Fitting Together Again

“AH LOU STOP!” I screamed as he whirled me around at a dizzying speed. On stopping he wobbled, causing me to bury my head in his back for fear of tipping over.

He and Tilly had been charged with bringing me down to the docks for the afternoon boat ride. And, seeing as I can't walk, Louis had quickly offered to carry me. Tilly walked a few paces ahead carrying my bag with our towels, sunblock, and my sketchbook.

“Here comes the princess, here comes the princess, here comes the princess THAL-IA!” Tilly proclaimed as she marched to the beat of the opening scene in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. She did this the entire length of the dock, admiring how loud her stomps became once we were out over open water.

“Hey! She made it!” Called Liam from his place on the boat.

“Whoa,” Tilly remarked as we grew closer.

The boat looked to be some sort of vintage Italian model. The veneered wood seemed to sparkle just as much as the water it sat on, and the white seats looked effortlessly chic. It was moments like these that reminded me of the impressiveness of those who surrounded me. Marco, who had grown up in a wealthy family didn’t even blink at such a luxury item. The guys, though they didn’t come from such pretentious backgrounds, had grown used to the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Tilly and I on the other hand…

“This is so awesome!” screamed Tilly excitedly. She ran up to the boat and Liam quickly lifted her over the edge and plopped her down in a seat, though that didn’t detain her for long.

Once Louis had reached the end of the dock he lowered me gently onto my feet, well foot, before he and Liam lifted me over the side of the boat.

“Nice isn’t she?” Marco asked, patting the boat as if it were his prized stallion.

“It’s beautiful,” I remarked as I sat down on the deceivingly comfortable seats. “Are we all going to fit in here?”

Marco scoffed at my question. “Of course!”

“Holy cow look at this!” Cried Harry as he made his way down the dock, Nicola just behind him.

Nicola looked as if she had just stepped out of a vogue magazine. She wore a white one piece that had bands crossing elegantly over her figure. The suit matched her large white sunhat and beach bag she had slung about her shoulder. But I was looking at Harry who was wearing some Hawaiian print swim trunks one would expect to find on a forty year-old dad on holiday in Florida, rather than on a famous pop star at an Italian villa.
“What are you smirking at?” Harry asked as he dropped down onto the boat.

“Just admiring your swimwear,” I replied. “Feeling tropical?”

“I’m trying my luck as a toucan, don’t blow my cover,” he replied, shooting a wink at a giggling Tilly. I rolled my eyes at his silliness as he sat down next to me at the back of the boat. Nicola took a seat up by the helm, snapping her gum an turning her head in our direction.

“How are you feeling Thalia?” Nicola asked as she stretched out on the seat. “Harry told me what happened. That was terrifying, no?”

“Completely,” I replied. “I'll probably be staying away from cliffs in the near future. But it’s just a good story now. I’m sure I can get a few laughs out of it eventually.”

“How so?” Harry frowned.

I leaned closer and said, “Well after we talked yesterday, I left you on quite the cliff hanger.”

Harry paused for a moment as my words sunk in. Then, his eyes grew wide before his features crinkled into a smile and he let out a loud bark of a laugh. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as he looked at me. I couldn’t help but break into a laugh of my own on seeing his reaction. The others turned to look at us with concerned frowns, not having heard my joke.

“I can’t believe you just said that!” he cried when he had calmed down some.

“Told you I’d get a laugh,” I teased.

“Alright, here we go,” Marco called, pulling my attention away from Harry. “Everyone find a seat and hold on.”

“Tilly hun, come and sit down,” I said as Marco started the engine. Harry moved over and Tilly took a seat between us. She looked around excitedly as Niall and Marco pushed the boat away from the dock and we started inching forward.

“Everyone ready?” Marco asked. After receiving a rousing round of ‘yes captain!’ he hit the gas and the boat lurched forward. Tilly let out an excited scream and Harry’s arm came to rest on her shoulders protectively.

I threw my head back and let the wind whip through my hair. The heat of the sun felt like a blanket across my body, filling me with an overwhelming sense of happiness. I let my hand drape over the side of the boat to feel the cool spray of the water flecking my skin. My near death experience and given me a new lust for life and I wasn't taking anything for granted.

