"You're not wearing a sweater, Sav. It's a party, not the movies," Kylie says, like my outfit choice is the most absurd thing in the world. She makes it sound like I chose a garbage bag.

"I just want to be comfortable," I reason.

"You're not going to impress any college boys in a sweater!"

"Maybe I don't want to impress any college boys!"

"Why the hell not? You're single, they'll be older and hot." She smiles and holds up a cropped tank top. I shake my head in disagreement. I'm not wearing that when I'm with Harry, but obviously she doesn't know that.

"I'm just not looking for anything," I say carefully. She doesn't seem to notice as she pulls out a cropped sweater.

"At least wear this. It's a compromise. Please?" She holds out the light pink sweater and I take it hesitantly.

"Fine."

---

"You guys came!" Carter shouts, spotting us from the living room when we walk in the door. I immediately notice a few other girls from my school standing in a group on their own and nervously looking around. One glares at me when Carter gives me a hug. Jealous much?

"Obviously we came man," Mason says. "Who wants a drink?"

"In the kitchen," Carter says. Mason is already walking the familiar route; we've been here too many times to count. Kylie goes with him and me and Troy stand with Carter.

"Where are you parents?" I ask Carter.

"They went away for the weekend. My dad had some conference in LA or something. Come in, meet some of my friends."

Troy and I follow him through to the back area of the house, were most of the couches have been removed to set up beer pong tables. Carter takes us to a group of guys, most of whom I recognize from high school. People tend to stick together around here. Troy and I end up playing beer pong against Carter and this guy from his class. I think his name is Dan, but I couldn't really hear what he said.

"You're way too good at this for a girl," Troy says when I sink another ball.

"What the hell does that mean?" I ask, pretending to be all offended by his sexist remark. They have two cups left and we have four. I suck three of theirs already.

"Calm yourself, Sav."

We laugh and Carter and whats-his-name take their tosses, one of them getting the ball in our cups. I down it instantly and set it to the side to take my shot.

We obviously end up winning and I'm feeling relieved that me and Troy are functioning so normally together. I think he figured out that nothing would be happening between us anymore. I'm glad I didn't have to say it, but I also feel really bad about everything that happened. I never wanted to hurt anyone.

"Rematch?" Carter asks, refilling his cups. I'm about to respond when Troy puts his hand on my back.

"Can we talk?" he asks lowly. I nod and tell Carter that we'll be back soon. Troy walks out the back of the house and we walk towards the end of the lot where there's no other people right now. I stop and half turn towards him, waiting for him to begin. He shoves his hands in his pockets and just stands there, staring at the fence.

"Troy, is everything okay?" I can't stand the silence. He sighs deeply before responding.

"You're back with...him. Aren't you?"

I stay silent instead of answering the question and we stand there in the quiet for a while longer. It's probably only a few minutes, but it feels like hours to me. I love Troy, I don't want to hurt him. I never should have slept with him in the first place. Then none of this would be an issue and he wouldn't be feeling so..hurt.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I don't know what else to say."

"Why did you even sleep with me?" he bites back.

"I don't even remember that night, Troy! You know that. If I hadn't been so drunk then I wouldn't have because my situation is complicated right now. I didn't want to hurt you."

"Who is he?" he asks suddenly. I blink a few times in shock.

"I told you-"

"You can't say, I know. But I think I deserve to know."

"I...I can't," I say quietly, shaking my head. He stares back with anger in his eyes. I didn't realize he was so angry with me.

"Are you kidding me? Why can't you tell me his name? Are you like seeing a married guy or something?"

"What!? No! Of course not!"

"Then why can't you tell me?" He throws his hands up in the air and starts pacing a little. I never thought I would be fighting with Troy like this. We're basically best friends and we've never had issues like this. Damn alcohol.

"It's...I can't talk about this Troy, please, just try to understand. It's complicated. I can't talk about this anymore."

With that I turn and walk towards the house, glancing over my shoulder once. Troy is running his hands through his hair in frustration that I know I've caused. I knew coming here was going to be a bad idea. As I walk back inside my phone starts buzzing.

"Hello?" I yell, putting my finger against my other ear to try and block out all the noise.

"Savannah? What is...where are you?"

"Harry?" I yell. A few people, thankfully ones I don't know, turn my way when I start yelling. "Hold on." I head for the staircase and go to Carter's bedroom, locking the door behind me. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"Where the hell are you? Why is it so loud? I've been texting you all night, I thought you were coming over?"

He does not sound impressed. I totally forgot that I told him I would come over. Apparently I'm just a horrible person tonight.

"Shit, sorry. I've been with my friends all day and I forgot. I'm sorry."

"Where are you?" he asks again.

"I'm umm...I'm at Carter's house."

"Why is it so loud?"

