As You Are // H.S

Sixteen.

Harry Styles.

Christmas was great, small as usual, but that's how our family does it every year. I loved it that way, I received some clothes, and miscellaneous things for my apartment from everybody.

It was now the day after Christmas, and I was getting ready to go, standing at the front door whilst my family clung onto me as if they'd never see me again.

"God, I'm never gone that long guys, come on." I grumbled, being squished and holding heavy bags in both hands. 

"Harry, you haven't been here in three months, that's a long time for a mother." My mum exclaimed, letting for of me and holding me at arms lengths. I smiled down at her. "Don't be gone to long, okay?" 

"Yes mum. I promise. Okay, I'm going guys, I love you all!" I yelled as I walked down the steps of the front porch. 

"We love you too!" 

I jumped in my car after throwing my things in the back, pulling out of the driveway and heading back home. I stopped at a red light and quickly picked up my phone from the cup holder to send Alexis a text. 

Harry: I'll be back in 3 hours! 

It was three o'clock in the afternoon, I left a little late so I could spend some more time with my family. It was a good Christmas, I enjoyed spending time with my family, it's just hard to see them frequently with studying and work. 

-

Three hours later, I unlocked the door to my apartment and let out a happy, content sigh. I threw my bags on the couch and practically fell onto my bed. I was tired, but I still had to go see Alexis, so I slowly forced myself up and out of the apartment, and ran up the stairs to Alexis'. 

I knocked on the door, she didn't answer so I just tried the handle, it was unlocked, I knew she was home her car was out in the parking lot. When I walked in I heard a mans voice, and the sound of things being loudly moved around.

"Alexis?" I yelled out with hesitation. 

She come out from around the corner of her small hallway and gave me a huge grin, sliding on her socks towards me to tackled me into a hug. 

"Harry! Hello! You're back!" She said with excitement, I smirked.

"That I am-" there was another loud noise from around the corner and I gave her a concerned look. "What's that?" 

"Oh, yeah. My dads here, he's fixing my heating, can you not feel how freezing it is in here?" She remarked. I nodded. 

Her dad was here? That's strange.  

"He's just hear to fix the heating?" I questioned. Alexis chewed her bottom lip nervously. 

"No, we'll talk later." She mumbled. I gave her a soft smile, her dad then walked out, making his presence known with a clear of the throat. I looked up, and gave him a friendly smile. 

"Dad, this is my friend, Harry, Harry this is my dad, Mark." Alexis introduced us, and I held out my hand, which he grabbed, giving me a firm handshake. 

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Cooper." I told him, being as friendly as possible, I never like to come off as rude. 

"Please, call me Mark! It's good to meet you, mate. How did you two meet?" He asked. Alexis glanced at me and spoke up before I could. 

"He lives downstairs." I was confused, why didn't she just tell him how we really met? 

"Ah, I see. Well kiddo, I've got a place to stay tonight, I don't want to put you out again." Mark told Alexis.

Her head shot up, and she looked up at him. "Dad, you didn't have to do that. You know I don't mind, you're always welcome." 

"Thanks Alexis, but honestly it's fine, I'll call you if I need to come back, I'll find my own place soon enough." I felt awkward standing in the middle of this. 

He went and grabbed his things and walked to the door, he gave Alexis a tight hug. 

"It was good to meet you, Harry." 

"You too, Mark." 

After that he left, and Alexis gave me a tight smile and turned away from me, I followed her and we sat at the couch. I wrapped an arm around her in a comforting way, I knew something was up, but I didn't say anything. she'd tell me in her own time, she always does. I decided to start up some conversation, in hope to get her mind off whatever was bugging her, I had a hunch for what was going on, but I wouldn't bring it up. 

"New Years Eve is in five days, we're partying, Louis, Niall, Samantha, you and I." We always had good times out, I know she'd enjoy it. 

"Sounds good, where at?" Alexis asked. 

"That club downtown, Sinners I think it's called, they're holding a huge New Years Eve event, it should be fun." Her eyes lit up, and I could tell she was excited, I liked seeing things that made her happy. 

"I love New Years Eve, it could easily be my favorite holidays." She tells me. 

"I have your present by the way." I tell her, she perks up instantly. "I have yours too! I completely forgot!" She jumped up, and ran to her room, and came back in an instant.

"Mine is at my apartment, hang on." I walked out the front door, and jogged down the stairs, quickly grabbing the small box of items, that I'd wrapped in stupid Christmas wrapping. I quickly made my way up the stairs again, and into Alexis' apartment, she was sitting at the kitchen counter, two cups of coffee steaming in front of her, she pushed one towards me, I grabbed it and shot her a grateful smile, setting her present in front of her, I sat where mine was set in front of me. 

We ripped them apart at the same time, and I looked inside smiling instantly. She had got me a Ramones t-shirt , and two CD's The Rolling Stones and a Blink 182 one, I smiled at her gratefully.

"Lexi, thank-you so much, I love them." I told her, honestly. 

She was going through her stuff, I made her a mix CD, and given her a heap of coffee sachets for her coffee machine, she grinned and stuck her tongue out at me, but thanked me nonetheless. 

"There's something else." I told her, she looked in the box again and gave me a huge smile, pulling out the necklace, it had a tree at the end of it, one that looked exactly like the many in the forest. She gave me a huge smile, coming around my side of the counted, she handed me the necklace and turned around, I put it on for her, clipping it at the back. Alexis faced me again giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I may have blushed.

We don't talk much after that, just small talk about the rest of the holiday season, and when we're both returning to work. We put Netflix on and fell asleep, and woke up cuddling as usual. I tucked her in, and walked down to my apartment falling asleep alone. 

-

The next day I woke up, got ready and decided to go and see Niall who had just got home from family visits. I knocked on his door, and he opened it, already grinning ear to ear. 

"Harold!" He practically shouted. I greeted him back, and he hugged me, giving me a hard pat on the back. We went inside, sitting on the couch playing video games, talking about what we did on Christmas. 

"I ran into Brittany." I told Niall. 

"Brittany as in, ex fuck buddy, that tried to be your girlfriend but failed, Brittany?" He asked, not taking his eyes from the screen. 

"Yeah, we exchanged numbers, I couldn't exactly say no, she was right there, and we had never had any problems before, so I just did it.. She hasn't messaged me yet though, I hope she doesn't." I said truthfully. 

"How about our lovely Alexis? How's things with her?" Niall questioned, finally looking up from the game screen at me, only because I paused it. 

"Yeah, not bad, we're just friends for now." I told him, with a little disappointment. Niall patted my back.

"All good, mate. We'll work it out." Niall was mischievous, and very cheeky, but always meant well who knew what he'd do.

//

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