Free (Sequel to Through The Dark) Complete

Chapter 26

Amanda helped JJ wash the last of the dishes and put them away. The four of them had a nice dinner together. Cooking was a bit of a challenge with just the stove top and lighting each burner individually, but it was kind of nice working it out together.

Amanda found herself, as usual, watching JJ and Harry throughout dinner. Things seemed a bit more relaxed between the two of them. Seemed JJ even accepted Harry's help through the night. They smiled, and laughed, and joked together. Maybe Tahoe just had that magic. "So, what are we going to do now?" She asked as the girls walked to the couch where the boys were. She sat on the arm of the couch by Niall and put her arm around him.

Niall put his arm around Amanda's waist and then reached up and kissed her. "Have something in mind, Princess?"

Julie rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Yeah, you both need to go to your room." She looked at Harry who looked back at her. "Yeah, this is not something I would have planned, or asked for, but maybe you should go start a fire in the room we used last time. Guess that's where we're staying."

Harry couldn't help but smile. When Julie tilted her head at him, he just shrugged. "What? Would you like me to pretend I'm disappointed?"

"Shut up." Julie said. "I'm going to get my bag from Amanda and Niall's room. Now that they're here thinking about what they've done in that room is too much for me." She turned on her heel and went to grab her bag. She took a deep breath as she got to the room her and Harry had slept in together. She was tired of fighting the pull she had towards him. But she wasn't quite ready to give in. She always had these constant struggles between her heart and her head. Last time, with Harry she'd let her heart take over for the first time in a long time. It had done nothing but cause her pain in the end. She was reluctant to let her heart take over this time. Damn him for being so damn kind and sweet. Why couldn't he stay the jerk he had been when he broke up with her and when he first came back to LA. When he went to Kendall. If he could do that, she'd have no problem pushing him aside. But no, he was kind, and compassionate, and thinking of her first. She sighed and picked up her bag. This decision wasn't as easy as she made it seem.

Harry watched Julie walk towards what was now going to be Amanda and Niall's room again. "She's not as comfortable with this as she's letting on, is she?" He asked as he stood up.

"I imagine she's not." Amanda said standing up off the couch. "But the last thing I'm going to do is question her decisions. I don't want to put it in her head. I'm afraid I'll make her think even harder about it."

"Yeah, but I don't want her to feel pressured either." Harry countered. He started to laugh. "Damn, she's complicated."

"I'm not as complicated, as you all think." Julie said coming out of the room. "You know, every time I leave a room, you don't have to talk about me." She put the bag up further on her shoulder. "So, I'm guessing you haven't started the fire in the room yet?" She raised her eyebrows at Harry. "Seriously, let's stop plotting. It is what it is, and that's what I'm going with. You want me to run? Keep questioning everything behind my back." She shook her head and mumbled under her breath. "I'll start the damn fire myself." She turned and walked towards the bedroom.

"Oops." Harry said laughing. "Well, at least she's acting like the girl we know and love. I better go start that fire."

Niall shook his head and got up. "Well, just remember it was you who wanted to get here so fast. JJ's much more likely to fight Harry now." He said to Amanda as he went to make sure everything was locked up and closed off for the night. Harry had grabbed one of the heaters on his way back to the bedroom, and Niall grabbed the other. Wouldn't be safe to leave them on in the living room with no one there.