Tuesday, December 29th

"Alright, Adie, you know that I love you, but I'm confused. You've been hiding out here since Sunday and I want to know why. Did something happen at home?"

I shrug and keep my eyes on my phone while Caroline finds something to wear. I've been staying with her since Sunday morning. Now it's Tuesday. I feel bad for leaving, but I can't deal with Harry right now.

"Last week you were mad at me for ignoring you and now you don't want me here? I'm confused."

She laughs and sits on the bed beside me. "You know that's not what I mean. Is everything okay? Did something happen?"

Yes. I started making out with the boy that I live with and hiding it from the woman taking care of me who is also his mother and thinks it would be the worst idea in the world.

"No."

"You're lying, but okay. Tyler should be here soon. Are you ready?" she asks, sliding on her shirt. I nod and stand up, taking my purse with me downstairs. Tyler pulls up in front of the house on cue and we get in his car. I sit in the passenger seat and take a deep breath. Ty puts his hand on mine and squeezes my hand.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asks.

I nod and look back out the front window. He starts driving off in the familiar direction of my house. My mom's house.

Harry's POV

"Where's Adie?" Louis asks, putting his guitar trap around his neck.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I haven't seen her since Saturday night. When I woke up Sunday morning she was already gone and she hasn't come home since then. I have no idea where she is and she won't answer my calls or my texts."

"Woah, mate. Calm down, it was just a question. I'm sure she's fine," Louis says, laughing a little at how frantic I'm sure I sound.

"Yeah, she spoke to my mum yesterday. According to her Adie is fine and staying with a friend. I assume it's Caroline or Tyler, but neither of them have taken my calls either."

"I haven't talked to her, but I have talked to Caroline," Niall interjects. My head snaps in his direction and I take a step towards him.

"Are you serious? What did she say? Is Adie with her?"

"Harry, you need to relax," Louis says, putting his hand on my shoulder. Relax? He wants me to relax? I haven't spoken to Adison in three days and the last thing she said to me was that she wasn't sure about us anymore. She practically broke up with me and then she disappeared. On top of it all she won't answer her phone at all. It has taken everything in me not to break into Tyler and Caroline's houses and demand to see her. I'm going insane.

"I can't. I'm freaking out."

"Why?" Niall asks. "What is going on, you're acting like a crazy person."

"Adie is-" I stop short and look at both of them. They look extremely confused. I want to tell them, but I can't. Not yet. At least not Niall. He would tell Caroline for sure. Maybe later I can talk to Louis...

"Hey guys, sorry we're late." Zayn walks in with Liam and my hands automatically ball into fists. I haven't seen or spoken to him since the dance and I really don't feel like doing it now. But, we have to practice according to Louis. So I guess I'll have to be civil. Zayn immediately sits behind the drum set and Liam walks over to his guitar.

"Hey Harry." He slides his hands in his pockets and I just glare at him. I can't deal with him and Adie being done with me all at the same time.

"Yeah. Let's just get this over with."

---

"I'm serious. We've gone through every song twice now, Lou. I'm leaving." All the guys start to protest by I set my microphone down and walk out of the garage to my car. Before I get to the door Louis runs up behind me.

"Harry, wait a second." I stop and half turn to look at him. "So are you going to tell me what's going on or should I beat it out of you?"

"I can't talk about this."

"Can't or don't want to?"

"It's complicated, Lou."

"Then explain it to me. I'm not stupid." He folds his arms and waits for me to explain. Should I? He can see my hesitation, I'm sure. "Harry, whatever is going on between you and Adie, you can tell me."

"Who said something's going on with me and Adie?" I defend weakly, leaning against my car.

"Please! You've been in love with her since the minute she moved in with you and you wasted no time swooping in at the formal when Liam made his little mistake. Plus, no one has seen or heard from you for over a week. I talked to Tyler and the same thing happened with them, they didn't see Adie at all after the dance. What happened? And don't lie to me this time. Just tell me. Are you two...you know? Together or something?"

I sigh and look in front of me instead of at Louis. "Or something."

"Well? What's the deal?"

He leans against the car beside me and waits for an explanation. What am I supposed to tell him? This is so bloody complicated.

"We kissed the day after the dance."

"Finally," he laughs. I laugh a little as well at the memory. It was amazing. "So? Now what, are you guys together?"

"Not exactly. My mom kind of figured out that I like her and basically told me that I'm not allowed to get involved with her, which was before I even kissed her."

"And you still did it."

"Yeah. And...every day since. A lot. We hung out constantly last week like baking and watching movies and stuff."

"That's cute."

I laugh and punch his arm lightly. "Shut up."

"So now what?"

