Hard to Love

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

*Christina's POV*

I laid there, quiet and still. FInally my tears had stopped, and I was breathing steadily. His hand was slowly running through my hair as my head rested on his stomach. We stayed like this since we came back to his flat. Zayn and Liam, awaiting the results to the plan, stayed in the living room while Harry and I laid in his bed.

"Harry." I whispered, my voice a little raspy. He hummed letting me know he was listening. "Why are you so nice to me?"

I heard his lips curl into a smile, "Because I care." He answered. 

I thought about his response. No one has ever gone so out of their way for me before. It was strange to know that this man, whom I've only just met, cares this much about me. But why me? What is so different about me...

Harry, who was sat up against his headboard, shifted. I looked up at him and he smiled with adoration. He used his thumb to wipe the remainder of my mascara from under my eyes. "I'm going to make a cuppa. Wanna come?" I nodded and slowly got up. He waited at the door for me and let me walk ahead while he shut the door behind the both of us.

"Hi love, are you feeling better?" Liam asked once I walked into the living room. I shrugged and accepted his hug. He rocked me a little bit back and forth before letting me go. 

Zayn got up and gave me a side hug, handing me a tissue in the process. "Where's Stella?" I blew my nose after asking him.

"She is on her way with Lou and Ni. She heard what happened." He responded and I nodded.

All I wanted was my best friend Stella. I needed to tell her everything. I wanted to cry with someone. Stella knows me better than anyone, and right now I needed my best friend. I heard the click of the kettle as the steam poured out from the hot water. Sitting down at the bar, I watched Harry pour the water into four mugs and pop in a Yorkshire tea bag in each.

He handed me mine. "Seven minutes is the perfect brewing time." He winked and offered a smile which I had to return. 

Sitting next to me at the bar, he rubbed my back as I waited for my tea to brew. He was a very comforting friend and I'm so grateful to have him. "I can not thank you enough Harry. I'm very blessed to have a friend like you."

He bit his lip and smiled. "I'm the blessed one, and I'm always here for you love. Anytime you need me." 

Just then, Stella and the boys bursted through the door. "Guess who got knocked on her ass and fired?!" Louis cheered victoriously.

Stella, ignoring him, came straight for me and pulled me into her. Wrapping her arms around me, she held on tight and squeezed me. "I'm so sorry hun." Tears pricked at my eyes. The love she has for me is tremendous. I just nodded, not able to speak.

In a way, I wanted to just forget that this whole mess ever happened, to just move on with my life. I wanted this fresh new start again like I had when I moved here to London. Is this a sign that I should have never moved? Would I have been better off back home with my abusive father?

I needed to go home, back to my little flat. I was grateful for everyone's contribution today, but all this has been so emotionally draining that I just wanted to go home. I let them explain to me how the rest of the plan had gone and then annouced I wanted to turn in for the night. I gave everyone a hug and asked Stella for a ride home, this way we can talk and she could give me her advice.

"No, let me take her home." Harry spoke up. Stella nodded, abandoning me, and Harry grabbed his keys. I walked outside into the chilly night air, waitng for Harry. "Louis, stay here. I'll be right back." He called out before shutting the front door.