In And Out Of Love

The party was already in full force as we arrived with Naomi. People were drinking, dancing and talking to one another and everyone was in a good mood. We hanged our coats and went to the living room to say hi to everyone. Zayn and Perrie were already occupied with one another and kissing on the sofa. They had been together for a year now and they were still all over each other!

Since the party was organised by a boy, there wasn't too much food being served. Luckily, all of us girls knew it beforehand and we brought some snacks with us. The house was quite large as Zayn had a few siblings and along the night, some couples took advantage of the bedrooms. I didn't want to know, what went on in those rooms...

"Yeah bro, sure. Just come here, I asked him and it's cool!" I heard Liam talking to someone on the phone.

"Hey, who were you talking to?" I asked Liam and put my hand on his shoulder. He put his phone back to his pocket, took my hand from his shoulder and spun me around. "Stoooop Liam! You're making my head spin!" I laughed and tried to make him stop.

"It was a friend of mine. He's coming over soon." Liam said and stopped spinning me around. Some r'n'b song came on and he started moving his hips and tried to get me to shake my booty with him.

"What friend? I thought all of your friends were already here!" I teased him. When he didn't answer and just kept on dancing, I gave in and danced with him for a bit.

"I have some old friends from my old hometown. You dance good girlfriend!" He said and looked at my hips grinding against him.

"I know, I got the moves. I only played with you. Is he coming soon?"

"I know you did. He's coming like in fifteen minutes. He's single by the way." Liam suddenly said and winked his eye at me. I left out a laughter and shook my head at him. We heard some noise coming from the backyard, like someone was yelling. We looked at each other and I left out a sigh. It was obviously Naomi.

"We didn't do anything, why the fuck are you blaming me for nothing?" Naomi yelled at Eleanor who looked angry as hell. I went over to Naomi and put my hands on her shoulders.

"Calm down babe, what's going on?" I asked her as her eyes were piercing through Eleanor's.

"That bitch is accusing me of trying to flirt with Louis! We were just laughing about something and I had my arm around him. It didn't mean anything and she knows it! She just wants to blame me for her own shit!" Naomi explained.

"Right. Now, take a deep breath and stop yelling." Naomi was finally looking at me and relaxed a little.

"Eleanor, could you come here please?" I turned around and asked Eleanor. She came up to us slowly.

"I just don't like you two being so close. I know your history together and it's just a bit much for me to handle." Eleanor explained to Naomi. At least they had both calmed down.

"Why can't you just talk to me about it, when we are sober?" Naomi wanted to know.

"I can't. I guess I'm just protecting myself. But do you swear you don't have feelings for him anymore?"

"I swear. Oh my god. He is just a friend to me. You have to accept that." Naomi said strongly.

"I know... I'm sorry, I will try more from now on." Eleanor said quietly. They gave each other an awkward hug and Eleanor went back inside.

"This is shit Grace! I'm not interested in Louis in any other way than as a friend. You know that, right?" Naomi said and started to get anxious again.

"I know hun. But you have to try to understand Eleanor a bit here. It's not easy to hang around with your boyfriend's ex all the time, every day. Of course she is insecure. And you two are great friends and you... Well, you are sometimes a little too physical with him. You can't deny that. Maybe tone down the touching a little bit, you two don't need to hug every single time you see each other for example." I explained.
Eleanor was a total opposite of Naomi and none of us had the same level of confidence as her.

"You think so? Well... Maybe you are right... I don't want to look like a bitch here. I just don't ever think further, when it comes to these things." Naomi looked down to her feet and finally understood. I hugged her and we went back inside.

"Let's get some drinks. Thanks for being patient with me, always. I love you, you know that?" Naomi said as we walked to the kitchen hand in hand.

"I love you too! What are you drinking?"

"Orange juice and vodka. You want wine?"

"Thanks." Naomi poured me more wine and gave me the glass. Niall came to the kitchen and took a beer from the fridge and started telling us jokes. Naomi finished her drink fast and made another one soon after while listening to Niall.

"Grace, where have you been all evening?" A drunken Theo came to the kitchen. He put his other arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I smelled the alcohol in his breath. It didn't bother me as I probably had very similar breath.

"I've been here, silly. By the way, I have to thank you for that nice comment you made today at lunch, it was pretty sweet." I looked at him and smiled.

"Well, no problem. I think you are very beautiful and you should know that." He said confidently and pushed a piece of my curled hair behind my ear. His soft touch gave me shivers. Our little moment was interrupted as we heard loud laughing coming from the lobby. I pulled away from Theo, patted his head in a friendly manner and went to see what the noise was all about.