"Now my mum has no idea what's going on. We've been hiding it from everyone, you're the only one that knows. So you can't say anything by the way. Anyway, now Adie is freaking out about lying about us because of everything my mum is doing for her. She almost ended things with me saturday night but we didn't really get a chance to talk about it since my mum was around. Then she escaped to Caroline's house and I haven't been able to talk to her about it. I'm freaking out, Lou, I have no idea what to do." I take a deep breath and close my eyes, rubbing my hands together in front of me against the cold.

"You need to talk to her. She probably doesn't realize how strong your feelings actually are, Harry. But what happens if you do this and your mum does find out?"

"I have no idea."

"Do you want my advice?" he asks, standing up straight and positioning himself more in front of me. I nod my head and he folds his arms. "You need to be completely sure that this is what you want because it sounds to me like you're risking a lot if you go through with it."

"Trust me, this is what I want," I say firmly. Adie means more to me than anything in the world and I'm not prepared to lose her.

"Then work it out. Talk to her. Make sure you think this through, though. I'm sure your mother has her reasons for wanting to keep you apart. It could get messy."

"Yeah. I know." I stand up and hold my fist out. He hits his against it and I step to my car door. "I'll let you know how it goes."

"Yeah. Go easy on Liam, okay? He feels bad about what happened and the two of you ignoring him is making him crazy," Lou says as I open the door.

"Right. Liam isn't exactly my main concern." I get in my car before he can push that topic further, waving as I pull out of the driveway. I guess I should go to Caroline's house. Adie is probably there still. I smile to myself as I pull up to her house and see Adison's car in the driveway. I get out of mine and walk straight up to the door, knocking loudly a few times. I pace around a bit on the front porch until a friendly-looking woman opens the door.

"Can I help you?" she asks.

"Hi, I'm a friend of Caroline's. Is umm...would Adison be here by any chance?"

"She was. Sorry, I'm not quite sure who you are."

"Harry Styles." I hold my hand out and she shakes it. "Adie lives with me and my mum."

"Oh, right right. How do you know her?"

"Our mothers were friends for a long time. We sort of grew up together I guess. So, is she here?" I ask again. I just need to see her.

"You missed her. She went with Caroline and Tyler to the house," she explains. My eyebrows pull together in confusion.

"The house?"

She nods and her face grows much more sad. "Her old house, my dear. Her mother's house."

"Oh." She nods again and I rub the back of my neck. She's going to her house? Why? I need to be there with her. "Thanks for your help." She smiles at me as I walk away from the house and back to my car. I haven't been to that house in almost nine years, but I think I could still get there.

It takes me a few wrong turns, but after about twenty minutes I pull up next to Tyler's car. I can't believe she didn't tell me she was coming here. I can't even imagine how hard this is for her. What is she even doing here? I thought it would take a lot longer than this for her to want to come back here and face this. I climb out of my car and run up to the front door, taking a deep breath before knocking.

Adison's POV

"Who could that be?" Caroline asks when we hear someone at the door. Tyler shrugs and I feel confusion written all over my face as I make my way down the stairs to the front door. It's weird being in this house again...I thought it would be like coming home but it doesn't. It can't be home, not anymore. Not without my mother.

I open the door and jump a little when I see Harry standing in the doorway. His eyes are alight with anxiety and I immediately feel guilt rush through me. I've basically ignored him for three days, not answering any of his dozens of phone calls or reading his texts. Last time I looked there were twenty three unread ones.

"Harry," I breathe, staring at him. He opens his mouth but quickly shuts it again. "How did you find me? How did you know I was here?"

"I went to Caroline's house to find you. Her mum told me you came here."

"How did find the house?"

He smiles slightly. "I couldn't forget it if I wanted to."

I stare at him, unsure of where we go from here. The truth is, it killed me not to tell him about this. It took everything in me not to call him and ask him to come with me. I need him so much more than he knows I do and it scares me. A lot. But with everything that's happened I just don't know where we stand right now. I said a lot of things the last time we spoke that made it sound like I couldn't be with him. Really, there's nothing I want more. But how can I do this to Anne? My heart beats faster when he steps inside and comes closer to me, almost close enough for our chests to be touching.

"I missed you, Ads," he whispers, reaching up with one hand and tucking my wavy hair behind my shoulder. "Why did you leave?"

"I couldn't....I don't know what to do," I whisper back, shrugging my shoulders. It is taking all of my willpower not to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him and beg him to stay with me. It's crazy to think about how much our relationship has changed in only one week. I didn't know it was possible to need someone this much. I know in my head that the right thing to do is to end this, but my heart is telling me the exact opposite. His eyes look sad and desperate and I can see that he's missed me as much as I missed him these last few days.

"You need to come home," he says quietly, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around my neck. I lock my own behind his back and breathe in his scent, one that's slowly replacing my mother's in the comforting department.

"I know."

