Keeping Hope

On Monday morning Harry was slightly nervous to see Emma at school after not speaking to her since their date Saturday night. The truth was he wanted to, and was going to, but he just forgot.
To make matters worse he had football practice early Monday morning, since their first game of the season was coming up on Friday and apparently, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne had seen him and Emma, and were talking about it in the locker room when he arrived, throwing evil remarks about them the whole time they changed into uniform.
Normally Harry wouldn't ignore such things, punching them real good, and making sure they will never talk about Emma again. However, having Niall on the team changes everything. Harry really liked Emma, really, really liked her, and he knew, if word of him fighting them got out to her she would never go out with him again. He also knew how much Niall despised him, so he had to play it safe, and find a way to get him to warm up to him, since family was important to her, which makes Niall important too. Harry knew the best way to become mates with a football loving bloke is through football. So he decided to give his all that practice, making sure to pass as much as he could to Niall or Louis, knowing them to be best friends and using Louis to get to Niall might not be a bad idea.

Harry's POV

The moment I walked into the locker room I knew I was in trouble. All the players stopped whatever they were talking about and stared at me. I ignored them walking to my locker and threw in my bag, pulling my shirt off. I noticed Louis and Niall on the other side of the lockers looking at me too, but where the other players were staring in amusement, Niall was staring with real fury, and it seemed Louis was holding him back.
"So Styles.. How was it Saturday night ha?" Liam called out. I hear some of the players chuckle and it downs on me Emma and I were seen.
"Did you get to bag her after?" Zayn asked, high fiving one of the guys.
"Watch your mouth shitnit that's my cousin your running you mouth about!" Niall hissed at him.
"Hey Horan, did you know ex con here is dating your cousin?" Someone asked. I was trying my best to ignore them, counting my breaths so I don't lose it. I could feel Niall's eyes burning at my back, and the last thing I needed was to get into a fight with him.
"Dude I wonder what the chief thinks about it," Liam laughed.
"Niall don't," I hear Louis say.
"Is that how you keep out of trouble Styles? Dating the chief's daughter?" Zayn asked again.
"All right ladies! Why is it taking you girls such a long time to get ready and out on the field? OUT NOW!" The coach yelled just then. I exhale with relief and turn to head out after the other players.
"What the hell Styles?" I get pushed. I am ready to push back when I realize it is Niall up in my face.
"What do you want?" I ask rolling my eyes.
"You should have defended her you arse! Why would you let them talk about Emma that way?" He demanded.
"You were doing a good job yourself," I brushed him off.
"You don't deserve her! She is so much better then you will ever be! Stay away from Emma! Or I swear to god I will make your life a living hell," He then stormed off, leaving me standing at the doorway.
What the fuck is his problem? This is the way guys act in locker rooms. Just the other day they were making fun of Zayn, asking about what he and Perrie were up to. The only relationship that wasn't spoken about in the locker room was Louis and Eleanor's and that was only because we were all scared shit the coach will hear us talking about his daughter that way.
"What are you waiting for Styles? Join the running ladies!" The coach called out to me.


