Four months have gone by since my relationship with Harry has become public knowledge. In those four months Mason and I have turn eighteen, I've had my last string of exams of my high school career and now I have graduated. Not only is Harry no longer a teacher at my high school, but I'm no longer a student. That means there's no longer an issue with our relationship. Technically.

The rumours, staring and judgemental stares haven't stopped, nor have they gone unnoticed. Harry doesn't say anything about it so I'm not sure if he notices anymore, but I do. I hate it. We're just like anyone else and now that all of this is out in the open we're just trying to have a normal relationship like any other person. No one will let us do this, though, and it's getting really annoying. I just want to be able to hold my boyfriends hand and walk around with him outside. Is that so much to ask?

The people milling around at the party I currently attend bore me to pieces. My father forced me to go, though I didn't put up much of a fight. Mason convinced me to try to be more civil, as did Harry. According to them it'll be easier to gain my parents' approval if I'm not constantly trying to second guess them and pick fights. It's really hard not to since my Dad went from completely uninvolved to stifling in a matter of hours. I'm eighteen now and technically they can't control me, but we do have to go with them to Santa Cruz for the rest of the summer and Mason has refused to listen to me fight with them for the next two months. I guess that's reasonable.

"At least try to have fun," Mason says, nudging my arm with his elbow.

"Impossible," I mutter.

"You used to make these fun, remember?"

"That required alcohol. Lately Dad actually cares about what we do and I can't get drunk anymore."

He laughs. "We can still have fun."

"How? All these old rich people aren't exactly a good time."

"You'll figure something out," he says, smirking at the crowd. My brow furrows as he walks away, since I have no idea what that means.

I mill around for a while, making my way through the crowd and saying some final goodbyes to my classmates. I'll only see a few of them before everyone goes off to college since Mason and I are going to be spending the next two months in Santa Cruz with our parents. This will be my last chance to see a lot of these people. I know it's a final thing, but it doesn't feel that way for some reason. It hasn't sunk in yet that I'm officially graduated.

"Could I get a whiskey sour please," I tell the bartender. He eyes me for a moment, then reluctantly turns to make my drink. No one really cares if we drink at this stuff, but sometimes the bartenders put up a fight. With my Dad here as well it's been a challenge to get anything, but I've managed two others before this one. I'm holding my liquor well tonight, apparently.

"Whiskey is a man's drink," someone's raspy voice whispers in my ear.

I immediately smile when I recognize the voice; the tone and the accent could only mean one person. Harry. I spin around and throw my arms around his neck, oblivious for once to the stares I'm sure we're receiving. I haven't seen him in almost a week and I could not care less about who is judging us.

"Hi," he laughs into my ear. I finally release him, but his hands stay planted on my back with mine resting on his arms.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, schoolgirl grin still mounted on my lips.

"Mason texted me."

So that's what he meant before. I don't think I could love my brother any more than I do at this particular moment. He's the last person I thought would help me with this, but he's the reason I've actually been able to see Harry these last few months.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you," I say, desperation clawing at me to force my lips onto his. This is very public though, with people actually from the school, so I don't think that would be wise.

"I think I could imagine," he says, eyes flickering to my lips with a small smirk. He's thinking the same thing I am, I can only imagine.

"Quite daring of you, though, Mr. Styles."

"You probably shouldn't call me that here."

"You're probably right," I agree, laughing a little. A glance to my left side informs me of a group of girls from my class that I never talk to staring at us. They're forward enough not to look away when I catch them.

"I'm so tired of this," I whisper. "Why can't people just leave us alone?"

"Whiskey sour," the bartender announces behind me. "Anything for you, sir?"

"I'm alright, thank you." Harry nods and I say a quiet thank you before downing half my drink. Harry laughs a little and takes the cup from my hand. "Easy, love."

"You just got here, you have no idea how boring this is," I groan.

"Hey, you made it," Mason says, standing beside us. Harry and I finally unwrap ourselves and stand at a respectable distance, though on of his large hands stays in its place on my back.

"Yeah, thanks for telling me about it," Harry says. "What is this for, anyway?"

"There isn't really a point. It's just to cap off the year, more for the teachers, graduating students and their parents. Final goodbyes and that stuff," he says, shrugging. "It's kind of pointless."

"Just another excuse for all the parents to see who's richer," I mumble.

"Don't be so bitter," Harry scolds, though the smirk on his face tells me he doesn't have a problem with what I said.

"I just came over here to tell you that Dad has seen you guys, so I'm sure he'll be coming over here soon," Mason says. My smile disappears, as does Harry's and Mason gives us a thumbs up before walking away. He didn't really think this one through.