"I like your beanie," he says, chuckling a little. I smile and pull back, looking up at his face and adjusting the hat on my head.

"Will you stay?" I ask quietly, peering into his eyes. His face instantly lights up and my heart jumps a little at the simple way I was able to make him happier.

"Of course. What are you doing?"

"I need to pack the rest of my stuff and start going through everything else."

"What are you going to do with everything?" he asks, moving a stray strand of hair from in front of my eyes.

"Once I decide what I'm going to keep I'm going to sell the rest with the house." I don't want any of this. It's all just reminders of the life I used to have, something I really don't want to think about that much. It just makes me sad. Once I know that I have everything I want to keep, I just want it gone and out of my life.

"So, where do we start?" he asks. I smile up at him and he kisses my forehead, my eyes closing at the contact.

"Adie who was-oh, shit."

I half turn around in Harry's arms at the sound of Caroline's voice. She's standing halfway down the stairs with Tyler behind her. Well I guess they both just saw that. My face goes beat red and Caroline folds her arms across her chest, half smiling and raising her eyebrows at me. Harry drops his arms and we all stand there in silence for a few minutes. This is awkward.

"So, what are you two up to?" Caroline finally asks. Harry laughs nervously behind me and I look at the floor. How do we cover that one up?

"Which room are we starting in?" Harry asks, stepping around me and winking when his face is out of sight from the others. My cheeks flush again and he starts walking up the stairs towards Tyler. Caroline gets closer to me.

"Okay, you have some serious explaining to do," she whispers. "I think I have an idea as to why you were hiding at my place."

"Shut up," I mumble, walking around her and following to boys up the stairs. We already packed up some of the stuff from the basement, mostly old stuff that used to belong to my parents when my dad was still alive. I can't get rid of any of that stuff, it wouldn't be right. Tyler already led Harry into my bedroom where we've been sorting through the stuff in here for about a half hour now. When I get inside Harry is just standing near the door looking around.

"So this is your bedroom," he says quietly. "It's quite different than when we were eight." He laughs a little.

"Yeah, I guess I got over the flowers and butterflies."

He laughs again and I sit on the edge of my bed, my belongings piled high on it. I didn't realize how much stuff I had in here. It almost doesn't feel like my house anymore. It feels like I'm going through someone else's memories.

I feel a lot happier than I thought I would going through all of this. There are a lot of good memories here and they're not even that clouded by the fact that my mother is gone. It also makes me feel really happy that Harry is here to do this with me. I don't deserve him, but here he is. And he gets along better than I ever could have hoped with Tyler and Caroline. I would never be able to be with someone if they didn't get along with my friends. They're so important to me.

After a while we're all exhausted and starving. We decide to go back to mine and Harry's house to eat something. Harry insists that I drive with him on the way back, Tyler and Caroline giving me knowing a look as they climb into Ty's car.

"Well they definitely know," he says once we start driving.

"Yeah I think that would be safe to say." It's kind of a relief. I don't like the idea of lying to my friends.

"Adie, we really need to talk."

"I know." I roll my head to the side against the seat and watch his face as he drives. He's so easy to just stare at.

"I just need to know...I want to be with you, Ads. You know that. But are you done with me?"

"Harry, we can't do this right now," I whisper, reaching across to brush my fingers through the curls along the side of his head. He blinks slowly a few times as I continue the motions.

"Okay. Please don't leave again, okay? I think I might go crazy." He's right, I need to start facing my problems instead of running from them.

"I promise. We can talk tonight, okay?"

He nods and I run the back of my fingers along his cheek. He reaches up and takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers together and kissing my knuckles before dropping them to his lap. We drive the rest of the way in silence and I just watch him. After about five minutes a smile creeps onto his face.

"Creep," he accuses lowly.

I laugh softly and he looks at me quickly, flashing his dimples before looking back at the road. His hair is messier than usual today.

"Did you run out of hair gel?" I ask, reaching over with my free hand to touch his messy quiff. He laughs and shrugs his shoulders.

"I don't think I put any in actually." He laughs a little and my phone vibrates in my pocket.

From: Caroline
Aren't you two adorable ;)

I laugh to myself and shake my head at the car ahead of us.

"What's so funny?" Harry asks.

"Nothing. Looks like my friends are officially in on our little secret."

He squeezes my hand and waves to them through the front window. I laugh as they both wave back. They're totally watching us. I need to figure out what I'm going to say to Harry tonight, because right now I don't have a clue. I have no idea what to do. I have such strong emotions pulling me in two completely different directions. How am I supposed to decide? Harry and Anne are both so important to me for very different reasons. How do I choose between them?

What in the world am I supposed to do?

Notes

dum dum da dumm

anywho. there she is. poor little harry so desperateee. hes so cute.
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