Emma's POV

"Emma!" I look up to see Perrie walking up to me. I smile as I start to meet her half way, when I notice students staring at me. I look down at my jeans and shoes, making sure I have nothing stuck to me.
"Do I have something on my face?" I ask Perrie when she hugs me.
"No, why?"
"Because everyone is staring at me," I sigh.
"That is because rumor has it you and Harry styles are dating," She winks at me.
"Oh," Is the only thing I was able to say. Yes, Harry and I went out, but that doesn't mean we are dating, he didn't even call me or anything yesterday, and I was getting the feeling it was just a friendly 'thank you' meal.
"So it is true then," Perrie smiled.
"Ah.. We went out but it wasn't anything.. It was just a friendly supper, that is all," I shrug.
"I heard you went to that fancy new place at the town's entrance," She kept going.
"Who told you that?"
"Are you denying it?" She questioned.
"NO, but-"
"But nothing, will you be going out again?"
"What do you care?" I was starting to get annoyed, clenching my sketchbook tight in between my hands, trying to control my temper.
"Horan!" I look up to see Jennifer and Eleanor coming my way. I breathe in relief, knowing Perrie will stop now with all her questions and walk away since she doesn't get along with my other friends.
As I assumed, Perrie gave me a quick wave as she walked away and back to her friends who were waiting to hear what I had to say.
"Hi guys," I say when they reach me.
"Did you forget to mention you went out with Harry or something?" Jennifer cut straight to the chase.
"Gosh! Not you too! We just got supper together that's all," I sigh.
"Why? I think it is a great Idea! He likes you," Jen winked.
"Harry is a good guy, but you have a different problem, Niall is going to kill you, I just got a text from Louis saying he is pissed," Eleanor waved her phone in front of me.
"Why would he care?" I knew Niall not only cared but he would be cross with me dating Harry, though I was really starting to despise this attention frenzy around Harry and I.
"Well, I like the idea," Jen smiled.
"What about you and Dylan Jen? I think you two should date," I change the subject.
"NO! You should go out with Niall," Eleanor contradicted me.
"Dylan is cute, the way he treated me after what happen with Tyler," Jennifer said.
"Yes! Can we talk about that?" Eleanor remembered what happen before the date with Harry.
In the end Jennifer and Eleanor went out without me Saturday, and Jennifer told her all that happen to Nick and me, and that Harry got arrested.
Just then Nick walked passed us, giving Jennifer and me a half of a wave, his head down, hiding his black and purple bruises.


Harry's POV

By the time History class started people stopped talking about my date with Emma and started talking about Nick getting beat up and me getting arrested.
It was fucked up the way stories got around in this messed up school. I already heard a version that said I was the one to give Nick the black eye, and that I got off easy since I am dating the chief's daughter.
Emma was sitting in front of me, her head in her sketchbook. She didn't say hello to me when she walked into class, sitting down at her desk and diving into her sketchbook.
I inch my table closer to the back of her chair so it would be easier for me to whisper in her ear.
"Sorry I didn't call you yesterday," I whispered. She didn't say anything in return, only shrugging her shoulder slightly in dismissal and going back to her drawing.
"Are you cross with me for not calling?" I ask her. I notice people glancing at us, trying to listen in on the conversation.
"Why would I be upset? Did you say you would call?" She asked. I feel a smile tug on the sides of my mouth caused by her answer. This is no ordinary girl. I knew it from the start, but I liked it when she kept reminding me.
"No, but other girls would have been," I whisper.
"Well, I am not like other girls," She replies.
The class is dismissed, and I rush to my feet, following her out of class.
"Emma, wait up," I call after her. She doesn't stop. But her pace slows letting me catch up.
"Did you have fun with me on Saturday?" I ask. People are watching us, and I see Emma's eyes dart from face to face as they stare at us, though I ignore them, hoping that she will too.
"I already told you I had fun," She whispered harshly.
"I was just making sure, so are we all right?"
"Are you asking if we are still friends? Yeah, I guess we are, don't worry about it, now if you'll excuse me, I would like and get away from all of these staring people," She quickens her pace, and I am left behind watching her back as she walked away.
"You dropped this," Nick bent down to pick up a book from by my feet.
"Hi man, how's your face feeling?" I pat him on the back when he stands up straight.
"I'll live, sorry about all these stupid rumors about you," He said offering me the book.
"Na, don't worry about it. I'm used to them already- this isn't mine," I take the book and read the title, 'The virgin suicides'. I open the cover and see Emma's name in it.
"So is your mum still giving you shit about hanging out with us?" I ask Nick, while putting the book in my bag.
"Yeah, but don't worry about it, so is the book yours then?"
"No, it's Emma's, I'll give it back later," I say, returning a wave to Dylan who was washing our way.
"People here are insane!" He exclaims coming to a stop in front of us.
"Welcome to my world mate," I sigh.
"The only thing people care about here is your face," He point at Nick, "You doing that to his face, and you getting out of punishment by dating Emma,"
"Fuck what people are saying," I say waving my middle finger at a bunch of students watching us as we past them.
"And I just passed a screaming Niall, he is so pissed at Emma, I thought she will start crying."