"So good to see you man! I feel like it's been ages! Have you grown more or what the hell? And all those tattoos!" Liam's face was glowing as he was talking to someone excitedly. I didn't see the other person at first, as he was standing with his back towards me.

I leaned against the living room doorway and sipped my wine. It was so much fun to study Liam, who seemed very happy to see his old friend. He definitely looked good from behind; tall, fit and a nice style. Dark skinny jeans, brown boots and a checkered shirt with deep blue and green. I was dying to see his face and I had no idea, why I was so interested in Liam's friend. I guess I was a bit nosy after all, like Naomi had said the other day about that guy I saw while jogging!

"You have to meet everyone, you will love them!" Liam said and as I heard his words, I turned around on my heels and walked to the living room. I didn't want to look like an idiot standing there, like I was waiting for him.

I went up to Eleanor and Louis, who seemed to have kissed and made-up after that little incident with Naomi. We were talking about one of our teacher's, when Liam came up to us with his friend a little while later.

"Guys, I want you to meet my old friend. This is Harry. Harry, these are my good friends Louis and Eleanor." They shook hands and I wondered why Liam didn't mention me at the same time. "And this is Grace, beautiful Grace. If you get to call her Gracie, it means you are really friends with her." Liam explained to Harry and they both laughed.

It was the first time I saw his face, his gorgeous face. My heart dropped and I felt as if my knees went weak. That Harry was definitely something else. His eyes were beautiful green and his hair was insanely cute, pushed back and curly. Tattoos were peeking under his t-shirt and on his arms. He had a beautiful smile and... He had dimples. We looked at each other straight to the eyes for what felt like an eternity. I wished it was an eternity. How could anyone be that handsome and cute at the same time? Harry had his hand out and I shook it, never breaking eye contact with him.

"Hi, nice to meet you Harry." I wanted to say something more but for once, I was frozen.

"You too, Grace." He smiled at me. I wished he didn't let go of my hand after we shook them. Oh dear universe, he was too adorable for me to handle.

Liam and Harry continued their way and he met with the rest of the gang. I couldn't help but look at him every now and then.

"Gracie! Did you meet Harry already? He is gorg!" Naomi came up to me later on. She was way drunker than an hour ago.

"I did, he is extremely handsome. Do guys like that even exist? I mean, Zayn is obviously not from this world and the rest of the guys are pretty darn cute too but that Harry... All I can say is 'wow'". I responded, still amazed.

"I know... I would definitely get it going on with him... Do you think I should give it a try?" Naomi suddenly said and was ready to bring her sexiness to the table.

"Um... Well... If anyone can do it, it's you. But you're a bit drunk, hun. Take it easy, okay?" I didn't want her to make a fool of herself... And I didn't want her to hit on Harry. But she asked first, it was like an unspoken rule of ours. I watched her make her way towards Harry, who was drinking diet coke from a can. He was surrounded by Niall, Zayn, Louis and Liam but it didn't stop Naomi from approaching him. I had to respect her for trying.

I didn't want to watch, so I went outside after pouring myself another glass of wine. Theo came up to me and put his arm to my shoulder. He was obviously trying to continue from were we were left off. I just didn't feel like doing anything with him. Poor thing, I didn't want to bring him down.

"So... You and me. Can I take you out?" Theo asked without hesitation.

"Um, really? I love you, you know that. But as a friend. I need to think about it. You are one of my best friends and I've never thought about dating you or anything. I don't want you to get the wrong idea here." I had to be honest with him on how I truly felt.

"So it's a no then?" Theo said and looked disappointed.

"I'll think about it, but don't get your hopes up." I tried to say it lightly and playfully hit my fist against his shoulder. He smiled but his face looked a bit sad. "Please don't pout, hun. It's not a no yet!" I looked at him in the eyes and he smiled a bit more. "That's better. Now, did you meet Harry yet?"

"Yep, seems to be a nice lad. Naomi was all over him already." I imagined her sitting on his lap and laughing about every word he left out of his mouth. Why did it make me feel somewhat jealous?

"She was? Well, good luck with that." I said and sounded a bit colder than I meant to. Theo was too drunk to understand the tone of voice though, so it thankfully slipped away. Theo kissed my temple and went back inside. I texted mom, told her the party was fun and that I would come home soon. It was already 1.30am.

I went back inside and saw Naomi, as I had predicted, sitting on Harry's lap. She had her arms around his neck, but he wasn't holding her. He was actually looking a bit uncomfortable. Great Naomi, I thought. I decided to save her for making herself look more silly and walked over to them.

"Naomi, you alright hun?" I asked her, but didn't get a word of what she slurred in response. I looked at Harry apologetically and he smiled at me understandingly. "C'mon, let's get you up." I continued and helped Naomi up.

