The Difference

Chapter 8.

When I got back to my dorm I changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed. I was so drained from my strange experience with Harry and all I wanted to do was sleep.

I finally fell asleep after thrashing around for hours and when I awoke I was more tired then before.

I pulled the warm covers from my body and shuffled over to the shower blocks. After I got dressed I applied minimal makeup, got changed and headed out of my dorm.

As I walked out to my car I dialed Jace's number.

"Well hello Miss Piper. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"What are you doing today?" I laughed.

"Oh I'm super busy. What with Netflix and popcorn I'm pretty booked up." We both laughed at his joke.

"There's a party tonight. I want you to go with me." I stated.

"A party?"

"Yeah. It's at Harry's."

"Harry Styles?"

"Yeah. Do you know him?"

"No." He paused."I mean I know of him."

"Okay..." He answer was strange but I let it go anyway. "So are you up for it?"

"I think it's a bad idea Piper. Party's don't really seem like your thing. Why do you want to go anyway?"

"It is collage Jace! I need to live a little. Come on. Please come with me. I won't go if you don't."

He sighed heavily on the phone before answering. "Fine. I'll go with you."

I smiled on the other end of the phone until I realized that he couldn't actually see me.

"That's great!" I cheered.

"I'll pick you up at seven?" He inquired.

"I can drive myself you know."

"Would you stop being so difficult all the time and let me do something for you?"

He was right. I was being difficult but I just don't like people do things for me. I don't like to rely on others but maybe I should try and change that.

"Seven o'clock." I agreed and hung up.

I turned the engine on and began the short drive. I wasn't sure if I was pushing it by going to Harry's house but I wanted to know what happened yesterday. He was acting so strange and I wondered if it was something I had done, or if it was something bigger.

I don't know why I suddenly felt this attachments towards Harry. Maybe it was the fact that he barely knows me but he told me what happened between him and Leah or maybe I felt as though I needed to repay him for being so nice to me. Either way I wanted to be there for him, even if he didn't want me to.

When I arrived I went over what I was going to say one more time before stepping out of my car.

The front door swung open after I knocked several times and Harry's expression changed from tired to displeased in a matter of seconds.

"What are you doing here?" His tone was full of annoyance.

"Can I come in?" I ignored his tone and told him what I wanted.

"No. I'm busy."

"Let me rephrase that. I'm coming in." I pushed past him and walked into his house.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He barked.

"Getting answers." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday?"

"There's nothing to say."

"Tell me what happened or I'll find out myself."

"And how exactly will you do that Piper? Because I seem to remember you not having any friends apart from me."

"We're friends?" I smirked. I know that he didn't mean to say it like that but I can't help but smile at the embarrassed expression on his face.

"What? No I was just... no."

"Whatever you say Harry." I laughed. "Besides, I have another friend actually. Jace."

"Jace? Jace Turner?"

"I guess so." I had never actually asked what his surname was. It never really came up.

"You shouldn't be hanging around him."

"What? Why not?"

"You barely know him." He yelled.

"I don't know you any better than I know him yet here I am, standing in your kitchen yelling at you!"

"He's not a good guy Piper. Stay away from him." His voice was softer than before but I wasn't ready to use his hushed tone.

"You have no right to tell me what to do! You don't know anything about me!"

"I know that you are naive and you can't see what kind of a guy Jace actually is."

"I am not naive! Jace has been nothing but nice to me since I met him. Nicer than you for that matter."

"He's lying to you Piper!"

"About what? What exactly is he lying to me about Harry?"

"He... he just is. Stay away from him Piper."

"I won't stay away from him Harry. I don't have any other friends."

"You have me..." His cheeks flushed and he focused his eyes to the ground.

"I do?"

"Yeah, yeah you do."

I sighed at his sudden change in mood. I liked this Harry. This is the Harry that I want to be friends with.

"Well show me that Harry. Show me that I can count on you when I need you." I took a few steps closer to him. "Show me that you care."

He looked from my eyes to my lips and I knew what he was thinking but I couldn't let it happen. It was a bad idea. Like I said I hardly even know Harry.

To stop his kiss I pulled him close, embracing him tightly.

"I do care." He said into my hair.

I didn't feel the need to respond. I didn't have to. I just hugged him tighter and that was enough.

"Now are you doing to tell me what happened yesterday?" I asked as I pulled away.

He simply nodded his head and pulled me by my hand upstairs. We got to his room and he shut the door behind us and than led me over to his bed. I sat on the side with my legs hanging over the edge.

"When Leah said she didn't want to be my friend anymore I was... hurt I guess? I started to think of all the things I wouldn't be able to do anymore and it fucked me up."

I gasped at his foul language.

"Sorry. Messed me up. Than you called and I was glad that I wouldn't be alone but than you wanted to do a thing that Leah and I did together and I felt like you were trying to replace her or some shit. I don't know. It's stupid."

"Harry it's not stupid. I didn't mean to replace her. I was just trying to make you feel better. I won't do it again. Please just tell me what you're feeling. Don't shut me out, okay?"

"Piper I can't promise that."

"Please..."

"Alright." He groaned.

"Say it Harry."

"I promise I won't shut you out."