"Well there's a party," I inform him reluctantly. He stays silent for a few minutes and I wait for him to say something. He's probably not impressed, especially since this means that I forgot about my plans with him to hang out with two guys that he's clearly feeling threatened by.

"Troy is there?" he asks lowly. I was hoping not to have to admit that out loud.

"Yeah."

Silence, again. I cannot catch a break. I guess it is my own doing. I should have at least texted him to tell him what I was doing.

"So, not only did you lie to me about hanging out with him today, you're also at a party with him right now instead of being here with me like you said you would be. Does that sound about right?" His voice is dripping with sarcasm and it makes me cringe. He's a little more upset than I was expecting him to be.

"Harry I-"

"Forget it. Have fun."

"Harry-"

Before I can try to apologize again he hangs up, leaving me confused and sad and frustrated. I understand that he's annoyed with me, but was that not a little much? I have every right to hang out with my friends! Yes, I should have told him. No, I shouldn't have forgotten about our plans. But that doesn't mean he can get that angry. It's not that big of a deal!

I shove my phone back in my pocket and jump sky-high when I swing the door open. Carter laughs and leans against the door.

"What are you doing up here?"

"Just...taking a break." I sigh and walk back into the bedroom, flopping onto my back on his bed. I hear him shut the door and then he's next to me, staring up at the ceiling.

"Something happen?"

"Troy is mad at me. And I just...I feel like my life is so complicated right now."

"Then uncomplicate it," he says simply.

"It's not that easy."

"Yes it is. Whatever's going on, just fix it. You're a smart girl, Sav. Figure it out."

I laugh a little and swing my leg to kick him. "That's the worst advice I've ever gotten. That includes the time you told me to cut my hair myself when I was six."

After a few more minutes of horrible cliche words from Carter, I"m laughing so much that my stomach is soar. I think that was his goal. He always makes me feel better.

"I'm really glad you're back," I tell him, sitting up and raking my fingers through my hair. He sits up as well.

"Me too. Now go clean up your mess."

I get up and practically sprint downstairs, searching for my brother or Kylie to tell them that I'm leaving. I need to see Harry. That's the most important thing right now; I can't stand that he's upset with me and I won't be able to have fun here when I know how he feels. I grimace when I see Kylie leaning against the wall near the kitchen, giggling while Mason either whispers in her ear or kisses her neck. Either way..ew.

"Hey," I shout over the music. Kylie's face turns red and Mason slowly turns to look at me, smiling bashfully. "I'm leaving, just so you know."

"Why?" Kylie whines.

"I have to do something. I'll see you guys later."

Before Mason can question me I turn and walk away, searching for Troy before I finally leave. I have no idea how far it's going to be, but I'm going to have to walk to Harry's house. I spot him sitting on the couch with some stoners, a joint in his hand.

"Troy, what the hell are you doing?" I snap, taking it away from him. I give it to someone else and take his hand, putting him off the couch.

"Relax, I didn't do it," he says. I fold my arms and he rolls his eyes. "Don't look at me like that."

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry," I say, changing the subject. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know," he says simply.

"Okay well...I'm gonna go." I smile small at him and walk past him towards the front door. When I get outside I start walking away from the house in the direction of Harry's building. I suddenly feel a hand on my arm and spin around to see how it is, but I'm instead met by a pair of lips pushing against my own. Too stunned to process, I stand there motionless while whoever this person is tries to get me to kiss them back.

Eventually I pull myself together and push the person away, immediately wiping my lips with the back of my hand.

"What the hell!" I yell. My eyes go wide when I meet Troy's. "Troy? What are you....why did you do that?"

"I wanted to," he replies quietly. I just stare at him for a moment, completely shocked. I was not expecting this at all.

"I have a..."

"A what?" he challenges, stepping closer. "Have you even figured out whatever that guy is?"

"Don't," I warn. As he steps closer again my heart starts flying inside my chest and I stand frozen in place.

"I'm just trying to show you that I would be the simpler choice." He reaches up and lightly runs his fingers up my arm. "Just give me a chance, Sav."

"I can't," I whisper.

"Yes you can," he argues. "Don't go. Just stay here with me."

"Troy..." I shake my head slightly and he puts his hands on either side of my face. He leans forward slowly and just as he's about to kiss me again I pull back a little. I can feel his breath against my lips and he stays where he is, just looking from my eyes to my lips over and over again. I hate this.

I slowly reach up and put my hands over his, gently bringing them away from my face. He sighs and I take a small step back to put some distance between us.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. I kiss the back of his knuckles and drop his hands, turning and walking away without looking back at him this time. I hate this, I hate that I'm hurting him. I don't want to be the reason he's hurt or angry or any of that. He doesn't deserve it.

