Next To You

I quickly looked away, and focused my attention onto Juliette as she ran around the room getting everyone in order.
The second Louis saw me, he walked over and wrapped me up in a big hug.
"Look, who it is. Miss Melanie." He pulled back and took me in. "You look great. Better than the last time I saw you."
I furrowed my eyebrows at him, "Are you saying I looked hideous last time?"
He smirked and shrugged, "If the shoe fits."
"Don't mind him," Niall said as he walked up. "His girlfriend just broke up with him. Something about how he couldn't meet her needs in bed."
Louis elbowed him in the side, as I tried to bite back the laugh. "Stop spreading lies about me, or I'll happily tell everyone about that dream you had the other day."
Niall glared at Louis, and it only made my curiosity grow.
"Niall, Louis and Melanie places, please. You're about to go on." Juliette pointed at the spot in front of her, ending our conversation. For now.
I followed behind them, and kept my head down knowing he was looking at me.
After, I took my spot in between them. Juliette ordered everyone else into their positions.
***
The wedding went on longer than I expected. Or, maybe it was because regardless of where I looked my eyes kept traveling over to Harry. Only to see, he was already looking at me.
He looked at me as if he was studying me. His eyes as intense as ever. Almost as if I was a rare animal he would only be able to see once, and it was gone forever. I tried to not fidget in front of all of the guests. No one can know.
Now, here we are at the reception, Liam and Jenny are the center of attention. Jenny changed into a silk white dress. Her hair pulled out of the bun she had for the wedding. The smile on her face never falling.
With a glass of champagne in my hand, I walked over to my mom who was chatting it up with Jenny's. I walked in just as she was gushing about how radiant Jenny and Liam looked.
"She's the happiest I've ever seen her. I just wish her father was here." Jenny's mom said as she stared at the happy couple.
"I know she misses him." My mom said as she pulled my phone out of her purse to hand to me. "She loves telling Addie stories of him."
I thanked her as I grabbed my phone. I walked out of the small tent, away from the noise and down to the beach. Turning it on, I was greeted by my favorite smile. Just as I was about to dial my dad, I was pulled to the side.
"Hey!" I protested.
I turned and saw the one person I was trying to avoid.
"Melanie James." Harry said, as he placed his hands in his jacket pockets. "How I've missed you."
I tried not to scoff, "Don't bullshit me, Styles."
He bit his lip, and looked up at me. "I know how we left off was bad. Bu-"
"Bad?! You left me alone in some fucked up hotel, with a note. No explanation. Just, the words 'I'm done. Sorry.' and that was it. Saying it ended badly, would be an understatement." I crossed my arms over my chest, as I glared at him.
"You wouldn't have understood." He said in a low voice.
"Who are you to judge what I can't understand? I'm not as dumb as you think I am."
He shakes his head. "I know you're not dumb. Believe me, I know. It's just-" He let out a breath, and looked back up at me. "Just know, I didn't have a choice."
"You didn't have a choice? Between what?" I clenched my grip around the phone in my hand.
"Look, Mel I can't explain it to you right now. You deserve an explanation but, you can't know. Not right now."
I let out a frustrated breath, "Well, regardless of it all you're five years too late. I've wasted so much time thinking about all the reasons you left in the middle of the night and the more I come up with excuses the more I realize how pathetic I am to be thinking about you. Especially after all this time, H. I'll hear you out, whenever you're ready but I can't promise you anything." I took a step back. "Now, I have to get back before my mom gets worried."
With that, I turned and started to walk back towards the tent.
"I know about her, Melanie!" I stopped mid-step, and turned back towards him. "I know about our daughter."

Notes