Harry

"-you're the British orphan!"

My head snapped up as I heard Nicola say the words. I had been chatting with Louis and it had taken me too long to notice a cat fight was about to break out between Thalia and Nicola.

"OKAY! Let's go over here!" Liam cried, grabbing Thalia's arm and attempting to pull her out of the booth before-

"Orphan! Is that supposed to be some sort of insult against my family?" She cried furiously. Her hands were shaking she was so upset.

"Thalia it's not-" I started but Nicola cut me off.

"I'm surprised they could afford to send you over here," Nicola sneered. "Or are they hoping that looking at our art will somehow make you a good enough painter to earn some money?"

My mouth fell open.

"Oi!" Cried Niall defensively as he got to his feat to help Liam remove Thalia from the situation.

"There's not need for that!" Liam growled.

"Well hold on now!" Cried Louis, stepping between us. "First of all, she is not an orphan. Her mother and aunt take in kids who have no where else to go. Secondly, Thalia was an amazing artist even before she came to look at your 'great art'. Thirdly, you should be a little nicer to your brothers girlfriend? Or do they not teach you manners over here?"

"I don't respect whores," Nicola snarled. "The only reason she is here is to take advantage of my brother and his money."

"Ha! You should talk!" Thalia turned to look at me, her face livid. "What's wrong Harry? Aren't you going to control your pet?"

"Pet!" Nicola screamed. She made a move to hit me but I quickly grabbed her hand and held her back as Liam and Niall pulled Thalia out of the booth.

"Real great girl you got there Curly," Thalia spat at me. I didn't know what to say, I was still confused on how this fight had even happened. Thalia had always made it a point to get along with everyone - even those she disliked.

"Come on Thal, she's not worth it." Niall took her hands and, with the help of Louis and Liam, led Thalia away from the booth.

"Why would you say all of that?" I practically roared at Nicola as my friends dragged Thalia away. I was livid with her. How could anyone treat another person so horribly?

"She just wants my brothers money," snapped Nicola. She suddenly looked much more menacing then an I ever seen her before. "She just wants his money just like she wanted your fame."

"Thalia doesn't want anyone's fame," I scoffed. "She hates it!"

"I'm sure that's just what she wants you to think Harry. Everyone wants fame."

I turned away as mumbled something about getting another drink. I waded through the crowded bar, replying the last ten minutes over and over.

Nicola's attack on Thalia had repelled me, even after everything we had done today. It baffled how someone could be so cruel to Thalia. Sure she was headstrong and could be awfully stubborn when she wanted to be, but she was a good person.

Nicola's words of Thalia using me for my game drifted into my head and I snorted. Thalia had always hated that I was famous. In fact that had been what drove us apart. She claimed I relied on it too much.

I didn't need or want fame did I? But a nasty little voice in the back of my head assured me I did. How else would I be in the situation I'm in? How else would I have the confidence I do? The truth was I needed it, that feeling of being wanted by the fans. Of being important. I thrived on it.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw my best friends consoling a very distraught looking Thalia. Niall had his arms around her like a protective big brother while Louis and Liam seemed to be attempting to cheer her up.

But Thalia wasn't the only one who needed cheering up. Those were my best friends consoling the girl who had shattered my heart. And though they had never said it outright it was obvious they blamed me for what happened between us.

I reached the bar and ordered another drink, still deep in my thoughts. A few minutes later I felt someone beside me and looked up to see Louis.

"She alright?" I asked dully.

"I don't know," Louis answered before ordering a drink for himself. "I've never seen her like that before mate."

I tapped my fingers against the glass, feeling worse than ever. "I-"

"Look man," Louis cut in. "I don't know what happened with you guys...and I get that you don't want to talk about it. But she's really torn up about it still mate."

"Oh what and you think I'm fine and dandy?" I asked bitterly.

"No. I think you're both still not over it."

I snapped my head up to look at him. Louis was staring at me hard, a determined look on his face. "You both need to drop your egos and talk to each other and figure this shit out. You've been a wreck mate. I know you've been trying to hide it but..."

Louis took a deep breath and patted my shoulder. "Talk to her. Either sort this thing out and get back together or move on. Cause whatever the fuck this is right now...it's not working for either of you."

I opened my mouth to reply, but Louis turned and headed back to the booth. I finished off my drink before getting up from the bar. As I was turning to head back to the table I noticed Thalia out of the corner of my eye.

She was tucked in the back hallway, leaning against the wall with her hands pressed over her face. I frowned and looked around for the guys, but they were back at the table smoothing things over with Marco and Nicola. It took a split second for me to make up my mind before I headed towards the back hallway.

"Thalia?"

