Living with Styles

nine

I knock on Bella's door.

"Do you want some breakfast?"

No answer.

I knock again.

"Bella? You in there?"

Again, no answer.

I open the door. She's not in her room. But I just came from downstairs, and she's not there either. So, she's probably on her morning run already.

I notice a picture on her nightstand. I walk over and pick it up.

There's a curly brown haired boy, holding a baby that had brown tufts of hair. A very pretty brown haired woman and a sickly looking man sat next them.

Mom. Dad. Me. Bella.

I study it for a while and then turn it over. May 8, 2000 Isabella's First Birthday

Today is May 1st, 2014. Bella's 15th birthday is in exactly a week.

I call up Liam.

After four rings, he picks up. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Harry." I say.

"I know. I have caller ID." He replies sarcastically.

"Oh, yeah." I brush it aside. "It's Bella's 15th birthday a week from today. Should I do something for her? Like a surprise party or something?"

"That's a great idea, Harry!" He exclaims. "Hey, what if we have the band play for her?! Like as entertainment?! You can join us! Just like old times!" Liam says excitedly.

"That all sounds great, except for that last part." I sigh. "I can't be in the band anymore, Liam. You know that. Bella is my responsibility now. And I can't just go join a band and party all the time."

"It's just for her birthday. Besides, I think she'll enjoy it." Liam encourages.

"Alright, I guess I can do that." I laugh dryly.

-

*Bella's POV*

I walk into my room and find Harry standing there, holding the picture I found on the bottom of the box last night.

"What are you doing in here?!" I snap.

"I-I was just seeing if you were awake, but you were already-"

"Get out!!" I take the picture away from him.

"Stop it! Stop being so difficult!" His voice rises. "All you care about is yourself. How all this affected you. But have you ever thought how any of this affected me? Huh? Maybe I'm hurting inside, too, Bella!!"

Tears stream down my face as I yell back, "No, you're not, Harry!! You're not hurting because you didn't care about mom or me! You still don't care about me! You're just a heartless piece of sh-"

"You don't understand why I did what I did. If you would just let me-"

"I don't need to understand why! What only matters is that you did!! I'm never gonna forgive you for that!" I yell. My face is hot and probably really red. I compose myself and take a deep breath. "Just-just get out." I whisper, loud enough for him to hear me.

-

*Harry's POV*

It's been a week since last Saturday. I haven't talked to her, but I'm still gonna throw her a surprise party.

The boys said I could host it at their house. Perrie invited a couple of her friends, Jesy, Jade, and Leigh-Anne. They helped set up while Perrie took Bella for a day at the mall. Bella didn't want to go, but she just couldn't turn down Perrie's puppy-dog face.