Second Chances

Chapter: 11

It was quiet as Zayn's image slowly exited the doorway into the warm L.A. breeze. I hesitated to not follow him, my body rocking back and forth on my pink moccasins.

"Text me, if you ever need anything." Zayn's smile was pure, not hurt or offended. I nodded and shyly returned the smile. Harry frowned momentarily before returning to a straight face.

"Bye, Zayn." Harry's accent made his name sound different. "Be careful out there. I don't want you getting dealt." he said. Holy mood swing. It was astonishing how fast he could go from rude, to happy, to caring. I couldn't wrap my head around it. They pulled each other into a one armed hug, the other arm patting each other's back.

"Bye, Haz." he peeked over Harry's shoulder at me. His voice lowered. "Don't screw up." his eyebrows went up and his heavily tattooed hand pointed at Harry. His black leather jacket blew open, revealing a white shirt as him and Harry had a little mind conversation.

"Haz?" I laughed when the large door had been closed.

"Shut it." he tried to keep a straight face while defending himself. "It's an old nickname, nobody really uses it anyways-" his voice was broken by the door knob being jiggled, following in which Niall walked in.

"Hey, Haz." Niall shut the door. "Saw Zayn downstairs, somethin' happen?" Harry burried his face in his hands and rubbed his temples.

"Oh yeah, nobody uses it anyways." I mocked Harry about Niall proving my point. He ignored me and turned his attention to Niall. His elbow rested on a table near the door, his fingers rubbing his head.

"No." he sighed and nodded. "Nah, nothing happened." his stood up straight. My feet shuffled back to avoid his body touching mine. I didn't realize how close I had moved to him

"You sure? He seemed to be in quite a hurry to leave." Harry's eyes shot to Nialls and they both gasped.

"Niall!" Harry hissed.

"Sorry, sorry.. I kinda forgot." he put his hands up.

"How can you forget that!?" Harry threw his hands in the air and they hit his jeans when they came down.

"Um, forget what?" I chimed in. Niall was relieved that the attention was off him. Harry's eyes were dark and he turned to me.

"Nothing. Just something between Me, Niall, Zayn, and some friends." I wanted more answers. He looked at me and realized I wanted more. He sighed. "I guess you could say that Zayn kinda ruined our lives. He's the reason I don't have a job. Or well, the job I wanted." he looked down, fists tight. Niall looked upset and he began to pace.

"Then why are you still friends?" I pushed.

"We're just-" he closed his eyes and sighed. "Nothing, I don't need to explain to you." Harry moved past Niall towards the kitchen.

"Oh." is all I could think to say. What a way to treat someone who chose you over freedom, for whatever screwed up reason I'd picked him.

"Hey," Niall caught me off guard. "I'm gonna take a shower, do you need the bathroom?" he pointed inside. I nodded no, He continued into the room. I peeked over the door frame to the kitchen where Harry stood.
"So tell me, Grace." He didn't move but cleared his throat. "Why do you continue to stalk me?" he smirked up at me.

"I'm sorry?" Rude...

"I mean don't get me wrong," he put my hand between his two soft ones. "You're fun to observe too-"

"Uh, um.. Thanks?"

"So, why we're you watching me?"

"I-I don't know." I lied. My heart pace quickened as Niall exited the bathroom and entered the kitchen. He stood at the door, silently. The whole time I'd turned to look, Harry hadn't taken his eyes off of me once. "Hey, Niall." I tried to avoid eye contact. Harry's eyes stung into my skin and surprisingly, made me want to smile. The end of my lip momentarily lifted up, then down. Harry and Niall glanced at each other before laughing at the same time. "What?" I looked at them both as Niall opened a cabinet. Harry's hands were intertwined and his head fell forward as his dimples showed.

"Just Harry, he's being a complete mug and he knows it." they laughed again.

"Shut your trap," he put his finger up to the blonde and held in a laugh. "You know." his dimpled popped back up. I was so lost, what were they saying? I felt like everything was spinning around me. My hand shook and my vision started to blur, much to quickly for me to adapt to. "Um uh, Grace.. Are you okay?"

"You've obviously never had a panic attack. You're just having a problem with anxiety, don't be worried."
"Are you okay?"
"You know what you're doing, mate.." Niall looked a sort of shocked. "I've never seen ya like that." he looked to Harry.

"Like what?" He swept his curls back.

"You automatically knew what to do and out of all things, that's the thing I'd least expect you to intently know how to do."

"I have a sister, Niall. She had panic attacks all the time and we were all each other had." he kept his hand on me, but I felt it slipping. "What's wrong, Grace? You are obviously worried about something." his tone was low. Niall had left the room. Harry began to whisper, "You can tell me, I know you're afraid."

"You." I said.

"What?"

"You." I repeated, "I'm scared, afraid, because of you." I shook my head.

"I'm sorry." He sat up.

"I don't know." I said. "Why me? Why'd you have to help me?"

"Because liked you, and you needed help. I dunno, I was drawn to you." he smiled, I smiled back. "What?" He said.

"Honestly?" I asked, He nodded. "You make me terrified, excited, upset, and lost all at once. I don't know you."

"Well I'll tell you this," he began. His hand went to my shoulder. "I don't want anything but your safety." He squeezed my shoulder.

"Yeah, um.. Sorry to interrupt," Niall appeared. "But Zayn just texted me. He wants all of us to meet him at April's." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Not a chance, Niall. I'm not taking her anywhere near April or her Boyfriend." Harry spoke quickly.

"Who?" I piped in.

"April. The star attraction of the whore museum." Niall gulped down water and scrolled down his phone. I giggled and thought about what she could be like. From what I pictured, I didn't like it.

"She said that the little tool of hers would leave us alone." Harry spat.

"She did, and he will. He's only there because Zayn and him are still close friends."

"See, this is why I keep my distance from Zayn. He pulled apart our family and split it in half with himself in the middle so that he could have all of us." Harry stood up, tugging his curls.

"Haz, relax. It'll be fine and you can leave Grace with me." Harry thought about it.

"Fine." he sucked in a breathe and grabbed his keys. "Just because if I don't they won't be looking for only me."

"What?" I questioned. He grabbed my hand. And whispered to me as we walked to the door.

"Don't loose sight of me."