Array
(
[text] =>

I opened the French window, quickly stepping out on the patio and closing it behind myself to keep the cold from going inside. I'd come to the conclusion that I truly disliked parties. Harry's presence certainly made everything better, but I couldn't help but feel as if I wasn't supposed to be there when I was surrounded by people getting drunk and making their inhibitions fly out of the window.

I sighed, closing my grey wool coat to keep some of my warmth and leant against the fence, glancing at the moon in the sky. Surprisingly enough, it was one of the clearer nights I'd ever seen in the last few months. I wished I had my phone with me to take a picture of it, but I'd left it in my handbag, that I'd left in the boot of Harry's car for safekeeping.

I turned around quickly when I heard the French window being opened, smiling slightly when I realised that it was just Harry.

"I went to the loo for a minute and you disappeared" he said quietly, a slight pinkness taking over his cheeks at the freezing air surrounding us.

I glanced at him as he reached me, leaning against the fence next to me. "Parties aren't really my thing" I simply said with a little shrug, glancing from him to the sky again.

"Do you regret coming?" He asked, and I looked at him. It was dark outside, but his eyes still managed to twinkle in the dim golden light coming from the window in front of us.

"Nah" I replied, starting to wish that I hadn't put a dress on. "It is New Year's Eve, after all." I knew I couldn't have possibly asked someone like Harry to stay at home with me on such an important day. He seemed completely in his element when it came to parties, and it was being held at his own house, after all.

"It'll be the new year in fifteen minutes" he commented, glancing at the time on his phone before putting it in his back pocket again, wrapping his arms around his middle to fend himself from the cold. "Want to go inside?"

"Are you asking me if I want to go in a room full of shouting drunk people dancing to mainstream music?" I asked, and he laughed.

"If you put it like that, the answer is kind of obvious" he said, pushing his dark curls back and taking his phone out again to check the time. "Ten minutes to go."

I nodded, glancing inside through the window and seeing Ella talking to a boy I didn't know. I shrugged, glancing back at Harry. "Do you have any new year resolutions?" I asked him.

He shook his head, glancing down, the light making his hair shine of golden highlights. "I prefer not to disappoint myself and everybody around me." He glanced up to the sky. "It's nice out here" he commented, easily changing the topic of our conversation.

I nodded, sliding closer to him and leaning against him, looking up to the sky as well.

"What are you doing?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows at my actions, as if he couldn't understand the meaning behind them.

I shrugged. "I'm keeping you warm" I replied. "You forgot your coat inside" I added, making him smile slightly. I looked up at the sky again. "I wish I'd brought my notepad." More than the sky, I would've liked to keep that moment with me forever. Harry and I, outside, talking to each other while everyone else partied inside the house. It seemed something worth remembering.

"Five minutes" he said, and I nodded at his words, starting to feel a hint of nervousness. Were we supposed to kiss at the midnight? It was what couples did after all, but then again, we weren't a couple, so should've I expected it to happen or not? The simple thought made me incredibly nervous. I hated not knowing what I was supposed to do, it made me extremely uneasy.

"Where is Niall?" I asked Harry, looking at him, desperately trying to find something to say to ease my nervousness.

He glanced at me, a humoured look in his green irises. "Are you really asking me about Niall at two minutes until midnight?" He asked, and I let out a little laugh.

"Maybe" I replied, and he nodded slightly, pushing himself off the fence and standing in front of me, turning his head to give a quick glance inside the house.

"Do you have any resolutions?" He asked gently, and I shrugged.

"I don't know, I haven't thought about it" I replied honestly, and the corners of his lips turned up imperceptibly. "But I mean, if I had to think-" I started saying, but I was interrupted by the soft touch of Harry's lips on mine as everybody inside cheered.

"Happy New Year" he whispered when we broke apart, and I smiled.

"Happy New Year, Harry" I replied, glancing at him in the golden light. I flinched when all of sudden the loud sound of music resonated from inside the house, and Harry laughed, putting his hand on my waist.

"Let's go back inside, I'm cold" he said, and I nodded, walking back inside with him, feeling thankful for his arm around my waist in the second he closed the French window behind us.

The music was even louder inside, to the point that I struggled to even hear my own thoughts. Everybody around us was dancing, making out or drinking, making me feel even more out of place. I couldn't help but be glad that Harry didn't enjoy dancing as well, because the simple thought of being dragged into the crowd of people made me feel sick.

"I need some water" I said into Harry's ear, and he nodded, not making a move to let me go.

