-Emily-

I turned around squeezing my eyes closed as the morning sun hit my face. The loud knock on the door woke me up. “Urhh… Can somebody get that?! I’m trying to sleep here!” I yelled annoyed. Who would come here this early? I fixed myself and stretched towards the nightstand to grab my phone. 12.34 pm. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so early after all…

“I’m in the shower, Em! Go get it yourself!” Sarah yelled back from somewhere in the house.

“Maria!!” I shouted, hoping she was up. I could already feel the hangover from last night creep in.

“I’m on skype with mum!” Urh… I guess it’s time to get up. I moved out from under the covers and put my dressing gown on, trying to cover myself up, as my nightwear really didn’t to the job. When I got to the hallway and opened the door I stopped in my tracks, surprised, to say the least, at who was standing there. I paused, looking like I’d seen a ghost while staying silent. What were Harry and Liam doing here?

“Hiii! Thought maybe you girls would like some food,” Liam said holding up a shopping bag, while smiling sweetly. “We bought some coffee too, if you’d like? You look like you could need some,” he continued smiling, waving his hand in front of my face.

“Uhm. Sorry. Just woke up. What are you doing here?” I said looking at Liam, obviously avoiding Harry’s stare, still confused. I could feel my headache getting worse by the minute. Why did I drink so much last night? I couldn’t remember all of it, but there was one thing I certainly did remember. Harry. His little ambush in the bathroom. His lips pressed against mine. I suddenly felt myself blush as I met Harry’s eyes and looked down embarrassed. Yup! That’s why I drank so much last night – I didn’t know what to do with myself around Harry.

“Like I said, we brought you some food. Thought maybe it would be a nice gesture to make you girls some breakfast, lunch, whatever… You disappeared from the party last night, and I couldn’t get hold of Maria,” Liam said, answering my question and completely oblivious to the flirty stare Harry was giving me. “Babe!” Liam shouted, moving passed me to get to Maria who was now standing in the hallway.

“Hey you!” Maria said hugging and kissing Liam. “Come on in! Don’t stand in the doorway…” she continued motioning for Harry to get inside. I stepped to the side to let him in and received a whispered ‘thanks’ in return along with his cheeky grin. “Aww. You brought me coffee! Thank you, guys! You didn’t have to do that.” Maria said, quickly taking a sip from the coffee Liam held in his hand.

“No problem! Well, I wanted to see you! I tried calling you last night. Why did you leave so early? I was worried…” Liam said as we moved towards the living room. Harry and I quickly followed, not speaking a word. This was awkward.

“Uhm, yeah, sorry about that. Sarah took us home. We got a little drunk,” Maria said back, giving me a wink.

“A little?! The two of you were wasted!” Sarah said now joining us. Her hair was still wet from the shower, only she had clothes on, unlike me.

“Shit. I’m just…Oh my God. Uhm, I’ll go put some clothes on!” I said quickly before I hurried into my bedroom, hearing someone chuckle behind me. I put on a pair of yoga pants and a plain t-shirt before I took a quick look in the mirror. I tied my hair into a ponytail and took a deep breath before heading back out to the living room. At least this was better than running around half naked.

They were all stood around in the kitchen, Liam holding his arm around Maria. “So, do you want to join us for brunch, or?” Maria said looking between the two guys. What was she thinking?

“I’m sure they have better things to do,” Sarah said giving Harry a look. Okay, what the hell was that?

“Actually, we don’t. We don’t have anything planned for today. The other guys have left us to go play some football with some of our mates. …I’m starving,” Liam said happily as he began to pull out a bag of bread rolls. I looked at Sarah who was still eying Harry like crazy. What has gotten into her? She seemed fine the other night?

“Great! You start making the scrambled eggs, Liam. And Harry,” Maria said breaking the awkward staring contest, “you can help me set the table. Girls, would you make yourself useful, please?”

“Uhm, yeah! I just need Sarah to help me …with my laptop first. Be back in a sec!” I said quickly before anyone else had the chance to.

“You can do that after we’ve eaten…” she carried on, clearly not buying my excuse.

“No, I need her now. Sorry, we’ll be quick,” I said pulling Sarah with me. When we got inside my room and I’d closed the door shut, I turned around to face Sarah. She was sitting on my bed with my laptop on her kne.

“What did you need my help for? You know very well that I’m no expert in computers…” she said looking up at me with no emotion on her face.

“Spill.”

“Spill what? What are you talking about?” Sarah said confused.

“Oh, don’t give me that! You couldn’t have made it more awkward out there. What was all the staring between you and Harry for?” I said putting my hands on my hips.

“Oh, you saw that.” She said uncomfortably shifting in her seat.

“Of course I saw that! Everyone saw it. Honestly, please, tell me what’s going on! I thought you’d gotten over it.”

“Gotten over what?”

“Your hatred against Harry, of course? You didn’t seem this angry at Niall’s BBQ and you haven’t been like this since… well, since that time at the club where... urh... Just get over it already,” I said before I noticed her stare. Shit, why was I defending him? “For Maria’s sake. Harry is friends with Liam, and Liam is Maria’s boyfriend or whatever…” I said pleading with her, hoping I didn’t have to explain more.

“Well, for starters; no, I never got over it. He’s an asshole. He was an asshole the first time that I met him. He was an asshole to you, and he is still an asshole,” she said getting up from the bed, standing closer to me. “And I know he’s friends with Liam, but why are you defending him? I’m only trying to protect you!” she said now angry with me.

“I know he’s been a bit… well, I don’t know. You have every right to be mad at him. But he’s not an asshole. He hasn’t done anything wrong. I don’t need you to protect me. We…” I said before shutting up. Shit, I still hadn’t told her about what happened last night at the party and I had no intention of doing so either. I needed to speak to Harry first.

