At the End of the Day...

Chapter 11

"Please let me in," Kaia begins. "Let me explain it. I'll tell you everything!" Her sobs are getting louder, and the paps are still outside, so I quickly usher her in and slam the door shut.

"Well? Come on out with it, then," I say, with a blank face. I'm not wasting any tears just yet. I just want to hear what she has to say.

Kaia takes a seat on my couch, but I stay standing up. I don't want her thinking that I'm ok with her being here.

"Ok. Well, the reason why I told Brad that you were at the farm...was...because..." she starts sobbing again. Ok, I've had enough of this. 

"Spit it out!" I say, fuming.

"I'm sorry...it's just that...well, you're going to hate me."

"Well, I already do, so my feelings towards you probably won't change that much."

"Brad threatened me..." Kaia looks at her feet, and I'm shocked. Why would she think that I'd be mad about that? "He threatened to tell you...something that happened. In high school. I didn't want him to tell you, so I told him where you were...I'm so sorry." She puts her head in her hands and cries.

"What happened? What did he threaten to tell?" I ask her, but it comes out as a squeak. What could it possibly be?!

"Brad and I...hooked up...when you two were together..."

I can't hear the rest. I can't see. Everything's blurry. I sink onto the ground, wishing it would swallow me up. My best friend and my boyfriend? How fucking typical. I knew that he was hooking up with other girls, but Kaia? Kaia? How could she. How fucking could she?!

I mutter something along the lines of: "please get out," and I go into my bedroom. Soon after that, I hear the front door slam. 

I know it was all a long time ago, but I don't think I can forgive Kaia for this. She's supposed to be my best friend, and this is what happens?

Throughout the rest of the night I receive several text messages from Kaia, but I don't even bother reading them. It's not worth it. I don't have any dinner, I just lie in bed, doing nothing. My mind is blank, but at the same time, thoughts are crammed inside. 

The thing that confuses me most is, I don't shed one tear.

Finally I drift off to sleep. I don't want to wake up.

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My alarm wakes me up. Ugh, I have work today.

The images from last night come flooding back into my head. Kaia and Brad. 

At least work will help take my mind off all of it.

I quickly get ready for work, chucking on some casual clothes and a full face of makeup - I work at Mecca Cosmetica, a makeup store. I really enjoy makeup, I love applying it and creating so many interesting looks on people's faces with so many different products.

Once I'm ready, I slam the front door and put my headphones in, making my way towards the nearby tram stop. I get on to Spotify and put it on shuffle. The first song that comes on is "Infinity" by One Direction, and I almost cry. It's my absolute favourite song of theirs, because of the meaning of the lyrics and also because the song as a whole is so epic. I can't help but tap to the beat every time I listen to it.

The tram finally arrives at 9.07am and I quickly hop on. Mecca Cosmetica is only a few minutes down the road which is great for me. I live in such a convenient location.

I soon get up to the chorus of "Infinity", and my fingers are tapping to the beat against the pole I'm holding on to. I honestly can't help it.

How many nights does it take to count the stars? 

That's the time it would take to fix my heart.

Oh baby, I was there for you, all I ever wanted was the truth.

How many nights have you wished someone would stay?

Lie awake, only hoping they're ok.

I've never counted all of mine, if I tried I know it would feel like infinity.

It really does get me. And the fact that Harry sings that part of the song just makes my heart break even more. Oh, Harry. It's so weird that I'm listening to his actual song and I know him personally. I don't think it will ever sink in.

The tram arrives at my stop just as the next song comes on - "Changes" by David Bowie. What a legend. What a classic.

I make my way to the door of my shop and unlock it. I've got the first shift today. Luckily it's usually busy on Tuesdays, and I'm right. Throughout the day I don't even have a chance to think about the whole...situation.

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A few days go by, and Harry finally texts me.

From Harry: Can I come over quickly, if you aren't busy? .xx

Luckily I just got home from another busy day at work. I reply quickly, a smile plastered across my face.

To Harry: I guess that would be ok... ;)

Within the next hour, Harry arrives, and I quickly let him in, giving him a tight hug. The butterflies never stop, and I don't think they ever will.

"Hey..." I say, feeling shy all of a sudden.

"Hey, you," Harry replies. We sit down on the couch. "So...the reason I came over is because I have to leave to go to LA tomorrow morning..."

I frown. I never even considered this. Of course he does. He's been in Melbourne for a few weeks now, and I'm sure he has other places to be...other people to be around...

"Yeah, that's to be expected," I say to him, forcing a small smile. He sees through it.

"I don't want to leave either. I'm really enjoying getting to know you." He places a hand on my thigh, softly. "Oh! I forgot to ask, what happened with Kaia?" My stomach drops and I'm pretty sure all the blood has drained from my face. I've been trying to forget about this all week, but it might be a good idea to let it all out and open up to Harry.

I tell him the whole story, and while I'm doing this he looks deep into my eyes, clinging on to every word. That's what I love about Harry. He listens. He actually cares.

Wait.

Did I just say love? Do I love Harry? Is that what my brain is trying to tell me? Shit. Should I tell him how I feel? He's leaving tomorrow, what if I make a fool of myself? But what if he feels the same? Now that I'm thinking about this, I think I actually do love Harry. Wow. I've accepted it. I love Harry. There.

"Harry?" I say, just as Harry is telling me how to cope with the situation I've just told him about. "Can I say something?"

"Anything," he replies, with a big smile. He caresses my cheek and I look into his eyes. My heart is beating so fast, I hope he can't feel it. This is like the time when we first kissed. But so much more.

"I think...I think...I love...you," I tell him. I quickly look away because I'm scared to see his reaction, but then he turns my face towards his again, and kisses me deeply. 

Once he's pulled away, he says, "I love you too." Oh my god. It's out there. We've both said it. Harry pulls me in again for another kiss, and this time it has urgency. It's definitely leading to something. Something big. Something meaningful.

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