Two Against One

Chapter 24

Jenna and I come to the conclusion that we would chill in the city and talk, which was a perfect time for me to tell her about what Niall said last night and my strange dream as well.

"Hey Jen?" I call into the bathroom.

"Yeah?" she replies back.

"I'm gonna go to the vending machine down the hall for a snack, I'm hungry," I tell her. I hear her laugh lightly.

"Okay, piggy, go to the vending machine. Hurry though, I wanna leave right away." I tell her I'll be quick and grab my phone and some change before leaving the room. When I've closed the door, I'm about to walk into the open hallway when I hear a girl yelling.

"But we've only been together for a few days!" the girl is saying. She sounds familiar but I can't put my finger on it. It's not until I hear who replies that I know who it is.

"I know, but something's... come up," Harry says with a hint of apology in his tone.

"Oh something's come up?" Courtney replies, not believing him. "And what would that be Harry?"

"Um..." he pauses, looking for the right words to say. "I just don't have feelings for you anymore okay?"

Has Harry finally come to his senses?

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Courtney screams, her voice echoing throughout the hall. "We haven't been together for a week and you're bored of me?! I'm a great girlfriend, you haven't even seen what I can't do in bed, I mean I can-" Harry cuts her off, apparently not wanting to hear anymore.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be, please just go," Harry tells her sympathetically. I suddenly hear her hand collide with his cheek.

"Dick!" Courtney yells. I hear her stomping down the hallway and a second later she spots me as she passes. "You must be happy," she spits.

"Happy?" I ask, confused.

"Yes happy, you idiot. Now you can have Harry all to yourself. It's what you've wanted all along right?"

I shake my head. "That's no what I-"

"Oh just can it."

She stomps to the elevator and leaves. What a friggin relief. I hear Harry coming down the hallway and am about to retreat into my room when he grabs my arm.

"I'm sorry," he says sincerely.

Is it me or has this boy changed over night?

"Why are you apologizing?" I ask him.

"For Courntey," he says. "She's obviously upset."

"You think?" I sarcastically reply. Harry laughs lightly then opens his mouth, but closes it again. Then he opens it once more.

"That's not the only thing I'm sorry for. I've been a dick this whole trip and I know this probably isn't the time to talk about it but it was bugging me yesterday. I'm sorry for being a douche, I'm sorry for purposely picking shitty girlfriends, I'm sorry for making up stories to Courtney and most of all I'm sorry for what happened that night at the club. I know I've never told you that but I truly am sorry. What happened was an accident and-" I hold up a hand to stop him.

"Please don't," I say, "it's not the time." He runs a hand through his hair.

"I know but you deserve to hear that," Harry says. I can't help but smile slightly at his sudden change of heart. Not to mention it means a lot to hear him finally say it.

"Thank you," I tell him. I smile of relief run across his face.

"You're welcome," Harry replies. I'm about to go inside and forget about the snack when he, once again, grabs my arm. "Tab?"

I turn around.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think that we could, I don't know, have lunch or something this week soon so I can talk to you about this. Not a date or anything, I promise, I just want to clear things up," Harry explains. I nod and give him a tight smile.

"Sure," I tell him. I should go back inside my room but I've got to ask. "What got into you Harry?" 

His face turns sincere and I start to regret asking. "I don't know," he admits with a shrug, "last night Courtney and I went to town and we were walking around and holding hands and at the end she kissed me and when she did I uh-" he interrupts him self with a nervous laugh, "I briefly pictured you there instead of her. I pulled back from the kiss and had the biggest realization. I know it sounds super sappy and dumb, not to mention not like me at all but it's the truth and I just miss how we were. I miss being best friends, telling each other everything, never having an awkward moment even in the most awkward situations. I miss you Tabitha."

I feel like Harry really means what he's saying, which makes me happy. I guess I haven't realized how much I feel the same: I've missed him a lot. I didn't know it at the time but I always secretly enjoyed hanging out and him having no idea about the huge crush I had on him. Even when he started dating shitty girls, he still treated me the same. This trip ruined Harry and I's relationship and under all the hate I held towards Harry was also the affection I felt toward him before. I'd felt so wrong for feeling this way but now it felt like the piece of me that had been nagging at me through this whole thing had stopped because I'd finally gotten its point. I still loved Niall, don't get me wrong, but in a brotherly way.

That's when I start to feel frustrated about how I'm feeling. I'm mad at myself for feeling this way; I should be in love with Niall, enjoying our relationship and thinking of no other guy. Instead, I'm convincing myself I love the guy I'm dating, finally admitting the feelings I still have for the other. I was stupid for starting something with Niall and now I either have to lie to him or break his heart. I feel cornered, and Niall and Harry are the ones holding me there. I suddenly feel so lost and so confused and frustrated and angry, all negative emotions clashing together causing me to feel dizzy. My vision blurs and feel my body start to sway.

"Are you okay?" I hear Harry's voice call but it sounds so distant. It sounds like he's a million miles away. "Tabitha, you don't look so good." I'm suddenly looking up at Harry and his face has concern written all over it. I feel a searing pain in the back of my head and I can hear Harry calling for help when Jenna runs outside and gasps. That's when I black out.