The Deal
Chapter Thirteen
*Olivia Harper*
“Olivia,” Linda said, as we sat on the dinner table and ate our food. Usually, dinners went by in silence. Initially, Dad would try to make small talk at the dinner table, but gave up after realizing that everything that Linda said resulted in me storming off to room halfway. “I thought you were going to call a friend over for dinner tonight.”
My hand stilled mid-air, as I remembered what she was talking about. I knew I’d asked Harry to come over for dinner, but seeing how he was obviously busy with Lexi, I didn’t bother to ask him to confirm.
“I never promised you I would,” I mumbled, chewing my food.
“Did you ask him?” she questioned.
I sighed. “Yeah, I did.” I told her. “He…er, said he had other plans.” I lied.
“Oh,” she said. “Well, call him over tomorrow.”
“Why the hell do you want to see him so bad?” I asked curiously.
“We’ve never met any of your friends,” Dad said.
“Er, so?” I asked incredulously. ”And anyway, you’ve met Lexi.”
“Ask him again,” Linda insisted.
I stared at her, wanting to voice my opinion about how creepy I thought she was. Instead, I just shrugged. “I guess I will. Don’t count on it though, because he seems to be a bit busy these days.”
—-
I was drunk.
The music was a blur to my ears, and the room was spinning. People were talking around me, some were talking to me, but I couldn’t figure out what they were saying. I stumbled around, looking at everyone having fun. I was drunk, but I wasn’t even remotely enjoying myself, like I usually did. But I drank anyway.
I knew Lexi was about to arrive for the party too. She was like me, she seldom missed a chance to go out and party. It’s how we became friends, after all. I had a feeling she would arrive with Harry, for some reason.
Turns out, I was right. I had no idea when they’d come, but Lexi and Harry did indeed walk into the club after a while. I watched them enter, as I downed a shot. Lexi was clinging on to Harry’s arm, and they waved at people and smiled together. I frowned to myself. Why were they acting so coupley? What, were they together now?
I hated this. I hated caring about whether Harry and Lexi were together or not. What was it to me? Harry and I weren’t dating. I simply sat on the stool, watching them as I down shot after shot. Harry hadn’t seen me yet.
I recalled a few parties we had previously gone to together. The rush of music and blood pounding in my ears, the dizziness spreading through my veins as the alcohol worked its magic, the fele of Harry’s body pressed against mine, as we danced together, not caring whether anyone was watching us or not. Harry’s hot breath on my ear as he told me how he couldn’t take it anymore, and his strong grip on my arm as he dragged me to the nearest room and kissed me desperately. I closed my eyes, as I remembered everything, and I missed it.
I felt a hand enclose around my lower arm, and I opened my eyes. I blinked a few times to focus on who it was, and then frowned.
“Harry?” I slurred.
He stood towering over me, his curls a mess, and his green eyes full of concern.
“How drunk are you?” he asked me.
“Mmmm.” I mumbled, not replying to his question.
“I should take you home.” he said, but he was smiling. I reached up and poked his dimple. “Why do you always do that?”
I shrugged. “I like your dimples.” I murmured, staring up at him.
“You love my dimples.” he corrected.
I laughed. “No.” I shook my head.
“Come on, I’ll take you home.” he said, taking my hand.
I pulled it away from his grasp. “Lexi?” I asked. The room was spinning and it seemed like there were two Harrys. My head felt heavy and my eyes starting to fall shut. I slid forward, but Harry caught me.
“Whoa, you’re really drunk.” Harry said, supporting my weight. “It’s okay, I’ll drop you home first, and then I’ll drop Lexi home.”
“O—hic—okay.” I mumbled, and let him help me to my feet.
I clung to Harry as he led me to Lexi, who was dancing. He pulled her away from the dancefloor into a corner.
“Harry!” she said happily. “Let’s dance, babe. Liv, you wanna dance too?”
“Lexi,” Harry said, “Liv is really drunk. We should get her home, or she’ll pass out here.”
Lexi’s expression fell. “What? Go home? But we just came here!”
Harry nodded. “I know, Lexi.” he said. “But Harper really needs to go home.”
Lexi sighed. “Okay. Let’s go.” she mumbled, and then shot me a look. I simply gazed back at her, too out of my mind to form a proper sentence or show any expression.
Harry, Lexi and I exited the house. Harry supported my entire weight as he led me to the car, but I figured it wasn’t too hard for him to do. Lexi looked really angry, as I’d hurt her in some physical way. She sat in the front with Harry, while I sat in the back. I lulled my head back against the seat, and started singing.
“In the jungle…the mighty jungle…”
Harry laughed. “Olivia, you idiot.” he joked.
“God, Liv, shut up!” Lexi snapped, and I immediately stopped singing. Harry stopped laughing.
“Whaaa?” I questioned.
“You ruin everything!” she sighed, frustrated. “Harry and I couldn’t even enjoy our night together because you’ve suddenly turned into this drunk whore. You can’t even stand up properly! What, do you expect everyone to keep running behind you trying to stop you from falling on your ass? Grow up! Learn to take care of yourself!”