"Maybe we should leave," I tell Harry.

"I don't want to run away from your father," he says firmly. "I think we're past that point."

"Harry, this is not the place for you to have your first conversation with him."

"I just got here. Finish your drink," he says, handing it back to me. He leans against the edge of the dark oak wood bar, looking young but sophisticated in black jeans, a black jacket and a dark striped shirt.

"Fine." I tilt it back and down the rest of it, set it loudly on the bar and slide my hand into his. "Now we can leave."

"Don't you have people to speak to," he says, following me out.

"Nope."

Once out in the parking lot Harry takes charge of the walking, leading me instead and taking me over to his car. About halfway there the exact person I was hoping to avoid calls my name.

"Savannah!"

"Shit," I mutter. I turn around to face my Dad, my hand firmly attached to Harry's. My father eyes our connected hands, his face souring with his mood I'm sure. I stare at him, waiting for him to explain himself. The wind rustling the trees is the only sound for a moment or two while we wait.

"Dad," I prompt. He seems to shake himself out of his thoughts, finally meeting my eyes instead of staring at Harry.

"Come by the house later," he says finally. I feel the confusion flash across my face as he looks at Harry again. "Both of you."

"Okay," I agree quietly. He nods once and walks back to the party, leaving Harry and I standing completely still in shock. My father would never invite him to our home. What is he up to?

"What the hell was that?" Harry asks quietly, just as confused as me.

"No idea," I say. I turn and Harry takes me the rest of his way to his car.

Once we start driving it's completely silent, the volume of the radio low enough for us to speak but neither of us saying anything. Harry is probably still confused by my father, and I am too, but I can't be bothered by that right now. He's here with me and I don't want to think about anything else.

I gather Harry's free hand in mine and lace our fingers together, absentmindedly tracing shapes on the back of his hand as I stare out the window. He never said where we're going, but it doesn't matter as long as he's driving. The amount of trust I put in this one man is unbelievable to me, though I wouldn't have it any other way. I've never been happier, even with how hard everything has gotten.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask finally, my head rolling to the side to look at the man I'm in love with. He smiles slightly at the road.

"Just picturing something," he says.

"What?"

He looks at me quickly before looking back at the road. "A place where we can just be together. No drama, no judgment, no issues. Just you and me in our own little world."

"Like New York," I recall fondly. He nods and brings our connected hands to his mouth, kissing the back of mine. "That sounds perfect."

"We're going to have that."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not always going to be this hard. If we have to go somewhere else to start over where we can be together without all the problems, then that's what we'll do. We deserve that," he says, his voice sure.

My heart melts, but I don't say anything because of the flipping my stomach is doing. The last few months have consisted of me trying to decide between my offers to UC Berkley and Columbia. They're both amazing schools and I know I would be happy at either one, but the difference is only in the location. I always planned on moving away for school, but having Harry in my life complicates that. He's never expressed a willingness to leave California, and the idea of being on opposite sides of the country scares me. I'm not sure what I would do without him. I thought when I told him I wanted to go to Columbia that maybe he'd say he'd come with me, but he didn't. Maybe it was selfish or foolish of me to expect that, but I did and now I'm not sure if he'd want that.

A few weeks ago I finally accepted my offer to Columbia, but I never told Harry. I decided that I can't base all my decisions on him, especially hugely important ones like school. I know Harry will support me either way, but the idea of being so far away from each other is terrifying. I need him in so many ways and I'm not ready to do long distance. I don't think we should have to, either. We've had enough struggles.

Since Harry never said he'd come with me, I have no idea how he's going to react to the news. That's why I haven't told him and why I'm so terrified to tell him now. I have no idea how he's going to react.

When we pull up to the pier I can't help but smile at the memory that surfaces. This is the pier I came to at the bonfire on the first night of school almost a year ago, also the place I had my second conversation with Harry. That conversation was the first time I felt something flirtatious between us and also sparked my excitement about him. I couldn't explain it at the time, and if I had known everything we would go through after that night I'm not sure I would have believed it. Now look where we are.

Harry climbs out without speaking, but the small smile that adorns his lips tells me there's a reason he brought me here. When we start walking towards the wooden path he takes my hand.

"I come here a lot, you know," he says finally.

"You do?"

He nods. "If I need to think about something or to calm myself down. I came here a lot after I kissed you the first time."

"You've never told me that," I note.

"You remember when I saw you here?" he asks, looking down at me. I nod. "I never planned on coming onto the pier, but when I saw you I started walking towards you without even thinking twice about it. I was so curious, so drawn to you in a way I couldn't explain for myself. I knew it was dangerous but I had to know you. I never felt that ever in my life."