I didn't realize how cool it was outside. As I get closer to Harry's I wrap my arms tight around myself, tugging my sweater down to try and cover myself more. My body is covered in goosebumps and I can feel tears slowly fall down my cheeks. I feel horrible. How can I go from being so blissfully happy this morning to this. So many emotions are washing through me and I'm not used to it. This is why I never got involved with people before.

In order to get to Harry's place faster I take a shortcut through a darker part of town where there's a bunch of clubs and other places for young people to hang out. My friends and I never come here because according to our parents it's where the stoners and low-lives come. So dramatic.

In the dark I start feeling goosebumps for a whole other reason, multiple people yelling inappropriate comments as they pass on the sidewalk or in their cars. At this point I don't even know where I am, to be honest. I'm just walking in the direction I think might be right. I came in this area once with Carter a few years ago, but I have no idea where to go.

"Shit," I mutter, pulling out my phone. Who to call...

I select someone and hold the phone to my hear.

"Hello?"

"Hi," I greet quietly. I hear a sigh but no response. "Can you come get me? I think I'm lost."

"What street are you on?"

"Umm...Cardinal I think."

"I'm on my way."

I hang up and walk around a bit so I'm not a sitting target. Eventually I feel like an idiot, walking around in circles, so I just sit on the curb with my knees pulled to my chest. I wrap my arms around my legs to keep warm. After about ten minutes a black range rover pulls up in the space to my left along the road. The door opens and Harry steps out of the car. He's still dressed the same, a few stray curls escaping the hold of the rolled bandana on his head. He slowly takes a seat on the curb beside me.

"You shouldn't be here," he says after a few minutes. "Not alone."

"I was trying to get to your place," I admit quietly. He sighs and rubs his face with his hand. "Harry-"

"Let's go." He stands and offers me his hand. I take it slowly and feel warmer at the lightest touch. "You must be cold."

I nod and he leads me to the passenger side of his car, opening the door for me. I try not to smile at the small gesture. As I step into the car Harry releases my hand, swinging the door shut and jogging around the front to the other side. When he gets in he immediately pulls onto the road, not looking at me or saying anything. I can feel that he's still upset with me. It suddenly occurs to me that I've never been in his car before. It seems expensive and Harry's scent lingers on the seats.

"Wait, where are we going?" I ask suddenly, realizing that we're taking the route I just walked.

"I'm taking you home," he says simply.

"What? No, I was coming to see you. I want to talk to you."

"It's late, Savannah."

"But you're mad at me and I feel bad that I blew you off. I want to talk about this."

"There's not much to say," he responds lowly. His grip on the steering wheel tightens, communicating a different message.

"I know you're upset," I continue. He shakes his head slightly. "Harry, talk to me."

"I'm not just here to do whatever you please. You don't get to just see me whenever you want and treat me however you want and make me talk to you. It doesn't work that way. I'm not going to just let you do whatever the hell you want," he spits suddenly.

"Excuse me?"

He sighs and runs his hands through his hair.

"Stop. Harry stop the car!"

"No! You're going home, whether you like it or not."

"Stop the fucking car!" I shout again. He comes to an abrupt halt and I quickly swing the door open. When I'm out on the road I slam it shut much harder than necessarry. I start storming off in the opposite direction of my neighbourhood. Another door opens and closes and I hear Harry's footsteps.

"Savannah!" he calls. I continue walking without turning around. "Get back in the car, this is ridiculous."

I shake my head without turning around and pick up my pace. Why the hell would he take me home? I don't want to go home! I want to see him, that was the whole point!

"Damn it, Savannah." For the second time tonight I feel a hand wrap around my arm. He spins me around to face him and when I try to break free of his grasp he only holds me tighter. He puts his other hand on my waist and my heart starts hammering at our proximity. Both of us are breathing faster than normal from that little chase and I can't help but look down at his lips.

"What?" I spit. "I thought you didn't want to talk to me."

"Is that what I said?" he retorts. I stare at him instead of answering. "Stop acting like a child and get in the damn car."

"I'm acting like a child now? Wow." I try to get out of his grip but he doesn't let me. He's far too strong. "Let go of me."

"No."

I try to wriggle free but it's no use. He's too strong. Might as well take this opportunity.

"Do you honestly think that's how I am? I just use you whenever I feel like it?" I ask harshly. He just rolls his eyes. "You have no right to be this angry with me Harry! I know I forgot and that was stupid, but get over it! You're being dramatic and it's annoying."

"I'm being dramatic?" he asks, raising his voice. "You got out of my car in the middle of the bloody road!"

"Yes, you are being dramatic!. So I forgot that I said we'd hang out. I have other friends Harry, I'm allowed to hang out with them so stop acting like I cheated on you or something."