After nearly an hour Tilly leaned over me to point at a large cluster of boats we were coming up on. Marco slowed the engine as we entered the pack and Tilly hopped out of her seat to run over to Niall who had the better view. Niall, who had grown fond enough of my siblings to consider them his own, pulled Tilly onto his lap and began pointing out the different boats to her. I quickly snapped a photo to send to Kenzie later on.

Marco had taken us to the coastline hot spot, a small secret bay where Italian's congregated to swim and sunbathe. The boys were in the water almost as soon as Marco dropped the anchor.

"Is it cold?" Tilly asked hesitantly, as she leant over the side and dipped her toe in the water.

"Only for a minute," answered Harry from the water.

Tilly raised an eyebrow at him skeptically. I felt the seat sink next to me and a moment laters Marco's arm was draped around my shoulders. I did my best to ignore him.

"Want te learn a life hack Tills?" Niall asked, wading back towards us. Tilly cocked her head to the side, suddenly very interested in Niall's claim to wisdom. "Ya jump in, and climb back out after yer all wet. Da air feels freezin so ya jump back in da water te get warm."

"That makes no sense!" Cried Tilly as we all laughed at her dilemma.

"Give it a go Tilly," replied Louis. "Listen to the wise little leprechaun."

"I thought leprechauns were supposed to be tricky?"

"Oi!" Niall cried out in offense as we all howled with laughter. Tilly was certainly learning to hold her own with the sass master.

After five more minutes of bargaining, in which Louis bet £5 she wouldn't jump, Tilly finally made it into the water. Marco helped me move to the back of the boat where I could layout on the soft lounge and watch the chaos. I also had Marco bring me my camera, a beautiful little thing I had forked over a fortune for when I moved to Italy. I knew I'd be in deep trouble with my mother and Aunt Lucy of I didn't snag a few photos of Tilly swimming in the ocean.

"Well aren't you fancy," Harry called, nodding toward the expensive camera I held in my hands.

"Look! I'm official now," I replied with a smile, quickly snapping a photo of his smirk.

"Hadn't you heard she's joined the paparazzi now?" Louis asked teasingly. They were all flaring about, looking more relaxed than I had ever seen them in my life.

"No!" Cried Harry. "It can't be true!"

"Better believe it Styles," I replied, snapping another. "I've decided the life of a starving artist didn't quite live up to my expectations, I've traded in my easel for exclusives!"

"And finally utilized those amazing undercover skills," added Liam.

"How could I not?" I had a lot of practice during that first month of our friendship."

"Did they try to hide you?" Nicola asked, a small smirk on her lips.

"They did." I did my best to ignore her enjoyment at the idea as I added. "I wasn't allowed to go out of doors without sunglasses or a hat."

"I'm actually amazed we were able to keep you a secret for that long," chuckled Liam.

"Was it scary once they found out who you were?" Marco asked.

"I was more afraid of my dad reaction then the fans to be honest," I laughed. Harry and I locked eyes for the briefest of moments before I felt the urge to get off the subject. "I can't imagine how you guys do it with the fans though. It was exhausting."

"It's worth it," Liam replied simply. "It's so worth it."

"Do fans still find you?" Marco asked curiously. I turned to look at him with a frown only to his dark brown eyes boring into mine.

"Do they?" Harry asked from the water, the frown evident in his voice.

"Occasionally," I shrugged, trying not not to make a big deal of it. "There's a lot that still follow me on Twitter but I don't get nearly as many DMs as I used to."

"That must be depressing," Nicola remarked.

I tried to ignore the snip in her voice as I replied, "no, not really. I like my privacy too much. But I guess that's just me."

Thankfully, we steered away from the topic and I was able to sunbathe in peace. Marco remained by my side for nearly half and hour before proclaiming he had grown to hot in the stifling sun. That had been the first time we were somewhat alone all day and, though I was dying to talk to him about what was said that morning, I didn't dare. The moment he got up I was able to breathe a sigh of relief. However I didn't remain by myself for long, not ten minutes later Niall was clambering up the side of the boat.

"Ya look like ya should be in a boat advertisement," Niall chuckled. He threw a towel over his head and rubbed his hair ferociously in attempt to dry it.

