If I Lay Here

Notes

CHAPTER FIVE:

Harry and the rest of the boys were at an interview this morning so I decided to take some time to spend in my pajamas. My mind was complete mush after what happened last night. I could not believe Harry felt the same way about me as I do about him. I've waited seven months to be his girlfriend.
Heaving myself out of bed, I trudged down into the kitchen. A note was plastered on the refridgerator door to let me know mom and dad left to get some groceries. I had just made myself a warm bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal when Chloe burst through my front door.

“I thought we were best friends!" she screamed, throwing her hands in the air in utter frustration. I could feel the color drain from my face. I completely knew wheat she was talking about. She knew. She found out about me and Harry. I was planning on telling her, just not like this.

“Chloe, I’m really sorry," I muttered, trying not to make eye contact with her. I could tell she was fuming already.

“Sorry? Sorry! I love him! You knew I love him and what do you do? You KISS him!" she yelled. I made the mistake of glancing up at her. Her hair was its unnatural curly self making her seem perky and younger, but her expression showed the complete opposite. She was red. Her whole face radiated anger, her eyes crazed and not their cool blue.

How did you find out?" I asked. Without hesitation, Chloe snatched my remote and flipped to the local news station. Sure enough, there was an image someone must have sent in of Harry and I kissing on the beach last night. This is the boys interview, I thought.

“So, Harry, who is this you’re kissing in this picture?" an inteviewer asked. Well, that was straight forward. It was Dave Joseky, I could tell. Just then, the cameras flashed to the boys, before zooming in solely on Harry. His eyes were wide with a mixture of panic and nervousness. His cheeks were a bright pink. Harry ran his finger through his hair which, in the seven months I got to know him, I learned is what he tends to do when he is nervous. It hurt me not being there to comfort him. Afterall, Harry was still my friend. I knew he wanted to tell the world, but certainly not in such a blunt way.

“Erm, that’s Ally," he said nervously into his blazer. The rest of the boys could clearly sense his nerves.

“Ally, huh? Is she just another one of your infamous flings or are you two...you know?" Dave interrogated. I watched Harry's face fall at the comment about me being a fling. He is constantly depicted as a manwhore which he is far from! Somewhere though he was able to find confidence within himself. Right at that moment Harry looked directly into the camera.

“Yes," he replied slowly, “I am dating Ally and I, erm, we would really appreciate it if our fans respect us being together. She means alot to me." Chloe growled from across the room. I didn’t care though. I wanted to hear Harry speak again.

“Isn’t that sweet," Dave cooed, “How do you boys feel about Harry and Ally together?" Harry was covering his eyes with his curls when Louis spoke up.

“I think I speak for all of us when I say Ally is a great girl. She’s been there for Harry for a while and we’re really happy for him." Louis said.

“And I think they will be able to do the long distance," Liam interjected, “I mean it’s not impossible." He gestured from himself to Louis.

“How long have you known Ally?" Dave questioned. All cameras were on Harry once again.

“About seven months," Harry answered sharply. I believe he was right considering we met some time in the beginning of December. Chloe’s jaw dropped to the floor. I could tell she was putting the peices together.

“Seven months? How did you get to know her with you being halfway around the world and on tour?" Dave Joseky pressed on. The rest of the boys were getting rather aggravated; they knew Harry didn’t want to talk about this on live television. He knew this would end up all over the internet and in very many magazines. Harry was beyond done talking as well. He took his bottom lip between his teeth to avoid having to speak so soon.

“Erm, we basically just talked every night. Every moment I had the chance I had to talk to her. Erm, not ‘had’, ‘needed’. Tour and distance never really affected us," Harry responded quietly. The camera panned out to all of the boys once more and zoomed in on Harry before cutting to a commercial. That’s when Chloe furiously turned the T.V. off.

“Seven months? Every night for the past seven months?! How could you do this? I’m your best friend! Well, at least I thought I was," Chloe snapped.I stared at her in shock. How could she treat me this way? It was a fantasy of hers, a crush even. Over a million girls around the world are in love with Harry Styles!

“What did you expect me to say? ‘Oh, hey, you know the band member you want to marry? We talk all the time and he’s already kissed me’? I didn’t want you to be hurt! Its not like I planned for this to happen either, it just did!" I threw back at her. Nothing could knock Chloe down. She was on a rampage.