Her hands flew to my neck as she was trying to maintain her balance. We walked away from the living room. She left out a burp and looked at me as her face went white.

"Bathroom, right now." She managed to say. We hurried to the nearest toilet, just in time.

I grabbed her hair to my hands as she started puking fiercely to the toilet. I watched her stomach and back contract and it looked painful. I rubbed her back gently and told her she would feel better soon. After she was done, she asked me to wait outside for a bit before she would come out. I left her clean up and waited outside the toilet. I was surprised to see Harry waiting there too.

"Is she alright? She was quite drunk and I couldn't get her to get off of me." He smiled a bit but was genuinely concerned about her.

"She's okay, just a bit sick. I'm so sorry about the whole thing." I shook my head and didn't feel too proud of us at that moment.

"Nah, nothing to apologise. We've all been there. Have you been friends with Liam for long?" Harry continued casually.

"I've known him for about four years now. He's like a brother to me, really. I don't have a real one, so Liam will have to do." I laughed and shrugged my shoulders.

"Haha, nice to hear. He's a great lad. Do you live somewhere near?"

"Yeah, quite close. Like a twenty minute walk from here. What about..." I was cut off when I heard a bang coming from the bathroom. I opened the door and found Naomi sleeping on the floor.

"Naomi, are you okay?" I yelled and almost panicked before I realised she had just passed out on the floor. She nodded her head, smiled a little and told me she wanted to sleep.

"Shit... How am I going to get her home? Everyone's been drinking. She can't walk." Carrying her all the way to her house was definitely going to be a challenge.

"I'll take you home, no problem. You can't carry her." Harry offered his help and magically answered to my thought about carrying her.

"Really, are you sure it's not a problem? I could get a cab too." I didn't want to bother him.

"No really, I'll take you. It's fine, I'm glad if I can help you. Let's go." Harry said, lifted Naomi to his arms and carried her to his car, me following him with our jackets and bags.

Harry set Naomi down to the backseat, put her seatbelt on and covered her with her own jacket. Zayn, Liam and Perrie came outside and we told them what had happened and that we were leaving. Everyone was worried about Naomi, but I assured them she just needed her own bed and some sleep. And probably a pain killer.

Liam hugged Harry brotherly before he went inside the car and gave me a weird look and a mysterious smile.

"Knock it off Liam! Whatever you are trying to suggest here, is not going to happen. Talk to you tomorrow bro. Love you!" I hugged him and went to sit on the passenger seat of Harry's car.

He started the car, a pretty new Range Rover, and turned the music down. We didn't say anything for a few minutes and I kept looking to the backseat, that Naomi was okay. She was sleeping and looked fine. Harry broke the silence between us moments later.

"Just tell me the directions. I live around here, but this is like my third day driving around this neighbourhood and I'm not quite familiar with the streets yet."

"Right, just go straight and take the second possible turn to the left. Where do you live exactly?"

"Just around this corner right here. You can see our house... Right now, on the left." Harry said and pointed to a very familiar house.

"You... You live there? Did you just move there?" I realised it was that very house, that was on sale. And he was the guy I saw, while I was jogging!

"Yeah, like four days ago. We just got the last of our stuff yesterday."

"This is going to sound weird, but I actually saw you yesterday, while I was jogging!"

"I knew that! Right when I saw you, I wondered, why you looked so familiar! So that's why! I remember you." He said and was smiling from ear to ear.

"We live quite close then! Welcome to the neighbourhood. Shit! Turn right from here!" I realised we had almost driven past Naomi's street and Harry had to make a tight turn. "Sorry about that. This is her."

"No problem. Okay, let's get her out. What about her parents?" Harry looked worried and oh-so-cute.

"They're probably sleeping. Let's just get her to her bed, I'll take her keys from her bag." I searched for the keys and found them soon, opened the front door and helped Harry with Naomi.

Luckily, her bedroom was downstairs and right next to the front door. We laid her to her bed and I took her heels off and covered her with the blanket. She opened her eyes for a bit, whispered 'thanks' and went back to sleep. I kissed her forehead before we left.

"Thank you so, so much for helping me with her. I owe you one." I thanked Harry inside the car.

"I'll keep that in mind! The main thing is that she is safely home and in her bed. You want to go home?" He asked and I wondered what exactly he meant. Where else would I go?

"Um... It's 2.30am. The party won't be going on for much longer anyways." I was confused.

"Are you hungry? I am a bit."

"Hungry... Actually, yes. Yes, I am hungry. Do you eat kebab? There's one excellent place nearby, that is open until 4am."

"Absolutely, show me the way!" Harry said playfully.

Notes

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