I felt tears sting my eyes at her words, and I watched as she half turned around in her seat to continue. “You’re always acting this reckless and stupid, and you expect everyone to take care of you. Some people don’t give a shit, Olivia, and you won’t have people running behind you all the time. You can’t even take care of yourself for one night. If you can’t handle your alcohol, don’t fucking drink.”
I looked out of the window as she continued, and wiped away a few tears that had managed to escape. Harry sat silently, listening but not saying a word.
We finally reached my house, and Harry stopped the car.
“Are your parents home?” he asked me.
I shook my head. “No.”
He got off the car and held the door open for me. I stumbled out and he caught me. He smirked, then leaned in to look at Lexi. “Lexi, wait here. I’ll drop Olivia upstairs and come back.”
“Whatever.” Lexi shrugged. “Just make sure she doesn’t end up throwing up all over your clothes.”
“Bye, Lexi.” I mumbled, but she ignored me. I turned to Harry, as he led me to the house. “Oops. She hates me.”
“No, she doesn’t.” Harry assured me. “Your house keys?”
I held up a finger and fished around in my purse. “Have it—here somewhere—”
Harry sighed and took the bag from me. A few seconds later, his hand emerged from inside with a pair of keys dangling between his fingers. “Is this it?”
I tried to focus on the keys, and then nodded. “Yeppers.” I confirmed.
Harry opened the house and led me inside the house. He shut the door behind me and took me upstairs to my bedroom. Making me sit down on the bed, he bet down to remove my heels.
“How do you walk around in these?” he asked me, holding one pump up in his hand.
I giggled. “Pr—hic—practice.”
He smirked and came back up. “Come on, Liv, go to sleep.” he said.
I shook my head. “Don’t call me Liv.”
Harry frowned, confused. “Why?”
“You’re the only one who calls me by my full name.” I mumbled. “I like it.”
“Really?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yep.”
Harry smiled. “Olivia, go to sleep.”
“Not tired.” I mumbled.
“You’ve had a long day, I’m sure you’re tired.” Harry insisted.
“Will you stay with me?” I asked him.
“I can’t,” he told me. “Lexi’s waiting in the car, remember?”
“Oh.” I nodded. “Okay.”
“Come on, sleep.” he said softly.
I shook my head again. “No, no wait.” I said.
“What?” Harry asked.
“Harry,” I said, “can I have a hug?”
“What?” he asked me.
I extended my arms, gazing up at him. “I want a hug.” I told him. “Can I have a—a hug?”
Harry laughed. “Come here, you idiot.”
I reached forward and hugged him. Harry smelt good; something sweet but spicy mixed with a sent I’d come to associate with him. He smelt like…himself. I buried my face in the crook of neck, wrapping my arm around his broad shoulders. Harry’s cheek came to rest on top of my head, and he slowly stroked my back. I brushed my lips against his neck, as I moved one hand up to his hair, to play with the curls at the nape of his neck. Harry chuckled, his chest rumbling against mine.
“You smell nice,” I commented, closing my eyes.
“I may or may not have used my mum’s perfume.” he joked. His hands came to rest on my waist, and I knew he was going to push me away, and ask me to lie down and go to sleep.
“Don’t leave me,” I mumbled. A small part of my brain, a part that was slightly more sober than the rest, knew how I was behaving was wrong. If I was going to remember anything the next morning, I was going to feel uncomfortable again, and probably snap at Harry again. But the rest of my brain, doused in alcohol, didn’t care. At that moment, I only needed to be with him, wrapped in his arms.
“I won’t.” Harry muttered, soothing my hair. “Go to sleep, Olivia. You’ll see me in school tomorrow.”
“Going back to Lexi?” I asked him, pulling away.
“Only for now.” he said softly, smoothing my hair away from my eyes. “I have to drop her home you know?”
“Let her sleep in the car,” I mumbled.
Harry laughed. “I can’t do that.” he said. He pushed me down on the bed gently, and I lay down on my back. “Sleep. I’ll see you in school tomorrow.”
“Promise?” I asked him. “Won’t avoid me?”
“No.” he promised, covering me with the duvet.
“I’m sorry, Harry.” I said.
Harry bent down, so his face was level with mine. He smoothed his large hand over my forehead, and smiled. “It’s okay. Goodnight, Olivia.”
I let my eyes fall shut then, and let sleep take over me. The last thing I was aware of was Harry planting a small kiss on my forehead, and then I slipped into oblivion.
—-
*Harry Styles*
I watched as Lexi walked off to her house, and I could still feel her lips on my cheek. I started the car again.
I couldn’t think straight. My mind was only clouded with the thoughts of one person. Olivia.
She confused me. I thought she wanted me to leave her alone, at least for a while. But what had just happened in her bedroom…
Somehow, that hug was a lot more intimate than what she and I had shared over the coarse of these few months. It was different. If she was sober, it would have never happened. She wouldn’t have let it happen.
It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Olivia and I were supposed to restrict our interactions to the bed, nothing else. So how had we ended up here? What was I feeling so confused about? Why was I over analyzing a damn hug like a thirteen year old girl?
I shook my head, as if to shake every thought away. I couldn’t over think anything. What Olivia and I were sharing was good, and I wasn’t going to let any emotions, or my own thoughts, come in and ruin anything.
Not if I could help it.
fuckin shit! i feel like lexi is going to turn her back on her.
6/3/16