Harry's Pov

The drive home was in complete silence. But not a silence that was awkward, a silence that was comfortable. I had to keep looking away from Stephanie as I couldn't stop smiling to myself. I've wanted to kiss her since I walked into her living room. She was standing there wearing dark denim jeans with a white loose tank top. Her blonde wavy hair flowed down past her shoulders, it's much longer than it used to be. She looked naturally beautiful and I knew I would always be drawn to her.
"It's a shame you've got to work with my Dad tonight." Stephanie says as I park on their drive.

"I know." I say as we take our seat belts off, she smiles as we open the doors and step out. "Hopefully we won't finish so late." I walk to the boot of the car and we start to grab the bits we used.

"I'll open the door." Stephanie says as she takes the basket, wine and bucket of candles; she carries them to the door. I take the blankets and fairy lights, I close the boot and lock my car. "Place them in the hallway, I'll put it away as you better get in the studio." Stephanie says as I walk through the front door.

"Thank you." I say as I place everything down, she smiles as she starts to put it to the side. "I'll see you later.." I suggest and she nods as she looks up at me. I want to kiss her again, but I don't want to over step my mark. Man, I can't believe I'm questioning myself about this kind of stuff.

"There you are!" Ryan smiles as he opens the door, Stephanie and I jump at his sudden presence. I step back from Steph and turn to him.

"I'm here.." I say as I look at Steph. "See ya.." I smile as I head through the door, Ryan follows me.

"Good evening then?" He asks as we walk to the studio. I pause at the door.

"Yeah, sorry I had to miss the first half an hour. I hope Susan explained?" I ask and Ryan nods with a smirk on his face. He opens the door and we step inside.

"Harry meet 'One way ticket.'" Ryan says, he leans forward and presses the button and talks to the band in the booth. "Guys this is Harry.." Ryan says and they wave through the glass. I put my hand up and wave. I take a seat as Ryan starts to talk to them. They're quite a young band, I'm actually eager to hear them.

"Okay Harry, so they've already recorded their music. So now it's time for vocals." Ryan says as he sits down and starts to flick a few switches. I watch him as he tells the band we're starting. They position themselves as they wait for the music to play. They don't look nervous like I was, they look happy and excited. My thoughts are suddenly deafened at the loud music and the red haired girl, who I think is the main singer, starts to sing. She's incredible, her voice is sharp and powerful. I smile as Ryan moves a few switches, it changed the level of the music. He looks to me as two members start to sing.

"They're back ups.." He says as if he expects me to remember. I think back to when he showed me. Shit Harry, think!! I lean forward and I move a switch, thank fuck it was the right one. Ryan moves the other switch as my switch only controls one voice. We adjust the volume until it sounds right.
Ryan looks to me and smiles as the song continues. I look at him and smirk, this is much better when you have voices to mess around with.

---

Stephanie's Pov

I try to get through to Amy for the third time, but she's not answering. I finally give up and I chuck my phone on to my bed. I suppose it's good in a way that she didn't answer, I don't want to jinx anything that happened tonight. Especially because it has been slightly magical, the way Harry completely changed into this caring guy that makes me feel special. It was completely out of the blue and out of character. I didn't want it to end and it's hard enough to know he's down stairs. I just hope he continues to be himself and not the Harry who gets into trouble and is so hard to communicate with.

"Yo!" I jump at Jed's voice. He pokes his head through the small gap in the door and grins. "Slightly jumpy aren't you?" He laughs as he opens the door and steps into my room.

"People usually knock Jed.."I say as I fold my arms. He shrugs and sits on the edge of my bed. "What do you want?" I ask.

"I want to hear all about your date with Harry!" He smirks and my heart begins to race. I laugh in amusement and shake my head.

"There was no date.." I correct him and he tilts his head unconvinced. What's it to do with him anyway?

I've always been quite close to my brother, although he's four years older than me; we get on pretty well. He's always played up to the protective role that brothers tend to do. Sometimes that's been a good thing, sometimes it can get so frustrating when he thinks he knows better than me.Jed has always been a confident person, even when we were kids he had no fear. He would talk to anyone and make new friends all the time. Girls love him as he knows how to impress them, you'll often find him grabbing his guitar and serenading them. He just knows how to fit in anywhere.

