Forbidden Love

Where have you been~24

*Niall's POV*

I knew I couldn't stop being overprotective. I wasn't going to stop being overprotective. Was I being overprotective? Ok...maybe...yes...I guess.

I shouldn't have come to Haley's house. I should've known Grace would come here. Her red face and small, balled up fists made it hard to take her seriously. She actually looked...cute. My head still throbbed at the shoe she'd thrown at me.

But I shouldn't have taken my shirt off.

And I shouldn't have fell asleep.

And I shouldn't have stormed into the bowling alley.

And I shouldn't have ignored her question like that.

Man Im a screw up. She wasn't used to this side of me.

I should have kept my shirt on.

I should have just went home.

I should have just called Grace.

...Or maybe I should try trusting her.

But how can I trust her when I know she doesn't trust me. And she shouldn't. She had every right not to.

*Grace's POV*

The rain hit my face harder than I expected when I slammed the door behind me and ran to my car. My phone, which I had thrown onto the passenger seat rang. It was Haley. I didn't answer. I didn't want to and I wasn't sure sure how long me not wanting to speak to her would last.

Niall's face scared me as it suddenly popped up in my window to see me crying. I refused to show my weakness. I started up the car and backed out of the lot. He followed it.

When I was finally in the street I sped up. He tried running behind the car but I was too fast and he gave up.

The entire ride home my phone went off. Phone calls, text messages...I ignored them all.

"If he shows up here, don't let Niall in," I said to my mother when I got home. Thankfully, she simply nodded asking no questions. I ran upstairs in my drenched clothing and forced myself to sleep.

By morning my phone was silent. Only one person had texted me. Harry. He was asking if I was ok, which I wasn't, but I lied anyways.

Somehow I wanted to make it up to him for the yesterday. It was nice that he'd invited me out with his friends, paid for me and I left. I didn't even say goodbye!

He invited me to the local library, which was beautiful because it was right near a woodsy area and the windows were large and clear so you could look out into the woods as you read. I couldn't believe he really wanted to see me again after everything....I wouldn't want to see me again.

"Sorry Im late!" I called awkwardly running and walking down the sidewalk at the same time. Harry laughed at my appearance. He smiled that famous smile that could make you feel better.

"Its quite alright."

"I hope you brought Oreos. Im starved," I complained as we walked into the air conditioned library. A shiver went down my spine.

"Of course I did. I had to."

It felt like I had known Harry my entire life. He was just so...perfect. In an ordinary way. It was strange but I tried not to over-think it. He was normal in a perfect way. Or was it perfect in a normal way? The concept was confusing.

"I was hoping we could just talk," he whispered trying to avoid being "shushed" by the cranky librarians.

"You brought me to a library to talk?" I snorted without thinking. I was expecting him to be insulted but he just smiled. We walked through the rows and rows of books. "I didn't mean it like that," I tried to apologize. "I just meant that we're supposed to be quite in here."

"No I get it." He stopped in the middle of a row and began to sit. I slid down next to him. For a minute neither of us said anything.

"I know you aren't ok, Grace." He told me. "And Im not going to pressure you into telling me whats going on, but if you ever need someone to talk to, Im here." I smiled at his genuine kindness as he pulled out an entire pack of Double-stuff Oreos.

"You've updated," I joked.

"Only for the best." I took one out the container and ate it in silence.

"I actually do want to talk to you," I confessed. He nodded. "Can I tell you something? About Niall and I?" I really didn't know why I was telling him. In reality, I didn't know enough about him. "I don't even know where to start.

"Why don't you tell me why you think that you and your boyfriend won't be together in a few months. That was what you told him at the alley." I sighed.

"Niall isn't just my boyfriend," I said slowly, processing each word. Harry's eyes widened and nervousness took over.

"Then what else is he?" He asked sounding somewhat concerned. I hoped he wouldn't see me differently.

"He's my mother's boyfriend's son," I blurted. A huge weight was lifted and I now felt that now I could answer any other questions without feeling like I was choking. He said nothing for a couple seconds which scared me.

"So.....you're step brother?"

"Technically, no. But he will be." I looked away embarrassed.

"Why would you do that?" He looked lost. The way he had formed the question at first made me feel bad, but the sincereness of his voice contradicted that.

"I don't know. He kissed me first and ever since then he made me happy. There were the nights I considered ending it, I still have them, but I can never bring myself to do it."

"You say you still have them?"

"More lately than ever," I rolled my eyes at the thought of Niall's errors. Harry's eyes were hard to read.

"Are you two still together," he wondered.

"I don't know." I could feel the sadness building up as the memory of last night clouded my mind. "After I left yesterday I found him at my best friend's house....shirtless at that." I added.

"Do you think.."

"No. Maybe I should but I don't. Its too crazy imagine. Haley's eyes were too innocent. And she has a boyfriend, Ben. She wouldn't cheat on him. I just wonder why out of all places he went there. And why he wouldn't tell me he knew her before."

"Sounds like you've got a lot of questions."

"I do. But I don't think he'll answer them." I bit my lip.

"Have you tried taking to Haley?"

"I don't want to talk to her," I grumbled.

"Why not?"

"She should've told me. "

He agreed snatching an Oreo.

"I just don't know what to do." I stared at my feet spread in front of me trying to think.

"About Haley?"

"Everything."

"Do you love him?" He asked and my stomach lurched.

"I try to avoid thinking about that." He said nothing. "I really hope you don't think of me any differently. And Im sorry about yesterday. I'll pay you back."

"Don't worry about that. You've got enough to worry about."

"Why are you so nice to me?" I finally brought myself to ask. He laughed as if my question was crazy.

"I don't know Grace. What else would I be like?" I shook my head with a timid smile unsure of what to say.

He moved his bag closer and it sounded like one big crunching noise.

"Geez Harry! How many packs of Oreos did you bring?"

He only barely opened the bag but I could see more packs than I could count.

"I didn't know how long we'd be here." He smiled.

"Where you have you been all my life?"

A/N

Glad to be able to update :)) Thank you soo much for 1.5k that was my goal! New goal: 2k ! Please comment and vote ! Thanks for reading