“He was the person hiding in the bathroom wasn’t he? He was the one you ran out of my house for. He is the reason you’re constantly on your phone and now you ruin my life. You’ve kept the biggest secret from me for SEVEN WHOLE MONTHS and now you’re dating the person I’m in love with," Chloe freaked, “Thanks alot. Some friend you are." I can't believe we are fighting about this right now. We are sixteen freaking years old fighting about a crush! Just then I heard Aiden come sleepily down the stairs.

“Why are you guys yelling?" he asked while rubbing his eyes, “Are the boys here yet?" Chloe’s eyes grew wide with fury.

"He knew too! You told your little brother, but not me! I can’t believe you!" Chloe spat in my face before storming out. Suddenly, I heard her shriek. Aiden and I rushed outside to see Harry standing there with Chloe passed out on my front lawn.

“I swear I didn’t do it!" Harry cried, “Well, erm, maybe I did." The rest of the boys jumped out of the car to see what happened.

“Harry!" Louis yelled running over, “What did you do to the poor girl?"

“I just got out of the car!" Harry frantically explained. I noticed Chloe was beginning to regain conciousness, so Liam and Zayn helped her back into the house. They set her down on the couch before stepping away.

“Are you alright?" Zayn asked sweetly. Chloe sat up rubbing her head. When she remembered where she was the rage in her eyes returned. She looked around at the five new pairs of eyes looking at her, the ones she has only seen in magazines or on T.V. Even they couldn't keep her anger down.

“No, I am most definitely not alright," she snapped, “See her?" Chloe shot her pointer finger ffuriously in my direction. The boys all turned to face me before turning back to a fuming Chloe. “She’s a lying, backstabbing, cold-hearted person. I wouldn’t dare call her my best friend anymore. A best friend wouldn’t steal her friends dream and do it behind her back for SEVEN MONTHS!"

“YOU DO NOT SPEAK TO HER LIKE THAT!" Harry shouted. I never heard him raise his voice before. It rumbled through the room, almost echoing a bit. The boys winced slightly since Harry probably doesn't get angry very often. His eyes held just as much rage as Chloe's. They were dark, not the usual soft green. He had understood what was going on. Tears were quietly streaming down my face as Chloe’s words began to sink in. Her words stung. It felt like I squeezed lemon juice into a papercut. Harry looked down at me only to see that I was crying. Instantly his arms were wrapped around me, holding me close. I was quietly sobbing into his chest, staining his shirt with my tears while he lightly stroked my hair. At this point, I noticed Chloe’s rampage seemed to stop. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Chloe’s face was painted with a mixture of disbelief, disgust, and sadness.

“Go on! Continue to hug and cry into your…into Harry! You two won’t last!" Chloe spat before looking directly at me, “I can’t believe I dared to call you my best friend when for the past seven months you were going behind my back to see the one person I’m in love with! I can’t stand you! How about you go find a new best friend to lie to because I’m not gonna be there anymore! Have fun getting hate from-"

“CHLOE," Harry said strongly, interrupting her, “Leave. NOW." The last thing I saw before Harry whisked me upstairs was Niall and Zayn escorting Chloe outside. Then, I was just focusing on Harry. He brought me into my bathroom where he gently set me down on the counter. Harry proceeded to wipe my tears with a tissue. His job wasn’t working though. Tears just kept coming. Finally, Harry cupped my face in his hands. As I stared into his adorable green eyes my tears began to slow.

“I’m sorry," I said while looking away from him. I wasn’t able to look away from him for very long though. He continued to wipe my tears as they came.

“Don’t be sorry," Harry told me, “Just don’t cry. Chloe isn’t worth it. You don’t deserve to be treated like that. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. If I had never run into you on the beach you and Chloe would still be friends. I just…I don’t-" Harry stopped mid-sentence and pulled me until our lips locked. Every bad thought I had just washed away. Closing my eyes, I remembered everything so clearly; the beach, the rain, the concert. As Harry’s lips pressed gently against mine I remembered the good things and forgot why I was crying in the first place. I pulled away from Harry so I could take a good look at him. Worry just spread across his face.

“I don’t regret a single thing. It’s a good thing you’re kinda clumsy," I told him, stopping the tears and replacing them with a smile. Harry’s face lit up. His worry was pushed aside by happiness. His gentle eyes began to shine bright with the love and sweetness they always had. Pushing away the few curls that strayed in his rush to calm me down, I squeezed Harry tight. He began to laugh. “You’re amazing."

