Panic Attack - H.S. AU

Chapter Ten

-Valerie-

"I have an emergency!" Angie shouted as she burst through my front door.

"How did you—"

"Get in? Well, remember how I used to be your roommate? Yeah, well I finally found my key to your apartment and let myself in because like I just said about ten seconds ago I have an emergency!" Having rushed that entire explanation in under ten seconds, Angie released a deep breath.

It wasn't common for her to be this worried so I knew something was wrong.

I shut the door behind her and told her to relax and sit on my couch.

"What happened?" I asked as soon as I made my way over to her.

"I just--I don't know what I did wrong, Val. I'm always so forgiving and kind and I have a big heart and I'm really sweet when I want to be. I mean I know I'm kind of a handful sometimes, but I'm only human and I'm trying my best and--"

"Angie," I cut her off. "I love you, but please get to the point."

"Austin broke up with me!" She cried.

She tried to look to me for comfort, but instead of allowing her to hug me, I stood up and began to gather my things.

"What are you doing?" She asked while trying to wipe away her tears.

I raised a brow at her. I thought it was pretty obvious. "I'm going to find the asshole and punch him the face, duh."

Instead of encouraging me, Angie shook her head with disapproval.

"What? Is this not what best friends are for?"

"Val, you can't just go around punching people." She sighed. "Plus he's bigger than you."

"If I kick him where the sun doesn't shine he'll come down to my height." After a couple seconds, I ended up laughing at my own joke like the weirdo I was. "Get it because..." I cut my laughter short when I realized that Angie wasn't going to join in. "Okay, okay. We'll do this your way. I'll get the ice cream."

She cracked a smile. "Cookie dough, please."

After handing Angie a tub of cookie dough ice cream along with a large spoon, I came right out and asked, "Why did Austin break up with you?"

She shrugged her shoulders and answered, "I honestly don't know. He asked for space so I gave it to him and ever since he's been acting differently."

After swallowing a spoonful of ice cream she continued. "I just don't understand how someone can act like they truly care about you one day and then act like a complete stranger to you the next.

I realized I would be a hypocrite if I agreed. I couldn't help but defend Austin. "Well, sometimes things change—people change."

Angie shook her head, refusing to accept my explanation. "People don't change, Val. They just become more of who they truly are and now I know who Austin really is."

I felt disappointed in myself as my mind drifted to Harry. I thought about the broken boy with the unstable emotions and incredibly big heart. Thinking about how I had hurt him was actually starting to hurt me. I felt this sinking feeling in my chest that hadn't gone away since that night.

"Now, that I'm finished venting we can stop pretending you're not hiding something from me," Angie said as she placed her finished tub of ice cream on the table.

"What the hell, Angie? You literally had that ice cream for five minutes." I laughed, surprised she managed to finish it so quickly.

"What's your point?" She asked me. The serious look on her face only made me laugh harder.

Angie crossed her arms, shook her head and said, "There you go again avoiding what we should really be talking about."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I mumbled while reaching for the T.V. remote.

Angie quickly snatched it before I could take it. "I'm waiting, Valerie."

I sighed, debating on whether or not I should tell her the truth.

"If you can't trust me, who can you trust?" She asked.

She had a good point. I never had the best luck with friendships. I lost a lot of people, but Angie had been there for me for quite some time. She'd been there for me through every reckless decision I made and never dared to judge my stupid mistakes and secretive past. There was a reason I'd kept her in my life that long. I trusted her. I really did.

"There's this guy," I began.

"I knew it!" Angie clapped her hands with victory. 

Then, I told the story of the frightened boy I met on top of a building.

When I had finished, the first thing Angie said was, "Sounds like you and Harry have a real connection."

I shrugged my shoulders as if I had never really thought about it before.

"So, did you decide who you're going to choose?" She asked me. "I know you better than anyone so I know you want to choose Zayn out of obligation."

"There's no choice, Angie. Even if there was, I would choose Zayn. He is the only one for me." I looked away and quietly added. "He has to be."

"Would you mind if I met this Harry guy?" She asked, which I found quite strange."

"What? No, you can't. That would be weird," I told her. "Plus, he kind of hates me after I told him I was engaged."

"I can fix this," Angie told me.

"There's nothing to fix. Whatever me and Harry were... It's over. It's done." I assured her. Then I rolled my eyes and said, "It was perfect timing too because Zayn's disappearing for two weeks."

Angie flashed a wide smile. "Perfect!"

I raised a brow at my best friend in confusion. "Why is this perfect?"

"Because you will use these two weeks to decide whether Harry is someone you really think you want to get to know better or if Zayn is the one you've wanted all along."

"Wait, you were literally team Zayn a week ago. What's changed?" I questioned her.

"Honey, my loyalty was never to Zayn. You're my friend so I will always be team Valerie."

My eyes began to water as I gave Angie a tight hug. I thanked her repeatedly as tears slid down my cheeks. Anyone one else in the world would've judged me, hell even I would've judged me, but she didn't.

"So since this Harry guy hates you right now, as your best friend I have to find a way to make him unhate you, " Angie said.

"I'm pretty sure that's not a word."

"Well, it is now." She laughed. "Anyway, is there anyone that you know is willing to help you and Harry?"

I thought about it, but it didn't take long for his name to come to mind.

A big smiled spread across my face as I said, "I think it's time we pay a visit to Harry's best friend, Niall."