RUN AWAY || H.S

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟎𝟔

Harry's POV.

Fuck, I am tired and hungry. I can barely keep my eyes open after a long day of work—and I haven't even seen dinner yet. I'm hoping Kiara has whipped up something decent for me, and, more than that, I can't wait to spend some time with Alana. I want to get to know her better... everything about her. I want to know what makes her laugh, what foods light up her day, even which side of the bed she prefers. But I know I have to take it slow. I don't want to scare the poor girl off.

Niall has been stuck at the office with me all day, while I worked my ass off for a big client. Meanwhile, Niall treated lunch like a competitive sport, devouring anything and everything in sight. How he manages to digest that much food is a mystery—and it certainly explains his constant, noxious farts that could clear a room in seconds.

"God, I am starvingggg," Niall whines, his voice echoing around the apartment like a desperate cry for sustenance.

"Didn't you and Louis just demolish an entire box of pizza?" I tease, already picturing his mouth half-full.

"Yeah, we did. But that was, like, 34 minutes and 42 seconds ago," he exclaims, checking his watch as if timing his next snack attack.

"Jesus!" I mutter, genuinely shocked at the sheer volume he can consume. Where do all his fats go, I wonder?

Just then, Niall's voice booms down the hall. "Honey, I am home!" he announces as he strides into the apartment.

A delicious aroma fills the air—something savory and homely. I can almost taste it. God bless Kiara, I think, already salivating at the thought of a good meal.

Before long, Kiara bursts into the living room from her bedroom. She greets Niall with a playful kiss that quickly escalates into a full-blown make-out session—right in front of me. I can't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Helllo? I'm starving here, and I didn't come here to see you two shoving your tongues together," I shout, hoping to remind them I exist.

Hearing my voice, Kiara pulls Niall away, her face suddenly flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry, Haz. I think dinner must be done by now."

"What do you mean by 'I think'? Aren't you cooking?" Niall asks, clearly confused by her vagueness.

"Nope. Alana is cooking something delicious—and I don't even know how to pronounce it," Kiara giggles, her voice light despite the earlier tension.

"Alana is cooking?" I ask, turning toward the kitchen with excitement. My heart does a little happy dance at the thought of seeing her—my angel in the kitchen.

"Woah, calm down, Haz. I need to talk to you first. Niall, baby, you go freshen up; I'll talk to Harry," Kiara instructs firmly.

"Sure, princess," Niall replies, and he quickly disappears, leaving Kiara and me alone.

"What is it, Kiara? I wanna talk to Alana—can you hurry up?" I rush, a mix of impatience and concern bubbling in my chest.

"Harry, sit down," Kiara says, motioning toward the couch. I peel off my jacket and take a seat, my mind already racing.

"What is it, Ki?" she asks softly, leaning in.

Her tone drops to a whisper. "What are your intentions with Al—?" she begins, carefully choosing her words.

"What? What do you mean?" I ask, genuinely baffled.

"I mean, I saw this morning how your face lit up when you saw her. And I know you're not exactly the stereotypical playboy—but you do have a reputation for fucking and dumping both men and women. I don't want you anywhere near Al if that's your intention. Fucking and dumping her isn't what she needs right now. She's here for a fresh start, and I'm gonna make sure she doesn't run away because of you," Kiara declares, her eyes serious and protective.