The Girl Next Door

Quite a Bother

“So, how did you and-“ I gave her a warning look, “-him spend his birthday?”

“Clubbing.” I said and dodged a notebook. Just a regular day at school. I opened the door, and passing through Ariana and the other fakes of the school who gave me just a regular judging look, walked out of that ‘peachy keen’ place.

Chessie followed, “Sounds… fun?”

“Is that a question or… Because it really was not,” I walked a few steps and turned around, “Though, it was hilarious when he collapsed,” she gave me a confused look. I remembered Harry and I were still ‘playing house’, and I still needed to pretend I loved him. “Tragic,” I corrected myself, “But hilarious.”

“Well, bye, Car. Tell him I love him.”

“Of course, young fangirl, I shall,” I muttered and walked back home.

I looked up. The sky was grey and gloomy, so close to rain.

“Carter!!!” I heard someone calling my name, and before I knew it, I was being tackled.

“Call the police!” I screamed, my eyes shut.

“Wow, dude, chill. It’s just me, Ana.”

“Ana?” I opened my right eye, finding her purple tips dancing in the typical British wind. She took a step back. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

“It was snowing, so we had a snow day… And that turned to a ‘snow week’. I wanted to see you… so I’m here. And by you, I mean your lovely and not-at-all-famous boyfriend.”

“You’re just using me.”

“As always,” she smiled.

Out of nowhere, Harry appeared on his porch. I saw a glimpse of Victoria through the window. Ana can’t know.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

“Harry, baby,” I ran towards him.

“Cart-“ I jumped into his arms, shutting the front door just before Victoria got the chance to get out. “Act ‘Harter’,” I commanded.

“Remember you said that.”

Before I could wonder what that meant, I was already being lifted from the ground. He pulled me close, trapping me like always, and pecked my lips. I still saw some leftover magic marker from the moustache on his upper lip.

I bet Victoria was heating up and Ana was all up in ‘feels’.  

Harry finally let go of me.

“’Harter’,” I repeated and grabbed him by the shirt, obnoxiously smiling at Victoria through the front window. “Ana, there is someone I wouldn’t like you to meet because he’ll run away once he sees who my friends are, but I don’t really have a choice. This is Harry, but no introduction is needed since you probably know his blood type,” I faced Harry who was grinning, so I gave him a subtle frown, “Harry, this is my not-at-all-psycho best friend, Ana.”

“Nice to meet you,” he took her hand. She was just about to melt.

“Hands off,” I put my arms around him, kissing his cheek, “he’s mine.” Harry gave me a winning grin.

“Somebody kill me.” 

I put my arm around her shoulder and walked far, far away from Styles’ sight. She was still shaking.

“Oh, you’ve got to meet Chessie,” I said, “I’ve a feeling you and her will get along perfectly.”

And we went to Chessie’s straight away. And yes, they did get along just perfectly. At first it was a bit awkward and then Ana asked if Chess had met Harry, and it kinda just went uphill from there.