Ecstasy [h.s.]

40

May 28, 2023

The elevator dings open, and Harry and I stand there in the entryway of the elevator, staring dumbfounded at the boys sitting in the living room in front of us. "Oh thank fucking god," Niall exclaims, leaping up from the couch to tug me into the living room. "We thought you guys were dead."

"No," I kick off my heels as I sit down next to Louis, who wraps his arm around mine immediately. I notice that his hands are shaking as he does so, however much he tries to hide it. "Are you guys okay?"

"We're fine," Niall says, a clip of shortness to his voice.

I gape slightly, looking at the boys beside me, all of them extremely still. "What the fuck happened back there? Does no one have any explanations?"

"God knows," Liam scoffs, lowering the cigarette from his mouth. "I honestly don't really give a fuck, as long as that suitcase is out of your hands."

He's lying. He has to be lying. There's no way they didn't know about what was happening. "You're telling me that none of you guys knew what happened?" I ask, leaning forward on the couch.

"We didn't, Scarlett," Harry says quietly.

My head whips towards him. "You're lying. You guys have to be lying."

I watch as Zayn and Louis exchange glances. "We're not, Scarlett." I just sigh in response, my voice quiet. "Are you okay?" Zayn rubs my arm on my other side.

"I'm fine," I shake my head, turning to Liam, my voice carrying a hint of weariness and frustration. It had been a long day, filled with unexpected twists and turns, and I just needed some peace and quiet. I'm too tired to be mad right now. "I'm going to go upstairs and try to go to bed." 

Niall reaches for my hand, squeezing it comfortingly. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, Scar."

I feign a smile to the best of my ability. I know they're lying, I know Harry's lying. With that, I made my way towards the staircase, hoping that the solace of sleep would offer a temporary escape from the chaos of the day.

"I'm going to bed as well," Harry says, his tone echoing my fatigue, as he dragged himself away from the group and began to follow me upstairs. It was clear that the events of the day had taken their toll on him as well. I keep walking down the hall, hearing Harry's footsteps quietly behind me.

As we reach my bedroom door, both of us halt in unison, a shared sense of curiosity and uncertainty stopping us in our tracks. "What?" I furrow my eyebrows at him in surprise, my earlier weariness momentarily replaced. Harry's expression mirrors my own confusion, leaving us both standing there, on the precipice of a conversation that could potentially unravel the mysteries of the day.

"You're really good at pretending, you know that?" Harry asks, cocking his head slightly at me.

"Of course I am," I turn to look at him head-on. "Why, are you surprised?"

"No, I just didn't know you could do it if you wanted to." 

"Well, if my reputation's on the line, then I'd do a lot of things." I smile condescendingly at all.

I watch as Harry's eyes flit down to my lips, his fingers grazing my wrist ever so slightly. "You sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I know you lied. But I don't care." I replied, my voice barely audible, laced with a hint of vulnerability that I could no longer conceal. Harry's eyes, danced between my own, their depths filled with a mixture of concern and something more, something that sent shivers down my spine and quickened my heartbeat.