18 - h.s

twenty eight

Harry Styles

Sophia remained in the same position for a while, just looking around the party and smiling to Niall across the room a few times. She continued to snake her hand through the small curls at the nape of my neck, twirling them around her fingers, me keeping my hand tightly gripped to her thigh as she sat across my lap. 

She looked around to me and smiled, despite it not meeting her now glazed over eyes. I tilted my head to the side and looked at her glossy eyes with a worried expression as her smile faltered and she gazed at me with a numb and withdrawn expression on her face. I knitted my eyebrows together and rubbed my thumb across her thigh for reassurance as her hand stopped running through my hair and just rested on the back of my neck as the coldness of her hands contrasted with the heat of my skin.

"Soph, are you okay?" I asked, still rubbing my thumb back and forth over her leg, keeping my other hand firmly holding her waist to stop her from slipping from my lap. 

She looked at me with a beaten expression on her face, her eyes looked tired and worn although her mouth was upturned with a small in-genuine smile as she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, showing her diamond stud earring that reflected the coloured led lights from around the room. "Yeah, of course I am," she let out a small and breathy chuckle that wasn't laced with any kind of humour at all. "Why? Do I not look alright?" She asked, her eyebrows knitting together while her smile remained on her lips through her confusion at my question.

"Honestly, no." I shook my head and kept my eyebrows furrowed. "You look tired but emotionally tired. You want to go? I know how draining parties can be." I said with a genuine tone to my voice as I leaned in a little bit closer, keeping the volume of my voice hushed. 

"No, I'll be fine." she shook her head and moved away from me, causing my grip on her to loosen as she removed her hand from my neck as my skin that was used to her warmth ran cold, a breeze blowing through my curls from the open patio door that blew throughout the room. 

Sophia moved and stood up from my lap, stumbling backwards a little bit before looking down at me with a smile as I looked back at her with a confused expression. I was about to ask where she was going but she put a hand up and chuckled, probably already knowing what I was going to ask. "I'm only going to the bathroom," She giggled drunkly, "And I don't think I need you to escort me there mister." She laughed and tapped my nose lightly with her index finger again, causing me to chuckle in response and nod. 

"Okay well, be careful okay?" I chuckled, running my ring cladded hand through my hair to push it away from my face as I began to run hot all of a sudden. She nodded furiously with a smile and spun on her heels as I saw her make her way over to the staircase, falling over drunkly into Louis as she did so. I shook my head and laughed as she looked round to me to give me a thumbs up that she's okay, which I returned with a laugh as I made eye contact with Louis who rolled his eyes and was also visibly laughing at her.

I saw her make her way upstairs as she stumbled up each step, gripping the bannister for support, maybe wearing heels and necking over 15 shots wasn't a good mix.

When she finally turned the corner I stood from the couch, pulling a packet of cigarettes from my jacket pocket and making my way over to Louis who was walking out to the pool. 

"Hey Lou," I spoke up, jogging up to him to catch up to him as he turned at the mention of his name, probably a little too quickly as he spilled a little bit of his drink. With a small 'oops' he looked down as his jeans now covered with beer. "Want one?" I reached out to him with one in between my fingers which he accepted and took it from me, now holding it in his. He gripped his cup with his left hand, the cigarette hooked between his fingers of the same hand, his right hand wiping himself down from his spilled beer.