She was shaking all over and her breath was ragged. She had frozen in place when she heard me call her name, her hands still covering her face.

"Thalia what the fuck? Are you okay?" I asked as I took her wrists and uncovered her face. She blinked and looked up at me with a frown. Her eyes were glazed and slightly out of focus. It scared the shit out of me.

"Thalia." I said again, this time more adamantly. "Are you alright?"

She seemed to snap out of whatever trance she was in and regain her composer.

"I-I'm fine," she replied shakily. I cringed at the words and she quickly added. "I'm just exploring the tunnels."

"With you eyes closed?" I teased, trying to keep the conversation light yet still find out what she was so upset about.

"Just go away," She hissed. "Go back to your mean girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend. But you're right, she was mean," I replied calmly. "Are you sure you're okay Thal?"

"No!" She cried. I flinched at her outburst but refused to back off.

"Thalia please you're drunk," I tried to take her hands in mine but she quickly yanked them from my grasp.

"No!" She cried again, this time even louder. "I don't want your pity! Go away!"

"Thal-"

"I said go!" She attempted to push me away but I held fast. I remembered enough of our fights to know how she would respond to my actions. However I had to admit this drunk little Thalia was proving to be a bit unpredictable.

"Thalia Kalfis don't you make me call your father on you," I teased.

"Go ahead," She hissed nastily. "He doesn't care about me. We haven't spoken in months!"

I felt myself grow numb as my grip loosened and she pulled herself free. But I took hold of her shoulders immediately to keep her from falling. "Wh-what? Why?"

"We both knew you were always his favorite Harry," she replied dully, her voice void of emotion. I could see how much it hurt her. Paul, our tour manager and close friend, had turned out to be Thalia's father. That's how we met in the first place, that's why she had come to London at all. All she had ever wanted was to get to know him and be a part of his life. Had I taken that from her too?

"Thalia, I'm so sorry I never meant to get in between you and Paul," I whispered.

Thalia let out a fake laugh that was enough to make my skin crawl. She began jabbing me in the chest hard with her finger. "I. Don't. Want. Your. Apologies. Harold!"

"Then what do you want Thalia?" I asked pushing her back against the wall, pinning her in place so She couldn't keep attacking me with her finger. "What do you want?"

"For you to leave me alone!"

"Not happening," I replied quickly. Thalia let out a grown in frustration. "Not until you talk to me."

"I don't want to talk to you."

"Then you have to talk to one of the guys."

"I don't have to do anything."

"Then you're not getting out of this corner," I chuckled before becoming serious again. "Why are you sad?"

"I'm not sad. I'm angry," she snapped.

"Then why are you angry?"

"Why do you even care?" She cried.

I didn't answer, in fact I didn't know how to answer. She took a deep breath and glared up at me with glazed eyes.

"I'm angry because your stupid girlfriend is a stuck up petty brat who hates me for no apparent reason and I can't believe you would be so low as to sleep with someone like that!"

I stared at her for a moment before breaking into a laugh. So that's what she was really upset about? That I was involved with Nicola? The irony of this situation was laughable. However this was a bad move and only pissed Thalia off even more.

"Stop laughing you ass!"

"I'm sorry," I replied, attempting to regain a straight face. "I'm sorry I'm stopping."

"Ugh you're such an-"

But she lost her words as she glared up at me. It was both the most terrifying and gratifying thing I've every experienced. I had missed those light brown eyes so much that even her glares couldn't stop the relief that washed over me.

"Thalia..."

"What?" She snapped.

I suddenly felt weak under her gaze. What was I going to say? 'I can't stand seeing you like this? Please forgive me? I miss you? I want you back? I lo-'

"I'm sorry about Nicola," I sputtered.

Thalia stared at me for a moment before letting out a snort, "You know what, fuck off Harry. I'm done with you and your bullshit. Let go of me."

"Thal-"

"Harry Styles you let me go right now or I swear I'll-"

"What make out?" Asked a third voice. Thalia and I both turned to see Louis smirking at us. "Let her go Haz."

"She's drunk off her ass," I said as I relaxed my grip on Thalia's shoulders.

"At least I'm not a pain in the ass," She hissed. Louis let out a laugh which he then tried to cover with a cough after I shot him a glare.

"Come on Thal," Louis said, taking her gently from my grasp. "Time to go home."

The two made their way back to the table leaving me standing dumbstruck in the corner. But as I watched the pair leave I knew one thing for certain - I couldn't let Thalia walk out of my life again.

That brief encounter, just like all the others, had left me desperate for more. I needed to hear her voice. To see her smile. To know why she was so upset. I needed her to know I was here for, that I cared about her.

That I had never stopped loving her.

Notes

:o