Live While We're Young

~Chapter 12~

    It didn't take long to get there, but our table was ready when we got there. It was just a fancy steakhouse, and I was glad because I hated seafood, and Japanese, and all those other weird foods.

    I ordered the chicken tenders, childish I know, but I loved them. Katie ordered a hamburger, and Dani & El ordered salads. I didn't even try to remember what the boys ordered.

    "So, Katie, how long are you staying?" Niall asked.

    "I don't know. I can stay the night if you don't mind," she answered.

    "We don't mind," Niall said a little too quickly. He quickly added to El & Dani, "You should stay too."

    "Ok," Katie smiled.

    "I'll be right back..." Niall mumbled. He kicked my chair as he passed, but I think it was meant for Harry.

    "I'm going to the restroom, I'll be right back," I said. I pulled Harry up from the seat beside me.

    "What?!" he asked when we were out of earshot of everyone else.

    "Niall likes Katie I think," I told him.

    "They'd be so cute together!" Harry adored.

    "Yea, but I think he's upset about something. When he got up, he kicked my chair leg, but I think he meant to hit yours."

    "Oh."

    We turned the corner where the bathrooms were, and didn't see anyone.

    "Maybe he's in the bathroom, go check!" I told Harry.

    I waited forever! Harry must be talking to him. Finally, after like five minutes they came out. Niall was red eyed.

    "Are you ok?" I asked him.

    "You know I like Katie?" he asked.

    "Yea..."

    "I'm so stupid."

    "We don't have time for this, it's ok. I'm going to text El and ask her to bring eye drops because the only ones I have are in Katie's bag."

    "Fine..."

    Eleanor got there really quick. "Are you ok?" she asked me, then she saw Niall. "Oh, Niall what's wrong?"

    "Nothing..." he murmured. El looked at me, I just shrugged.

    I took the eye drops from her and put them in Niall's eyes. You couldn't tell he'd been crying anymore. "Niall, you go back. Then, Harry & I. Then, El," I told them and thats what we did.

    Once we were all back, we finished eating and left. Nobody questioned anything. It didn't take long until we were back home, and on the couch.

    "Katie, you can stay in the guest bedroom and El & Dani, you can stay with Liam & Louis. I'm going to go put my PJs on," I told them. I walked upstairs and got out sweatpants and a tank top. Right as I finished changing, and getting all the make up off my face, there was a knock on my door. I opened it and saw Harry standing there.

    "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked.

    "Sure," I said as he came in. I shut the door behind him.

    He sat down on my bed and looked at his twiddling thumbs while he talked, "Tay, I'm sorry for walking in on you girls today... I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, and we just thought you guy would freak out because of you hair or something. We didn't think you guys would be... um... naked."

    I sat down next to him, "It's fine. I just wasn't expecting it. I'm not mad at you, if that's what you think. You've seen me change before, anyway."

    "Taylor, we're best friends right?" he asked.

    "Of course," I answered.

    "And you would tell me, or show me, anything right?"

    "I guess?" I was confused.

    He lifted the bottom of my tank top up so he could see my stomach, I froze, and my scar. He brushed his fingers across it, as if examining it. "What happened..." he finally asked quietly not looking up from his fingers, "and why didn't I see this before?"

    I gulped. I knew one day I would have to tell Harry what happened. I took a deep breath, "I've been covering it up with make up..."

    He looked up, "How did this happen?"

    I took another deep breath. "Harry, I never told you why my mom divorced my dad." He didn't say anything, so I continued. "When I was little, before I met you, and when my parents were still together, my father abused me. He would slap me if I said something wrong, or kick me when I didn't do what he asked. My mom tried to stop him, but he was stronger than she was. One night, he came home and he was drunk. I don't remember much about that night, but I remember the sharp blade against my skin. I remember being in an ambulance, and then falling asleep and waking up in the hospital. My mom told me they had to do emergency surgery to stitch it," a tear slipped down my cheek, "So, after that, she divorced him. I never saw him again. He might be in jail, maybe not, I don't know." Harry wrapped his arms around me, and I burrowed my head in his chest.

    "I'm so sorry, Taylor," he whispered. He let me sit there and cry until, I had no tears left. It felt good, letting it all out, and not having to just push it deeper down.

    "Thank you..." I whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

    "It's okay. I know now, that's all that matters," he whispered back.

    I looked up at him, "Did the other boys notice?" He nodded.

    "You don't have to tell them..." he said.

    "Will you?" I asked. I wanted them and El and Dani to know, but I didn't think I could tell them.

    "Are you sure?" he asked.

    "Yes."

    "Ok, I'll tell them tommorrow. It's getting late, you should get some sleep," he said as he got up and headed for the door.

    "Wait," I said.

    "Yea?"

    "Stay..." I asked, I felt like a child after being scared by a movie.

    "Ok," he whispered as he threw his shirt on the chair in the corner, and climbed into the bed with me. He wrapped his arms around me like he does when i'm cold. It felt good, I felt safe.

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Hope you guys liked that!!! Ok, well i really dont think this story is any good, so i may not be posting anymore. but, i hate to stop right in the middle so if you are reading this and actually want me to continue please comment!! Thanks! :)