All At Once

Ch. 16: Awards and Apologies

I was walking to Harry's car alone and in complete silence, just what I needed. I regretted not bringing a jacket because it was really windy but I got to the car soon enough and opened the door. I waved at the driver, he recognized me and I sat in the back seat and just thought, about everything.

Sure, Harry had been really great lately but... But I had history with Connor, I had loved him, and what if the kiss meant something more? 

But Connor also cheated on me, now that he wanted to get back together...I was just so confused. 

After this season's X-Factor was named, I gave Josh my keys and let him know that I was meeting Harry before going home. I quickly got out of there, not wanting to get mobbed or pushed on my way out. I guess I'd just wait for Harry to come out to the car so we could talk and then I could go home, I was so tired that I didn't feel like sticking around. I didn't have a problem waiting. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, drifting off into blackness.

...

I felt myself being lifted, as if I was flying but had no control over my body. What was this place of darkness and where was I going? I wondered before I drifted back into the blackness.

...

 I turned onto my right side and extended my arm, tightening it around the pillow next me. As soon as I did that though, I felt the pillow scoot closer and it was unusually warm. Was I still dreaming? I opened my eyes and first realized that I was in my room, in my bed. Then I saw that the "pillow" wasn't a pillow. I pulled my arm back and lifted my head up, silently freaking out as to why Harry was laying in my bed next to me. I quietly got out of bed and saw that I was still wearing last night's clothes, and so was he.

I debated whether I should wake him up or not and put my hands on my head...how the hell did this even happen? I patted to the restroom and looked at turned on the sink. I was still wearing my makeup and my hair was just slightly more wavy than it had been the night before. 

I splashed my face with water, carefully as to not smear my eye makeup, I decided that I would take that off later.

Did he bring me home? I tried remembering back but the last thing I remembered was getting into Harry's car... 

Josh! Maybe he would know something. I looked back at Harry before opening the door, who was smiling in his sleep. I smiled too, it was cute. 

I walked a few steps through the hallway and stopped at Josh's door and knocked lightly, waiting for a response. When I didn't hear anything I opened the door quietly but Josh wasn't in his room, the bed hadn't even been slept in. What the hell was going on?

I heard the front door open and I walked out, seeing Josh closing the door clearly trying not to wake anyone. 

"Where were you?" I whispered when he came closer and made eye contact with me. 

"Why are you whispering?" Josh asked.

I bit the inside of my cheek and asked again, "Where were you Josh?" 

"I went to celebrate with Connor and ended up crashing at his place." Connor. I remembered back to the night before, hearing Connor's name as he had just won, and I felt so relieved that I almost broke down crying. Josh walked off to his room but before he could reach the door knob, my bedroom door opened and I felt my heart beating faster. Shit. Josh looked at Harry, then back at me, then back at Harry again. 

"Good morning." Harry rubbed his eyes and said.

"It's not what it-" I began to explain when Josh quickly stepped into his room and closed the door. Shit. I didn't understand why Josh was so upset, but I still had to fix it. 

"You. Kitchen. Now." I said to Harry before walking to the kitchen myself. 

I leaned against the counter and soon heard Harry's footsteps coming closer. I turned to face him and he was really, really close to me. Like, inches away from my face, looking down on me. 

"You'd be lying if you said your heart wasn't beating as fast as mine right now." He said.

I didn't know what to say. I was angry and annoyed, but I was also curious and intrigued. My legs didn't feel like they'd have the strength to hold me much longer. I pushed Harry back and took a deep breath. 

"How did I get home?" I questioned firmly.

"I brought you. You were already in my car, so..." 

"How did I get into my bed?"

"I carried you halfway, but then you insisted on walking yourself." 

Why was he so calm? He wasn't supposed to be here. His phone was probably ringing off the hook.

"Why did you stay?" I asked.

"I didn't mean to, honestly. I just stayed for a while making sure you would be okay and I guess I fell asleep."

"What makes you think I wouldn't have been okay?" I snapped

"You were mumbling a lot, and you tried to hit me when I carried you, I could tell you had a lot on your mind." he shrugged.

"That's all that happened?" I asked, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Yes, Annabell Peters that is all that happened." He replied with a smirk. 

"You should go." I said, simply, and walked back to my room.