"Do you honestly think I'm upset because you wanted to hang out with your friends? That's not it at all, I'm not that needy. I'm mad because you completely forgot about me! How do you think that makes me feel? Not even a fucking text message to tell me that you weren't going to come."

"I really don't see why this is such a big deal! I made a mistake, sue me. I'm not perfect."

I finally manage to get myself out of his arms and I push against his chest, sending him stumbling backwards while I start walking away again. If he's just going to yell at me then I'm not doing this. I can't believe I was going to go see him.

"You know," I shout, spinning around, "I can't believe I walked all the fucking way across town to see you. I don't deserve to be treated like this!"

"You don't deserve this?" he repeats, scoffing. "I'm the one who doesn't deserve this! You treat me like my sole purpose is to please and entertain you. You come and go as you please and throw me around because you assume I'm just always going to be here when you want me to be."

"I don't think that!"

"Yes you do! You're constantly going back and forth and it's giving me whiplash."

He half turns and rakes his fingers through the hair on the back of his head. He rubs his face with both hands and I just turn and keep walking. I am not in the mood for this. I'm so angry right now that I could scream and I don't even know why! He meets my eyes again and we stare at each other for a moment before I shake my head and start walking away again. I hear him groan behind me and two seconds later my body is being lifted through the air.

I squeal as Harry throws me over his shoulder, my body dangling behind with his arms around my legs to hold me up.

"What the hell are you doing!" I shout. "Put me down!"

"Not a chance," he says calmly.

"Damn it, Harry put me down!" I shout again, kicking my legs a little bit. He puts his other hand on my legs to keep them from moving and I hang there helplessly while Harry walks back to the car. He opens the door and sets me on the back seat, pushing me back so my body slides across the leather. I try to scoot across and escape out the other side, but as I get the door open Harry reaches across me to pull it shut again. He takes the key out of his pocket and clicks the doors shut, also turning on the child lock so I can't get out.

"Are you serious?" I ask angrily.

"If you would have walked away from me one more time I might have gone mad," he explains.

I roll my eyes and fold my arms across my chest, sitting forward and looking out the window beside me. I hear him sigh but I refuse to look at him. I can't believe he thinks that about me, that I'm just using him to..what? Keep myself busy? Does he thinks I'm just doing this because I'm bored? Shows how well he knows me. Harry is the first one to speak again.

"I'm not a kid anymore, Savannah." His voice is much calmer now but he still sounds a little irritated. "I don't want all of this ridiculous drama. If we're going to do this it has to be a real relationship. And I'm not saying this because you didn't come over tonight. This is just how I've been feeling; I've been patient I think, but now you need to make a decision. Either you're in or you're not."
Damn it. I hate it when he's right. I haven't exactly treated him the way he deserves to be treated. At least he's man enough to tell me that he thinks so. Most people would just let it go by. I need to make sure that he doesn't feel so...used. It's not like that for me. I close my eyes for a moment and unfold my arms, turning on the seat so I can face him. I can't bring myself to look at his eyes, though, so I stare at my hands instead.

"You're right," I admit quietly. "I haven't been fair to you."

Harry places his large hand over mine, coving it completely. I raise my eyes to meet his and he smiles weakly at me.

"I don't think either of us know how to act in this situation," he says. "It's okay to be figuring it out. My only request is that we get to some sort of stable ground so I don't feel like everything could fall apart at any second. I like spontaneity, but this is excessive."

We both laugh lightly and I'm glad that we're done fighting. We sit there in quiet for a while and I move myself closer to him, putting my legs over his lap and resting my head against his shoulder.

"I don't know how to do this," I admit. He puts his arm around me and kisses my forehead.

"I know."

"I'm sorry."

"I am too."

I tilt my head up to his. "Not that I really have a choice anymore, but I'm definitely in. You don't have to worry about me leaving."

He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose. "That's all I need."

I pull his face down to mine and kiss him softly at first. Both of us quickly get caught up in it and it gets more heated by the second. I wrap my arms around his neck and he lays me back onto the seat, positioning himself between my legs. I interlock mine around his waist and his one hand slides under my shirt. It's crazy to think that about five minutes ago we were yelling at each other and now we're making out. I didn't think this kind of passion was possible for me; the kinds that's driven by actual feelings instead of pure lust. And that's exactly what it is. I start to remove Harry's shirt but he stops me by separating our lips.

"Now I really do feel like I'm in high school," he jokes. I laugh a little and bite my lip as he stares down at me. "This would be easier in a bed. Maybe we should go to my place."

I nod and pull his face down for another kiss, one of anticipation.

"Let's go."

Notes

talk about dramatic eh. sheesh. crazy mofos

so...yeah. there it is :P

i actually had fun writing this chapter ahah. i hope you guys like it :)
please tell me what you think of it!! its the best when you guys comment :)

thanks so so so so much for reading

comment, vote, subscribe <3