Claire's POV

"Shhhh." Harry coos, running a hand through my hair. I curl myself further into his chest on his leather couch and cry harder and harder. We've been sitting like this for 20 minutes, his arms wrapped around my waist in the most innocent way possible and me just pouring everything inside of me into his chest--literally. His shirt is probably soaking wet with warm tears and snot at this point but he doesn't seem to mind, and I'm grateful for that.

"I'm sorry." I say in a low cry, sitting up and looking into his eyes. His face his covered with concern and empathy, warming my stone cold heart.




"Hey, don't be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong." He assures me soothingly. It honestly feels like a large weight has been lifted off my chest and that for the first time, I can breathe without worrying that I'm going to breakdown... because the breakdown is currently taking place.

"I should go before Zayn gets here." I whisper, and his eyebrows curve in confusion. If only he knew what really set me off.

"What do you mean? Wouldn't you want to see your boyfriend?" He says, emphasizing the word 'boyfriend.' Thinking back to what I saw less than an hour ago, Perrie and Zayn hooking up in the closet... It just makes me sick to my stomach. I reach my zenith of sobs and Harry pulls me into his chest once again.

"He's--with--Perrie." I tell Harry, and his grip immediately tenses a little more tightly. "I can't believe he would do that to me." I sob, well aware that I sound like a petty teenage girl.

"I'm so sorry, Claire." Harry whispers in my hair, rubbing the most tranquil circles on my back. "You didn't deserve that, you didn't deserve any of it." He adds, and I pull away once again to look into his eyes, his shimmering, dark green eyes.

"Thanks for saying that." I sigh, attempting to push a strand of hair out of my face but it's stuck to my sticky tear stained cheek.

"Let me." Harry chuckles softly, carefully pulling the hair off my face and swiping it behind my ear. His gentle touch lingers against my face, and I feel mesmerized with our faces only inches apart.

"Thanks." I say barely audibly, taking his hand off of my cheek and looking at it. I study closely the tattoo on his hand, a small cross. I know that Zayn has lots of tattoos, do they all?

"You like my hands?" Harry asks, making me release a quiet laugh and push his shoulder playfully.

"Shut up." I smile, wiping under my eyes. "Do you have anymore?" I ask, and his eyes light up at my question. He stands quickly, heads into his room and resurfaces seconds later with a clean shirt, most likely to replace the soaking wet one he's wearing.

"Tons more... Do you wanna see?" He offers, and my heart begins to race. 20 minutes ago I thought my world was collapsing all around me, and now I'm sitting here, immensely intrigued with Harry's tattoos.

"Sure." I suggest, and he removes his shirt slowly, revealing the most sensual looking tattoos I have ever laid my eyes on. He comes and sits beside me, giving me access to examine his body more closely.



"A butterfly?" I giggle slightly, tracing it ever so slowly with my fingers. I move them up to his biceps and smile at the little quotes and images that are permanently engraved on his body. Lastly, I run my fingers over the birds and smile to myself again. He's so cute.

"Do you like them?" He asks, startling me from my close analysis of his skin. When my eyes meet his, he's laughing at me and I blush with embarrassment.

"Yes, they're very cute." I tell him. He gives me a cheeky grin and pulls a grey t-shirt over his head, looking more casual than ever. He stands there for a minute and we both share a small gaze. Thoughtlessly, he pulls me into his arms against and gives me a warm and cozy hug.

"You're gonna get through this, love. I promise." He whispers to me through our embrace. I nod knowingly, aware that I can get through this now. Crying like that isn't healthy, but getting everything off my chest is. Harry was there for me when no one else could be and for that I'm more than appreciative.

When I pull away after our never ending embrace, we keep our arms locked together. His wonderful sense of home draws me in, and before I know it our foreheads are pressed against each other. Our lips are inches- no, centimeters apart.

"Claire..." Harry murmurs lowly.

"Mhmm?" I mumble, never taking my eyes off of his.

"I want to kiss you." He cooly states, intertwining his fingers with mine. Before I can respond, his apartment door swings open and Harry pulls me fully into his chest.

"What the hell is this?!" Zayn's voice booms into the room, charing towards us. His arms quickly rip Harry's hands from around me and he is shoved into the couch by an extremely angry looking Zayn.

"What the fuck do you think your doing with my girlfriend?" A bellicose Zayn barks at Harry who looks more stunned than ever. Just when I think Harry is about to cower down and tear up, he stands and is now pointing his finger at Zayn's chest.

"I told you not to hurt her!" Harry's voice is loud and powerful as he gets in Zayn's face. I stand there frozen for a moment, but anger quickly eclipses my fear.

"Zayn, fuck you! I'm not your girlfriend anymore." I shout, stepping in between the two of them.

"Claire, can we please talk about it? I'm so sorry, I know I fucked up--"

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" I yell, grabbing my keys and cellphone and heading towards the door. Just as I'm about to exit their apartment, I'm lifted onto my feet and thrown over a very masculine person's shoulder-- Zayn's.

