Empire of Deception (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter 16

My groggy eyes and foggy mind open and from here I can see all the shades of grey that tap against the window pane. I feel a grin growing on my face as broken and fuzzy memories from the previous night come rushing into my mind. My head throbs—sign of a hangover—and I can't remember much, but I definitely remember Madison's smooth skin, her heavy breathing, and my constant drunken giggling and her asking me why the hell I am laughing. I groan, putting a weak hand to my forehead both because I feel like shit and because I am so embarrassed. I can't remember what I was laughing about but it probably was something stupid.

I am on her sofa with about three blankets on top of me. Two gray and one white. My shirt is gone but my pants are still on so I don't think we got very far before I passed out or something. I groan again as the heat rises to my cheeks.

My eyes adjust to the fact that I am awake, so now I am able to get a proper look around Mads' flat. For the most part it's made up of a monochromatic color scheme—neutrals, black, white, and grey. I can tell that she has a main theme, but the little details run free. A crazy colorful picture frame that holds a photograph of her and Mia sits in one corner, while a hot pink paper weight in the shape of an elephant rests on a small white desk near the main window. I think back to my own drab apartment, the emptiness of not having anything that is actually mine hitting me hard. Suddenly I want a pink elephant and a picture frame that isn't silver or black.

The flat is both perfectly neat but has areas of contained chaos. I see a bright blue bowl with orange painted fish hold about a million little trinkets. Her book shelf is aesthetically pleasing, but when you peer into a little wooden box you can find more chaos. I smile. It's cute in here.

About fifteen minutes has passed since I got up and a quick peer up at the red clock informs me that it's just past 10:00 in the morning. I look over to a white door which I am pretty sure the entryway to Madison's bedroom, and I consider whether or not I should let her sleep and leave, or if I should wait for her... Or if I should go inside.

I grip the handle and turn it slowly—I guess I am going inside. To my pleasure I hear that it doesn't creak, so I am more brave with the amount of force I use to swing it open.

A cloud of white.

No wonder she was so intent on seeing the Swann Building. Her bedroom is probably it's long lost sister or something.

White walls and white furniture with mirrored decorations that only reflect all the white.

Placed in the center of the room pushed back up against the wall, is a large bed frame with fluffy white duvet covers and fuzzy tasseled blankets, all one heap of a mess. I take a quiet step into the room and struggle to see any sign of human existence and then I catch a glimpse of tangled brown hair.

I take another cautious step and although most of her body is swallowed up by the covers, I can see her wild hair strewn about. Her face is buried into a feather soft pillow and I stand there watching her for a moment before decided it's probably best if I leave.

I am almost out the door when I hear her call my name softly in a voice husky from sleep.

"Harry?"

"Sorry," I apologize, "I didn't mean to wake you."

"Come and lay with me," she says.

The bed is even more comfy that it looks, sinking as soon as I rest my weight into it. I am suffocated by clouds of covers.

I hear Madison yawn and the bed starts to move, and soon I feel her curling up against my side, nuzzling her nose into my chest. I try to control my breathing because my heart is beating really fast and I pray to God she can't feel it. I rest my head on top of hers and I'm staring up into her ceiling, asking God how the hell was I lucky enough to have gotten her placed in my life.