Our Summer of Direction

Chapter Twenty-three

Harry's POV

“What was that about?” Emilea asks. I shrug and reach for Katie’s phone.

“These are awful! Why would you want her to see them?” I ask incredulously. “What are you talking about? I tweeted a picture of you two sleeping on each other!” Emilea says defensively.

“Well here are all the comments to your picture!” I exclaim handing her the phone.

“Why are they saying all these things?” She asks after reading the first couple pages.

“I dunno; I am going to go talk to her.” I say going to the bathroom and trying to open the door.

“Hey Love, let me in.” I call quietly. Liam walks past and raises an eyebrow.

“I really have to…pee.” I say casually.

“We have more bathrooms.” Liam retorts.

“I like this one?” I say trying to be less conspicuous.

“Uhuh…” He says walking away. I go back to tapping on the door. When she won’t unlock it I reach above the rim on the door and get the key. I unlock the door and go in there to see her sitting in the bathtub with her knees pulled up to her chest. I climb into the bathtub with her and nudge her gently.

“Hey.” I say.

“How did you get in here?” She asks drying her eyes.

“Spare key.” I explain. She blinks back more tears.

“Katie, they’re just jealous.” I say rubbing her back.

“Why? Because I am dating you? Can’t they just be happy for you?” She asks hysterically. I pull her closer and she blinks up with such sad brown eyes that I feel like I need to make a joke; that I need to do anything to make her smile or laugh and not cry. I feel my heart break a little every time she cries. I rack my brains quickly for a joke and decide to go with one that would make her laugh on a regular happy day.

“They’re jealous because you got me…and can you really blame them? I mean look at me!” I say cheekily. I smile when I hear her little giggle.

“That’s my girl.” I say kissing her forehead. I sit with her in silence for a few minutes until she starts getting restless.

“Harry?” She asks leaning on me.

“Why are you still here for me? I have sooo much drama. You started school for me, you sat in a hospital with me, you take me to parties, you take me to concerts, you shop for me, and you’re in a fucking BATHTUB with me! Why?” She exclaims looking really confused. I don’t reply right away. Honestly it is because I am trying to say what I want to say.

“You wanna know why?” I ask looking at her like she is stupid.

“Yes.” She whispers. I look down at her and see her deep eyes and I take a deep breath and say what I had wanted to say since day one.

“Because I love you.”  

Emilea’s POV

“Hey, where did the love birds go?” Niall jokes coming to sit next to me. I silently pass him Katie’s phone and with each page it gets worse.

“For every nice message there are 5 bad ones. Why on Earth are they beating on her suddenly?” He asks me.

“It is all my fault. I tried to make up to her for the hickey thing yesterday by posting the most adorable picture of her and Harry snoozing in his room. I didn’t expect twitter to hate on her so much!” I say feeling horribly and completely awful.