Emma's POV

I stare ahead waiting for Niall to finish with his shrieks about me dating Harry. I couldn't see how this was even his business, and why would he care, since it was my life, and my decisions, and if my dad was ok with it then I don't see the point in him throwing a fit.
I know people are watching us, hanging on every word he is saying, and I was sick of it, having enough of this crazy day of gossip. People here have to find themselves a life and fast.
But then Niall got to a part about the locker room, and my name being run there by the players, which made me snap out of my hate for everyone around me and finally looking at him.
"Can you repeat that?" I asked hoping I did not just hear what I thought I heard.
"They are saying you two slept together, and he didn't even stop them!" Niall spat.
"Did you?" I asked in shock.
"Of course I did, I was ready to fuck up his face!" He said.
"Stop yelling at her!" Niall and I turn to find Harry, Dylan and Nick standing behind me.
"Is it true? The team was talking about us.. and .. and you didn't stop them?" I was hurt, thinking we were good enough friends for him to stand up to such thing. Harry knew to stand up for other people so why not for me?
"Emma, it was the locker room, they run their dirty mouths about everyone there, your name was not the only name that is mentioned there," He tries to explain.
"So now, not only my name comes up when they gossip about the stupid rumor of you rearranging Nick's face, but also as your new mattress? Great, I'm out of here," I turn to walk away from the boys, noting the whispers around me.
"Hey, Emma wait up, come on, don't be like that," I am pulled to a stop by Harry. His touch of my arm followed by a screaming Niall, "Get your hands off of her! I told you if you ever come near her again I will make you pay!" And he punched Harry in the face.
Someone behind us started screaming, as Niall knocked Harry down striking him repeatedly.
I couldn't help but notice Harry did not strike back. He did put his hands up to block Niall's hits but he did not throw a punch like I know him to do.
"Niall stop it!" I shout trying to pull him off, though he didn't budge. "A little help please?!" I demand from Dylan who was standing mouth half open.
Dylan and I together were able to get Niall off of Harry, before a teacher came along to hand them detention.
"You had no right to hit him! It is none of your business who I go out with, you are NOT my dad Niall! You got that?!" I said in anger.
Harry got up to his feet brushing his shirt and slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Are you all right?" I ask him. He nods, though his eyes are on Niall, and if they could shoot fire they would have.
"Good! You are coming with me," I grab his wrist as I pull him after me. It was time for Harry and I to have a talk without the watchful eyes of our classmates.


Once Emma got Harry out of the building and into the fug outside, she let go and turned to stare him down, her hands crossed and her eyes narrowed with anger.
"Listen Em, I am sorry. I should have punched Malik in the face and shut him up," Harry spread his hands in defeat. His left eye was swelling from the beating he took from Niall just moments ago.
"Harry, what are we doing?" Emma asked, the anger leaving her face, she let her hands fall to her sides. It was hard for her to stay angry with him when his face was marked and the sincerity in his voice.
"Well, I thought we were dating, but then you brushed me off in history class.." Harry's voice trailed off.
"I noticed you hadn't hit Niall back," Emma flashed Harry a weak smile.
"He was lucky, I won't hit your cousin," Harry shrugged with a smirk. They both knew he could have not only hit Niall back, but he could have beaten him quite bad if he wanted to.
"Harry?"
Both Emma and Harry turned to find Eleanor standing a notebook clenched in her hands and a look of alarm in her eyes.
Harry did not need to ask for an explanation, his eyes darting straight to the book in her hands recognizing it in a heartbeat.
"Where did you find that?" He questioned in a harsh tone.
"Someone left it in my locker."
That was enough for Harry. He reached and took it from Eleanor opening it randomly and looking at the handwriting.
"What is this?" Emma asked.
"This is Hope's diary."

Notes

After two years Hope's diary comes up, and is put in Eleanor's locker...
Who do you think put it there?
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Also I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I have started a new story about Niall and Harry (they are my Favorite) and I think it's quite good.. it is called 'Pandemonium' and it has only two chapters right now, though I will update it soon.. Go check it out, give it a go and see if you find it any good- if you do please rate and subscribe, I promise it will get better and better....