"No, I don't think I'd like being a model very much," I replied, trying not to laugh as I watched him.

"Nah I don't think ya would neither. Ya like te be the one capturin people," Niall agreed, dropping down next to me on the lounge. "How ya holdin up T?"

"I'm alright."

Niall watched me for a moment, his lips pursed in disbelief. "Ya sure?"

I should him a glare. "Did Kenzie ask you to spy on me?"

Niall gasped and flung his hand over his heart dramatically. "Oi! I'm offended! Can't an Irishman ask how his best friend is doin?"

I rolled my eyes as he added, "in all seriousness she did ask me te keep an eye on ya though. She's worried about ya. Dunno why. Ya always seem te know what yer doing."

"I don't know what I'm doing," I laughed. "I just pretend that I do and for some reason everyone believes it."

"Welcome to my world," he joked.

A silence fell over us and I looked out to the water where Tilly and the guys were engaged in a rousing game of Marco Polo. Nicola was lying on a raft her eyes trained on Harry, a small small smile breaking her lips.

Nicola had returned to the villa this morning. I wondered if Harry had spoken to her yet. But I disregarded the notion at once. I doubted she would be looking at him the way she was if he had told her all that he had confessed to me, it was obvious by her gaze that she still had feelings for him. But that brought another question to mind and I quickly turned to Niall with a frown.

"Has Harry ended things with Nicola yet?" I whispered, wanting to keep my voice low for fear of being overheard.

Niall frowned at my question. "I don't think so. He's bad at that stuff ya know. Jus' wants to avoid conflict at all costs."

"Did he tell you-"

"That he loves you?" Niall asked. "Yeah but he didn't have te. It's pretty fuckin obvious he still cares for ya Thal."

"So then why hasn't he ended it?" I asked, forcing myself not to react to Niall's words. "Or is he hoping to use her as backup like he did in Rome? Because that was shitty of him."

"He don't care fer her as nothin' but a friend. I don't know why he slept with her in Rome," Niall replied. His tone was harder than usual and I knew I had struck a nerve. "He sounded as confused by it too from da way he was talkin the next mornin."

"How do you mean?"

"He says he don't remember anything after he kissed ya Thal," Niall said shortly. "So why do ya think he was expectin te wake up next te?"

I stared at him dumbfounded. Was Niall seriously trying to tell me that Harry had thought we had slept together that night in Rome? And that's why he had acted so insanely strange afterwards? Although the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to fit.

I looked out towards the water and my eyes instantly locked with those impossibly green ones. Harry broke into one of his dimpled smiles as he pushed the water from his face. I gave him a shy smile in return, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the sun, spread through my body. Harry was so busy looking at me though that he didn't see Tilly and Louis' coming attack, and a moment later he was bombarded with splashes.

"So what about you?" Niall asked. I turned to see him watching me and the smile quickly slid from my face. "Are ya gonna end things with Marco?"

The bluntness of his question caught me off guard. "I...why would ask me that?"

"Because yer sayin one thing and doin the other."

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Propping myself up on my elbow I turned to face Niall. "Look, I know you all want Harry and I back together. But please knock that idea out of your pretty pop star heads. Even if I do - and I'm not saying I'm going to - but even if I do end things with Marco that doesn't mean that I'll just go running back into Harry's arms like a naive little girl again."

"So you've thought about this then?" Niall asked, a small smile creeping into his face.

"What? No." I lied.

"Are ya sure? That was a nice little speech ya gave there," He teased. "It sounded like you've said a few times."

"Only because you all continue to peruse these ridiculous fantasies!" I hissed.

Did they really think that if Marco and I split I would just go running back to Harry? I was baffled as to how they though that after everything think we've been through I would be able to open myself up to him like that. Last nights dream suddenly surfaced in my mind and I failed at repressing a shudder. If Harry and I couldn't make thinks work then, how were we supposed to make them work now?

I mentally cursed myself. I shouldn't even be thinking about this. I hadn't even broken things off with Marco yet. I was definitely going to hell.

"Do you love him?"

"What? Who?"

"You know da fact that ya have to ask who proves-" Niall shut his mouth under my glare. A moment later he rephrased, "do you love Marco?"

