Things I Can, Things I Can’t

“Do you think you’ll ever cut your hair?” I asked, ruffling through Harry’s curls. We were clothed, washed, and sitting in the back again with a movie on his iPad. He sat in-between my legs, his head resting back on me.

“I doubt it.” He said, biting down on his thumb, engrossed in the film. I couldn’t really care less about it. My head was still swimming with all the difficult decisions I would have to make in the coming weeks. I had discreetly received a text message from Will, which I had to hide from Harry, or a war would have broken out.

I’m looking forward to you coming back annie, i can’t wait to sort this all out. i can’t wait to see you. love you x

“It’s late, Harry.” I yawned. “We should go to sleep. We’re up at six.”
“Mmm.” He was hardly listening to me.

I heard the bus door slam open, and the sound of girls screaming outside filtered in. It was gone three in the morning. Their fans were so dedicated.

Then, the impeding sound of Irish traditional songs being drunkenly sung in the distance poured through the back. The boys were home.

“Harry! Shit, we didn’t tidy the front of the bus.”
He paused the film. I heard the rest of the boys talking and somebody ask why’s the toaster on the floor? Before we had a chance to make up a story, Niall ran into the back room.

“Ah! See, you liked my plan then? Eh? So you’re friends again, brilliant.” He shook his head, stumbling and falling onto the other side of the wraparound sofa. Harry sat up and we moved apart a bit. “Ah there’s no point trying to make yourself decent for me, guys.” he hiccuped. “I seen the state of the bus. Have you been shagging again?"

Before Harry could jump up and punch him, the rest of the band poured in. Louis was absolutely blind drunk, shaking a bottle of champagne.

“To the reconciliation... of Annie and Harry!”

He popped it and it exploded everywhere. I shook my head and Harry was laughing, joining in with them in goofing around.

“Okay guys, thank you for the humiliation, but I’m gonna go to bed now.” I laughed, standing up.
“Are you gonna sleep in Harry’s bunk? Wahey!” Another bout of laughter erupted thanks to Zayn. I shook my head, my cheeks burning.
“Night fellas. See you bright and early.”

I slid into my own bed, and listened to the sound of them jibing Harry.

***

We only had a couple days left before we went home, and now that everything was better, I didn’t want to leave. I had to sort out a master plan for my Christmas activities, because at this rate I was spending it with Will.

I managed to slope of during an interview for the boys, and call him. I was terrified. This would be the first phone call we would have had in more than two months. I cleared my throat, looking at the sky in a pleading way. I kicked around some gravel in the parking lot uneasily as I waited for his answer.

“Hey, you.” He answered, easily. “Calling me all the way from Oz?”
“Err.. yeah.” I bit my lip.
“Nice and expensive then,” he laughed.
“Oh, sorry.. we don’t have to talk.” Why do I give in so easily?
“Its fine, Annie. Am I still getting you at 12 from Heathrow? Three days?”
Okay, this was it. “Actually,” I began, trying to think of a way to soften the blow. “I’m okay for a ride now.”

Silence.

“Right, well.. what day shall I expect you at mine for Christmas?"

Fuck.

“Actually, I won’t be able to make it there, either.” I said, on eggshells. “It’s just..”

Well do I be honest? It’s just, well, Will, I have no desire to really sort things with you right now, because I’m sort of fucking with this guy from the biggest boy band in the world, when I’m only supposed to be doing his hair. So yeah, it’s just not really appropriate.

“With everything thats happened, I don’t think it’s the best idea. I think if we just, met up after Christmas. To sort what’s going to happen, or whatever."

There was another long pause, and a sigh. “Yeah, alright, whatever."

I let go of the breath I had been holding in relief. “Okay, Will. Well I’ll see you later."

“Bye, Annie.”

I ended the phone call and rushed back inside. The boys were probably getting done now. I took my seat back behind the cameras, as the interviewer gave them their last question.

“Well, Harry, this last one is for you from a fan on twitter.” Harry nodded happily, sitting forward. The interviewer continued. “She says, you’ve been dating a few girls lately, what’s the deal? Have you settled with a girl?"

Harry was poised as ever, because every interviewer in the world asked him a question like that. “No, I’m actually single. I have lots of friends who are girls, and apparently I am dating every single one of them."

Everyone gave a laugh and the presenter finished up the piece. I wasn’t bugged by his answer, it was good. But obviously, somewhere deep down, I kind of wanted him to tell the world he was fucking with me.

* * *

It was finally the end of the first leg of the tour, and the boys, stylists, makeup artists, and I, all headed to a restaurant in Sydney harbour for a goodbye Christmas meal. The air was lovely and warm, and everybody was mellowed out - excited to go home, excited for a break. The boys must have been at breaking point because I knew we all were. I sat between Liam and Niall, with Harry at the other end of the table. We didn’t talk much, but I didn’t mind. We were not the type of people who needed to be in each others pockets.

Towards the end of the meal, we were all swapping seats. Harry came and tipped Niall off the chair next to me so he could sit down. I gave a small laugh as Niall walked off, rubbing his ass.

“Ello.” Harry smiled sweetly. “Excited to go home?"

Our flight had been organised to be an overnight one, with check in in a few hours. I was thankful because I could at least sleep some of the long journey away.

“I suppose.” I bit my lip. “I was going to actually ask you a favour.."

He nodded, willing me to go on.

“Well, I actually need a lift home from the airport. Are you driving?"

He frowned in deep thought. “No,” My heart fell. “Nick is picking me up, a friend of mine. But you live quite near him. I’ll get him to give you a lift."

“Ah, brilliant.” I smiled. “Perfect. Why aren’t you flying back to Manchester? Aren’t you going back to Cheshire for Christmas?"

Harry watched his bandmates talking in front of us. His attention span was not the best. “Oh yeah, but I’ve got to go to my house for a bit. Pick up some stuff, drop off some stuff. Then I’ll drive the 3 hours home on Christmas Eve."

I nodded, before he jumped up as Niall called him over. I was actually relieved. If he knew I would be spending Christmas alone, he would probably go into controlling mode.

Notes

sorry! its just a filler, things will all start getting more interesting soon. what would you like to see happen in the future chapters? ;)