t change what you did, Harry.” I said, feeling absolutely no emotion. I felt empty.. defeated.. “So have they told you?” I asked, thinking of a new tactic.

“What?” His face twisting in confusion.

“I kissed Niall in the car.” I said, watching the hurt fill his eyes. Now it was his turn to get a taste of what I was feeling. “I kissed him, and I felt bad about it, but I don’t anymore. So thanks.” I said, feeling the sting in my voice.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” He asked, his voice elevating as he walked to me. “So the first kiss and the naked picture weren’t enough, you just had to kiss him again?” He almost screamed, his voice just as poisonous as mine.

“That picture wasn’t for him, you asshole!” I finally screamed, “it was for you! I sent it to him by accident and immediately told him afterwards!” I watched his expression change as the realization and immediate guilt washed over him. “But no, you couldn’t wait and talk about it. As soon as the fucking opportunity arose, you jumped right back in bed with fucking Taylor Swift!” I reached the highest volume I felt my throat could go, and heard a gasp around the room.

“I-,” Harry tried to begin, but I cut him off.

“Oh he didn’t tell you?” I asked, taking a step past him to face the rest of the group in the living room. “That’s where he was. He fucked Taylor. She told me when she answered HIS phone.” I turned back to Harry as I felt the tears finally on my cheeks.

“I’m so sorry, Lizzie, love, let me make it up to you… somehow…?” he whispered, but it was too late.

“You can’t…” I finally said, “I can’t do this Harry... I'm done. W-we're done.” I started to walk up the stairs to what used to be mine and Harry’s room.

“I love you though!” He screamed up after me.

“I loved you, too,” I said, turning to face him as I stopped on the step I was on. “I hope she was worth it.” I finally whispered, barely audible, but I knew he heard me. I ran the rest of the way up the steps to my room and locked the door behind me- finally letting the tears fall as I sank to the floor.

Notes