"I'm coming with you" he said, following me as we made my way to the kitchen, frowning slightly as he noticed that some people had pushed some books that were on the bookshelf on the floor.

I entered the kitchen, scrunching up my nose as I took in the multitude of glass bottles smashed on the ground, the leftovers of drinks almost all over the place. I poured myself a glass of water from a bottle Harry took out of the fridge, probably wanting to make sure that he wasn't giving me anything that had been spiked. I thanked him and drank it slowly, the loud sounds coming from the other room making me understand that the party had just started.

All of sudden a guy came into the kitchen, trying to reach the sink, but stumbling over a plastic bottle on the floor and throwing up against the oven.

Harry shook his head, taking my hand and walking out of the kitchen, seeming to be getting a little uneasy. Somehow, we ended up in the living room, in a corner where less people were around the both of us unsure of how to continue our night.

I gave a wary look around, just barely aware of the warmth of Harry's hands around my waist. I flinched when I heard the sudden sound of glass being smashed, and Harry quickly pushed himself off the wall and walked in the direction of the noise, his fingers wrapped tightly around my wrist.

"What the fuck" he said lowly, looking at the mess of smashed glasses on the floor, a frown finding its way onto his face. "Stay here" he murmured in my ear, letting go of my wrist to walk out of the kitchen, but I shook my head, quickly following him and grasping his forearm not to risk losing him in the crowd of people.

"You aren't leaving me alone" I said quietly when he turned his head, raising his eyebrow as he gave me a quick glance. I didn't know if he'd actually heard me over the high volume of the music, but he made no move to free himself. I looked down, feeling slightly nervous as I followed him, having no idea of what he wanted to do.

However, his intentions became clear when he stopped in front of the couch in the middle of the living room, looking down at what seemed a completely wasted Niall, that was sitting next to a boy that I recognised as Noah and a dark-haired girl I'd never seen before.

"Niall, we have to talk" he said loudly to be heard over the music, completely ignoring the somewhat annoyed glance the brunette on the couch sent him.

The blue-eyed boy looked up, seeming to realise just in that moment that Harry was standing in front of him. "I got nothing to say to you" he mumbled, the redness in his eyes making his irises clearer in the light of the room.

Harry freed his wrist from my grasp and crossed his arms over his chest, seeming to be annoyed by the younger boy's reaction. "They are destroying everything" he said, deciding to completely ignore the brunette and Noah's presence. "You have to tell them to be careful."

"Who cares!" Niall shouted, eliciting some cheers from some of the people that were within earshot. He took the glass he'd forgotten on the floor next to his feet and finished its contents, before turning it around to make sure it truly was empty, some drops of the alcoholic drink inside spilling on the couch.

Harry huffed, changing his position, seeming to be uneasy at the sight of his friend being completely wasted in front of him. I wondered if it was the first time he saw him like that, given that I was pretty sure that usually he himself was the one that ended up completely drunk by the end of the night. "For fuck's sake Niall, you have to..." he hissed, but he was roughly interrupted.

"No, Harry! Who cares!" Niall shouted again, this time seeming to be a bit pissed by his behaviour. The brunette sitting next to him sensed the change in his tone and stood up, dragging Noah with her. Niall shrugged and stood up, his fingers wrapped loosely around his glass, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder, leaning closer as he spoke. "It's not your fucking house. It's not your decision to make, if you've had enough just fucking leave or something" he slurred into his ear before pushing past him.

Harry gave him a confused glance, turning around quickly and following him as he disappeared in the crowd of people. "What the fuck are you even on about?" He asked loudly, successfully managing to catch Niall's attention again.

The blue-eyed boy turned around, glaring at Harry. "The fuck?" He spat, pushing Harry, catching him by surprise and making him accidentally hit someone that was behind us. "Let me live my fucking life Harry, I'm not a child!" he spat, surprising both me and Harry himself.

"Your parents are going to kill us" Harry stated, stepping closer to Niall and automatically pushing me behind him.

Niall rolled his eyes at his words. "Yeah, my parents, not yours!" He said loudly, catching the attention of everyone that was around us, that turned to us to look at the scene as it unfolded. "Now leave me the fuck alone" he said lowly, seeming to realise that he'd taken it a bit too far, turning around to walk away.

"Niall!" Harry called him, grabbing his wrist to keep him from going away.

The action seemed to enrage the other boy, that turned around, sending him a deep glare. "Let me fucking go!" He shouted at him, shaking his arm vigorously to loosen Harry's grip on him.

