The Girl Next Door

New Year, New Things

I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT POSTING IN TWO MONTHS JESUS
but yeah... this is the last chapter...
so enjoy! :))))


I stared at the limited clothes choice spread out on my bed.
I frowned. "I have nothing to wear!" I announced and fell backwards on my bed. I got up wearily and looked again. A good part of my things were still locked inside the walk-in closet back in Harry's house in London. The other part- the shitty part- was here. I wouldn't have even taken the time of day to get properly dressed today if it wasn't for the invitation for the Split New Year's concert from Ed Sheeran himself. I finally decided on the same Ramones shirt, same black leather jacket and same black skinny jeans I wore to the first Ed Sheeran concert last year when I met him, met the rest of One Direction, got a business deal and got kissed by Harry Styles on the Tower Bridge, all in one night. I let my slightly wavy hair fall down my back and I put on a tiny bit of makeup around my eyes- just how Lou had taught me. I was ready to go pick up Ana. I stuffed my phone in the pocket of my pants and shoved the envelope on the inside of my jacket. I hesitated at the door when I saw the little golden guitar charm necklace I got as a Christmas present from Harry last year that has been carelessly thrown on the cupboard. I decided to put it on after all. I mean, it's highly unlikely that he'll somehow be there.
I got into my car and drove a few blocks to pick up Ana.
"I'm ready!" she screamed and squealed as she got into the car. "You have the invitation, right?"
"Yes," I said. When I told her about the invitation she screamed even louder than I did- which was highly difficult.
I started the engine and we curved through the crowded streets.
I had to park quite a few blocks away from the waterfront because of the people and the traffic jams and I didn't want to be late. It took us half an hour of walking accompanied by the occasional squeal by Ana and me to get there.
The concert had already started, but Ed wasn't on stage. I searched for him, looking over the crowd but without a result. I went to the security fence that divided the stage and VIP section from the crowd. A guy in a black T-shirt and jeans with a headset on stopped me.
"Sorry Ms," he said, "For VIP and performers only." I took the envelope out of my jacket and gave it to him. He scanned through it and gave it back to me. "Okay. Have a good time." He opened the gate for us to get through. I thanked him and went inside.
I glanced at the people and the stage and everything around me- this was the biggest event in Split since... ever.
I saw Ed right away. He was standing next to a delivery truck, talking to someone behind it.
When he saw me, he flashed me a big smile and headed my way. I gulped and started shaking.
"Carter," he said and hugged me before I could even react. "I'm so glad you could make it." He pulled away, I still petrified. "And this is..." He looked at Ana. She looked as lost as I did.
"I-I'm-I'm-Ana." She managed and he gave her a hug, too.
"I'm so grateful because you invited me, but I would've come either way." I said once the primary shock of hugging Ed Sheeran faded.
"I know, but I wanted you here." He smiled and I smiled back nervously. It was a bright night, with the fireworks and everything, but the brightest thing was Ed's hair. It was so orange I thought someone lit it on fire.
"Nice necklace," he said.
"Thanks... Harry gave it to me last Christmas," I said with a shaking voice. Once again I put my hand over my chest to hide that damn chain. It felt wrong exposing it to the world. It was just something Harry gave to me. It was supposed to stay between us.
I brought up all my courage. "How's he been doing?"
He rose his lips to a tiny smirk like he heard some inside joke. "He's okay, I guess. But not like when he was with you." I tensed. He pursed his lips. "Though, I think you two are closer to each other than you think." He smiled and walked away. What does he mean by closer than you think?
"What did he say?" Ana asked, appearing next to my shoulder.
I shook my head. "Nothing important. Let's go find a seat."
We sat down on the bleachers left from the stage in the highest row. Below us were one of the acts from the concert, the town's mayor and a few other people. We cheered and yelled and danced- which wasn't a treat for the eyes- and sung throughout the entire show. When there was a 15 minute break to set the stage for the next act, at about 25 minutes from midnight, Ed pulled me aside.
"What'cha want, Sheerio?" I asked and leaned against a truck.
"Well-wait, are you drunk?"
"Nope." I said, popping the P. "Just my normal bubbly self." For once, I could say I'm fine or happy or bubbly or cheeky or whatever without it feeling like a terrible lie. Now it was just a smaller one, decreasing the truth, if you will.
"Anyway," the look in his eyes suddenly got serious. "I hope you can still play guitar like I know you can."
