Georgia sat at the edge of the pool with her feet in the cool water, as she looked around at everyone else. A gentle rustle beside her, along with a soft ‘hey,’ indicated someone else’s presence. She looked up to see that it was Liam, the brown haired boy she’d met frequently at these parties, and one of the few people who really paid attention to her. They spoke sometimes, and she quite liked him. Liam was quite unlike the company he was often found in.
“Hi,” she smiled at him.
Liam held out a glass for her, and then chuckled when he saw that she started to refuse. “Just coke,” he assured her.
Georgia giggled and took the glass from him. Smiling, Liam held his own glass for her. “Should try some.”
“Oh, leave me alone,” she chided playfully, and the two of them laughed.
“Liam!” A loud, thick accented voice roared behind them, and a crushed, balled up paper cup smacked Liam on the back of his head. “Quite flirting and get in here!”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he mumbled, clearly annoyed. The two of them looked back to see Zayn sprinting towards them, clad in a wet t-shirt that had clearly been put on over his wet torso right after swimming, and jeans.
“I’m sorry Georgia, but can I take your man away for a bit?” Zayn teased playfully.
“Shut up, Zayn,” Liam mumbled, and Georgia noticed how red his cheeks had turned. “We’re talking.”
Zayn guffawed, and messed Liam’s hair playfully. “Well then, Georgia can come in too. Just gonna have a game of beer pong.”
“No, I’m fine,” Georgia shook her head, smiling. “Liam, go on.”
“You sure?” Liam asked, cheeks still bright red.
“Of course,” Georgia assured him.
“Zayn, you’re a dick,” Liam sighed and got up, but somehow he didn’t look as reluctant to leave. Leaning down, he placed his cup of beer next to Georgia. “Feel free.”
She laughed and watched the two of them walk away. She noticed the certain way that they were with each other, different from what she usually saw between the guys she’d met ever since moving in with Melissa. Liam’s body language was different around Zayn, and if one really paid attention, Zayn’s was too.
She turned back in front, her gaze falling on the red cup resting in front of her. Slowly lifting it up, she eyed the liquid, surely beer, inside.
“Wouldn’t advise you to drink that.”
It was the voice she’d recognize anywhere, and she didn’t have to turn for him to know she was rolling his eyes at him already. “What’s it to you?” she asked, without bothering to look back. She didn’t have to, for her simply sat down beside her, long legs crossing over one another.
“I’m guessing you have no capacity,” he teased. “Who’s gonna take care of you after you’re puking your stomach out after a sip?”
Georgia huffed and rolled her eyes again, thrusting the cup into his hands. She attempted to get up, already tired of his behaviour.
“Hey, hey,” he said quickly, hand involuntarily grasping her wrist, pulling her down. “Stop walking away from me.”
“I’m not walking,” she pointed out childishly.
“Alright, smartass,” Harry chuckled.
“See, again—”
“I called you smart!” he reasoned, and then laughed. “Alright, alright. I’m sorry?”
“Hmm,” she mumbled.
Harry offered her the cup. “One sip?” he suggested.
“I’ll throw up over you,” she snapped bitterly.
“I was kidding, ‘s just beer,” he smirked. “Here, okay, one sip. Just one.”
“You’re a terrible influence, you know that?” she said, but her hand rose to take the cup from him.
“Just taste it,” he said. “It’ll be an experience ,you know?”
Georgia couldn’t help but chuckle. “I think I can do without it.”
“Don’t be a pussy.” He teased, elbow softly nudging her side.
“Okay, okay,” she muttered. She wondered where the guts and the will were coming from, but somehow, she didn’t think much of it. She was in a different mood altogether, seemingly.
Slowly, she brought the cup to her lips and let the liquid meet her tongue. The moment a tiny sip slid down her throat, she gagged and pushed the cup back into Harry’s hand. “Oh lord!” she grimaced, and Harry laughed loudly, throwing his head back.
“How was it?” he asked her.
“How was it?” she repeated incredulously, the back of her hand wiping her mouth. “It’s so bitter, what is wrong with all of you?”
“It’s good!” Harry insisted, eyes and smile wide.
“It tastes like…like…God, I don’t even know what it tastes like, I’ve never had anything worse.” She groaned, shaking her head.
Harry chortled. “Now you’re over reacting.”
“Harry, this is absolute shit,” Georgia insisted. “My mouth tastes disgusting.”
The two of them were quiet for a bit, as Harry’s laughter and Georgia’s grin faded. Georgia took several sips of her soft drink to clear the taste of beer. She knew she seemed silly to Harry, who could probably drink his way through a liquor store without flinching, but this was the first time she’d tried beer, and in all honesty, she hated it.
Out of the blue, Harry reached for her wrist. Georgia tensed, for it was the wrist he’d hurt the day he’d lost his temper. Harry and Georgia hadn’t spoken since the day. He examined her skin the way he had in the car, except now the bruises had started to fade. He didn’t say anything, eyes simply flickering up to watch her.