"Harry..." I said quietly from where I was standing behind him, starting to get worried that the situation could degenerate somehow. Niall had never struck me as a violent person, but he seemed really drunk in that moment, and I had no idea of how he would've reacted if they'd started arguing.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" Harry hissed at him, completely ignoring me, shaking Niall's wrist to get him to stop trying to pull away from him.

"I said leave!" Niall shouted all of sudden, turning quickly towards him, his next actions surprising everybody in the room.

Before I could even understand what had happened Harry's back hit me harshly, the only reason why we managed not to fall on the ground being the crowd of people behind me.

"What the fuck, Niall?!" Harry spat, his hand flying up to his face as he wiped under his nose in a quick motion, staring in surprise at the blood on his fingers.

I widened my eyes, looking at Niall in surprise, discovering that he was staring at Harry with a shocked look that matched mine. His hand was still closed in a fist, his knuckles red. Had he really just punched Harry? I took a step forward, putting my hand on Harry's shoulder just in time to catch the glare he sent Niall's way, his jaw tightened.

"Harry, let's go" I said quietly, squeezing his forearm lightly, hoping that he wouldn't have punched him back. "Let's just go please."

He looked away from Niall at my request. "Whatever" he said lowly, ignoring the boy as he quickly walked away, pushing away the people that were too drunk to realise they were supposed to let him pass.

I sighed, sending Niall a quick glance before rushing after Harry, taking off my heels to walk faster. "Harry" I called after him, but he didn't seem to be able to hear me over the sound of the music, because he kept walking, not even turning his head to glance at me. "Harry, wait!" I shouted as I saw him get out of the front door, and I pushed myself through the crowd to reach him. I got out, widening my eyes when I saw him get into his car. I ran towards it, thankful for the grass under my feet, sliding on my shoes quickly when I reached the street, opening the door as he turned on the engine, keeping him from driving away. "What are you doing?" I asked him, glancing at him in the mild darkness of the car.

"Leaving" he said sharply, not even looking at me as he spoke.

I nodded to myself, not even thinking twice before sliding on the seat next to him and shutting the door. "Where are we going?" I asked, and he gave me a surprised glance.

He drove away as soon as I closed the door, staring at the street slightly enlightened by the headlights of his car in silence for a couple of minutes. "I don't know" he said quietly in the end with a sigh.

"Let's just go to mine. My parents surely aren't home yet" I suggested, the tone of my voice gentle when I took in how upset he seemed to me. "Harry" I called him quietly, putting my hand on his forearm and squeezing it lightly, hoping to get him to relax a little bit at least. "Try to calm down."

He put his hand on my lap but didn't reply, and we stayed in silence for the rest of the ride.

I glanced up when he parked in front of my house, a sigh of relief escaping my lips when I discovered that I was right, and nobody was home yet.

Harry turned off the car and glanced at me, staring at me for a couple of seconds before speaking. "You forgot your coat at my house" he stated. "I'll bring it back to you tomorrow" he added, before opening his door and getting out of the car.

I did the same, waiting patiently as he took my handbag out of the boot and gave it to me. I took it, quickly taking the key to my house out as we walked to the front door, opening it when we reached it.

I closed the door as soon as we entered and turned on the light in the entrance, turning around and suppressing a surprised sound when I saw the redness of the blood under Harry's nose, his skin starting to get of a darker colour. "Let me look at that" I murmured, dropping the bag on the floor and taking off my heels, putting my hand on the wall not to lose my balance.

"There's no reason to" he murmured, taking off his shoes as well and passing his finger under his nose to clean it up, but ending up making an even bigger mess.

I sighed at his reluctance. "Harry please" I said, taking his arm and making my way upstairs before he could even reply.

"It isn't necessary" he mumbled, freeing his wrist from my grip but still following me as I walked into the bathroom, turning on the light.

"Come on" I said quietly, retrieving a cotton pad from the drawer under the sink and wetting it with water and turning towards Harry, that was sitting on the edge of the bathtub. I started cleaning the blood from his skin, apologising quickly when he flinched under my touch, trying my best to be as gentle as possible. When I was happy with the result I threw the cotton pad away and grabbed a tissue from the same drawer, handing it to him. "You're still bleeding" I replied lowly, and he nodded, pressing it under his nose and tilting his head backwards a bit. I sighed, sitting down next to him when I noticed how tensed up he seemed to be. "Harry, you're okay" I said gently, and he sent me a side-glance. "I mean, you get what I mean" I covered up quickly, and he nodded.

He looked down, playing with the tissue in his hand. "I should've punched him back" he stated quietly, but I shook my head.