"I can't. I can play even better. Why?"
"Well because you'll be playing it tonight," he said like it's the most normal thing in the world. At first I had no idea how to react. My entire body shook and my jaw fell open. "Wow, I hope that's a yes-"
"You want me to what?"
"Play your guitar, any song you like. Sort of an opening act for me."
Well, bloody hell. Ed Sheeran wants me to be his opening act. *Pinch* *Pinch* *Smack in the face*.
I let out a gasp which was a mixture of excitement, hyperventilation, doubt, fangirling, OMG's and fright.
"But I don't have a guitar."
"Well," he turned around, taking something, "you can have mine." He handed me his guitar and I almost dropped in my shoes. I tried to thank him but all that came out of my mouth were exhales and wale sounds.
He looked at his wristwatch. "Oh, time to go," he announced. I nodded dreamily. Then he started pushing me towards the stage.
"Wait-I'm not ready. For. This.-Help me-Ed-Ed-STAHP." I started tugging out but he just kept pushing. I closed my eyes. I knew I was moving, but I just didn't want to know where. When I opened my eyes I was standing on the stage, behind an amplifier three inches higher than me.
"Ya' ready, kid?" Some guy with a bald head and sunglasses asked. Ignoring the glasses and the hair loss situation, he reminded me strangely of Mr Newton. He'd always be the last person I'd talk to before going on stage, the one who filled me with confidence. Finally, I decided; I've done this before. I'm going to do it again, just on a bigger level.
I took a deep breath. "I'm ready," I announced and stepped in front of the amplifier.
I stood frozen for a nanosecond, just looking at the crowd. I was astonished. Then terrified and panicky. Oh. My. God. Let me go. Please, I'm gonna fall or slip or turn into a Chihuahua. I can't do this. I gulped and took the most insecure step forward. No, not even WMYB would make me feel not-insecure. I walked upfront, minding my steps. People were watching, whispering and muttering. I made it to the microphone and grabbed it with both hands. I didn't even know what song to sing. I couldn't sing any of Ed's songs because he comes next. But there was one more thing. I made a split-second decision.
"Hi, um, I'm Carter Arch," my voice shook like glass in an earthquake as I spoke, "and I'm going to be singing a song I wrote for someone special." I smiled briefly and looked back to Ed's guitar which was slung over my shoulder.
All these thoughts raced through my mind when my fingers touched the strings; the first guitar lesson I had with dad, getting my first guitar, hearing Harry say he heard me sing that first week when I came to London, getting the job at Puzzle's, singing 'Let It Be' that day with Harry... I took a deep breath.
Now or never.
My mouth fell open, and just like when I sung for my job at Puzzle's, the words simply flew out. I sang the song I wrote for my mid-term last year. For a second in time, I felt like I was back in that classroom, Haley and Chessie around me. But I wasn't. I was on the biggest stage in my life- the one I have admired for so many years. And all the lights were on me. It felt so terribly natural, like a fish in the water. I saw a couple of people take out lighters and phones and swing them in the air. I felt unnaturally flattered, though.
Once I've finished, I smiled and set down Ed's guitar. I thanked the crowd, bowed and happily got off the stage. On the stairs down, I saw Ed and Ana about twenty feet away looking at me. I went towards them to laugh or scream or do anything out of happiness.
As I stepped on the pavement with my right foot, a tall, curly figure blocked my way- Harry.
At first, I was too shocked for words. If God wanted to surprise me, he could've dropped a bag with a million dollars in front of me or and iPhone Gazillion, not this, it's too much.
My brain managed to get back on track. I frowned and tried to slip away on his left side. He stretched his hands and trapped me like all those times before.
I willed myself to look up. Even in the dim light his eyes were perfectly green. But there was something else in them now, a feeling I would've never connected to Harry Styles; pain.
"What do you want?" I said with a voice that was stronger than I was.
"I want you to listen."
"Listen to what, Harry? Another lie?"
"Please." He looked the same as that night when he asked me to stay for the night. I had no other choice but to listen. I rippled my nose and rolled my eyes. I thought I saw him smirk a little, but it was hard to tell. "Carter, I didn't come here to be forgiven. Heck, I didn't even know I was coming here until I got to my hotel-"
"How?"
"Well, Ed brought me here-" In that moment Ed appeared behind Harry and smiled.
"You knew?" I asked.
"It was my idea. Look, Harry was miserable when you left even though he didn't want to admit that, and I'm pretty sure you weren't far away front that, either. I wanted to make things right between you because I knew you two never would."
