Broken Youth

Chapter 26

~ Chapter Twenty-Six ~

••Harry••

Feeling.

The opposite to numbness. Or so I've been told. Something that holds great meaning, but is also a great burden. A heavy sack, the walker has to carry in order to survive. Sometimes it makes you want to surrender up your life and take away everything you are; sometimes it's a bit too much to handle. And when you're someone like me, in a situation like mine, you really want to let go of all feeling and be numb. Because it'd be simpler. But I can't do that. I may not be human in qualities, but in feeling I am more than anything else this monster inside of me has to offer.

"I'm sorry. I have to leave- this is the only way, Zayn; for me to be happy."

"The only way? There isn't any possibility that staying here, with me, and talking it out with Jess could solve your problems? You can't walk away from them. Not every time." He was right. I mean, of course he was; he always was.

"This is the time I do walk away. Nothing I can say is going to change Jessica's mind; she hates me. I don't care what her stupid mind tells her or what Megan does to her sawdust filled head-"

"Hey, watch your damn mouth, young lady. I'm her best friend and stood right behind you." The anger in my body rose slightly and bubbled out the small volcano forming in my stomach.

"Harry, give me one freaking minute to explain myself before I go? Or is that now not possible for you?" Georgia's stubborn mouth, again, shut me up. "She isn't going to forgive me. Simple as that, Zayn. Ever since she's met Megan, things seemed to change and I was okay with that. I had you and Louis and to be honest, I knew it was going to happen. 'Bloody Vacancy' knew that as much as anyone. But let me go? Let me be happy somewhere I'll be accepted for making a mistake." She paused for her tears, now slowly making their way down her cheeks. "Because I can't stand here and watch as I'm replaced. As much as I couldn't give a damn, it still hurts. You would know that as much as anyone." Zayn stood quite, his eyes trained on the salt water dripping from Georgia's chin, before he moved forward and lightly kissed her.

"Don't forget me." His voice was barely a whisper, lips still connected with Georgia's.

"Way to cliche, Styles." I muttered, moving forward and standing behind Zayn, leaning against the side board. He rolled his eyes and pulled away.

"I love you." Georgia's eyes saddened as she glanced over at me. "Move, Zayn." He chuckled at her attitude, moving aside and sitting down on the chair placed incorrectly in the corner of Ashton's lounge. Damn kids.

"Harry, do me the honour of saying 'thank you'? Because you wouldn't be here, with Megan, if it weren't for me. And I really don't think you'd even be at Ash's house if I hadn't persuaded you that Meg will love these four boys."

"One of them a little too much." I huffed. "But yes, thanks pal." I stuttered out awkwardly, still foreign with the idea of thanking her, after everything she put Jess through.

"S'alright." I winked, making her laugh as we hugged, her warm perfume and gentle touch, lifting my heart for the final time.

"I'll miss you, G, more than you'd think."

"Even after The Incident." She quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes." I put my arm around her just as Cal came stumbling in.

"Sorry, I'm late. Mike wanted to 'fight' me." His words were thick with accent and rough with the amount of breaths he was taking in between syllables.

"Fight you?" Zayn laughed.

"Not literally- on Xbox." Calum gestured with his hands, still bent double from the run he'd made from Megan's house to here. "I dunno why I ran over here, Meg said Georgia was going over there afterwards?"