*The following thursday

Lana's POV

"That's wrong."

"No it's not. I know for a fact that the French were defeated by the allies in the War of Liberation in 1814."

He shrugs. "You're wrong."

"No, Harry, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"Give me that," I say, snatching the textbook from his hands. "It's right here! 1814!" I half-shout, walking on my knees across the bed to sit beside him against the headboard. "See?"

"I know," he says, smiling smugly at me. I narrow my eyes and he explains. "I just wanted to see how well you studied." He laughs when I hit his chest.

"You're mean."

"No, I'm a good teacher."

"A mean teacher." He laughs again and takes the textbook back from me. "Besides, you're just quizzing me, I already know all of it."

"Well, let's test that theory. When was slavery abolished in the British Empire?"

"1833."

"Okay, When did Victoria become queen?"

"1837."

"Okay, clearly you know all of these, why are we still doing this?" he whines, leaning his head back against the headboard and rolling it to the side to look at me.

"My test is tomorrow," I remind him.

"And you're ready. Let's do something fun. We've been cooped up in this room studying for like twelve years. I'm ready to explore the great outdoors."

I raise an eyebrow. "First, that's a little dramatic. Second, no one is forcing you to be here."

He chuckles and flips the page in the textbook. "You would fail without me."

"I've done fine for the last two years, I think I'd be okay for this one."

"Cheap shot!" he shouts, hitting my leg playfully. I laugh and he runs his finger along the page, looking for something else to quiz me on. "What happened with Britain, France, and Turkey in 1854?"

"They joined together and-" I'm cut off by a knock on the door. That's weird. "Hold that thought," I say, holding a finger up and jogging to the front door. My eyes go wide when I see Chase standing there.

"Hey," he says, sending me a small wave.

"Umm hi." I smile and look behind me to make sure Harry didn't leave my room. "What umm..what are you doing here?"

He laughs awkwardly. "Well hello to you too."

"Sorry, it's just...I wasn't expecting to see you. It's been a while."

"I meant to call. I got really busy with school and stuff. Are you busy?"

"I'm studying right now. I have a history test tomorrow. Why?"

"Oh okay. I was hoping maybe we could get coffee or something," he says, putting his hands in his pockets. I nod and keep my hand on the doorknob. "But it's cool. Maybe some other time?"

"Lana, if you're going to pass then you should-" I spin to see Harry, who has emerged from my room and is now stood frozen in the middle of the living room, staring at Chase. This could get awkward. Just kidding, it already is. "Charlie, right?" he says, folding his arms.

"Chase, actually."

"Yeah, I don't really care."

"Okay! Harry, why don't you get us some drinks?"

"By us you mean just two right?"

"Harry."

"Fine," he says, putting his hands up as he walks to the kitchen. Not before glaring at Chase one last time.

"I'm sorry," I say to Chase once Harry is out of earshot. "He's a nice guy, I swear. He's not usually...like this."

He nods and scratches the back of his head. "It's fine. I get it. I'll see you in class." He walks away before I can say anything. Shit, now he probably thinks I'm a slut. Going out with him, hanging out with Harry. I shouldn't feel bad, right? I don't..like Chase. Do I? This saves the awkward conversation of telling him it's not going to work out. I should feel relieved.

But I don't think I do.

I shake off the feeling and walk into the kitchen where Harry has taken it upon himself to make grilled cheese. He keeps his back turned to me when I walk in and doesn't say anything.

"Harry." No reaction. "Harry." Nothing. "Seriously?"

"What?" he says, sounding bored.

"Are you going to ignore me?"

"I'm not. Do you want one?"

"Sure."

He continues what he's doing without looking at me while I sit at the table. I know he's probably annoyed, but I don't feel like I should have to explain myself to him. We've hung out every day this week. Mostly he's been helping me study for my test, but we've also watched movies and done lots of girly things. Harry even let me paint his toenails. It was hilarious. Purple is definitely his colour.