“You, what?...” she said questioningly.

“Nothing.”

Sarah sighed. “Okay, look. I’m sorry for making it awkward out there, but he sure has some nerve showing up here. Last night I saw him flirting with a ton of girls like it was no big deal. Didn’t he tell you he liked you?” she said before continuing without letting me speak. “It’s just, I know you feel something for him, Em – please let me finish,” she said holding a finger up making me keep quiet. “I know you! And for him to say something like that to you, and then act the way he did last night… I just… I don’t like him. I really don’t like him.”

I didn’t know what to say. Harry flirted with other girls last night? Was that before or after our hot make out session in the bathroom? “I know you don’t like him, Sarah …and I don’t feel something for him. I just… I don’t know. He just makes me act all funny when he’s around. And I’m sure he wasn’t flirting with all those girls – like he said, he has loads of friends who are girls... Just give him a break.”

“How can you be so sure? If you don’t like him, why do you keep defending him? Stand up for yourself.”

“I am standing up for myself! And I’m not defending him, nor am I saying that I don’t like him.” God, this would be a lot easier to explain if she knew about last night, but somehow, I didn’t want her to know. I didn’t want her opinion. She was just going to say how stupid I was and how he’s only playing with me. I really didn’t want to hear that. “Please just let it go? Please, Sarah? I know you’re only trying to do what’s best for me. But just let it go…” I said trying to put on a smile.

“Fine. I’m staying out of it. I’m just glad nothing more happened between you two that night at the club. Stay away from him, Em. He’s trouble and I don’t want you to get hurt, okay? Promise?”

“I…”

“Emily, promise me you’ll stay away from him, and I’ll back off.”

“Fine. I’ll stay away from him,” I sighed knowing that I had no intention of keeping that promise.

---

-Harry-

I took a sip of the cup of tea Maria had kindly given to me after I’d helped her set the table. I was exhausted. This morning had flown by so quickly, and I needed all the caffeine I could get. I had to wake up at 7 am today and sneak out of Liam’s apartment to my early meeting with the management. The boys didn’t know about it, nor did I plan on them finding out either. They had enough stuff going on in their lives just as it was. I just wish I had someone to talk to though, you know? I hated secrets, and this lifestyle had loads of them. Don’t get me wrong - I love my life. It’s just… sometimes it’s nice to not have to constantly worry about what everybody is thinking and gossiping about.

My inner monologue took an end as Emily and Sarah re-entered the living room. I sat on the couch by myself, with Liam and Maria still in the kitchen making the food. The girls looked at me before looking back at each other. Okay, they didn’t seem too happy. “How did it go?” I said taking another sip of my tea.

“How did what go?” they said in unison. Okay… what was going on?

“Your laptop? I thought…”

“Oh, yeah. All fixed,” Emily said quickly cutting me off before looking back at Sarah.

“Okay, good.” I gave a little uncomfortable smile to each of them, deciding that I didn’t what any part of what was really going on. Whatever that was. I was too tired for drama. “Uhm, I think food’s gonna be ready in a few.”

“Oh, okay,” Emily said giving me a little smile in return, unlike Sarah who was clearly still pissed at me for something. I had no idea why though. Honestly, come to think of it, I remember her giving me that same look yesterday at the party when I was catching up with Alexa.

“I’m gonna go and see if they need any help,” Sarah said before quickly escaping into the kitchen.

“…And then there were two,” I said giving Emily a little wink before she took a seat on the other couch facing me. Then there was this awkward silence again. “You good? Did you have a good time last night?” I said trying to make some conversation.

“Yeah, just a little tired, that’s all…” she said before blushing. She was so cute when she did that. I loved how I could make her blush.

“Yeah, me too. Had an early start,” I said before shutting up. I wasn’t supposed to say that... I hated how I didn’t seem to control myself around her. No one was supposed to know about my meetings. Good thing I shut up when I did.

“Really? Why? Didn’t you guys stay until late last night?” she said shifting in her seat.

Yeah, Harry! Why? What are you going to say now? “Yeah, we did, but I was driving,” I said trying to avoid the real question.

“What? You weren’t drinking?” she said confused. I guess my plan worked. Nice, save Harry!

“No. I wasn’t really feeling it,” I said, making up the same lame excuse I’d used on the boys yesterday. Like I said, I hated lying, but I couldn’t really tell them I couldn’t drink because I had an early meeting with our management the next day, could I?

“Oh…” was all she said. Why? Did it look like I was drinking? I thought to myself, before Liam’s load voice erupted me, shouting that the food was ready. “Coming!” Emily yelled back before getting on her feet.

“Hey, Emily?” I said, grabbing hold of her arm, making her stop from walking away. Not really sure why I did so.

“Yeah?” she said turning around with big eyes. It took a few moments before I could make out any words.

“Uhm… I just,” shit what was I going to say? “Can I have your number?” I guess that was as good as anything.

She chuckled, “yeah, sure!” I let go of her arm and gave my phone to her before she wrote down her number amused at something.

“Thanks,” I said grinning back at her. Happy that I now had her number and a way to get in touch with her. Even though I wasn’t allowed to…

Notes

Oooo, what is Harry up to?

I'm sorry for not updating in a while. I'm in the middle of my exam-period, so I didn't have time to write until now. Not long until I'm finished though, so expect better updates then!

Anyway, I hoped you liked this one. I just have to say, wow! I can't believe how many views the story got since it's last chapter! I'm so happy! And thanks again for the nice comments! It means a lot to me! ;) xx