Keeping Hope

It was Friday morning and Emma was at the kitchen table waiting for Niall to honk letting her know he is outside, since her dad was out of town for an orientation, and couldn't drive her into school.
The last few days were uneventful. She would hang out with Niall and his friends at school, and getting homework done once she arrives home. Yesterday she had sat outside sketching again, when Hoover came back out, though Harry never followed. Instead Anna came out to talk to her for a bit.
Truth is Emma hasn't seen Harry at all these past few days, him not showing up for school. She knew Niall was glad, since it meant she spent less time with 'that Styles bad boy'.
Harry was busy finding out some things of his own being out of town and away. She has wondered about him some, the only other friendly face around. Well not that friendly but it was better than nothing.

Emma's POV
Niall's honk outside woke me up from my daydream making me jump out of thoughts and hurry out.
"Good morning sunshine" He smiled from the driver seat, window down and his black ray- bans on his nose.
"Hi" I got into the seat by his side, pulling my own sunglasses off my head and on to my nose. It was quite a hot day for England weather at this time of the year. I took off my pink jumper, exposing my shoulders in a dark blue tank top.
"So your dad left this morning- did you get to see him?" Niall started the car, driving down the road.
"He woke me up to say goodbye, but I was still half asleep" I was going to spend the next night by Niall's not wanting to sleep at home alone.
"Hay Ni- that’s Harry" I point to the figure walking down the street. He had a wooly hate on even though it was hot outside, dark jeans and a white Tshirt with his sleeves rolled up.
"So?" Niall really didn't like the idea of me befriending Harry, but after all he was my neighbor, and his mum was really nice.
"So stop- let's offer him a ride in- Harry" I call out as we get closer to him. Now that he heard me, Niall had no choice but to stop.
"Get in, we'll give you a ride" I smiled
Harry stood there for a moment, his dark shades hiding his green eyes from us. But then he smiled and climbed into the back seat.
I gave Niall a hard look, giving him a slight shove to go with it, letting him know he needs to be nice.
"What up mate?" He threw to Harry.
"Good mate" He answered, putting his bag on his knees.

Harry's POV
I looked at her smiling face. I wonder if she ever offers fake smiles, the ones that don't reach the eyes, though I wouldn't know right now since her glasses covered those eyes of hers.
I glanced over at Niall he wasn't looking at me but straight at the road obviously he was reluctant about giving me a ride. I smile and climb into the back.
I don't miss the shove she gives Niall that makes him finally look up and knowledge me
"Haven't seen you around these past few days" she turned to look at me.
"Keeping tabs I see" I raise a brow.
"Well.. we do share classes and we are neighbors" she answers not fazed by my comment.
I notice the bare skin of her shoulders gleaming in the sunlight. I need to fucking hold my hands at my side so I don't reach out and touch her, though it would be such divine to see Niall's pissed look.
"So where have you been?" Niall asked, pulling me back to reality.
"You know.. out and about" it is none of his business, and he didn't really care, only asking for Emma's sake.
"So Em you finish at one today?" He turns back to his cousin finished with his share of niceness towards me.
"Yeah last class is History and then I'm done"
"Ok so I'll meet you at the car". I watch as she nods.
Once we get to school I thank Niall for the ride leaving them to walk by myself.
"Harry" Dylan waves at me.
"What up?" I salute him.
"Getting rides with the Horans I see" he slaps my shoulder.
Just then Zayn, his hand around Perrie and Liam walk past us shouting out to Niall about a pool party this Saturday.
"Sounds sick! Where?" Niall yells back
"At Jen's"
"It’s the best place for a party! Emma you should come" Perrie smiles at her. I don't understand how a nice person like Perrie can be with a fucking dick like Zayn.
"Did you hear that man?" Dylan asked. Dylan had the hots for Jen since forever. But I had a different reason to be interested. Rumor has it Jen is dating Tyler and if that's the case he might be there too if he shows up from college this weekend.
"So are you up for going? Meeting new people?" I hear Niall ask Emma leaning his elbow on her shoulder. It made me block out Dylan's babbling and zoom in on their conversation, wondering what her answer would be. For the life of me I just couldn't picture her at a party scene, girls half naked, drinking, fucking each other in the upstairs rooms. I imagine her walking around a party scene with that sketchbook tucked under her arm.
"You know I don't swim" she shrugs off Niall's arm. Her age and doesn't swim? Interesting, though for some reason I don't find that surprising. I wonder how she would look with wet hair, that pink strike.. How long was her hair anyway? Always in that stupid do.
"You don't have to get into the pool.. just come it'll be fun"I hear Niall say to her.
"I'll see" she said walking off.
"Styles you're not listening" Dylan smacks my forehead, getting me to turn my eyes back to him.
"You hit like a fucking girl you know that?" We start walking to the school building.