Once he's done making food he sets a plate in front of me, complete with one sandwich and some kraft dinner.

"Classy," I joke, smiling at him as he sits down with his own food. "Thanks."

"Sure."

We eat in silence for a few minutes. I can't think of anything to say. Harry is usually better in that department, but clearly he's not in the mood to talk. But he's still here, so he can't be mad. Wait, why would he even be mad in the first place? I don't even know what's going on anymore.

"Okay, what's your problem?"

"What?"

I set my fork down and lean back in my chair. "You know what. Normally I can't get you to shut up. What's going on?"

"Nothing, I'm great," he says, giving me a large grin before quickly wiping it away again. He looks back down at his plate and continues eating.

"You have to be-"

"Why was he here?"

There it is. "You realize I didn't invite him over, right?"

"Then why did he come?"

"Harry, you and I made plans to hang out today. Why would I invite him over at the same time, that doesn't make any sense."

"Okay then. Why was he here?" I shrug and pick up my fork, putting lots of noodles in my mouth so I don't have to talk. "Clever strategy," he says sarcastically, leaning on his elbows and waiting for my answer.

I chew my food slowly while I debate what to tell him. I don't know what's going on with Chase, but I also don't know what's going on with Harry. Where does that leave me?

"Lana, chew as slow as you want. You're still going to have to answer the question." Seriously, how am I supposed to function around someone that knows me so well?

When I swallow my food I meet his eyes again. "He was asking me to hang out."

He nods. "If I wasn't here would you have gone?"

"Why does it matter?"

"That's not a no."

"Would it bother you if I did?"

"No, I don't give a shit. That's why I'm asking."

I throw my fork down and sit back again, giving him an exasperated look. "Are we done with the sarcasm?"

He puts his fork down in the same frustrated manor as me. "I don't know, are you done seeing him?"

I look at him for a moment before answering. His eyes don't leave mine and he looks just as annoyed as I feel. "Why are you mad at me?"

"Would you stop doing that?" he says, getting up and running his hands through his hair.

"Doing what?"

"Answering my questions with questions. Just answer me. Do you like him?"

I stare at him for a minute, unsure of what to say and unable to look away. Do I? It's something I haven't really thought about much since I last saw him, but seeing him again makes me think that maybe there is something there. On the other hand, I can't deny the feelings I still have for Harry.

He nods, as if understand an answer from my silence, one that I definitely didn't mean to give. Before I can attempt to explain myself he's headed for the door.

"Harry, wait," I finally call. The door is open and he's about to step out of it. He stops and turns a little, but not enough for him to look at me. "I don't....I don't know."

He turns more and looks at me with sad eyes. "Then what have we been doing here? What is this?" he asks, gesturing back and forth between our bodies.

That is one question I really don't have an answer to. I would be lying if I said I expected this to be just two friends hanging out. I love spending time with him again, it feels just like before. But without the making out and stuff. We just get along so well, perfectly even. I love being around him. It makes me happy. He makes me happy.

I take a deep breath and close some of the distance between us. He watches me carefully the whole time. "I've missed you, Harry, I won't lie about that. I love spending time with you. But-"

"But," he repeats with a sigh, drawing his own conclusion.

"Please let me explain." He sighs and shuts the door. "Things are good between us and I'm happy about that, I am. But I can't change what happened and neither can you. You left, Harry. You hurt me and it's not the kind of hurt that's easy to erase or forget. And I'm not saying that I'm still angry with you, I'm not, but there's still that annoying little voice in my head telling me that it won't be long before you disappear again. You'll leave without any warning and once again I'll be left in the dust."

I finish my little speech and take a deep breath. I slowly look back up at his eyes. He's staring at me, clearly taking in everything I just said. After a minute he takes two steps forward, leaving about a foot between us. My heart rate starts to speed up at the sudden proximity, his height towering over me while his eyes never leave my own.

