Second Chance

Silly Girl

She had make up running down her face, and looked like she’d been crying for a while. 

All my planning over the hours on the flight and on the way to her apartment from the airport had completely left my mind. I was blanking. What do I say?????

“Ava. Ava are you okay?”

“Harry what are you doing here?? You aren’t supposed to be back for a few days” she says as she lets me in and sniffles adorably but it makes my heart break to know she’s upset about something.

“Yeah”, I answered, “Actually I talked to management and they let me come home early. I actually wanted to talk to you, but what’s going on? Why are you crying? Did something happen? Is your family okay?” 

And as I walked to the living room area I saw her walk quickly to her laptop and shut it.

“Ava, what was that?”

“Nothing Harry. It’s not important.”

“Ava, let me see.”

She moved aside, looking defeated, like whatever had her in tears had also taken all of her energy with it.

I opened the laptop and immediately saw a few tabs opened, all having to do with the kiss that took place between me and Kendall after the concert. I don’t understand. Why is this on here?

I turned toward Ava. “Is this why you’re crying? Because of some stupid publicity stunt?”

She managed a mumble that sounded like yes while looking down and pulling her sleeves down as she used them to wipe away her tears. 

I stood silently. Waiting to see if she had anything else to add to this. 

-Ava’s POV-

I should have fought harder to not let him see it or maybe not been so damn obvious about trying to hide the laptop I’d been staring at for hours. 

But I was a mess and, clearly, not thinking straight. 

“Is this why you’re crying? Because of some stupid publicity stunt?” Harry asked.

I tried to say yes through my tears. 

After a couple of minutes I started rambling, without meaning to,

 as I stared at the ground and fumbled with my fingers. 

“Look Harry, I just, I don’t know how to say this. 

I thought I liked you, from the beginning, but it’s complicated and I had this awful relationship before and I don’t trust easily. 

It’s like everyone in this world will hurt you, one way or another. 

And I didn’t want to hurt you or have you hurt me and you meant the world to me. I mean that.