"No, you shouldn't have. His parents would've freaked out if you had, you know that." I put my hand on the edge of the bathtub, next to his, quietly debating if I should've held his hand.

He let out an ironic laugh. "They'll be mad anyway, the house was trashed." He pressed the tissue against his nose again, and, despite his words, his body language seemed to relax a bit.

"It's not your fault" I commented quietly, and he shrugged, looking down again.

"Do you honestly think they'll believe it's Niall's fault?" He asked, and I widened my eyes, realising all of sudden why he'd been so adamant in trying to get Niall to get everybody under control.

"But that's not fair" I said, frowning.

He stood up, checking his nose in the mirror before throwing the paper tissue I'd given him away. "Life isn't fair" he simply replied, turning around and leaning against the sink.

I nodded at his words, standing up as well and exiting the bathroom with him following right behind me. "Do you need ice or something for the bruise?" I asked, turning my head quickly to look at him, but he just shook his head.

"No, I'm fine" he replied, carefully passing his finger under his nose to make sure that the bleeding had indeed stopped.

"Are you sure?" I asked him, turning on the light of my bedroom before walking inside, stopping in my tracks and glancing at him as he walked inside.

He sat down on my bed, a stressed sigh leaving his lips. "I am" he replied and I nodded, deciding not to pressure him.

I sat down on the bed as well, automatically crossing my legs. I blushed slightly when I remembered I was wearing a dress, and quickly opted for lying down on my back instead, staring at Harry, that was still sitting at the end of the bed. He passed a hand through his dark hair as he always did when something was stressing him out, his gaze focused in front of him, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Sensing my gaze on him, he turned his head and his eyes met mine. I looked away quickly, blushing slightly when he lay down on my bed next to me, our arms grazing.

"I ruined the start of the new year, didn't I?" He asked quietly after a while, his voice faint in the silence of the room.

I raised myself up on my elbow, glancing at him. "Well, I'm here with you, so it isn't ruined" I told him, regretting the confession as soon as it came out of my mouth. It was surely way too cheesy, and he'd probably noticed it as well. I really should've thought twice before replying.

My embarrassment vanished away when he smiled slightly at my words. "I'm glad" he simply replied, and I nodded, sliding closer to him and putting my hand on his chest as I left a peck on his lips. He hummed at my action, wrapping his arm around my waist. "What was that for?" He asked me, and I shrugged.

"For standing up for what you thought was right" I replied, not moving from my position. "Even though standing up to someone who's clearly drunk isn't clearly the brightest idea."

He let out a little laugh. "Yeah, you're probably right."

I nodded, turning around so that I was facing him, leaning my head on his chest and staring up at him. "How's your nose?" I asked after a while, and he shrugged.

"I'll survive" he said, making me smile at his reply. "Come here" he murmured, and I lifted my head from his chest to lie next to him again. He turned to lie on his side, his hand reaching up to brush a strand of my hair back. "Yeah, it's better like this" he mumbled, closing the distance between us and making our lips meet.

I broke away from the kiss before it could get more heated up, leaving him to stare at me confusedly. "I don't want to hurt you" I admitted quietly.

"I'm not dying, Sierra" he replied, and I laughed.

"Yeah, that's true."

He leaned back a little bit. "So?" He whispered, seeming to wait for my reply.

I shrugged, but leaned closer anyway, brushing my lips against his. He smiled slightly, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him as my fingers intertwined in his dark hair, tugging at it gently and making him moan lightly against my lips. He turned us around so that I was lying on my back, his tongue delving into my mouth unexpectedly but sweetly, with just the slightest hint of urgency. A shiver ran down my spine at the sweet touch, and my fingers fumbled with the two necklaces pending from his neck, pulling his lips against mine again when he momentarily sat up. He went to lie on top of me again, directing some of his weight to his forearms as he kissed me again, pushing me into the mattress.

I parted from the kiss, my heart beating wildly in my chest, my eyes wide as I stared up at him. I reached up, playing with the buttons of his shirt before hesitantly undoing the first. "I want you" I murmured, and he groaned against my lips at my words, rocking his hips down against me.

"I don't have anything with me" he whispered between kisses, making my head spin. "I'm sorry."

I pushed away the slight disappointment that hit me at his reply, knowing that it would've been odder if he'd had condoms with him. "Another time, then" I said, my breath shaky as he left a trail of kisses down my neck, and I felt him nod slightly against my skin.

"I'd like to do something for you, though" he murmured, leaning down to connect our lips again as his hand slowly made its way up my black dress.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! x

Miki

[text_hash] => e2355b8e
)