"I'm not leaving." His voice is strong and there's a certainty behind it I can't deny. "I know I hurt you, and you have no idea how sorry I am. But you're right, I can't take it back. I'm going to do whatever I have to to prove that I won't do it again." He steps closer to me again, leaving a few inches between us. "I love you. I know we're supposed to be friends now but I don't care. I'm even more in love with you than I was two years ago. Trust me when I say I'm not letting you go any time soon."

I can feel my eyes watering. These are words I want to hear, need to hear even. I blink a few times to try and stop the tears, but it doesn't work. One rolls down my cheek and he closes the gap between us, cupping my cheek in his hand while he wipes the tear away with his thumb. His eyes lock into mine as he leans forward.

"Harry," I breathe, half warning him, half begging. He stops and looks back and forth between my eyes, then quickly at my lips. He waits for a few seconds and I can feel his breath against my mouth. Before I know it his lips are against mine.

The feeling is foreign because of the way it makes me feel. I haven't felt like this in so long, yet now that I do again it feels like it was yesterday. His lips are soft and his touch is so tender, but at the same time I can feel so much passion. He pulls back all too soon, leaning his forehead against mine.

"As long as it takes," he whispers. "I will be here." He kisses my forehead and walks out, shutting the door behind him.

---

Louis' POV

"Is that it?"

Lana's eyes widen and she laughs a little. "What do you mean is that it! He kissed me!"

"Then what?"

"Then he left," she says, shrugging. I nod and she rolls her eyes. "Do you have anything to say?"

I laugh and shrug. "Isn't El the person you usually talk to about this kind of stuff?"

"Yes, but she isn't here. You know that."

"Can't you call her?"

"Why can't I talk to you?"

"You can! I'm just not very good at the whole girl-talk advice thing. But, I can try." I take a sip of my coffee and look around the cafe. "Why did you want to meet here anyway? Don't you work here?"

She looks around as well and shrugs. "I like it here."

"Alright, so you were hanging with Harry, Chase came, Harry got pissed, then you fought, then he kissed you. That's the general plot-line, right?" She nods and I take another sip, contemplating. Also, I know it'll bug her if I just sit here quietly. We have a very sibling-y relationship. It's fun in moments like these.

"Lou, I know you're trying to piss me off. It's working." I laugh and she reaches across the table to smack my arm. "I'm serious! I need help!"

"Okay, fine. Before we deal with that, what's happening with Chase?"

"I don't know. I really don't," she says, rubbing her forehead. "I've only hung out with him twice, but I can't deny that there was something there. But I don't know what to do with that."

"Me either." She gives me an exasperated look. "Okay, fine. If you want my advice, here it is. Don't tell Harry I said this, but I think you need to spend some time with Chase and figure that out. You're not going to be able to really get back with Harry if you're curious about feelings with another guy. So, go out with him. Do whatever you would do on a date and see if you like him. Then just...go from there. If you like Chase, then you deal with that. If you don't like him, then you deal with Harry."

She nods and takes a sip of her drink. "I'm nervous. What if I end up liking him?"

"So what?"

"What about Harry?"

"You're stressing about something before it's an issue." She nods again. "I'm not saying that's what you should do. That's just what I would do. If you're unsure of your feelings for Harry-"

"I'm not. I love Harry, I know that."

She sounds confident. I can feel how confused my face must look right now. "I don't understand. If you know you love Harry then why is Chase even an issue?"

"I don't know! I just have this...feeling."

"I'm not female, I don't know what that means."

"You're right. I should have just called Eleanor."

We both laugh but I can see that she's still confused. "Yeah. You'll make the right choice, Lan."

The smile disappears from her face and she looks at me with worried eyes. "How do you know?"

"You always do."

Notes

so yeah they're first kiss. YAY. not very hot and steamy, but i didnt really want it to be. just wanted it to be like...special you know?
ANYWAY i hope you guys like it :)

also i dont think ill be able to update tomorrow, but if i get five more votes and subscribers i will :)

comment!!!! let me know what you think :)