Sweet Tooth [HS]

TWENTY

The music seemed like it had gotten louder, everybody seemed a little drunker, a little higher, so Max wasn't surprised that nobody had clocked onto the fact Harry fucking Styles was in the building. Everyone seemed totally uninterested. People were too drunk to care, or too drunk to notice. A haze of smoke- from cigarettes and joints alike, created a grey cloud in the room, and Max sort of felt like she, like they were hidden.

Like the smoke, like the darkness, like the crowds of people were complicit in keeping their secret.

"Maxie," she heard Harry's voice, could feel his hot breath on the shell of her ear and it sent shivers down her spine.

She turned to look at him, taking a step back despite the alcohol telling her to take 10 steps forward. "Harry?"

She grabbed the bottle back from Harry and started pouring out a shot of her own. She wanted to bury her hurt feelings.

Needed some sort of distraction from the eyes that she could feel burning holes into her skin.

"Shot?" She asked, playing dumb.

He looked from her, to the shot in her hands, and grinned. "Alright," he said, before taking the lid and swallowing its contents in one fluid motion.

Max copied, and then took two more, and she relished in the fuzzy feeling in her head. She was definitely drunk. She felt more relaxed, felt soothed as the burning from the spirit suddenly turned all welcome and warm in her stomach. As the realisation that Harry didn't really care dissolved inside her mind.

"Yummy," she giggled. "Another?" She asked, offering Harry the bottle. He gladly accepted, but he was looking at her weirdly, she thought. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" He asked as he took a shot. His face crinkled up and Max giggled.

"I dunno. You just look-"

"Harry!" The shrill scream made them both jump, and Max turned to see Lexie scrambling towards them. Lola was closely behind, and Max wanted to groan when she saw Finn and Rory in tow.

"Lex! Hello!" Harry grinned, opening his arms to greet the redhead. "And hello to you, birthday girl," he said to Lola after pulling away from Lexie's hug.

Lola's face lit up and her jaw hung open like a puppet's. "Oh my god," she squeeled, and Max thanked the gods the music was at a deafening volume. "Thank you for coming! It's such an honour, I'm so- I'm so thankful!" She slung her arms around Harry's neck and Max had to remind herself not to get jealous.

Lola is a lesbian, Max.

And he's not yours, anyway.

"Anything for the birthday girl," Harry said warmly. "Ror, did you manage to get me a drink? This shit is like petrol."

"Rum and coke as usual," Rory smiled, passing a cup to Harry while taking a sip of his own.

Max was surprised when Finn passed her a cup too, and she attempted to smile at him. God, don't be so nice, Finn! She wanted to scream, but she let the words sink inside her head.

"Lola, Harry is actually me and Max's present to you," Lexie beamed, raising both her arms to sling across Harry and Rory's shoulders. Max smiled, she looked so tiny compared to the huge boys she was hanging off. "So I think we deserve a thank you."

Lola burst out laughing, "Lexie I have never met anyone as self-righteous as you." Lola said, then leaned forwards to plant a kiss on Lexie's cheek. "Thank you," she smiled, then turned to Max, "And thank you."

Max grinned when Lola kissed her cheek, "We got you a keg as well, I think that's far better than a pop star."

Harry's smiling face turned to outrage, "Well that's not what I've been told," he said cooly, eyes still set firmly on Max. "And trust me, I've been told many times."