Broken Things

Chapert 20

HPOV:

My body was pleasantly numb and I had lost track of how many drinks I had gone through. I had no idea what time it  was or who the girl was whose fingers were currently combing through my hair. I heard Louis' voice but I couldn't really tell what he was saying. Everything seemed to be at the same volume. I reached and gently grabbed the girl's wrist to pull her fingers from my hair. She tried pulling on my shirt but I stood up, careful to check my balance before walking over to Louis.

When I approached him, he was on his phone but through my blurred vision, I noticed that it wasn't his phone at all. It was mine.

"What are you doing with my phone?"

He looked up with a surprised look on his face and quickly put the phone back into his jacket. He leaned back into the couch and took a sip from his bottle.

"Nothing, Haz. Don't worry about it."

I frowned, "Give me my phone, Lou." I held out my hand but he ignored it.

"Sit down, Harry. Have another drink."

"Lou, give me my fucking phone!" I yelled. The sudden interjection made my head pound and the room tilted slightly.

"Christ, fine. Here," Louis said and shoved the phone in my hand. I unlocked it and scrolled through my notifications. There were two missed calls and a text from Stevie.

"Why didn't you tell me that she called?" I felt heat in my face but it was no longer from alcohol but from anger.

"Why does it matter? You were having fun and I didn't want her to interrupt," he said as he stood.

"You know that I would have wanted to talk to her, Louis! You should have told me!" I could feel my heart begin to pound against my chest and I ran my fingers through my hair.

"Why?! She has no business talking to you. Ever since you met her, you've been different!" He stepped closer with every word and he was now only a few inches from my face. My fists were clenched by my sides and it took everything for me to remember to breathe.

"She's helped me, Louis. I've been better. She makes me better!"

His laugh was condescending as he rolled his eyes, "You think she helps you? She's no one and-".

Before he could finish, my rage boiled over and I shoved him as hard as I could in his chest, causing him to knock over the small table as he fell onto the couch.

"She's everything to me and I love her!" At that, I spun around and pushed my way through the surrounding crowd of people who all shared the same startled look on their face.

When I got out, I inhaled the fresh air as I desperately tried to calm myself. Sobriety was creeping in with each breath but it was my anger that would not fade away. I clenched my fists in my hair and backed up into the brick wall of the club. The pain in my chest grew as I heard Louis' words replayed through my mind. How could he say that about Stevie? He knew what she had done for me. How could he possibly think that she made me worse?

I slammed my fist into the wall and my knuckles busted instantly, causing blood to run down my fingers. Stevie was going to be so upset. Stevie. Quickly, I pulled out my phone, ignoring the fact that I was getting blood all over my clothes.

The rings seemed to go on forever until I heard the line finally pick up.

"Harry?" Her voice was panicked.

"Stevie," my voice gave out and I felt suddenly weak as I sank to the ground.

"Harry, what's going on? I tried to call you back but do you have any idea what time it is here?"

"I'm so sorry, Stevie. Please don't be mad." She had no idea how much I wanted to be with her at this very moment. No one did.

"Oh Harry, I'm not mad. I'm worried. Is everything okay?"

I tried to hold back the tears that were stinging my eyes but the fact that I had been drinking didn't help.

"I just wanted to talk to you. I'm okay."

"Don't lie to me, Harry. Please tell me what's the matter," she pleaded. I could see her with her brows pressed together with worry as she bit her lip. I could see her looking up at me, holding my face with her soft hands. The smell of roses filled my nose as I pictured her smiling at me like she always did. Like she did in the picture.

"I love you, Stevie," I said finally. I could feel a tear break and roll down my face as I waited for her to respond. I heard her take in a breath but before she could answer, I continued.

"I understand if you don't feel the same and I've been drinking but I just wanted you to know how I felt. I love you and I miss you and I-".

"Harry, stop. Calm down before you get too worked up, okay?" she said, "I need to know that you're going to be okay."

My chest didn't hurt as much as it did before and my breathing had regulated since I had started talking to Stevie.

"I'll be fine, I promise," I said, softly.

"Good. Oh, and Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, too."

I closed my eyes as I felt the warmth of content take over my body. I smiled. I wanted so badly to be able to put my arms around her and breathe her in.

She stayed on the phone with me until I saw our SUV pull up behind the club. I told her that I loved her one more time before we said our goodbyes. I got in the car and slid in the backseat next to Louis. I looked over at him but he kept his focus towards the window. I told the driver that it was okay to drive and he took off.

When we arrived at the hotel, I followed Louis but kept my distance. I was still angry with his remarks but I had felt bad for how I reacted. We stayed silent through the ride up the lift until I cleared my throat.

"You're such an ass, Harry," Louis said while keeping his eyes forward. My hands began to clam up instantly as I looked down at the ground.

"How could you say those things about Stevie? She has done nothing to you."

"Yeah except be where she isn't needed," he scoffed.

Here we go again. "I need her, Lou!"

"You have us, Harry! You don't need anyone else!" his voice carried as the doors to the lift came open. I was the first to step off and I turned around to face him.

"So this is what this is about? That's why you don't like her? Get over yourself, Louis!"

"Fuck you, Harry! You're such a shit and I'm over it!"

"Oy, what's going on here?" I turned around and Liam had come out of his room. Without saying anything, I walked past him and into my room, slamming the door behind me. I kicked off my shoes, undressed down to my briefs, and got into bed. I heard Liam and Louis yelling at each other for a moment but then was followed for the slamming of doors. Finally, the silence set in and I let go of my tension.

I closed my eyes and let my thoughts fill with Stevie's voice. Eventually, I started to fade away as I lost myself in sleep.