The Outsiders (Harry Styles)

Chapter 18

Harry's POV 

I call her non stop. Since last night I haven't stopped calling her. I'm so fucking terrified that she'll go back to being with Jack.  Did she go back to his house? Did he do anything to her? Did he hurt her? Questions are flying through my mind like loose papers. None of the guy came back and it's already noon. Maybe they had a hangover and passed out, I don't know. Or Soda told everyone what happened.

Moments later as I'm sitting on the couch, reminiscing through memories,  Pony, Johnny, and Zayn all come barging in through the door and head straight for me. 

"What the fuck did you do, Styles?" Zayn yells at me. I don't respond because I know exactly why they're yelling at me. Also, they have an absolute right to. 

"He's lying on his bed and he won't get up." Pony buds in. As Soda's twin, I guess you could say they're protective over each other. 

 I walk to the door but Zayn catches my arm violently. 

"You know Soda likes this girl. We would never do this to each other. Why did you?" his eyes narrow and I huff. 

"Guys, I didn't fucking take her from him. I just kissed her. Doesn't mean she's mine and It doesn't mean I'm dating her." I reply and Pony rolls his eyes. 

"He told me what happened and he's fucking pissed about it!" Pony tries to punch me but I grab his wrist. 

"Don't even try," I glare at him. Pony's never been upset with me before and It's tearing me apart even though I'm not showing it.  

"We get that she's attractive but seriously, Harry. This isn't you." Zayn makes me feel guiltier than ever. I know this isn't it. This isn't something I would ever do to one of my best friends. I love Soda, he's a good guy. But Cherry, she's different. Something about her makes me not think. Something about her ignited something inside me that I never felt before. 

"Ever since she came into our lives, I've had this unexplainable urge to protect her. I don't want her like that." I explain but Pony shakes his head, not buying any of it. 

"You don't have to hook up with the girl if you're protecting her. We all have urges to protect the girls we know from guys like us. We get it. Just don't go behind our backs and have something going on with her." Pony bites back and I feel like running away because he's right. 

I hate when people are right. 

"First, I don't have feelings for her  or whatever you guys call it. You guys know I don't date, plus, she told Sodapop herself that she didn't think it's working out." I tell them and they don't respond for a moment but then Pony opens his mouth again. 

"You don't have feelings for her? Harry, let's be real. You can be with one girl a night and not think about them ever again the day after. There's something different about Cherry to you. She's got you in some headlock and you know it." Pony crosses his arms. I hate how right he is but the fact that he's saying this out loud makes me realize how true it is.

Fuck. 

 I sigh. 

"You're right. That's why I was with her for one night and I'm not gonna think about her ever again." I lie once more. 

"Hmm." Zayn looks suspicious but at the time convinced. 

"I'll go talk things out with Soda." I tell them so that they'll finally leave me alone. 

"Well, go." Pony motions to the door. 

When I get to Sodapop, Pony and Johnny's house, I stop on the stairs before I open the door. I didn't even think of what I'm going to say. I want Cherry more than anything and I won't give her up without a fight. I don't know about dating but I can't even think of her with another guy. It makes my chest hurt. 

 I open the door to find Louis, Niall and Liam passed out on the floor. When did they get back from the party? 

"Sodapop?" I call out as I walk into his bedroom. I find him laying on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. 

"Soda?" I sit next to him but he doesn't look at me. 

"Mm?" his eyes are still focusing up. 

"I'm sorry." I tell him. He doesn't budge. 

He doesn't say anything. 

"You really like her, huh?" I lay down next to him and he scoots over. Why isn't he throwing a fit? He's being  quiet and it's scaring me. 

"Yeah." 

"Me too." I tell him. 

"I figured. You don't normally act this way around girls." his southern accent rings through my ears. " I realized that she turned me down because she genuinely doesn't want me. And I think she did that because she wants you." he admits.  What?

"Even if that is true, she doesn't like me anymore. I scared her,  and she ran off with Jack." I tell him and he sits up. 

"How did you scare her?" he asks. 

"I threw something at the wall. I don't know." I throw my head into my hands. 

"Is she okay?" he asks. 

"I don't know. She won't answer me." I sigh and I worry myself even more when I say this. 

"If she comes back, she's yours." he explains and I lift a brow. 

"Are you serious? Soda-" I start. 

"I already embarrassed  myself enough." he smiles. Whis is he doing this? I thought he really liked her... 

"Thanks man," I fist bump him and we laugh. 

"No problem." 

"Well that escalated qucikly." I joke and he rolls his eyes. 

Cherry's POV 

Once I wake up, I look at my phone and find that I have three missed calls from Amanda. Amanda! I forgot about her last night. Shit, she's going to kill me. I decide to dial her number and see what she's up to. 

"Cherry?" she asks. 

"Amanda? Where are you?" I quickly ask. 

"Cherry, you won't believe who I just slept with." she tells me and my heart starts to beat fast. Who?