“It looks bad,” he said after a bit.
“Not really,” she mumbled. “Not half as bad as it looks.”
Harry’s lips were pressed to form a thin line, and he didn’t reply. His fingers slipped away from her wrist and she let it rest on her lap. Georgia couldn’t help but turn her face to watch him, hoping to catch a glimpse of what he was thinking. It was strange that she was constantly so curious to know the curly haired boy’s thoughts. He was looking ahead, a glassiness over his green orbs that indicated that his mind was far away. A few seconds later, he turned to look at her, catching her staring at him.
“What?” he asked.
“What, what?” she replied quickly, refusing to look away.
Harry’s mouth twitched, almost as if he was going to smile but didn’t quite want to give in. “Stop staring at me.”
“Why?” she challenged.
In response, Harry cupped his hand, letting it swish through the water once, and swinging it to splash the cool liquid on her face. Georgia squealed, looking absolutely appalled, shooting him the most murderous glare there was. Harry chuckled.
“You asshole,” she growled, wiping her face with the back of his hand. She tried to be quick, attempting to splash him with water in turn. Unfortunately, her hands were short, so she had to lean down, which resulted her in almost falling face first into the pool. Harry was quick to catch her, and the two of them laughed loudly.
“You try that, West,” he said, “and I’ll push you in.”
“I’ll pull you in with me,” she promised him.
“You won’t be able to,” he said, letting go of her. He leaned back on his hands, palms flat against the ground.
“You’re right,” she agreed with a small smile. “You’re too fat.”
Harry straightened up, glowering at her. “And you wonder why I’m not nice to you, yeah?”
Georgia laughed. “Oh I’m just kidding,” she assured him with a gentle pat on his back.
“Rude,” Harry frowned, looking away from her. Georgia simply giggled. Once again, silence fell upon them, and it was comfortable somehow. Neither of them felt the need to talk to fill any awkward spaces—there simply weren’t any. After a few minutes of easy silence, Harry spoke. “Let’s go inside.”
“What for?”
“Just,” was his simple reply. “What’re you going to do out here?”
“I like it here,” Georgia insisted.
“Do you like being alone or something?” Harry asked.
“Sometimes, yes,” Georgia nodded. “I’m not saying I don’t like being around people, but…not all the time. I enjoy the peace and quiet sometimes, or when I just have time to think, without having to make conversation for the sake of it.” When he continued to look at her, she blushed. “What?”
“Nothing,” he murmured. “It’s just….you sound a lot like…well, me.”
Georgia chuckled. “We have something in common? That’s surprising.”
Harry rolled his eyes, but a small smile played on his lips. “You gonna come inside or what?”
“Okay,” Georgia gave in.
---
“How’s Melissa doing?” Harry asked, pouring himself another drink as the two stood next to the kitchen counter.
“She’s…she’s okay,” Georgia said, unsure of how else to reply. Admittedly, she knew Melissa’s casual attitude after the break up was for show; she wasn’t really okay. She just wasn’t sure if she should tell Harry.
“I heard she’s with Riley?” Harry asked, letting bitterness creep into his voice. It was not as though he minded—Melissa should move on. But if it was with Riley, he didn’t think he could take it. He’d never liked the boy too much, unsure of why he even chose to put up with him. If Melissa deserved better than Harry, she surely deserved better than Riley as well.
Georgia chuckled. “No, they’re not together,” she assured him. “They’re just…well, I’m not sure what they are, but whatever it is, they’re not together.” Harry simply nodded.
A number of people filed into the kitchen, laughing and hooting loudly at something, and the tiny kitchen was suddenly over crowded. The drawers opened and shut with loud bangs and several bottles were heard opening as they were fished out of the refrigerator. Georgia looked at Harry, who smirked down at her. Leaning down, with his lips right next to her ear, he whispered, “Wanna go somewhere more quiet?”
Georgia nodded, feeling nothing but the urge to move out from the midst of sweaty, smelly bodies rubbing and pressing against her. She followed Harry out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Finally they entered an empty room, which turned out to be Louis’ bedroom once Harry turned the lights on.
The sudden silence of the room, a contrast from the loud music and cheering of the crowd downstairs, weighed down on her in a relieving sort of way. She looked around the room, eyeing her surroundings, unaware that the all the while, Harry was eyeing her. Georgia’s eyes travelled over the photos on the walls, of children laughing and smiling, of parents and grandparents. However, a certain photo was the one to truly grab her attention.
“Is that…is that you?” she asked, quickly moving towards the frame hanging on the wall. It was a photo of two boys, both with dark, straight and smooth hair. They stood with their arms around each other, both raising tiny thumbs to the camera. The boy on the right had beautiful blue eyes and a happy smile. The boy on the left held on to his friend tightly, bright green eyes and dimples and a chubby face. Harry, Georgia realized with a start. She was looking at a photo of Harry as a kid, no older than four or five.
