Letters To Harry

17 - An Explanation

Harry's POV

"Harry?" Zayn poked his head around the door to my hospital room.

"Whaaat?" I whined, annoyed at being woken up from my nap.

He smirked.

"Well, I was going to tell you your girlfriend's here, but I can tell her to leave if you don't want to-"

I sat bolt upright.

"She's here?!" I couldn't hide the huge smile that broke across my face, earning an eye roll from my best friend.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a quick flash of pink and gold. Moments later, my arms were tightly wrapped around her waist with her head buried in my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, "Do you think you can ever forgive me?"

"I was never mad at you."

Zayn slowly backed out of the room, grinning at me as he shut the door behind him. I lifted Alia's head level with mine and looked seriously into her eyes.

"I have to tell you-"

"About X Factor?" she finished my sentence. I froze.

"H-how do you know?" I stuttered.

"I don't know what happened," she explained, "Louis picked me up at the airport and said you needed to tell me about something that happened in 2010 and 2011. What is it?"

I took a deep breath and started to explain.

(insert previous chapter Harry and Louis' POV)

"We dated until July of 2011 and then we broke up. I think we just fought too much and didn't quite trust eachother the way we should have. Louis got with Eleanor and I started dating around. The media saw me as a player, I was trying to get over him. I really did love him, and I thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives together, you know as a couple. Last year when I dated Jade (Thirwall) I realized that I needed to stop hoping that we would ever be able to make up and be together again. 

Over this past year, I accepted that, and I've been trying to get back into the friendship we used to have. It gets easier all the time, and I think we're there now. He asked me last week if I still had feelings for him and I was honestly able to say no. The only person I'm in love with now is you! I don't want to lose you, ever. I don't want you to think I'm using you to get over him, and I just hope you can give me a chance to prove it. 

A lot of people aren't comfortable with people like me, so I get it if you aren't. Even so, if you hate me now, please tell me? I can't go for long thinking I have a chance with you if I don't."

I looked at the ground sadly, never anticipating her reaction. She placed her hand on my cheek and leant down to look at me, smiling gently.

"Do you really love me now?" She asked. I nodded seriously. "Then why does it matter? Harry, I appreciate your honesty, but why did you think that would impact how I feel about you?"

"B-becasue-"

"Because you like guys as well as girls?" I bit my lip nervously.

"Sweetie, do you remember my first letter to you?" She rested her head on my shoulder as understanding dawned on me.

"You too?" I asked her.

"Not exactly," She told me, "It was just the one girl. I wasn't ever attracted to others, only her."

"That's how I felt about Louis!" I exclaimed happily. She smiled at my giddiness.

"See? It doesn't matter," her voice was getting slower and quieter, "As long as you love me, and as long as I love you, that's what counts now."