Fame (1D)

Chapter Eighteen

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Chapter 18

"Are you okay?" I asked Zayn, mildly shocked. He'd tripped over a root in the ground, and landed face down. I tried not to laugh and actually be serious, because he'd just gotten a face full of mud and might be hurt.

"Uh, I'm good I think. My hands have little scrapes though."

"I have wipes for those in my tent. I'll be right back. Stay there." I instructed, and then walked over to the tent that I would be sharing with Harry and Lux.

"Just give her a chance. You're killing her." I heard from inside the tent. I slowed down, and eventually stopped so that I could hear what was going on inside.

"Killing her?" Harry said incredulously. "She doesn't even care. She's just..."

"Chill out. I'm just saying, I spoke with Lou the other day and Ali's pretty torn up." Tom said. I shook my head- I'm never going to open up to Lou again.

"How can she be torn up? She's the cold hearted bitch that started this crap. So don't give me a lecture on how she's a delicate little flower, when she's the one that crushed me." Harry said angrily. My eyes flew wide, and the air flew out of my lungs in a big gust. I watched as Harry and Tom struggled to get out I the tent, and when Tom spotted me all the colour drained from his face. I felt my eyes fill with tears, and then I took off running.

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My mind was blank.

All I could think of was how the waves hit the shore so violently, how hard this wooden bench was underneath me, and how cold and salty the air was. I liked how blank my mind was in that moment, it stopped bad memories from flooding my mind and overwhelming me.

Even though I was far away from home, in this moment I couldn't be closer.

I was so absorbed in the moment, I almost didn't notice the pair of feet coming down the beach towards me. Or when the owner of the feet sat down, and took a steadying breath.

"Alison." Harry started. I kept my eyes locked on the crashing waves, and he took another deep breath. "I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am."

"Why are you here?" I said quickly. I didn't want to express any emotion, or anything. I didn't even plan on speaking when I noticed who it was.

"I wanted to say sorry. And you don't have to say a word, but I need to say a few." He said. I closed my eyes while Harry took a deep breath and started to speak. "I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am. I thought you would understand what I meant, and I wouldn't have said it if I knew-"

"That I was listening?"

"That you would be so hurt. And I hope you know that I was angry and I didn't mean it. You know I still love you, and I hope you love me too. But after thinking about what I said... If someone said that about me, I wouldn't like them very much either, let alone love them. So I understand if you never want to talk to me again." He said, and then lapsed into silence. "I won't like it, but I can accept it." He said, turning his head to meet my eyes. I immediately looked away, back to the ocean, but my mind was going crazy.

'I won't like it, but I can accept it.'

'I still love you.'

'I understand if you never want to talk to me again.'

I considered that for a second. No more clingy, lovesick Harry. But then I would get no Harry at all.

I would lose cheeky Harry, happy Harry, loving Harry... And I don't know if I can stand that.

Because I really don't hate him anymore.

That's why it hurt so much, when he called me a cold hearted bitch. Because I'm really not, and I still love him. If anyone else had said that, would I have reacted the way that I did?

'No, Ali. You're right.' My conscience said to me. I took a deep breath, and scooted closer to him before resting my head on his shoulder. He breathed a sigh of relief, before draping his arm around my shoulders.

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"Awi?" Lux called quietly from her little mattress. I sighed, and nudged Harry to wake up. "Hawi?"

"Harry, wake up." I urged, before pushing myself up from the bed and leaning over Harry to pull Lux onto us. "What's wrong, Luxie?"

"I heard a noise."

"You what?" Harry asked groggily.

"She heard a noise." I informed him, and he sighed and flopped back down onto his pillow. "Lux, I'm sure it was just the wind. You can wake us up if you hear it again, but we all need sleep."

"Okay, Awi." Lux agreed, and she let me place her gently back in her bed.

"Screw you, Harry." I snapped quietly.

"What?"

"I've had to deal with her for the past three nights, and all you do is moan and groan about how annoying it is that you don't get a full nights sleep. I get even less sleep than you do, and you never catch me complaining. It's just so annoying that when we agreed to this, you told Lou that you would help me and you haven't, not even once. I'm exhausted, and I have a lot on my plate so I'd appreciate it if-" I was abruptly cut off by Harry's lips on mine. I gasped, shocked, but didn't pull away. After a few seconds, I gave in and let him kiss me.

It was raw, full of need and passion that ran through us both like a fire. I had no idea how much I'd missed this, how much I needed it.

After a minute or so, Harry pulled away, and we were both breathless. "I'm sorry." He said quietly, looking me right in the eyes. I shook my head silently- I couldn't even remember what I was mad for. "Goodnight, Ali." He said, and then I flipped over nervously before pressing my fingers to my lips. They didn't feel any different... But something had definitely changed.

After turning it over in my head for at least half an hour, I finally figured it out.

I need Harry. I need him like I need air to breathe. And it's scary that it took a kiss in the dark for me to realise it. But I love him, and there's no use denying it any longer.

I love him.