When we get to the end he leans against the barrier, one arm lifted around my shoulders to hold my body to his. I watch the way he stares out at the dark water and take in every aspect of his face as he does. I can tell he's thinking hard about something.

"What's on your mind?" I ask, wrapping my arms around his torso. He sighs and kisses my forehead.

"Do you regret any of it?" he asks, his lips brushing my forehead.

"Regret what?" I ask, nervously looking up at him. His mind is racing, I can see that, but he doesn't look upset.

"Us, the last year. If you could go back and change something about us, would you?"

"Of course not," I say instantly, a little offended by the question. "Would you?"

"Calm down," he laughs. "I didn't mean it like that. I don't regret anything, but I was just wondering if you wish you could take anything back or do it differently. I was just curious."

He kisses my forehead again and I take a deep breath in relief. He looks back out at the water and I think back over the last year. Maybe it was a little messy, a little dramatic, but if changing it meant we wouldn't be where we are now I wouldn't trade it for anything.

"I can think of one thing," I admit quietly. He looks at me again with curious eyes. "It's not about you, though."

"No?" he asks. I shake my head. "What is it, then?"

"Sleeping with Troy."

"Oh." He stays silent for a moment and I bite my bottom lip while I wait for a reaction. After a moment he displays a crooked smile. "I'd probably change that, too."

I laugh nervously and bury my face against the side of is chest. He laughs as well and I feel his lips against the top of my head. That's probably the only thing I actually regret about the last year.

"Everything else was amazing," I say finally. I look up at him again and his eyes search mine. "It wasn't perfect, but it brought us here and I wouldn't change this for anything. I love where we are right now."

He sighs and closes his eyes briefly, smiling sweetly at me.

"I'm really glad you said that," he says lowly.

"Why are you asking me?"

"I was curious," he explains. "I feel the same as you, but everything's been so crazy lately that I was worried maybe it was too much for you. Or not worth it."

"Harry." I put my hands on either side of his face and make him look at me. "Don't think like that ever, okay? I love you and I want to be with you. Nothing that happens to us is going to make me think that you're not worth it. I'm not going anywhere."

"Okay," he breathes. I pull his face down to mine to push our lips together. He sighs against my mouth before I break the kiss.

"We should go," I whisper. He nods and I peck his lips once more before turning and pulling him back towards the car.

---

"What do you think is about to happen?" Harry asks as we approach my front door.

"I have no idea. It has to be good though, right? If he wants to talk to both of us," I suggest. Harry pinches his lip between his thumb and index finger, staring at the large wood door.

"Maybe," he says quietly.

"We'll be fine. Whatever he has to say, it's not going to change anything."

He sighs and looks at me with nervous eyes. "It's your father, Savannah."

"I'm aware of that. I'm just saying that even if he does try to get us to stop seeing each other, it's not going to change anything."

"I know."

His words surprise me since he seems so unsure. His voice communicates something else, but I know by his tone that he's not as nervous as he seems. I squeeze his h and and push the front door open, immediately heading to the living room where I know my father will be sitting, drink in hand. Sure enough, that's exactly where he is.

"Hi Dad," I say quietly. He looks up at us, at our hands, then motions to the couch across from his chair. Harry and I walk over and sit down together, keeping a comfortable distance but hands still connected. My Dad stares at his drink for a moment before downing the rest of what I assume is straight liquor. I steal a nervous glance at Harry and he shrugs slightly.

"I have a proposition for the two of you," my Dad says finally. We both look at him and I feel my stomach drop.

My Dad puts his glass down slowly, then leans forward with his elbows resting on his knees. As he slowly rubs his palms together I feel mine grow clammy. I've witnessed my father in business meetings, trying to get his way and make the best deal possible. This is what he does. That's what makes me nervous.

"What do you mean?" I ask, desperate to get this over with.

"This is getting ridiculous. Clearly you two don't see it, but everyone else does."

"Dad-"

"How much is it going to take to make this go away?" he says, looking at us again. My mouth drops open. He looks at Harry. "To make you go away."

"What?" Harry asks, scoffing. "You want to pay me?"

"If that's what takes to make this mess disappear. How much?"

Notes

woah. WOAH.
so for like the millionth time i lost the chapter when i was finished with it. so it was done last night and then i wasnt logged in so i lost it and i was so sad :( but i got it done today!!

so i hope you guys like this one. crazy shit, eh??

let me know what you think pleeeease :) i decided to make the last chapter in two parts to get more subscribers before i start the sequel. PLUS this chapter was gonna be super long so i just did two parts.

comment!!! keep voting!!! you guys are the best :)