HARRY’S P.O.V.


My heart sinks for a few reasons. First of all, Louis’ ex-girlfriend is standing in front of me, tapping her foot on the ground, awaiting an explanation while I’m only in a towel; and secondly, she’s gorgeous.

Like, I know I admitted to being gay and I am, but it’s undeniable that she’s beautiful. She literally possesses everything that a woman can possess in order to be physically beautiful.
And she’s my competition. Not only was Louis with her for a long time, but he lived with her! I bet he didn’t even think things through before he broke up with her. What if he realizes he’s missing out on something by being with me? What if he goes back to her?

“Louis, are you fucking listening to me?”

I snap out of my daze and walk over to the end of the bed, sitting down clumsily on the edge while Louis stares at the floor, silently nodding.

“Then, say something! I think that it’s about time you were honest with me.”

Louis sighs and shuffles over to sit next to me. He doesn’t sit extremely close, but he rests his hand on my thigh, not in a sexual way, but in a protective and loving way.

“Cece, I know that I told you I wanted to break up because I didn’t want a relationship, but the truth is... I just didn’t want a relationship with you.”

Louis must see the look of disgust and sadness on Cece’s face because he quickly follows with,
“That came out the wrong way. I just mean... I guess I realized something about myself and while Harry helped with that situation, I never cheated on you. I wasn’t going to let it get to that point, so I ended things with you and I probably didn’t do it in the right way. I should have been honest with you. You were never the problem and I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I can’t help the way that I feel.”
Cece relaxes a little bit and walks over to the small chair in the corner. She sits down and massages her temples, “And how do you feel?”

“Like I’ve never been happy in a relationship and I’ve felt like a dick because I thought I just had unreasonably high expectations, but it isn’t like that. I just hadn’t found the right person because I was looking in the wrong places. Harry isn’t just some kid that I’m messing around with for fun. He’s more than that and I’m sorry that you had to be with me when I realized I was gay, but please don’t ruin things for us because you’re bitter.”

He really must be a good lawyer, because he’s changed Cece’s mind in no time. She’s still crying a bit, but her expression appears sympathetic.

“Honestly, Cece. If I had realized it all sooner, then I would have ended things a long time ago, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have some good times, yeah?”

She nods and leans forward, resting her face in her head in her hands.

“I’m trying to be understanding, but I think I might be sick.”

I glance over at Louis, eyes stricken wide.

He strokes my knee gently with his thumb and stands up swiftly, making his way over to Cece. He puts an arm around her shoulders and chastely kisses the top of her head. I never really got details on their break-up, but this seems like the type of closure they need, the kind they never got. I look around awkwardly, and clear my throat as I stand up.

“I’ll- uh, be downstairs so you two can talk.”

Louis mouths a ‘sorry’ and smiles appreciatively as I walk out the door, still wearing only a towel draped over my hips.

When I make my way downstairs, I quickly find my bag and pull out a change of clothes. I slip on a pair of black skinnies and an old red tee. I lay Louis’ towel over the back of a chair in the living room carefully, and ruffle my damp hair with my hand. I can hear low voices and soft sniffles from upstairs and I feel like I’m in the way. I really don’t belong here.

I don’t belong in Louis’ life.


ZAYN’S P.O.V.


Emma and I have been sprawled out on the couch avoiding our respective school work for two hours now. Her legs are tangled in mine and every time our feet brush against each other, she lets out a little shaky breath. I feel a tingle each time she sighs and bites her lip, confused by a new maths problem. She makes everything enjoyable, even though I can’t say I’ve gotten much done. Still, it’s the most I’ve enjoyed grading papers on a Sunday in... ever.

“Are you good at maths, Zayn?”

I shrug and set my papers down as soon as she speaks. I’ve been waiting for a reason to take a break. A break from procrastinating.

“I’m alright, I s’pose. What are you working on?”

She sighs and sits up, scooting over so that her back is leaning against my shoulder and I can
easily look at her workbook.

“Factoring. I’m shit at Algebra... or anything relating to maths. I feel like I did it right every damn time and then I check it and it’s totally off! What am I doing wrong?”

I put my arm around her waist to grab the paper for whatever reason and she giggles when I pull it out of her hands. I can’t help but to grin at the way her nose scrunches.

“Well, first you have to take this number,” I point to the correct number and she overlaps her arm on mine, using her pencil to follow along. She’s practically sitting between my legs and honestly it’s awkward the way my legs are positioned. I squirm the leg closest to the back of the couch and she sits up automatically for me to stretch it out. I turn a bit and move around until I’m comfortable before she leans back again, this time against my chest. There’s definitely something wrong with this because now she is sitting between my legs, but I don’t have enough willpower to ask her to move. That would just make things even more awkward.

“Anyway, yeah, just find two numbers that multiply together to get that number, the 56, and then make sure that the two that you choose also match the middle number, there.”

She follows closely and gasps when she understands it.

“Oh! That’s so much easier than how Mr. Martin explained it.”

