What's your Poison? - h.s

42.

What if we left today? What if we said goodbye to safe and sound?

What if we're hard to find? What if we lost our minds?What if we left them fall behind, And they're never found?

*****

Everything felt normal with my parents tonight. We reminisced about happy memories of Niall, with George adding hilarious stories in about him at College. My parents had obviously heard them before from other meals with George, they didn't laugh as hard as I did. Especially when he told us about the time Niall tried to give a girl in a lecture his phone number but she passed the note on to the girl next to her instead. Niall was too kind to say anything so ended up going on a date with this girl he didn't like at all and was apparently really boring. It just summed up Niall.

I didn't feel sad when we spoke about him. All I felt was joy that I got to have someone like him as my brother and that we have all these happy things to remember him by.
After the meal had finished and we were all out of wine, I decided to call it a night. Giving my parents a hug and a kiss goodnight before heading up to my childhood room. I was worried about having to see Niall's room again. As I reach the top of the stairs, with my room ahead of me and Niall's to the left, the door wide open, I can't help but stand in the door way and look inside.

Even more memories come flooding in, making me feel warm inside. I lean against the door frame and soak up the feeling, hearing the stairs creak behind me and George join me in the doorway.

"He would have been so proud of you." George said as he leans on the opposite side to me, back against the frame, looking down at me.

"Yeah...sure. I'm following my dreams of working in a bar." I say sarcastically, knowing he wouldn't be proud because I'm not even proud of myself.

"Hey..." he says as he places his hand on my shoulder, making me look at him. "You got to Brooklyn, even after everything that happened. You got there." He wouldn't be saying tis if new everything that had happened in Brooklyn so far.

"I ran away."

"You did what you had to, to cope with losing your brother. And you made it through. I'm proud of you too." George smiles at me. The wine in my system isn't let me hold back the tears as they roll down my face. He pulls me against his chest with a hug and holds me tightly. "I just need to know that you're happy...with him." I can hear slight disgust in his voice as he brings up Harry. It's either jealousy or dislike towards him.

"I know I will be eventually." I say against his chest, telling the truth. I let George hold me for a few moments longer, knowing this will be the last time I see him for awhile, if ever. I pull back and give him a smile. "I should get to sleep. Harry's picking me up in the morning to go back to Brooklyn. It was good seeing you again, George. I'm sorry I hadn't reached out before."

"It's fine, I knew you were just protecting yourself from dealing with losing Niall." He shrugs. We say our good nights before I head into my room and he heads into the guest room. It's apparently a common occurrence for him to stay after the dinners so that he can drink and enjoy the night.

My old room gives me the same warmth Niall's did as I climb into bed. Feeling instantly safe as my head rests on the pillow. This place will always be home, no matter what.

***

I'm up before anyone else in the house. We all enjoyed the wine last night so need that extra rest, although that wasn't an option for me. Harry texted me before I fell asleep telling me to be ready for 8am, which I was happy about as I now don't have to say bye to my parents and George and explain where I'm off to. I don't really know that myself. I leave a little note on the kitchen table before I leave. Just thanking them for the dinner and that I love them and will see them soon, which I hope isn't a lie. I sit eagerly by the front door, on the porch, waiting for Harry to pull up.

Memories of when I was younger flood my mind. When Niall and I would sit on the porch together, him playing his guitar whilst I sang badly along side him. Or when I would come home after a house party and he'd be sat here waiting for me to get home, making sure I get back safely. I can almost feel him sat next to me right now.

"You ready?" I hear Harry snap me out of my thoughts as he climbs out of his car, too engrossed thinking of the past to notice him pull up in front of the house. He brought my favourite car of his, an Aston Martin DB5. I quickly grab my bag and jump up to join him, smiling as I get to him. He moves round the front of the car to the opposite side, holding out his keys to me. I hesitate as I question what he's doing. "We're in this together, right?" He says as he dangles the keys in front of me. I realise he's letting me drive. My jaw drops as I realise and grab the keys, dropping my bag at his feet and skipping round to the driver's side.

**

I'd never really driven into the city before. I always imagined it would be incredibly stressful and busy. But when you're driving a car like this, you can tell people just respect you more. 

"Turn left up here." Harry says as we get to the junction.

"Brooklyn is right up here." I argue as I get in the correct lane to turn left.

"Well we aren't going to Brooklyn." He says with a deadpan face. "It's not safe for you at that flat anymore, and I need you closer to me if we are going to do this together."

The words I need you closer to me, almost take my breath away. The smile on my faces grows slightly, making me forget about the fact I'm not going back to my cute little apartment.

Everything feels different as I walk through the lobby this time. This is my new home. At least for now. Whilst I'm excited to have a fresh start and live somewhere as beautiful as this, I can't help but think of my studio back in Brooklyn. All my stuff that made it feel like home. 

As the elevator keeps going up and up, I notice Harry pressed the button for the floor just below his apartment. 

"I hope you don't have any parties, otherwise I'm gonna be kept up all night." I joke as we both face the doors, feeling as though we are standing miles apart. 

"Don't be stupid," He scoffs,"You'll be there too." He says with a smirk. It's weird hearing Harry talk openly about the future for us. A good weird. The doors chime open and Harry leads the way to the end of the hallway to the door. He unlocks the door, holding it open for me to walk through first. 

I'm met by the beautiful view of New York, with Central park as the centre piece. Then notice all the furniture around, is all mine. From my apartment. "Harry..." I whisper in shock as I walk into the beautiful apartment, filled with my stuff. My home. "How?"

"I have my ways." He says as he walks up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist, pulling me against him before connecting his lips with my neck. He sure does have his ways. I close my eyes as each kiss makes me weaker. I can't resist him anymore, flipping round, his hands gripping onto my waist as I do, lifting me up. My legs wrap around him as if second nature, as he lowers us down onto the couch, hanging over me.

This apartment instantly feels like home again.