H.

"What are you doing here?" Ana spoke from beside me, her thumb drawing circles on my knee in attempts to calm me down. Fruitless.

Louis' eyes landed on her and I resisted the urge to leap over the table and wrap my hands around his throat, "Hanging out with my girlfriend 'n' her mates, is that alright?" he asked innocently, and I scowled in his direction.

"Girlfriend?" Ana scoffed, and I blew a breath between my lips.

"Tiff.." Tasha shifted awkwardly, "Are you sure bringing him here was a good idea? I didn't even know you two-"

"Louis and I are together!" her sister's nasally squeak sounded throughout the room, and I was slightly tempted to yank off my boot and hurl it across the room at her.

"What do you mean 'together'?" Tasha swallowed uncomfortably, as I glanced at Ana, and I could tell she was desperate for the floor to open up and swallow her.

I held her closer to me, hoping to provide some sort of comfort - though my muscles felt tenser by the second and I knew I wouldn't be much help.

"Uh, I'm dating your sister - obviously," Louis scoffed, and I couldn't help but envision my second boot connecting with his big nose.

"I didn't know you two knew each other," Ana said awkwardly, and Tiff shrugged.

"We met at lunch the other day, when somebody lost his temper," she explained, shooting me a glare. I looked beside me, and then behind me, as if I was unsure of who she was talking about, causing her cheeks to redden further, "whatever," she scoffed, linking her arm with Louis'.

I couldn't help but notice the cuts and bruises covering Louis' face, and I couldn't hide the smirk on my face. Sure, I felt bad for upsetting Ana the way I did - but I didn't regret pummelling his face into the ground days ago. I knew Ana noticed my smirk when she leant and whispered into my ear to cut it out.

"Well," Louis spoke up, "What's happenin', then?" He took a seat on the empty couch, Tiff falling into the spot next to him as I grimaced. An ugly couple if I'd ever seen one.

Ana shifted uncomfortably, before standing up, "I'm getting a drink. You want anything?"

"Grab me a beer," I said, before adding, "please." She shot me a disapproving look; she was wary of my drinking, and I didn't blame her, though I still tried to assure her, "it's only one, baby. I'm fine."

"I'll go with you," Tasha said hurriedly, following Ana into the kitchen, and leaving me alone with Tabatha and Louis. Great.

"So, Harry, what's new with you?" Louis flashed me a bitter smile, and I wrinkled my nose.

"Bite me," I spat, fishing my phone out of my pocket to look through my messages.

Where are you rn Harold

Your fucking mum is trying to make me eat her tuna casserole pLEASE SEND HELP

I rolled my eyes, quickly sending a reply.

: I'm at Ana's friend's house, like I told you.

: Just eat it and praise her. That casserole is her pride and joy.

Liam replied within seconds, as Ana and Tasha walked back into the room, Ana handing me a beer and settling back beside me.

: um ADDRESS??? I can't stay here man this is cramping my style so much

I rolled my eyes, looking up to break the silence, "Hey, my mate Liam is nearby - is it alright if he comes by?"

"Yeah, of course it is," Tasha nodded, and I thanked her before sending Liam the address.

"Liam Payne, by any chance?" Louis piped up, and I shot him a glare.

"Yeah, Liam Payne - and he's not exactly your biggest fan, so I wouldn't push your luck with him either, 'cause he won't hesitate to knock your head off your shoulders."

"Likewise, mate," Louis beamed, as I ripped my can open and took a long sip of my drink, "Y'know what I miss?"

"I'm not sure I care," I retorted.

"I miss," he continued anyway, as Tiff watched him with a ratty smirk plastered on her face. Not the boot, Harry, don't use the boot, "I miss the old days, y'know mate? With you, me, Liam, Niall and Zayn - oh, and Caleb-"

"Say his name again and you're gonna need another few stitches in that thick skull of yours," I gritted my teeth, as Ana rested her hand on my thigh, her head on my shoulder in attempts to distract me.

"Alright, alright," he raised his hands in mock surrender, "I'm not interested in getting into an argy-bargy over it."

"Oh yeah? You're about as bent as a nine-bob note, mate - you're just miffed 'cause you got the short end of the stick, am I right?"

"Oh, pipe down, 'Styles, we don't need you throwing a paddy," he scoffed, and I raised my eyebrows.

"Tosh," I scoffed in return, folding my arms and looking away from him, his face resurfacing that urge I had with my boot only moments ago.

I glanced at Ana, and then at Tasha, both of their expressions holding confusion and disbelief.

"I don't have a clue what either of you English fuckers just said," Tasha erupted into laughter, as did Ana, clearly choosing to ignore Louis' presence.

"Get your boyfriend to teach ya', Ana - and I'm sure he'll help you when he gets bored with you, sweetheart," he sent Tasha an innocent smile, taking a swig of his drink. I lit another cigarette, taking a drag and rolling my eyes in Louis' direction.

"Joke's getting old, now, 'Tommo," I huffed, referring to his ongoing amusement he found with joking that I'd drop Ana at whatever point - I knew that wouldn't happen. Not Ana - I couldn't, and I wouldn't. She was far too important to me.

A knock sounded at the front door, and I sighed in relief as Tasha went to open it, revealing Liam with a pack of beers in his hand.

"Whoaaaa!" he called, charging past Tasha and into the living room, "party's here! Oh yeah! That's right! Turn u- scrap that, this shit is dead," he huffed, looking around the room to see the five of us sitting awkwardly.

