Put Your Heart On Your Sleeve

Chapter 14

Cristina had finished her shower and grabbed an oversized t-shirt and a pair of boxers. They slipped down from her waist and decided not to wear bottoms. Harry had gotten in the shower. She heard him singing some Beatles and Elvis Costello. She smiled hearing him sing. She heard a knock at the door and went to open it. 

“Yes,” she said as she opened it. She saw it was Zayn. “Oh, hey Zayn,” she said, trying to not sound annoyed.

“Cristina, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for acting the way I have.” he said.

“It’s okay.” she said, smiling a little. “I forgive you.”

Zayn smiled. “Good, is it okay if we talk for a little bit?” he asked.

Cristina nodded. “Sure, want to sit out in the hall,” she asked.

“Sure,” he said, putting his hand to the back of his head. 

Cristina grabbed a notepad and a pen from the dresser,

‘Out in the hall with Zayn. I’ll be in a few. Wait for me in bed if I’m not back.

Love, Cris.’

She applied a light pink lipstick quickly and kissed the paper. She placed it down on the night stand and grabbed the room key and went out to the hall. 

“Hey, what did you want to talk about,” she said, and sat down next to Zayn.

“Harry is really happy with you.” he started. He held his cap in his hands, looking at it. “I’ve never seen him so happy for the months that I’ve known him and when he was away from you, he wasn’t acting himself. I just thought you were a girl to him like any girl he’s met but for a while he wouldn’t shut up about you. It was just a day that you two had hung out and we left and for months he wouldn’t stop going on about you with us. Then he stopped all of a sudden. Maybe he thought you’d moved on or being away from you did something to him. He met Caroline and they lasted for a little while but he wasn’t the same. You could just tell. Then when we were coming for America he started talking about you again. He couldn’t wait to see you again. He does love you. I don’t know if he’s told you that. He does. The way he looks at you, the way he holds you, I mean it’s just different. And you,” he said, keeping silent for what felt like minutes. “You don’t even know what you do with him. You don’t see it, the connection between you two. It’s just a fire between you two when you’re together. It just burns,” he said, bringing his hands up and shaking his hands as if he was holding a ball. “It’s uncontrollable. Untameble. Unstoppable. I see him with you and you with him and I think why isn’t there someone like this for me? You’re his best friend. You understand him in ways that no one ever could. Not even Louis,” he said, looking at Cristina finally for the first since they started the conversation.

Her eyes were red. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Hearing someone say that she has a real connection with someone. She never thought that she’d be able to be with someone, let alone know someone who could make her happy and Zayn proved to her that she wasn’t just a girl to Harry that he wanted. She smiled, looking at Zayn. 

“Thank you, Zayn.” she said. 

“You’re beautiful, Cristina.” he blurted.

Cristina turned red. 

“Zayn, it really means so much and I appreciate it but… Harry…” she said almost in a whisper. “He’s your best pal. How would you feel if he was all over the girl you liked. 

He sighed, looking down. “Angry.”

“You’re lucky he hasn’t done anything to you.” she said. She stood up and grabbed her room key. “Well, I think Harry must be done with his shower so I’m gonna go back in before he thinks something is going on. 

Zayn laughed, shaking his head. “He knows you’re not going to do anything. He’s got you all wrapped around his finger,” he said. 

“Excuse me,” she said, looking at him, hurt and shocked. 

“Just go in,” he said.

“Zayn, you can be sweet but you are a complete bastard sometimes.” she said and slammed the room key door through the slit and opened the door hard. She heard something hit the door as she opened the door just a few inches. 

“Oh,” she saw Harry stand up quickly. “Harry,” she said. She walked in and jumped, wrapping her arms around his neck. The door closed behind them and she hid her face, tearing up. 

“Sh, sh, sh,” he said in a whisper, running his hand through her hair. “I’ve got you,” he said. He carried her to the bedroom and sat on the bed, holding her close to him. 

“I’m sorry, Harry.” she said. 

“Why are you sorry,” he said. 

“For being here. For going to Chicago that day. For being in that spot the second you were there. For being in your life.” she said, crying, tears falling down her cheeks. 

“No, no. Listen to me, Cris. Zayn is jealous bastard that’s what he is. Don’t listen to him.” he said, wiping her tears from her cheeks. “Look at me,” he said, cupping her face and giving a gentle force to look into his eyes, “You are worth too much to be shedding tears.” he kissed both her cheeks and pulled her in again.

She took deep breaths, trying to stop crying and fell asleep, sitting on his lap and her head on his shoulder. Harry laid her down gently and walked around to the other side of the bed. He got in, pulling her in to him gently, and wrapped his arms over her. “I love you,” he whispered.