Time to get out

Matty's friends right?

Harper's POV

Matty didnt answer when i called later that week. I didnt think too much of it but later, when I picked Steph up from the gym and he was just arriving he didnt even look at me. I was going to call out to him, but he had the hood of his jumper pulled over his head and music plugged into his ears. But i knew he had seen me. It felt like a punch right in my heart but i just kept telling myself, we are friends. Nothing more. I sighed, trying to pay attention to Steph as she told me about a project i would be helping her with at work as well as driving and not crying.

Over the last few weeks, Harry and Kat had grown closer if that's even possible. I overheard him saying to her that he doesnt feel the need to drink or smoke anymore because he wants to be there for her at all times. I poked my head in the door telling them if they dont shut up i would kick them both out. Because yes, it feels like Harry lives here now. He even bought fucking groceries one week, and the next a small fridge for his beers.

Steph? Well she went to that lunch with George. They shared hot chips and wedges at a small pub and talked mainly about themselves. She confesed about Zach and he confesed about wanting more in life. He then worked his magic and convinced her that Luke was a dick and that she doesnt deserve to be treated like that. Then they kissed and he drove her home, walking her to the door before promising to call. And that was three weeks ago. Kat always says she will ask next time she sees him why he hasnt called but apparently he hasnt been around the house for a while.

Today however, a month after me and Matty had last spoken, or you could say, fucked and totally knocked ourselves out, and a few weeks since Steph had heard from George and even longer from Luke, and probably only 4 minutes since Kat had heard from Harry, we were having a girls day. Sounds gay i agree but im genuinly excited. Kat and I both wanted to get peircings and tattoos and we were convincing Steph to get one as well.

We walked into the peiricng sallon, Steph already freaking out. They weren't really her thing. Kat was just getting her nose done, while i was getting my webbing and an industrial. They did my webbing first, then Kat's nose and my industrial last. The first one didnt really hurt that bad and my freaking out turned out to be about nothing. The industrial however was a wee bit painful as they tightened the bar but overall, i think we did pretty well and we got discounts as part of out job bonus so it was only 15 euro a peircing. After that it was tattoo time.

We had convinced Steph to get some, telling her of the sentimentality that they held. We all grabbed an iced coffee first, finalising our ideas of what we wanted and then we headed in.

Two younger guys looked up from the books, welcoming us and i couldnt help but remember them. They were at that party Matty had invited us to...but i was too drunk to remember their names.

"Matty's friend right?" Blondie asked, who i could now see clearly had peircings and tattoos in all the hottest places. Also, i think that was an irish accent.

"Harper." I said, looking around the studio before back at him

"Niall. This is Ashton. He was there that night as well." I nodded, smiling at him and admiring his shaggy hair.

"So, who's going last?" Niall asked, already clocking in on Steph. She nodded, taking a seat on the couch.

"Awesome." Niall and Ash sat us in chairs at oposite ends of the studio. I told Ashton what tattoo's i wanted and he smiled, as he got the guns and inks ready. As he started, he asked me questions to take my mind off the pain of the needle scratching through my skin. I told him the meaning of my three tattoos. The first, the four words 'Now i'm a fighter' writen in cursive along the back of my neck was a promise i had made with my father as he lay dying, trying his hardest to not cry in front of me. The second, was also for him, but more for my brother. It says, 'No retreat, baby, no surrender.' Song lyrics, but for Mase and I they meant alot. I got it along my ribs, curling around to my back. And the third was because i liked it. Three triangles from different 3d angles along my forearm.