"You're a terrible liar, I know you like him!" He teases, I look away as this isn't the sort of conversation I want to have with him. "Don't get me wrong, I like Harry. He's a bit rough in places but I reckon that's good. He won't take any shit and I know he'll protect you." I look at him as he stops. He goes to continue.

"Jed.." I try to interrupt him but he carries on anyway so I stop.

"I can't express how pleased I was when I heard he punched Jason. That prick has been asking for a beating, I wish I was there." He says as his face suddenly looks serious. I look at him and I can't help but smile.

"Well Jason was an idiot and he's in the past now." I say as I let my arms drop down to my side.

"Because Harry's filled his gap?" Jed asks and I shake my head. "You do realise Mum approves of Harry, she likes the fact he protected you. She will never admit that to you though." He smiles and I feel my cheeks developing a shade of red.

"Harry hasn't filled any gap Jed. Now can you get out of my room?" I ask and he stands up putting his hands up in defeat.

"All I'm saying is you know I'm right." He walks to the door and stops to look at me. "Big brother's usually are!" He adds with a smirk.

"Go!" I snap and he leaves. I can't help but smile as Jed's words linger in my head.

---

Harry's Pov

"Nice to meet you Harry!" Evie, the red haired girl says as she shakes my hand.

"You too!" I smile as I say goodbye to the band. Ryan walks them to the front door and I turn everything off in the studio. That was pretty awesome tonight, I never thought I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Maybe I like music more than I realised.

I leave the studio and I start to head upstairs. I stop half way as my phone starts to ring. I grab it from my pocket to see Naomi's name flashing. Shit, I still haven't spoke to her. I go back downstairs and I quickly head to the garden. I answer:

"Naomi.." I start and she quickly cuts me off.
"Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to get hold of you and you never picked up?!" She shouts down the phone. I had to move the phone slightly away from my ear. I step outside and close the door behind me.
"I've been busy. I can't talk right now.." I say quietly, hoping no one can hear me.
"Busy? Are you for real Harry? I'm sure there's a spare minute in the day for you to contact me! I didn't even know if you made it home alive that night?! How do you think that made me feel?" She starts do cry. I roll my eyes as I can't do this right now. All I want is to go upstairs and talk to Stephanie. I sit down on the garden swing.
"I've not had time Naomi. I've been trying to sort things out and believe it or not, you're not the centre of my world." I snap and she goes quiet.
"Fuck you. I worried about you, I lost sleep.." She says offended. I shake my head.
"Well I didn't lose sleep over you." I snap and I feel like an utter prick. I let my head fall in shame as she cries.
"You're an asshole Harry Styles. Why can't you treat me properly?!" She sobs through sniffs. I run a hand through my hair.
"Because I don't love you Naomi. We were seeing each other.. That's all. Whatever we had, it's gone. For good." I say as I lean forward and look at the floor.
"Well I loved you Harry. You fucking prick." With her last words, she hangs up.

I let my phone fall down into my lap as I stare into space. There was no easy way to break it off with Naomi. I either played the nice guy and tried to explain everything. Or I turn cold hearted and get it done and over with quickly.

I slowly stand up, the mood has changed quite dramatically and I try to get Naomi out of my head.

"How could you do that?" Stephanie's words startle me. I look up at her and she shakes her head. "You cold hearted-"

"Steph! I can explain.." I say as she walks away. "Steph.." I call out as I follow her back inside. She quickly runs up the stairs, I run after her.

"Don't Harry.." She says as she shuts the door in my face. I stop as I don't know what to do. I knock on the door and she doesn't answer.

"Please.." I say as I slowly turn the handle and I walk in to see her stood by the window.

"I said don't. Leave me alone." She snaps without looking at me. I know I can't just leave her alone, I need to try and do something about this.

"What you heard, it wasn't how it sounded." I start and she turns around looking at me frowning. I close the door and I look back at her.

"There is so much going on in my head right now! I let you kiss me when you have a girlfriend! I mean I hate people who cheat and I've just helped you." She shakes her head frantically. "I'm just an idiot thinking you have changed. But I've just seen your true colours." Her voice starts to crack and I can see tears forming in her eyes. "You were horrible.."

"Stephanie listen, that wasn't me. I had to say those things for her to understand that I'm not with her, she never took no for an answer. I had to be tough." I say and she looks away and lets out a sarcastic laugh.

"Because every girl would like to be dumped the way you did it." She rolls her eyes and looks back at me. "She has feelings Harry! You didn't even show any sympathy towards her. You were cold, distant, mean and arrogant." She snaps as she walks towards me. "You were cruel." She adds.