"Why does it matter to you?" I asked, a but harsher than I meant to.

"Cause yer my friend. And I care about yer happiness," he replied with complete sincerity. "If you love Marco and are happy with him then by all means. But Thal, jus' promise ya won't go hidin behind Marco te get away from yer feelings about Harry."

I stared at Niall, wondering when on earth he gotten so deep. Perhaps Kenzie had more of an impact on him than I thought.

"I'm sorry. I know you care I just..." I lost my train of thought as I turned to look at Marco. He was floating next Nicola, his head thrown back in a laugh. "You know he asked me to stay with him. Forever. To live with him at the villa..."

Niall raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Marco as well. I wasn't sure why I had told Niall, but now that I had started I didn't know if I could stop.

"He was so calm, so sure about his decision," I continued, my eyes still trained on the Italian. "I've barely known him for a year Ni. If he knew me at all he'd know I'm terrified at long term commitment like that. I mean I wouldn't even go out with him for the first month of our acquaintance. I was serious that night in Rome when I told you I hadn't been looking for a relationship."

"Sounds like yer having some doubts then?" Niall asked, cocking his eyebrow up at me cautiously.

"I can't stop thinking about it," I admitted. I looked back at Niall who was staring at me, his lip caught between his teeth. I could tell he wanted to say something reassuring, he just didn't have the words to.

"Have ya told yer sisters?" He finally managed. I stifled a laugh. Since Niall couldn't figure out the words he'd leave it to Kenzie instead.

"He just asked this morning. I haven't had time to tell anyone."

"Well...have ya told Marco this?"

Again I shook my head.

"Didn't ya learn nothin from Harry?" Niall asked, rolling his eyes in blunt honesty. "Ya can't keep shit like that te yerself. If ya got a problem, say it. That's how Kenzie and I get on so well. We're honest with one another."

"Kenzie tells you when she's upset?" I asked skeptically.

"No. She won't say nothin unless I ask. But I know when she's pissed or somethin's the matter so I ask her about it and she tells me."

"Did she tell you about what happened last year?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"You mean with Maeve?" Niall asked. My jaw dropped on surprise. Kenzie had told him. She had broken our pact to save her relationship with Niall. Niall shook his head on seeing my reaction. "She didn't tell me. When I asked her what the fuck was goin on with you lot she only said everyone was worried bout Maeve. I had jus' assumed Mae had done somethin stupid. I still don't know all the details but I've been able to work out enough over the past year."

"And you were just okay with not knowing?"

"Kenz didn't want to tell me and I'm not stupid enough to try an force her," Niall replied flatly. "If she didn't tell me then there was a damn good reason for it. Kenz doesn't hide things about herself from me. If she's keepin a secret it's cause it's somebody else's and I have no right te know that. If and when she wanted te tell me I'd listen but until then I jus be there for her. Simple as that."

Niall's carefree attitude had often astounded me at times but in this moment I had never appreciated it more. It felt as if I was seeing his full character for the first time and I silently applauded Kenzie for finding such a person.

"What?" Niall asked, his eyebrows frowning behind his sunglasses.

"Nothing. I had just forgotten how amazing you were until this moment."

Niall broke into a crooked little smile. "Now how could ya forget somethin like that?"

"No idea."

"THALIA!" Tilly screeched from the water. My head snapped towards her immediately to find Liam in the process of dunking her underwater. She came up coughing and sputtering, screaming as he reached for her once more. "Ahh! Thalia! Help!"

"OI! LIAM!" I called. He froze, Tilly held over his head laughing and fighting him off. "Put her down pop star."

"Aww come on Thal," Liam replied, setting Tilly back down into the water gently. "We were just having fun!"

Tilly stuck out her tongue at him before screaming and attempting to escape once more as he lunged at her. The rest of us were left laughing as Tilly clambered up onto the boat to safety. Marco joined her a moment later to dry off his tanned body. Niall shot me a smirk before he abandoned me to join his friends in the water.

"How are you feeling mi amore?" Marco cooed, running a hand through my hair.

"Fine. Could you hand me my sketchbook?" I asked. "It's in my bag just there."