She works the rest of the problem and asks me to double check it once she’s done. It’s right and I give her a thumbs up and kissing the side of her head without putting much thought into it. After I do, though, I clear my throat and try to seem busy looking at the rest of her homework, pretending I didn’t just do something incredibly inappropriate. Almost as inappropriate as her still sitting in my lap.

She seems to catch on to my thinking, because she points at another problem and asks, “So, what do I do when there’s a number in front of the x?”

I smile and rest my chin on her shoulder as I examine the problem, “You just split up the number. Like, this one here is a 4x, so you put 2x on this side, and 2x on the other side.”

“Oh! I get what you mean. Okay, I’ll try this one.”

I watch her work, but soon find myself watching her face as she contemplates her answers. Her thinking face is just too adorable and her proud face when she get’s it right is even cuter. I’m done
trying to act like I don’t have deep-seated feelings for this girl, even if it’s so, so wrong.

“That’s it, Emma! Perfect.”

I squeeze her shoulder proudly and she turns to smile at me. That’s when I realize that our lips are centimeters away from each other. Her eyes flicker between mine and my lips and I find my own doing the same. I can feel her breath against my mouth and I lick my lips instinctively.

I don’t know which one of us moves the last bit, but soon enough our lips are slotted together chastely, but perfectly. Her lips are plump and soft against mine, quivering a bit as I slide my hands down her arms and against her thighs.

When I return my hands to her hips, she surges forward and pushes me back against the couch cushions until I’m lying on my back. She twists her body and slowly throws one leg over my hips and straddles my lap. I’m too far gone to stop myself from gripping her waist and pulling her back to me. She lays down and our bodies fit together flawlessly. Neither of us make a move to turn it into a more heated moment, but for now, it’s perfect just the way it is.

“Zayn,” she whimpers against my lips, tangling her fingers in my tousled hair, “I’ve wanted this for a long time.”

And before I can stop myself, I’m nodding in agreement, breathing deeply and kissing her more fiercely.

It’s too late to lie to her or myself.


LOUIS’ P.O.V.


“For the millionth time, Cece, I’m really sorry.”

We’ve been talking for about a half hour now and she’s no longer crying. I consider that an achievement.

She forces a smile and rests her hand on my knee this time comfortingly.

“Louis, it really is okay. I know I didn’t react well before, but you have to understand how shocking this all is for me. It just makes me feel like the past few years of my life have been a lie. But, it would be selfish of me to only think of it that way. You’ve obviously had a hard time with all of this and it’s a good thing that you’re realizing who you are.”

I grin solemnly, happy that she finally understands my side of things. I should have been honest with her from the start instead of being a coward and taking the easy way out.

Cece stands up and I follow suit, quickly pulling her into a hug. She pulls back and kisses my cheek softly, speaking with a shaky voice, “Harry seems like a nice kid. Not that I let him talk much.”

We both chuckle and I kiss her forehead affectionately.

“He really is,” and then my demeanor becomes intense again, “I really would appreciate it if you kept this between us for now, though.”

She nods immediately, gently stroking my arm.

“Of course, Lou. I won’t like, this has been a rough week, but I understand that for you, this is more than just a break-up. You’re discovering something about yourself and that’s a lot bigger than my heartache.”

I try to refute her statement, but she shushes me quickly.

“Don’t argue. That’s how I honestly feel, and I promise I won’t tell anyone about you and Harry, or about your sexuality in general; I promise.”

I smile appreciatively, hugging her once more.

“I better go. I bet Harry is feeling quite awkward down there all alone. Walk me out?”

I nod and follow her out of our old bedroom. It feels a lot better now that we’ve talked about everything.

I notice right away that it’s eerily silent in the house. I figured Harry would watch the telly or something while he waited. When we enter the living room, I see that it’s completely empty, as is the kitchen.

Cece shrugs and offers, “Huh, I wonder where he is.”

I try to hide my concern until she says her final goodbyes and leaves altogether. Once the door is shut, I call out, “Harry,” but to no avail.

I walk over to the dining room and find a piece of notebook paper neatly placed on the table.


Louis,
I’ve gone to a friends. I’m sorry if I’ve ruined your life.
-H


I stand in disbelief, searching aimlessly for my cell phone. When I find it, I search for Harry’s number and wait for it to start ringing.

But, it doesn’t. Instead, I hear, “It’s Harry. Leave a message worth listening to!”

If I weren’t so distressed, I would probably chuckle at his goofy answering machine, but I’m thinking about what to say.

“Harry, it’s me. Please, please, come back. Everything is perfectly fine. I mean it, Harry. You haven’t ruined anything. You’ve just brightened it. You make everything better. Please, just come back. I’ll stay up until I hear from you. Um- bye.”

I hang up and immediately walk to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of beer and retreating to the couch to mindlessly listen to telly programs while staring eagerly at my phone.

Notes

Hello all!!!! <3 Hope you're all happy with the chapter. I know I took a bit to update, but I just started a new job. I also know that I seem to always have a different excuse and I'm sorry!!!!!

Anyway!!! Please please comment! :D And, subscribe/rate if you haven't already. love you alllll xx