Diligence [H.S.]

TWENTY-THREE

Chapter Song: pov by Ariana Grande

...

HARRY STYLES

I lean against the wall, my eyes staring at Andrea sitting on a bar stool beside the kitchen island. We have been quiet after today's extensive socializing—not because it was a bad day but because our social batteries seem to be continuously draining.

We've been up since early this morning, and I'm close to wondering if eight-thirty is too early to get in bed.

Jo kept her promise to come over today, and Oliver joined her. Despite the looming dark cloud that was the STD testing and vitamin drips, I think she needed that supportive environment with her. I'm always supporting her while she's here, but she needs to know that the people she's attempted to push away are still here.

Andrea came clean on her tests for any STDs, something we were all grateful for. The doctor who came to the house to administer the vitamin IV drip didn't say much about Andrea's weak body state, but he did say it should boost her immune system immensely. I didn't miss how apprehensive she seemed to have an unknown male so close to her, but I ensured she was okay and comfortable while he was there.

Her friendships with Jo and Oliver seem to finally be healing after months of being tested from every angle. It was baby steps, but she's talking to them now. She enjoyed being around them again, even if she didn't want to admit it. The genuine smile and laugh we all ache to see finally returned for brief moments today. No one pushed any sensitive buttons or brought up any touchy subjects. We just enjoyed each other's company while everyone was here.

Jo and I had the same thought in the midst of it all. Noah should be here.

We must have agreed that today wasn't the time to bring it up, but it's true. I want to find a way to talk to Andrea about her relationship with her brother, Noah, but I'm unsure how to approach it without shutting her down. Even Noah bounced around the topic when I asked him. They've both avoided telling anyone what the hell happened between them to cause the harsh divide between them.

I don't think it was just her relapsing. Jo said she wouldn't put it past Andrea because she may be guilty. Oliver seemed conflicted about the whole thing and couldn't form a straightforward opinion.

The divide between them runs deeper than Andrea's relapse. I just can't pinpoint what it possibly could have been.

"You're staring," Andrea points out. 

She diverts her attention away from her laptop and looks at me. The dark circles under her eyes are finally improving. I glance at the near-empty plate next to her, noting her appetite gradually growing. She hasn't spent the entire day in bed, even after Jo and Oliver went home.

I stay put, finding myself grinning as I take her in. Even though I see her every day, that light sensation in my stomach when I see her never goes away. It's warm and inviting and getting a lot harder to ignore.

"How are you feeling?" I ask.

She seems pleasantly surprised by my question.

"Better," she says with a shrug. "Are you alright?" She asks, slightly concerned as I continue staring at her.

I nod, pushing myself off the wall to stroll over to the opposite side of the counter. My forearms rest against the marble top, and I try to gauge her mood.

"You want to talk," she states.

My brows furrow, but there's no use in playing dumb. I do want to talk. And it isn't just one topic I want to touch on, but two. Neither of which will she enjoy discussing. I didn't plan on getting into it tonight, but clearly, I'm not great at hiding my thoughts.