TULIP-H.S

Chapter 22

I continuously tap my foot against the floor as I stare at the front door waiting for a knock. With every sudden sound, I get paranoid that it's Harry coming up the elevator and walking to my apartment. I look at the time on my phone and see it's six o'clock.

He's late.

Maybe his plane was delayed.

Maybe he couldn't get a taxi here.

Maybe his baggage got lost.

I started to make up so many excuses of why Harry might be late but didn't think of one... that he simply didn't want to show up. Yet here I am, still waiting for him.

_ _ _ _

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

I jolt at the loud sound. My body felt stiff, and my eyes squinted from the bright light above. I look around me, confused about my surroundings. I realize I am still sitting at my dining table.

I must have fallen asleep.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

I hear it again.

"I'm coming," I shout.

I stand from where I was sitting, doing a quick stretch and rubbing my eyes awake.

I know it's Harry knocking at my door this late at night. Which is why I take my time to open the door. My hand shakily grabs onto the door knob and slowly turns it. I open the door to Harry standing across from me. I sometimes forget how angelic he looks. I stare at him with awe, taking in his presence. As soon as I looked into his eyes, I caught him looking at me the way I was at him.

After a long silence between us, I clear my throat. Harry's eyes shift to mine...a smile spreads across his face.

"Would you like to come in?" I ask.

Harry gives me a nod. I open the door wider for him to enter. I guide him to take a seat in the living room. I sit on the love sofa while he takes the main couch. Silence fills the air again as we don't know who should say something first.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Harry speaks first.

"I wanted to talk about how we left things last time," I say.

"Before you continue. Can I say I'm sorry for how I handled the situation, I should have told you sooner. It was shitty of me to assume you'll be okay after what you heard. I never took into consideration your feelings." He says.

"It was shitty of you, knowing what you guys did to save your reputation. It makes me wonder if the same would ever happen to me. I might not have family looking for me, but I have my friends. I know they wouldn't rest until they know what happened." I voice my concerns.

"Iris. Trust me when I say this; I will never let anything happen to you. I would never mistreat you the way Liam did to Hailey." Harry says.

"But how can I know you won't? Harry, I barely know you. Yet you want me to trust you after what you told me." I say, frustrated.

Harry drops his head in his hand. "Look, I don't want to argue about this. Just tell me what I need to do to fix this."

"Expose Liam for what he did to Hailey. Tell the world how much of a monster he is, not only what he did to Hailey but what he almost did to me." My voice quivers.

Harry raises a brow at my words. " I don't know if I can do that, Iris. Not only will it affect me, but it will affect everyone in the band. We barely saved face when the news broke out. Exposing Liam may ruin us completely." Harry says nervously.