“Lou and me, yeah,” Harry muttered, sounding almost shy.
“You look…wow, you’re smiling,” Georgia joked, her finger running over the glass, receiving an eye roll from Harry that she did not see. “Have you guys been friends for that long?”
“Sixteen years,” Harry stated.
“Really?” Georgia asked, voice coloured with surprise.
“Louis’ always been my best mate,” Harry mumbled, walking closer to her, her back still facing his front. “When…I mean, when my dad left…I used to stay at his house a lot. I didn’t like staying home that much back then, and I’d cry a lot. Lou used to call me over and I’d stay with him. I don’t think I’ve ever been comfortable around anyone the way I have around Louis.”
“That’s good,” Georgia said, eyes not leaving the picture. “To have someone like that in your life—that’s a good thing.”
“Hmm,” Harry mumbled.
“You look happy,” she said quietly. She tensed when she felt his hand reach for her hair suddenly, pushing it away, and over the other shoulder. “You were a cute kid.”
She felt him chuckle against her skin, his breath washing over her. But he disregarded her sentence altogether, and said, “You know what’s weird?”
“What’s that?” she asked, tense all over.
Slowly, Harry’s free hand skimmed down her arm, gently taking a hold of her fingers. “The first time I kissed you, I found myself thinking about it all the time,” he mumbled, breathing into her ear. Gently, he tugged at her lobe with his teeth and Georgia bit her lip. “It didn’t count much as a kiss, but it was something. Don’t you think so?”
“I…I don’t…” she mumbled incoherently, losing her train of thought when Harry’s lips pressed ever so slightly against her skin at the back of her ear.
“And then when I tried to kiss you again that night, and you rejected me,” he mumbled against her skin. “That’s never happened to me before, you know?”
“Harry…” Stop. But where was her voice? Or will?
“I’m not used to that.” He muttered. “What is it about you anyway?” The question seemed to be for himself more than it was for her, and she chose not to answer. It wasn’t like she knew anyway. What was it about her that drew Harry to her this way?
“We should…go back down…”
To her surprise, Harry let go of her. For a second she thought that he’d changed his mind, deciding that whatever it was that he’d been planning to do was a waste. But she was proven wrong almost instantly when he spun her around, and her back collided with the wall suddenly, and she couldn’t help but let out a gasp.
“It’s weird,” he continued, “that every time I see you alone, I want to walk up to you and talk to you. And then I replay that kiss in my head,” he raised a finger, gently running it across her bottom lip, “and I think what it would have been like if you’d kissed me back. I think it’d be good. What do you think?”
“I…” She didn’t think anything, because at that moment, her mind was a jumble of thoughts and she was jelly in his hands. Why wasn’t she stopping him like she normally would have? Perhaps by a snap or a shove or a slap in the face? Why wasn’t her brain functioning?
Slowly, his hand slipped to the back of her neck, and he leaned down. Georgia’s eyes fell shut and she remained tensed, waiting for the press of lips against her own.
At first it was barely there, just a light brush of lips against lips. Then his lips came down with firmer pressure, hand tangling in her hair, the other wrapping around her waist. She didn’t know where he’d learned to kiss that way. It was much like that night, soft lips, a contrast from the bruising pressure. The way he held her was firm at the same time that it was gentle. Slowly, her hands reached up and she placed them on his shoulder, sliding them upwards to tangle in his soft curls. When she tugged at them lightly he gave a soft grunt against her lips, hold on her tightening. She was kissing him back, her lips moving against his, all rationality and reason flying out of her brain and the window. Melissa was pushed right to the back of her head, unable to surface and show her reason. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, pressing up against her, the hand on her neck resting on her cheek now, drawing slow circles with his thumb on her skin.
She’d kissed Lucas plenty of times, but this kiss made her feel inexperienced somehow, as if it were her first and she had no idea what to do. She found herself melting against him, every part of her now responding, her lips, hands and all.
When he pulled away, she gravitated towards him for a split second, about to fall into him, before getting a grip. Her mind was spinning, and the room seemed to be too. The only still thing was Harry, standing before her, a slight smirk on his face, and his chest rising and falling rapidly. His face was flushed, hair tousled from where she’d run her hands through it. Georgia wondered what she looked like. Was the surprise she felt on the sudden turn of events, and the fact that she hadn’t held back, evident on her face?
“Well,” Harry said, finally breaking the silence. “At least you didn’t slap me this time.”

Georgia opened her mouth to respond, but she had nothing to say.

Notes

ok first of all, i apologize for the delay, but i've been v busy so pls don't hate me!! i hope this makes up for it

second, idk why the site won't let me space this out, so sorry for the inconvenience. love you guys, don't forget to subscribe and review and rate and everything <3 <3