1 in 7 Billion (Harry Styles)

Chapter 41

Harry POV:

Louis was shaking as I was frozen in place. I had no idea the extent of his and Eleanor's breakup.
His breathing was heavy and he aggressively ran his fingers through his hair. You could tell he hasn't showered in days. He hasn't left the penthouse since all the drama went down.

I heard footsteps coming down the stairs, but I didn't dare move.

"What the fuck is goin' on mate?" Zayn squinted at the scene in front of him. The shatter had obviously woken him up. He stared at the broken glass that was scattered along the floor and then back up at Louis.

"Sorry bro. It slipped." Louis lied even though he knew Zayn wouldn't buy it.

Zayn gave me a look and I knew what he was trying to say.

"Go to bed man. I'll clean it up." I offer and stand up from the bar stool.

"No no no, I'll clean it." Louis wouldn't look us in the eyes. He was all over the place.

"Louis." Zayn said softly. They were probably better friends than any of us and with Zayn's words Louis's shoulders slumped. He pulled at his hair and left the kitchen.

Zayn sighed. "Night bro."

"Night."

I grabbed a towel that was hanging off the oven and started to wipe up the mix of broken glass and liquor.

"Want some help?" A soft and gentle voice said from behind me.
I turned and found Hayley resting against the countertop in nothing but one of my old button-ups. Beautiful as ever.

"You should be getting some rest. There's no way you're still sober." I try to scold her, but the way she looked softened my tone.

"Puking sobered me up a bit. As did the deafening sound of glass against a wall. But yes, I'm not completely sober. Although, I happen to be sober enough to apologize." she sighed and I turned back around to continue cleaning. I heard her walk over to me and she sat right next to the spill. Her legs were crossed at the ankles and she patiently waited for me to look up at her.

I gave in because I'm a sucker when it comes to her.

Her glassy, puppy-dog eyes met mine.

"I'm sorry, Harry."

I finished wiping up, threw away the broken glass, and sat across from her. We stared at each other for a moment before she spoke again.

"I'm not apologizing for going or getting drunk. I'm not apologizing for having fun - which I did - or inviting Taylor or dancing." She took a deep breath. "I don't know what I'm sorry about, but I'm sorry. You're angry at me and I'm sorry."

I stared at her in disbelief and I couldn't control the small laugh that escaped my mouth.

"You-" I stopped myself because I didn't know what to say at all.
So I looked at her. I really looked at her. Her hair was a mess, her makeup was smeared only a little bit underneath her eyes, her lips were pink and swollen, and she tried and tried and tried to hold eye contact with me but she just couldn't. Her electric blue eyes darted from mine to my shirt to the floor to the fridge.
I don't know if it was the way my shirt hung over her shoulders or the way her pupils would dilate whenever her eyes locked with mine or how she sucked at apologies or it was simply the way she spoke my name - but it made me realize something.

It made me realize that this smart, independent, beautiful mess sitting in front of me at 3:08 in the morning on the kitchen floor, drove me absolutely crazy, and that I was completely, one hundred percent, totally in love with her.

"You scare the shit out of me."

Well that wasn't I love you.

"I know." She cracked a killer smile and became fascinated with the floor again.
God, I loved her.

"And you suck at apologies." I smile too and she locks eyes with me and rests her head on the cabinet behind her.

She sighs through her smile. "I know."

I stare at her a second longer and reach out for her hand.
"Let's go to bed, love." The pet name had finally earned a deeper meaning tonight.

She takes my hand and leans against my body. I loved her.

"I'm sorry, Hayley." I say as we walk up the stairs.

"For?"

"For getting angry with you, for not trusting you, and ruining all of your fun." I open the bedroom door for her and she walks in and pauses at the foot.

"You have a bad habit of ruining all of my fun." She teased as she stared up at me with hungry eyes and a devilish smile. She began to unbutton her shirt, revealing a red lacy bra underneath.
Holy shit.

"Do I now?" I raise an eyebrow and walk over to her so we're face to face. I had to catch my breath.

"Oh yeah, it's just a known fact that there will be absolutely no fun as long as Harry Styles is around, no Sir." Hayley started to unbutton my own shirt and I watched her face flush at the sight of my bare chest.

"Poor lad. Sounds like such a bore. How do you put up with him?"

She bit her lip and stared up at me.
She was so fucking sexy.

I was so in love with her.

"For starters, he's incredibly sexy." She rubs her hands over my chest and never loses eye contact. Her touch sending shivers up my spine.

"Oh yeah?" I grab her waist and bring her against me.

"He's also a cocky son of bitch which is kind of annoying-"

I slam my mouth against hers and crash onto the bed. I rip my shirt off without breaking the kiss and I do the same for hers.

I loved her. I was so in love with Hayley Stewart I didn't know what to do with myself. I've never felt this way about anyone before and it scared the hell out of me. But there was something about the way she was kissing me and the way she looked at me made me feel safer and happier than anything in the entire world.
Hayley was home and I loved home.

{a/n; sorry it's been a thousand years! I was on a humanitarian trip and I got back a week ago. It took me a sec to get back in the swing of things, but I think I got it now. Hope you liked this short little chapter as much as I liked writing it! Love you all! Xoxox}