Emma's POV

I walk into History class taking my seat next to Perrie.
"So will you come?" She turned to me.
"Umm I'm not so big on parties" I smile at her.
"Come on Emma you have to come- Jennifer has the best parties her house is amazing"
"Who is going?" I ask watching Harry come into class, taking a seat ignoring us.
"Everyone who's anyone, I'll be really happy if you show up" she smiled.
"I don't even know who this Jennifer chick is" I say irritation of Harry ignoring me taking over.
"You don't need to know her, as I said everyone is going to be there"
"I'll think about it" I answered, knowing I probably won't be showing up.
"You should go" the class already started so hearing Harry whisper to me about going to the party caught me off guard.
"Are you going?" I asked him
"That isn't any of your business" he gave me a cheeky smile.
"Well me going is none of you business as well" I turn back to my sketchbook. What is his deal? I was having a hard time following his mood swings.
"Walk back home with me" he whispered to me after a while. I look at him once again with a loss of words. He arches his brow waiting for an answer.
"I'm not going home" I finally told him.
"Where are you going?" He frowned.
"To my cousin's house" I answer
"How come?"
I search his face wondering why he suddenly showing so much interest.
"My dad is out of town this weekend so-"
"So you can't stay at home by yourself?" He smirks
"No... I don't like staying home alone at night- especially at a new town"
He made me feel like a child with his questions and smirk, wishing he would stop talking to me for now.
"Mr. D I can't understand what you're on about with Styles and Horan here having their own conversation" Liam speaks up just then, making me turn back around fast. I feel my cheeks grow hot knowing they are probably a bright colour of red.
"Please be quiet people! We only have ten minutes left for class" The teacher says looking at me. I slouch down in my chair, trying to make myself smaller, wishing the floor would swallow me whole.

Harry's POV
I watch Emma hurry out of class when the bell rings. Once again I wonder what's her story. She could fit right in with any bunch of crowds and yet she chooses not to, rather stick to herself and that shitty book oh hers.
I walk out my eyes following Sam.
"Hey Nick" I stop the kid I stood up for at the beginning of the week
"Ummm hi Styl- Harry" He stutters
"So I need you to go up to Sam over there and find out if his brother is coming to the pool party tomorrow" I say, offering him a friendly smile.
"Can't you just ask him yourself?"
"Now Nick, I helped you out remember? Now it's your turn to help me- and make sure I am not the one asking yeah?" I make it clear he should not screw this up.
I watch as he stumbles up to Sam. leaning one foot up against the wall folding my arms waiting for an answer.
"Yo Styles" Dylan walks up to me "What are you- no way Harry- tell me you didn't" He shakes his head looking at Sam and Nick who were talking at the end of the hall.
"Shhh let's see how this plays out" I put my hand up to Dylan's face making him shut up.
Sam seems like a decent enough guy, smiling at Nick as he talked to him, bumping his fist as he turned and went his own way. Too bad he has a fucked up brother for a sibling.
"So?" I ask when Nick gets back to me.
"He doesn't know, he said him and his brother don't speak" Nick is shuffling his feet looking down as he spoke.
"Interesting… Thanks man- hay why don't you go to the party tomorrow?" I ask him
"I don't have who to go with"
"Na.. everyone is going, you can go alone and meet there people- but if you want Dylan here is gonna be there, you can go together" I smile. I know Dylan wants to kill me for this but I give a shit. I need to make sure I have eyes at that party, and who better then Nick Grimshaw.
"What the hell Styles?" Dylan yells at me when Nick walks away
"Chill mate, it's for a good cause" I smile
"You owe me big time for this" He says walking the opposite direction to his home.


Emma's POV

"Em darling" My aunt meets us at the door and pulls me into a warm motherly hug. I hug her back, keeping my arms just a little bit longer around her, cherishing this feeling, since I don't get it very often anymore.
"Hi auntie M" I smile at her once I let her go. I have seen her only once since we moved to Holmes Chapel, not really feeling like seeing anyone my first week here.
"How was school guys?" She had her arm around my shoulder walking us into the kitchen. She had food ready for lunch. Even though my mum and auntie M weren't sisters they were much the same, the brothers Horan liking the same type of women I guess.
"School was school mum" Niall sat down.
"Wash your hands first Ni- Emma I see you still carry that around with you, any progress?"
"Some" I shrug, putting my things down and following Niall to the sink to wash my hands as well. I was feeling emotional being here with Maura keeping us company. I forgot how it felt to have a smiling figure waiting for your return, with hot, homemade food on the table.
"You looking a bit on the underweight Emma, are you eating properly?"
"Yea, I try" I hold out my plate as Niall put some fish fingers and chips on it.
"I think I'll start sending Niall over with Homemade food for your fridge, god knows your dad is to bust to cook"
With that she leaves us be.
"Sorry about that, she's been wanting me to bring you over for the longest time" Niall said in between bits.
"Its fine" I looked down at my plate, not meeting his eyes.
"Hey, Em" Niall moves his plate aside reaching out for my hand. His touch makes me look up at him.
"I know you're having a hard time, leaving your friends and moving here after everything that went down with your mum" He paused studying my face to see if he should go on.
"We used to be so close, and I feel that we drifted apart, and you should know that I'm here for you. You can always count on me to be there"
His words touched my heart. I did push Niall away, as I pushed everyone else away from me. But knowing that even though what I did he still cared and was still there for me meant the world. I wiped a tear away.
"Thanks Ni" I smile
"I have two shoulders for you to cry on too" He jokes, sending me into a giggle.

We spend the day down in his basement as we did when we were little kids and my family came over to visit. We played video games, threw around a soft ball and finished off with one of the Bond movies for old time's sake.
"Hey Em, I really think you should come tomorrow to the party" Niall spoke up in the middle of the movie.
"Would you stay with me the whole time and not leave me alone?"
"I promise- and the minute you'll want to head back- we'll leave"
"All right" I agree.


Emma and Niall fell asleep on the couch in the basement just as they used to when they were younger, when Emma's life was whole, and she was happy, before the change of events that sent her spinning and off course. Little did she know that when tomorrow comes, it will once again change her life forever.

Notes

Third chapter...
So again this is slightly slow... whoever read my other stories knows that they take a little time to unravel... this one might take another two chapters for you to fully understand what is going on
but I promise it gets so much better...
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