Claire's POV

The second I lift my head off of the pillow I immediately press it back down. Holy.Fucking.Hangover. My eyes scan to the left and I see Harry, fast asleep with his curls covering his face adorably. I attempt a smile, but the moment I do I feel the contents of my stomach building up towards my throat and I sprint towards their hallway bathroom.

Thankfully I make it to the toilet just in time to throw up everything I've eaten in the past 24 hours along with all the alcohol I consumed last night. I grip the ends of the toilet seat lightly and try to throw up more, but at the same time I'm attempting to pull my hair out of my face. Just as try to pull it back, I feel a hand on the small of my back and another one grabbing my hair and holding it away from my face. Harry is so sweet.

For another 10 minutes, I remain in front of the toilet with my face deep into the toilet, flushing occasionally. I've never really been a sick drunk, but I assume the amount of alcohol I drank along with the stress from Harry and Zayn fighting last night forced this out of me.

"I'm sorry." I mumble when I realize that I'm just about finished with up-chucking in front of my fucking math teacher. This is so embarrassing.

"Are you alright?" A voice asks, and I stumble onto my ass when I notice who has been taking care of me.

"I thought you were Harry." I choke out to Zayn, quickly standing to my feet and walking towards the sink. I splash some water over my face to make me feel like less of a zombie and fill a little up in my palms to drink and spit out. I hate the taste of throw up.

"Harry's still asleep... You know it's 6am right?" He chuckles and I roll my eyes as if I had already knew. Secretly, I had no fucking clue it was so early in the morning and I wish I was either still in bed with Harry or in my own bed, trying to fall asleep.

"Why are you awake?" I ask, stepping out of the bathroom and making my way towards their kitchen with Zayn following behind. I hear snoring from the couch and I can't help but laugh at Niall who must've slept the night just to make sure they don't kill each other.

"I couldn't sleep." He shrugs, grabbing the small bottle of Advil from the cabinet and handing it to me.

This is weird. As he pours me a glass of water without a word, I examine his face closely. He's pretty banged up too, leaving a sad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don't want to see either of them get hurt, physically or emotionally.

"Stop staring at me, creep." He smirks, and I scoff attempting to hide my embarrassment. I take the capsules and drink the rest of the water, then look up at Zayn slowly.

"I think I'm gonna go back in Harry's room... Thanks for taking care of me." I sigh, turning on my heels to walk away but he stops me right in the middle of the living room.

"Claire, wait." He begs, and I stumble to face him.

"Yes?" I ask impatiently, trying to show no emotion.

"I just want to," he pauses, running a hand through his dark hair, "I just want to apologize for pushing you yesterday. I would never intentionally do that and--"

"I know, it's ok." I assure him, trying to cut the conversation short. I can hear Harry stirring around in his room and I don't want him to get upset seeing me out here with Zayn.

"Also, I want to apologize for something else too." He mumbles, taking my hand and leading me oddly closer towards Harry's room, but then I realize it's because he wanted to lean against the wall.

"Alright." I whisper, scratching the back of my neck, a nervous habit of mine.

"I'm sorry for flipping out yesterday. I know you aren't my girlfriend anymore or anything, but this is just hard for me. I mean think about it, how would you feel if Cassidy hooked up with Craig the week the two of you broke it off?" He asks, tears brimming in his carmel eyes.

I'd kill her--my brain thinks. I take a moment to ponder it and I can't ignore the twinge of guilt brewing in my stomach. Zayn was selfish to be with Perrie and there is no denying that, but this was selfish of me too. Harry's his best friend, he told me himself when he came by my house. Obviously I didn't suspect to have these feelings for Harry but I should have been more careful about it.

"I'm sorry." I groan, now leaning against the wall beside him. "I mean I'm not sorry for kissing Harry but I'm sorry that it happened so quickly, in your own apartment and... I don't know, now I feel like an asshole." I chuckle, putting my hands over my eyes and releasing a frustrated groan. You can't win, can you?

"Yeah, it was pretty asshole of you and him." Zayn pokes my cheek, and I shove him back playfully. "But I was an asshole too." He adds, and I nod.

"So where does that leave us? Teacher and student? Friends?" I chuckle, turning to face him. His eyes are searching for something in me that I can't recognize at the moment. The longer I look at him so intently, the guiltier I feel for two reasons; One, because Harry is in the next room and two because if Zayn didn't cheat on me, I'd most definitely still be with him. It's complicated, this whole loving/liking/caring about people type thing.

"I'm still hoping I can earn your trust back somehow, but for now I won't bug you like I used to." He shrugs, extending his arms towards me. Reluctantly, I reach out and wrap my arms around his neck softly while his rest on my lower back.

"I'm not just gonna stop being with Harry, you know." I say into his ear, and he pulls away gently while pressing his forehead to mine.

"I know... But remember, all is fair in love and war, babe." He laughs, just as Harry's bedroom creaks open. Immediately I jump away from Zayn and try to depict the face Harry is wearing... Is he mad? Happy? Sad? Scar--

"I'm confused." He whispers, carefully rubbing his eyes under the cuts and bruises that are on his face. Thank god we have a four day weekend due to the holiday or else people might start asking questions.

"I got sick so I came out here to throw up and I guess Zayn heard me... I'm better now though." I whisper, looking down at my feet. The tension in the room is so thick it's suffocating and I don't know where to look.

"Poor baby Claire!" Harry smiles, coming up to the side of me and scooping me up in his arms. I release a small squeal and throw my head back in laughter. I know he's only doing this to bother Zayn, but I couldn't give less of a shit. This was cute.

