Thalia

"Thalia?”

I froze. My hand gripped the railing tightly. I had almost made it, just a few more steps and I would have been safe. I gave the empty corridor one last longing look before taking a deep breath and turning to face the man who shattered my heart.

“Hi Harry.” My heart was attempting to hammer itself out of my chest and I mentally cursed myself at having been caught.

He let out a laugh in disbelief. His hair was longer. Much, much longer than the last time I had seen him. But his eyes, dimples, and smile were all the same as his expression changed from surprise to excitement.

“What the hell! W-what are you doing here?” He stammered. A small smile spread across his face and a look of wonder filled his eyes.

"I was invited here by Signore Conti," I replied. He took a step towards me and I felt the overwhelming urge to take a step back. But I held my ground. “I’m…a friend of his son.”

“Really? That’s insane! How long are you hear for?”

I inwardly groaned. Of course he wanted to catch up on life. “Until I'm done painting."

“Thats wonderful! We’re here for the month.” He smiled.

There was an awkward pause that seemed to last for years. I didn’t know what to do. I had no words for him and he knew it. I don’t know why he continued to stand there staring at me while I looked everywhere but his face. But if Harry felt any tension, he hid it effortlessly.

“So...how do you know Marco?”

“Uh...I met him at school."

“Hey Harry have you - holy shit!” Both Harry and I turned to see Louis appear.

“Thalia? Ha! Well would you look at that..." Louis broke into a childish smirk as he leant against the bannister, looking between the two of us. I realized he was enjoying this and my annoyance grew.

Suddenly something dawned on me. "Hold on. Why are you guys here? Aren't you on tour or something?"

"Just finished," replied Harry. "We were invited by Nicola."

"Of course you were," I mumbled, my mood souring even more. Louis snorted in laughter while Harry frowned at my dig.

"Well er...should we go join the rest of our friends then?" Suggested Louis.

I nodded at the distraction and quickly picked up my dress to keep from tripping as I descended the stairs. I felt someone take my hand and looked up to see Harry. I immediately withdrew and led the two back into the ballroom, praying this night would end soon.

“Thalia!" Signore Conti appeared in the crowd with a large smile on his face. "There you are my Bella. Ah! You have meet the boys I see."

"Actually we're old friends," replied Harry.

He guided me out of the way by placing his hand on the small of my back. The action sent shivers down my spine and I nearly turned to smack his hand away. I needed to find Marco and get out of here, away from Harry.

"Really?" Mr. Conti gasped. "Well what do you know! Looks like you boys were right in the end! It seems I can not hide this gem from anyone!"

"Signore Conti-"

"No no Bella. How many times I have to tell you. You call me Santino."

"Santino," I laughed. "Do you know where Marco is?"

"Here mi amore." Marco appeared and I mentally face palmed. The plan was to get him away from Harry. Marco wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. The peck on the cheek was a nice touch though.

"There you are." I was relieved on seeing him flash his dashing smile. “Marco can we-”

Marco instantly frowned in worry and quickly ran his thumb across my cheek. “Everything alright mi amore?”

“Yes I just-"

“Then don’t look so upset love! It’s a party!” Marco, just like Harry, had a charisma could smooth over any situation. He looked from me to the boys and I knew I wasn't getting out of this.

I took a deep breath and summoned my courage. "Marco have you met my friends yet?"
"New friends already?" He laughed and gave me a gentle squeeze.

"Old friends. Marco, this is Harry and Louis." As I turned back to the boys I noticed Harry staring at me. That same look of wonder in his eye. Had I really changed that much? "They're in the band One Direction."

"Oh of course! My sister Nicola talks of you all the time. But you are all old friends?"

"Yeah we've known each other for about two years now actually," Louis said. He had that mischievous look in his eye and I braced for impact.

"How does that work?" Laughed Marco, he turned to me with a puzzled look. "Where on earth did you meet One Direction?"

"She-"

"It's a long story." I replied, quickly cutting Harry off. "Some other time yeah?"

Marco stared at me for a second before a smile broke across his face. "She's embarrassed! Now I have to know! What did she do? Was she a crazy fan who stalked you?”

“You caught me. I followed them after a concert and broke into their hotel room. Good thing the restraining order’s only for Britain right boys?”

“It’s true,” Louis nodded, following along with my lie. “Do you still have that lock of Harry’s hair love?”

“Lock of what?” Cried Marco. I finally broke into a smile on seeing Marco’s very confused expression.

“We’re pulling your leg,” Laughed Harry.

“You’re not touching my leg,” Marco replied, still confused. This caused the guys and I to laugh even harder.

“No babe. It’s an expression,” I giggled. “It was a joke, a burla.”

“Cattiva ragazza,” Marco teased. Bad girl. His arm pulled me tighter as he looked to the boys. “So what is the truth then?"

I groaned internally. I hat hoped Marco would take my hint but he was as stubborn as I was. Harry opened his mouth once again and I gently whacked him. "Harry Edward Styles don't you dare..."

"Her dad was our bodyguard," he laughed, wincing as I gently whacked him once more.

I waited for him to continue but that was all he said. No mention of how we were once madly in love. No mention of that entire year we were together and I couldn't decide if I was offended. Had he forgotten?

"You never told me that," replied Marco, giving me another gentle squeeze.

"Ouch," laughed Louis, mocking injury. However Harry did seem slightly hurt.

"No I must have."

I definitely did not tell Marco anything about my relations with One Direction. I had buried those memories when I moved to Rome, yet somehow they seemed to be coming back to haunt me.

"What are you guys doing tomorrow?" Marco asked, changing the subject. I instinctively gripped Marco, attempting to convey to him that these two were the last people on earth I would like to hang out with. Every time I looked at Harry he was starring at me and I wasn’t sure how to react.

"Attempting to relax a little bit," Harry shrugged.

"You should come with us tomorrow. We're spending the day on the the Ocean."

Fuck.

"Sure!”

Double fuck.

"Bring your swim trunks. We're leaving at 5am."

"Why so early?” Groaned Louis.

“Well we have to have time for all our adventures.” I nudged him as I broke into a smile, attempting not to raise Marco’s suspicions. “Why do you think they drink so much espresso here Lou?”

“But I thought Italian’s were lazy?” quizzed Harry.

“No! Only when it comes to work,” laughed Marco. “Like Thalia said, it will be an adventure.”

“Usually is with her," replied Harry. Louis and Marco burst into laughs as I shot Harry a quick glare. He responded with a wink and wanted to scream.

Seeing him now only sharpened my distain for him. Every look, every word only angered me even more. And I know it wasn’t fair to be mad at him for coming to the Villa but I couldn’t help it. I had finally found something good and now he was coming to take it from me.

“You look beautiful this evening by the way,” Harry said, completely catching me off guard. We shared a fleeting look and thankfully I was saved from having to give a response.

“Doesn’t she?” Marco asked, running his hand down my back protectively. “Took me nearly an hour to convince her to wear the dress.”

“That’s because you spoil me,” I replied, sensing the sudden tension that had fallen upon the conversation.

“I think Harry and Louis will agree with me when I say you deserve to be spoiled…”

“She certainly does,” Smiled Harry. My brown eyes locked with his green ones as Marco grip on my waist tightened.

This month was going to be a disaster.

Notes

Looks like Thalia won't be able to escape Harry after all. What did you think? Any guesses as to what happened in the past? Or what will happen in the future?

Also thanks everyone for reading!!! You are all amazing. And as school starts again I will do my best to keep the updates coming!

Ciao ciao!