“I have my moments," he replied smoothly. Just then, my mom burst through the door.

“Ally, why are there four lovely young men downstairs with Aiden? Oh! Hello!" she said, stopping in the doorway to get a better look at Harry. He jumped away from me quickly causing her to laugh. His cheeks flushed pink as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Mom, this is Harry Styles and downstairs are his bandmates Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik. They’re from One Direction," I explained while taking a glance at Harry, “And Harry and I are…dating now."

“I see. I think I've seen you on some of Ally's posters actually." she answered. I mentally cursed her for bringing up the posters in the first place, but Harry didn't seem to mind. He glanced down at me with one eyebrow raised before looking back to my mother. “Well it’s nice to meet you Harry. You will have to come by for dinner some time."

“Nice to meet you too Mrs. Striker. I will certainly take you up on that," Harry replied, reaching for my hand. I gave it to him as my mom was beginning to leave. Then I realized that Harry had a date to play soccer with Aiden. After jumping from the counter I began to frantically try to apply make up. Harry, however, snatched my kit before I could.

“Please, you don’t have to put that on. We are just going to the park," he assured me, sticking his arm between me and the kit. I tried to get around him, but Harry was too quick.

“Harry, why won’t you give me my kit? I just need to touch up, I look terrible right now," I told him. Harry laughed loudly for a moment.

“Well now you’re really not getting it back," he teased. At this point I had given up on trying to get by him.

“Why not?" I pouted. Harry’s dimples showed as he smiled brightly at me.

“Because you are just as beautiful without make up," he explained while carefully tucking the kit on a shelf too high for me to reach. "And it's just us." Then, grabbing onto my hand, Harry led me downstairs, gathered up the boys and drove us to the park. The entire drive Harry kept his cheeky grin spread across his face.

Harry was leading the ball down the field with Aiden trailing closely behind. Both Harry and the ball were traveling full speed. Liam was positioned cleverly infront of the goal with Zayn tracing his every move. Louis and Niall began to close in on the ball. Suddenly, Harry chipped the ball, sending it flying far above the boys heads.

“Liam!" Harry shouted, “Head!" Liam understood and took a stance infront of Zayn’s defense. As the ball came closer, Liam lunged forward giving the ball a nice tap and sending it straight to the goal. Harry and Aiden ran over, Harry lifting Liam to his feet on the way.

“GOAL!" Aiden cried. The three boys stood in the goal, circling the ball until they collapsed around it.

“Alright, alright, enough with this rubbish," Louis said. He walked over to where Harry, Aiden, and Liam were celebrating to steal the ball. Then he began driving the ball down to the other goal.

“Louis the ‘Tommo’ Tomlinson is flying down the field, no one on his tail and no one in his path," Niall narrated in his announcer voice, “There it is! He’s got the shot!" Louis made a few swift moves with the ball before drilling it into the net.

“Goal!" Zayn and Niall cheered pretending to be fans. Louis pumped his fist victoriously in the air.

“The Tommo is back!" he shouted before running to attack Harry.

“I’m starvin’," Nial said, running with Zayn to take a seat next to me. Liam and Aiden joined them, still pumped from their single goal.

“Ally! Did you see Harry’s kick? And Liam’s headbut? They were incredible!" Aiden exclaimed wiping the sweat from his forehead. Just then, Harry came over with Louis. He took a seat infront of my knees and rested back against them. I began to absentmindedly play with Harry’s curls, twisting them gently around my fingers.

“Zayn we went to the shop recently right?" Harry asked.

“I don’t think so," he replied. Then Harry and Zayn exchanged glances. Within seconds, Harry scooped me up in his arms and began racing towards the van. The other boys were slightly disoriented, not knowing where we were running. I didn’t know what was going on either. Without waiting another second, Liam picked Aiden up and began to run after us. The other boys followed as well.

Liam caught up to Harry and I rather quickly. He and I were both trying to figure out what was going on. Harry and Aiden, on the other hand, were just laughing. Once at the van, Harry set me down gently. He, along with the other boys, was panting, but with a smile.

“Why are you in such a hurry?" I asked, slightly dizzy from having Harry run with me in his arms. As I was about to stumble on Liam’s foot, Harry caught me and flashed his bright smile.

“Yes," Niall said while breathing heavily, “Why are you in a hurry?"

“If I want to make you dinner, I need some time to cook!" Harry replied. He gazed into my eyes before giving me a quick kiss.