"Put me down you idiot! I'm gonna be sick again!" I laugh, wiggling around in his strong embrace. I shut my eyes while Harry tosses me onto the couch but when I land on top of Niall, everyone in the room gasps.

"Oh shit, I didn't see him there." Harry chuckles lightly, and I wiggle my bottom around to wake Niall up. The little irish man groans and tries to shove me off, but I won't budge.

"Get up Niall, you've got to drive to get my car!" I shout, jumping up and down on him. Zayn and Harry both look like they're going to say something to protest, but I stop them.

"Niall is driving me to my car, and you two are working your shit out." I smirk, and both boys glare at each other angrily.

"Whatever." Harry mumbles, reaching into the fridge and pulling out the large container of orange juice.

As I continue to shake Niall, I feel pretty proud of myself. I think that rather than choosing who I want, I'll give it time. Right now I'll be with Harry, but I can also date Zayn too right? It's dating, because I'm not attached. Actually, maybe I won't even date. I'll be with Harry. or Zayn. Or Harry and Zayn? Fuck! I can't decide.

"Earth to Claire!" Niall's voice startles me from my thoughts, and I look down at him apologetically.

"Oopsie. Ready to go?" I smile, pulling him up from the couch.

"Ready." He laughs, and I quickly scurry into the kitchen to say goodbye.

I decided a kiss on the cheek was appropriate for Harry and a side hug would do it for Zayn. I don't want to make one anymore jealous than the other, so I kept my goodbyes short, sweet and to the point. Harry promised to call later and Zayn did too, therefore I could thank Harry later and I could talk to Zayn whenever I needed.

This will all work out eventually, right?

---

"So who's it gonna be?" Niall asks me as we step inside the coffee shop next to the bar. We figured it would safe since it's hardly seven in the morning on a Friday after Thanksgiving... Black Friday to be exact. I wish I could go shopping but instead I'm here, with Mr. Horan discussing my sex life... or lack there of?

"Who do you think it's gonna be?" I ask, sitting down in a booth across from him. I don't know if Zayn or Harry would approve of Niall and I sharing breakfast together, but then again they don't own me.

"Hmm... That's a tough one." He laughs, and we both turn our attention to the waitress.

Niall and I order the same thing, cinnamon bagels with strawberry cream cheese and of course, a large ass coffee to cure this massive hangover. The two of us sit in silence, looking around the empty coffee shop for something to distract us from the current situation I'm stuck in... but it doesn't last long.

"So Zayn or Harry?" Niall asks, and I burst out laughing.

"I don't know! Who should it be?" I smile, taking the mug from the waitress and bringing to my lips.

"Do you really want to know who I think it should be?" He asks, his face suddenly very serious. I grip the mug tightly and contemplate if I even want his opinion. What if Zayn asked him to say him? What if Harry texted him last night to convince me to chose him? Or what if he's totally honest?

"I guess." I sigh, taking a piece of bagel and stuffing it inside my mouth.



"I think you should pick me." He says, and seconds later I'm choking on the bagel. Literally choking on this fucking piece of bagel. He can't be serious. His eyes search mine intently and I begin to panic.

"Niall... You're umm... You're just--" I cough out, drinking my coffee frantically.

"Obviously I'm joking you bloody idiot!" He shouts with a smile, slamming his hands down on the table and laughing so loudly he's gasping for air. I release a huge breath of relief and furrow my brows at him.

"That's not funny dickhead!" I kick him under the table, only making him laugh harder.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" He smirks, finally catching his breath. "And as for who you should pick... I don't really know love, I would just pick whoever's less crazy." He smirks, and I roll my eyes.

"They're both crazy." I chuckle. They really are, Zayn are Harry are the same fucking person with different shells and only a few different personality traits. They're both sexy, funny, smart, sincere... did I mention sexy?

"True, true... I guess you could pick whoever makes you happiest." He shrugs, and I nod my head while biting into my bagel.

"That's not a bad idea, Niall." I tilt my head sideways and think about it. They both make me happy in different ways and sad in others... but who makes me happiest and who do I love the most? Harry probably for the happiness one, but I'm still in love with Zayn. Then there was Perrie, but then there's the whole part of me who knows nothing about Harry... For all I know, he could be doing the same thing to me and I wouldn't even know. Trust doesn't come easy anymore.

"Stop over thinking it!" Niall scolds me, and I snap back to reality. "Just know this one thing," he chuckles, "Harry and Zayn are very into you... more into you than I've ever seen them be over a girl before. They both want you, even though they both know they shouldn't." He sighs, and I nod for him to continue.

"Ok?" I giggle awkwardly.

"Basically Claire... All is fair in love and war, and I can see this is going to be a bloody battle. They aren't going to stop until they get their girl, one way or another. Are you sure you can handle this?" He offers, and I shrug my shoulders while taking another sip of my coffee.

"Do I really have a choice?" I smile, and Niall laughs while shaking his head.

We all know the answer to that question.

Notes

hello! i'm SO sorry it took me so long to update, I had my junior prom and then I got into a car accident on Monday so I've been really busy with sorting my life out and stuff.

i have my competition dress rehearsal tomorrow, so much homework for Sunday and this week AND I'm competing next week on Friday Saturday AND Sunday... so updating is most deffinetly going to be a challenge.

Thank you guys so much for reading, please comment your reactions to this chapter! :) x

ZAYN OR HARRY? OR NIALL (; hahahahahahahaha ... that was obviously a joke