Clash | Harry Styles

Chapter 13

Ashley's P.O.V

I wake up to the sound of upset, heart-breaking crying. I feel the springs in the bed underneath me move as the person next to me gets up. My head is pounding and as I turn slowly to face a digital clock on the nightstand, which is placed next door to the bed, I see that it's early Saturday morning.

What? What happened last night? I think to myself in confusion. Unable to remember I finally focus on the room around me.

Lightly painted blue walls and posters of bands I have never heard of but are said to be amazing are sprawled all over them. Realisation hits me; I'm in Harry's room? I sit up quickly, too quickly as my head starts to spin making me feel sick to my stomach. Knowing I won't be able to hold it in I fight with one hand to get out of the duvet, my other hand covering my mouth. I run out of Harry's room and across the landing to what I think is the bathroom, as I open the door I let a silent sigh of relief finding I entered the correct room. I rush to the toilet seat and heave into the toilet.

As I finish washing my hands and drying them on some toilet paper I look at myself in the mirror over the sink. I see a girl who doesn't look anything like me, her brown hair is knotted and the ends are all tangled and rough looking; my eyes aren't really brown anymore, more black like the night sky; my smile looks fake, like it's been plastered there to make people happy. I look away and throw the paper down the toilet flushing it one last time before heading out to look for Harry.

As I walk out of the toilet I hear laughter from a small room to the right of the landing. I carefully push the white normal looking door open and see Harry with his sister laughing. She looks like she's been crying but sat in her brothers arms she looks the happiest she could ever possibly be.

"Hey." I hear Harry say softly.

I tear my eyes away from his little sister to look at the handsome guy in front of me. I notice that he's changed into a plain white shirt with the top few buttons undone slightly showing his chest and black skinny jeans which are noticeably loose around his crotch. On any other guy this combination of clothing would look weird and unattractive but on Harry it looks pretty good.

"Hi." I reply trying to force a smile which I know will fail.

"Are you feeling any better?" Harry asks as he strokes Gemma's hair softly as she lies in bed eyes closed.

"A little bit thank you." I say quietly while focusing on the floor embarrassed, I feel Harry's eyes glued on my every movement so I continue talking, "I'm sorry about what I did. I don't know why I did it I just thought that..."

"Thought what?" Harry urges as I hesitate with my answer.

"...I just thought that I would feel better if I got intoxicated."

"And did you? Feel better I mean."

Unable to answer Harry I shake my head indicating my actions didn't make me feel better at all, to be truly honest it has made me feel one hundred times worse about myself and the awkward situation I have found myself in.

Harry doesn't answer and when I finally work up the nerve to look at his face he is focusing all his attention on Gemma. He messes with her hair once more before slowly standing up and looking over at me as he whispers careful not to wake his little sister up,

"Come on, I'm hungry."

I follow Harry downstairs quietly. I feel awkward as I don't know what I said or did last night I probably made a fool out of myself – I always do – but I can't do anything about that now, can I?

I go straight to one of the kitchen chairs and sit down placing my hands firmly on the table as I twist and turn them nervously. Harry goes straight to the fridge-freezer and pulls out a stack of breakfast food containing; eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and everything you need for a full English breakfast.

"Would you like tea or coffee?" Harry asked after he's finished setting up the food to be cooked.

"Tea, always tea," I laugh trying to rid the tension set in my body.

Harry smiles wide showing his deep dimples in his cheeks and quickly turns around and continues to cook our breakfast – Even though I'm sure my stomach won't agree with all the fat and grease I'm willing to eat it for Harry's sake.

Harry's P.O.V

After eating our breakfast I took a quick shower and then offered it to Ashley as she looked awful from her pervious actions last night. I took Gemma around to Sue's house explaining that I needed a few hours to sort something's out and then I walked back into the living room where Ashley was now perched on the edge of my dad's sofa staring into oblivion.

"Ok..." I start and I know Ashley doesn't realise I'm back in the room because she nearly jumps thirty feet into the air standing up too quickly and rolling her fingers back and forth until they click."...so I know you probably won't like this idea but I really want to talk to you, have a serious few minutes, if that's ok?" I continue.

"Of course," Ashley says surprisingly.

I motion for Ashley to sit back down telling her to get comfortable and then I perch myself onto the single chair opposite her giving myself a few minutes to think over what I'm going to say.

I lean forward, my forearms supported on my legs, hands entwined with each other.  

"I don't know if you feel anything for Dré anymore but if I'm reading all of these...signs? The right way then I know you don't want to be with him anymore. I have given up a lot to start being with you more and I'll give up even more if you let me but it's not fair on Dré anymore...you need to break up with him."

I breathe a sigh of relief when I realise Ashley is nodding her head agreeing with my statement.

"I know Harry." She says taking a deep breath while rubbing her hands up and down her jeans. "I've been stupid and I'm still being stupid now, I really like you Harry but then I also really like Dré..."

"Bu-"

"Listen to me for one minute." Ashley says stopping me from interrupting any further. "Yes and Dré has forced me to do a lot of horrible things but that's just him Harry he doesn't know it any other way he's just a controlling person but he's also always been there for me when I've needed him most and I love him so much for that.

"You on the other hand are the kind of guy any girl could wish for; you're kind, loving and very selfless. You'd do anything to keep the girl you like, love, safe even if that means you getting hurt; this just makes me love you too. Can you see what I'm getting at here?" Ashley finally asks giving me a few minutes to process the words that have just come out of her mouth.

Thinking carefully about what Ashley has just said I realise that she not only loves Dré but she also loves me too. Obviously with us it can't be real love not yet, it's too early to define anything. It's only been a week since I first spoke to the girl I'd been crushing on for months. From seeing her in the diner with Dré most nights of the week to suddenly having this conversation I don't know how to feel about what she's saying. I've never had a girl say she loves me straight to my face before without me saying it first. That takes balls.

"So what are you going to do?" I finally ask after a few moments of silence.

"I don't know Harry," She looks up at me, her face leaning into the palm of her hand. "I really don't know..."

-x-

A/N

Sorry if you're finding these chapters quite boring but it's necessary for what we have planned in future chapters and also to make Harry's and Ashley's relationship as strong as we can get it. It's all building up.

This chapter's dedication goes to 1DBecky23 because she has read our fanfic since the day we first posted it and she always comments really cute things, thank you :)

So comment, vote and share etc, the more we get the faster we will update and our favourite comment gets a dedication xoxo

-Kelly