"Payno," Louis interjected, "it's been a while, mate."

"Ew - what the fuck?" Liam frowned, flopping onto the seat beside me, "who let that fucker in?"

Tabatha scoffed, "That's my fucking boyfriend you're talking about, asshole!" she squeaked, and frankly, Louis looked just as irritated by her presence as everybody else did, "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"I'm Liam Payne, bitch!" Liam exclaimed as if it were obvious, his hands flying up, and Ana quickly buried her head into my shoulder, muffling her laughter as I tried to hide my own, holding her close to me.

Tabatha was infuriated, as Tasha slumped back into her chair, also laughing to herself as Liam and Tabatha continued to shout at each other.

"Bloody hell, Tabatha, do you ever shut up?" I groaned, and she gasped.

"My name is Tiff!"

"Put a sock in it, Tina," I put my head in my hands and she began to ramble about how rude it was I didn't know her name by now. Soon enough, Louis butted in with some shit I couldn't be bothered to take note of, and suddenly - everybody was shouting, Tabatha taking the liberty to shout a string of profanities at me at one point, causing Ana to step in and join the shouting. Damn, she was hot when she was mad. Focus, Harry.

"I want to leave," she murmured into my ear, as I glanced across at Liam, who was clapping profusely and shouting something about a "nasty-looking hair-line " as we stood up, deciding it was most likely time to get out of there.

"Oh helllllll-" Liam stood up ready to swing on Tina, and I quickly tugged his arm down, as Ana muttered an apology and a goodbye to Tasha.

"THIS AIN'T OVER!" Liam shouted as loud as he could as I practically yanked him out of the house, Ana following behind us.

"When did you get so ... forceful?" I tried to stifle my laughter with no result.

"I lived in the Bronx for two weeks - it can really change a guy," he sighed, and Ana burst into laughter beside me, as all I did was shake my head.

"Do you want to stay at mine?" I directed the question at her, and she nodded, taking my hand in hers.

The walk home consisted of Liam rambling about how he 'only needed ten more seconds to drag the bitch', as I mumbled sweet nonsense to Ana about how the soft lighting of the street lamps made her glow so beautifully, adoring the way her cheeks flushed pink with every statement made.

The feeling of sleeping next to her was something I wasn't sure I could get used to. After mumbling a goodnight to my mum, and shoving Liam onto the couch, we were finally alone. Finally.

I tossed her a shirt without asking for confirmation, and she pulled it over her head quickly after stripping off her own clothes. I changed into sweatpants, discarding my shirt and climbing into my bed, her following shortly after.

She leant into my chest, my fingers playing with the sleeves of my shirt she wore as I sighed contently, our gazes meeting, now.

"Tonight was a disaster," she chuckled lightly, and I nodded.

"To be fair, none of us could've known he'd turn up," I said, and she immediately agreed.

"It's so weird, though. Just a week ago Tiff was totally obsessed with you, and was always pining after you.. and I'm glad she's moved on, but with Louis? 'Doesn't seem right," she bit her lip in thought.

"You're right, it is weird," I agreed, before tugging her closer to me, "but I won't be losing sleep over it," I shrugged, as Ana yawned in return.

"Mm, me neither," she mumbled sleepily, and I chuckled at how quickly exhaustion had overtaken her.

"Sleep, baby," I mumbled and with that, sleep overtook her, and I was left alone with my thoughts.

I reached to trail the pad of my thumb across her jawline; her skin silky smooth beneath my touch as I brushed the hair away from her cheek, my thumb caressing the surface gently as she slept soundly, my eyes scanning her features. Soft brown freckles marked the skin, despite the lack of sun her skin had encountered. I let my thumb meet the soft plumpness of her lips, curved into a slight innocent pout as she quietly blew gentle breaths between them; her breathing steady. Her face lacked expression; sleep enabling an innocent look across it, yet she remained so breathtakingly beautiful.

I leant forward to press my lips to the center of her forehead, only slightly brushing my lips against the skin so not to wake her. I leant to press a kiss to her lips, not expecting a response and deeming myself correct as her lips didn't pucker in return; sleep still occupying her. I reluctantly went to lift her arms from me, knowing if I laid beside her a moment longer I'd somehow disrupt her peaceful slumber with my desire to kiss her all over.

I stood up, leaving her with a chaste kiss to her forehead as I wandered over to the window overlooking the discarded street, the only sound being the harsh wind bouncing off each and every surface obstructing the inky night sky.

I found irritation in my pure adoration for the sleeping girl behind me. It was irritating because the emotions my heart ached with for her made me so damn dependant, and me - myself - somebody who had prided myself on autonomy, and individuality found myself desperate to change; to be less volatile.

It provoked that sense of fear, because the question lay within the resentments of oneself - what if love didn't love you back?

It's lonely, and it's formidable - to go back to what you didn't have. It was possessive; irrational. It was a thousand maddening senses and sensations all at once.

Endearment was foolish optimism, but I found myself so incredibly willing to be a fool for her.

It was the highest high - a high no drug, no drink, no cigarette and no other person could ever give me. It was the high only she could provide me with; the ecstasy only her smile could encourage; that only her laugh could provoke.

I had a sickening adoration and admiration for the girl who slept soundly on the mattress behind me, and as I glanced over my shoulder at the sight of her, it only confirmed that the fixation wouldn't falter anytime soon.