"And me being your opening act?"
"Harry mentioned something about that being your lifetime wish or something on Christmas when we were watching 'Lady and the Tramp'." He sighed and looked me in the eyes. "Just listen to him." Harry nodded and Ed went on the stage.
"Like I said," Harry continued, his eyes locked on mine, "I don't want to be forgiven because loving you isn't a thing you're supposed to forgive. I just want you back." He closed his eyes and folded his hands like he's praying. "Carter, I love you," he said and smiled. I wanted to smack that smile right off his face but a part of me, a tiny little bit of a part of me was glad to see his smile. I heard Ed starting to play some song in the background but the only thing I could focus on was the boy in front of me. "I love you, and the only reason why I didn't tell you was because I was scared that you wouldn't feel the same way." I felt a lump form itself in my throat.
"What about Victoria?"
"Please," he waived his hand in front of his face, almost slapping me, "I never loved her. There was a time I liked her, but I was just blinded. She never even loved me, she was just using me." For a second we stood in silence, listening to Ed singing 'Give Me Love'. "I'm sorry for saying that about you leaving when you're scared," he said finally.
"Harry, you don't even know me," I said weakly, feeling a tear in my eye.
He smirked happily, "I know you enough to know that you always keep the volume on an odd number. I know you always tie your right shoe first and you absolutely hate stereotypes and I know you love Nando's more than Niall. And I know your dad would've been proud of what you did tonight." In that point, I wasn't sure whether I'd jump in his arms and sail into the sunset with him or slap him silly. I hated him for mentioning my dad like this, but I knew in my gut he was right.
Yeah, my dad would've been proud.
He exhaled deeply. "And I want to get to know you even more but that's hard when you keep pushing me away from yourself." He took my hand in his, where it felt like it belonged.
My brain and heart had a terrible conflict about this- my brain wanting to storm out of here and bury the thought of Harry Styles forever and my heart wanting him. And frankly, though, it was slowly winning.
"And what about the kiss?"
He grinned and smiled widely at me, full dimple action. "That was just the moment I admitted to myself that I love you."
I looked down and sighed, "I'm sorry for that thing with the tape that day-just... Ariana was blackmailing me and I had no other choice but to-"
"I know. Ana filled me in. And Charlie told her. He's sorry, too." He stopped. "Please. Look, Ed's even playing our song." I focused on the music and, he's right. The crowd was blasting to the sounds of 'You Need Me I Don't Need You'.
I chuckled and looked at him. He was as close to me as he was before he kissed me that night. And I liked his warmth and just the idea of him being so close.
That's when the Pre-Midnight fireworks lit up the sky, painting it in different colours. His face reflected the flames, too. It went from forest green and fuchsia to gold. But his eyes and lips stayed the same; perfectly green and inhumanly red.
"Fine, Popstar," I said finally. He smirked widely and looked in general as if the weight of the world fell 0ff his shoulders.
"Ya' ready for 2014?!" Ed screamed from the stage before he joined the crowd in the countdown.
"10, 9..."
"You know, it's a custom to kiss at midnight," he said.
"...8, 7..."
I knitted my eyebrows, "Oh, is it then?"
"...6, 5..."
He nodded insensibly, "It really kind of is."
"...4, 3..." I was pretty sure my face was the same colour as Ed's hair by now, regardless to the fireworks.
He pulled me tight with one hand and trapped my cheek with the other. "I was ready to forgive you when you said Nando's," I said and bit my lip.
"...2..."
He chuckled and flashed me that slight troublemaker smile I fell for.
"...1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"
He leaned in closer to me as the crowd went wild and a new wave of fireworks blew up the sky. Our eyes met just before he kissed me and they closed. His lips were as soft as ever, but that's not the thing that made my heart race and stomach flutter; it was the spark. The same spark just a million times brighter. It was not even a spark, heck, not even fireworks; it was Hiroshima. When I opened my eyes again, he was looking at me with a satisfied look on his face. Our foreheads clashed against each other and I wrapped my fingers in the empty spaces between his.
"I love you," he said and kissed me above the eyebrows.
"I love you too." I let my head drop on his chest and smiled, for the first time feeling like I belong.

The End


______________________________________________________________________________
TA-DAAH
that's the end of that... or is it? nah, not really, there's still an epilogue.
thanks for reading, ily, bye x :----)