I don't give a shit what people call me, but when it comes from Stephanie it hits a nerve. I can feel myself getting more and more tense. I turn away from her and I try to keep my cool. Why doesn't she understand what I'm trying to say?

"She obviously adores you! I've seen what she writes about you on Facebook!" She says and I quickly turn around and look at her.

"Why the fuck were you on my Facebook? That's not me, I'm me, you see the real me. Not Naomi, not my friends not anyone who's friends with me." I shout as the tension is starting to make me ache, I can start to feel I want to go mad. "Oh and for the record, she was never my girlfriend. So I didn't technically cheat.. I dated her, I needed someone okay? Because believe it or not, I have feelings too."I add as I sit down on her bed and I lean forward putting my head into my hands.

"You could have broke it to her easily. Not the way you did." Stephanie says a little softer as she sits next to me.

"She wouldn't have listened. Naomi decides what happens in everything she's involved with. I had to make her hate me so she'd listen to me." I say as I avoid looking at Steph. "Trust me, I know I'm a prick. I don't need to be told"

"We should never have kissed." Stephanie sighs in frustration. I look up at her and frown. "You should have sorted yourself and Naomi out before getting involved with me. I'm not the type of girl to be caught up in all this drama." She says and she looks down at the floor. Her words loiter in the air as we both avoid meeting each others contact.

"I know.." There's so much I want to say but I just can't do it. Why do I suck at emotion and telling people how I feel. I know it's on the tip of my tongue, the words I want to say to Stephanie are so close to leaving my mouth. I want her to know that she's different to any girl I've ever come across. She makes me feel different and I feel like a better person when I'm with her. I get so far and then I stop, like there's a barrier and I can't get any further.

"Why don't you just tell me how you feel Harry? Tell me what's going on in that head
of yours? Because you even said you have feelings.." She says as I feel her eyes on me. I shake my head and turn away from her. If only she knew how hard this was, I'm desperate to just shout out how I feel but again, nothing comes out.

"I can't. I don't do talking and I don't do feelings. I said I have feelings but it doesn't mean I express them. I can't sit here and just pour my heart out to you!" I snap as I run a hand through my hair. The anger in my stomach makes itself familiar once again as I mentally beat myself up.

"But you started to talk to me, you began to open up. You can pour your heart out Harry, you can tell me what's going on because I don't get how your brain works." Stephanie says as she reaches over to me and takes my hand. I quickly pull it back away from her and I stand up. She watches me as I turn to her.

"I can't do this Stephanie. I'm not who you want me to be, I thought I could. But you've seen how I can get and I never want to talk to you like I did with Naomi. I can't get involved with you, I don't want to risk it. You're better off without me. From now on, I'm staying out of your way." I say as I walk to the door.

"Harry don't!" She pleads. I reach for the door handle and I pull it down. "Harry" she cries.

I ignore her and leave her room closing the door behind me. I walk to my room and I open the door. I quickly close it and I lean back. I slowly slide down it and I pull my knees up towards my chest. How the fuck did I get myself back to this!?
I'm so stupid, I shouldn't have come here, I'm fucking everything up and now things are going to be so much more difficult. I put my head back and close my eyes. Old memories start to flashback to me, making all of this so much harder. Stephanie is someone that I need, someone I know I could be with. But my head tells me different as it guides me away from her, my mind constantly reminds me that I'm like a sinking ship. Anyone I take on board, goes down with me. I may have not cared so much about Naomi getting caught up with me because I know she can handle it. She's a confident, sexy and strong girl; that's what attracted me to her in the first place. I know she's upset now, but she will soon get over it when she realises that she is better than me.
As for Stephanie, if I let her get too involved with me, I don't think she would handle it quite the same. It's obvious that she's smart, beautiful and so bloody caring. She would always feel the need to try and help me, she wouldn't give up. Because Stephanie is probably the most amazing girl that I know. Shit. You fucking idiot Harry.

Notes

Anyone to who reads this story, I'd like to say thank you :) and to the people who have subscribed.. Thank you so much!! :) :)

Recently I've began talking to not_any_maryjane who is so lovely! She has a story called Dreaming Of You and it is brilliant!! If you haven't already started to read this story, then I highly recommend it. She is one of the best writers that I have come across on this site! :)