"Put me the fuck down!" I shriek as he carries me across the house and into his bedroom. I glance back at Harry who is giving me a pleading look, but I literally cannot get out of this situation.

"Just hear me out!" Zayn shouts, plopping me down onto his bed, the familiar bed I slept in less than two weeks ago. I quickly charge for the door, but his rough hands pull me by the waist and away from it.

"Zayn, I can't do this with you." I whisper through my throat that is now getting choked up all over again. Just when I finally stop crying.

"Claire, please listen to me." He begs, sitting me down on the edge of the bed and getting down onto his knees. "Please just hear me out." He pleads, taking my hands in his. I hate myself for even considering listening to him, but I mean... It's Zayn. With a face like that I can give him the slightest chance.

"Go." I say through gritted teeth and I can immediately see the wave of relief that has washed over him like a tsunami.

"Thank you... Okay." He sighs, standing up and pacing back and forth. "So while I was with you, I was also with Perrie." He starts off, making my heart break all over again.

"I got that from the loud mouth blonde." I remind him.

"I know... I'm so sorry Claire. I never meant to hurt you and I never even meant to start anything with Perrie, it just happened." He admits, and I cringe.

"Yeah Zayn, I completely forgive you because 'it just happened'." I chuckle. "You're pathetic." I mumble, getting up to leave, but he pins me against the wall quickly.

"I love you Claire! I told you this and I meant it. I fucking love you so much and hate myself so much for even thinking of being with Perrie when I have had you all along." He tells me, loosening his grip but not enough so that I can get away.

"Zayn, I don't--"

"No! I won't let you give up on this... on-on us." He stutters, tears welling in his eyes. "I was going to tell you when you came here that night when your mom died because of my hickey but you didn't notice it." He says, making me want to throw up. "Harry noticed but you didn't and--"

"Harry knew about you and Perrie?" I gasp, pure shock in my tone. This can't be right.

"Of course... Why, he didn't tell you that he knew?" Zayn asks, and I slide down against the wall and put my head in my hands.

"No." I whisper, feeling hurt and betrayed. To think I almost kissed that sneaky bastard moments ago... Fuck.

"Claire, he's just like me, remember? He's not on your side, he's on his own." He sighs, coming down face level to me. "I love you so much baby, and I promise I'm going to make it up to you. I dumped Perrie after work... I promise. I never want to see you hurt again and I'm so sorry I did this to you." He sighs, tilting my chin up to face him.

"I... I have to go." I grumble, getting up from the floor and heading towards the door and for what feels like the hundredth time this hour, Zayn stops me.

"Claire..."

"What! Can you please let me leave? I'll think about your apology, I really will but I can't fucking do this right now!" I shriek, finally pushing past him and heading out of his bedroom door. When I'm exiting, I see Harry with a concerned face sitting on the couch.

"Are you okay?" He asks, coming towards me.

"Thanks for not telling me about Zayn and Perrie when you found out, I really fucking appreciate it." I growl, stepping out of their apartment and slamming the door behind me. To think we almost locked lips less than twenty minutes ago...

No matter how much I want to run back in there and kiss Harry and thank him for being there for me or smack Zayn then make love to him for being so convincing and sexy, I can't. I can't keep doing this, it's only causing me more heartache and trouble than I need.

It's more than official, no more seeing teachers outside of school. I'm so done with it and I'm a senior. I want to focus on school, friends and getting into college. That's it.... I hope.


Harry's POV


"What did she say to you?" Zayn asks after coming out of his bedroom. I want to punch this bastard in the face over and over again but after our little altercation before I think it's best I don't--he's already heated.

"She just cried a lot." I shrug and look back at him. "Did she forgive you?" I ask curiously.

"Fuck no." Zayn sighs. "I dumped Perrie though and I'm gonna get Claire back." He says with false confidence in his voice.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I ask, standing up and walking towards him.

"Why wouldn't it be?" He inquires, and I shrug again. "By the way, what the fuck was going on when I walked in here... do you have a thing for my girl?" He asks, his jaw clenched in anger.

"She's no ones girl anymore." I try to hide the smirk that his forming behind my pursed lips.

"Yes she is, she's my girl. Not yours, but mine and you better back the fuck off." He growls, taking another step towards me so that we're about a foot apart. Both of us are angry now, and our fists are balled into tight fists. When I look at him, I see a reflection of myself.

"Are you gonna make me?" I ask, staring deep into his eyes. I can see the anger and fear stirring inside of him but instead of acting on it, he laughs it off.

"I won't have to... She'd pick me over you anyway." He chuckles, heading back to his room without another word.

If only Zayn knew what he would have seen if he had arrived a few seconds later--This conversation might have had a different ending... most likely with a punch in the face.

Notes

I had literally the shittiest week of my entire life... I absolutely hate school.
I'm sorry this took me so long to update, hopefully next week won't be as busy!

Comment your thoughts I miss hearing from you guys!

either 45 votes / LOTS of comments for the next chapter :)