Marco fished out my sketchbook as Tilly came to lay next to me on the back of the boat. She watched as Marco passed me the book, her eyes sparkling. "What are you going to draw?"

"What do you want me to draw?" I replied, pulling myself into a sitting position. I felt Marco's hand begin to gently caress my back.

"Me!" Tilly beamed. I let out a laugh in reply. For some reason, which seemed very strange to me, all my siblings loved when I drew them.

I flipped to an open page in my sketchbook and began. Tilly was one of my favorite people to draw. Her long brown hair caught the breeze delightfully and her little button nose was adorable. But it was something about the way she seemed to get lost in thought that capture me. After sitting so long in one position her eyes would focus on a particular point and I could almost see the gears in her bright little brain ticking furiously. It was a depth I always attempted but could never quite capture.

"I forgot how good you were at drawing." I jumped on hearing Louis' voice behind me and looked up to see I had attracted a crowd. In the twenty minutes I had been drawing it seemed everyone had gotten out of the water and wondered over to watch me.

"Do you draw everyone you meet?" Marco asked curiously as he rested his chin on my shoulder.

"I try to."

"Why?"

"It helps me get to know them better," I replied. "I don't feel as if I really know a person until I sketch them out."

"Have you drawn me?" Quizzed Marco.

"Of course."

"Have you drawn us too?" Louis asked.

"Yup."

"What? When do you do all of this?" The frown evident in Louis' voice. "I never saw you drawing anyone, only places."

"I sketched you all when you rehearsed," I replied, adding some whisps to Tilly's hair. "You all had so many great expressions I couldn't resist."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"How da hell did ya draw fast enough te capture our expressions?"

"I mean she's just done that in less than a half hour," I heard Harry say.

"I think I'm going to go back to photorealistic drawing," I replied, more to myself then my audience. "I forgot how much I missed it."

"No more painting?" Marco asked, sounding hurt.

"I never really wanted to do painting," I laughed as I added shadow to the drawing. "It was just something fun to explore. But I think I've gone as far as I care to with it. I miss drawing people too much."

Tilly was studying me almost as closely as I was studying her. That brain of hers seemed to be working overtime as her concentration fell solely on me.

"So does that mean you're going to move back home?" She asked suddenly.

There was a split second of panic where I had completely lost all ability to function. She had created a euphemism out of my feelings towards drawings and completely hung me out to dry. Marco's presence at my side was overwhelming and I could feel his eyes turning towards me. Everyone's eyes had turned towards me as well. The complete shock of the question left them stunned and waiting to see my response.

I broke into a smile, "why? Do you miss me Tills?"

"Of course," Tilly giggled. "But not as much as MELK do."

"Milk?" Frowned Marco.

"No, MELK," I laughed. "They nicknamed my sisters Maeve, Elaine, and Kenzie MELK. They think they're clever."

"We are clever," Tilly defended as the boys snickered.

"So what's their nickname when Thalia's around?" Asked Harry, failing at keeping a dimpled smirk from creeping onto his face.

"Traitors." Everyone, including Nicola, burst into laughter at Tilly's unemotional response.

"You seriously call them that?" Louis asked, looking at Tilly with newfound admiration.

"Seriously. They abandoned us for London...left us to fend for ourselves," Tilly shot me another smirk. "Traitors."

"Thalia, how could you be so cruel?" Laughed Marco.

"Well you ditched the family for Italy so I guess that makes your a traitor too," I said to Tilly, ignoring Marco.

"The family," laughed Louis. "You sound like mob boss."

"Never go against the family Lou," I said darkly, earning laughs from the guys.

"Is everyone ready to go to back?" Marco asked, obviously tired of a conversation in which he didn't fit. We all agreed before taking our seats once again.

“Here,” Harry said while helping me back to my seat. I tried my best to ignore the way his touch left goosebumps on my skin and the way his eyes seemed to hold mine as he checked to be sure I was comfortable in this new position. But the real struggle came when he draped his arm around the back of my seat, not caring if Marco shot him small glares from the rear view mirror.

And even as I closed my eyes and focused my attention on the wind whipping through my hair or the sun on my skin, I couldn’t push the thought of Marco's proposal out of my mind.

Notes

The struggles were real in attempting to upload this chapter. Hope it works this time!!