Paper Hearts ♡ Harry Styles AU

29

"When are you leaving?" I asked Calum as he helped me carry out the grocery bags from my mom's car.

"I don't know, things have been a little complicated lately." He answered.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, it's kind of hard to explain. It's a family thing, don't worry."

"Is everything okay, though? Are you in good terms with your mom? Mali?"

"Yeah, we're great. It's nothing, I swear. I'm just -- I don't think I'm ready to go back to Australia yet."

"Calum and I met at a bar one night and we were both so drunk. I don't even remember half of what happened but I woke up naked at a hotel room with his arm draped around my waist. I left him, I ran away and pretended that nothing happened because I didn't know who he was. But he took my number the night before, and when I woke up, I took his phone and deleted it."

She took a deep breath before continuing, "but I found your name in his inbox."

From Sidney Martins:

Do you want to hang-out this weekend? I'm going for a run in the park, wanna come with? We can get milkshakes after 😋

To Sidney Martins:

Harry owes me a milkshake though, he lost to a game of FIFA remember? But sure I'd love to hang-out! 😬

"I didn't know, I'm so sorry. I should have told you." She sobbed.

"But you still had sex with my boy-- ex-boyfriend. I can't forgive you, I don't think I ever will." I answered, trying to keep my voice firm.

"I know, but please forgive Harry, I pushed him into having sex with me. I was drunk, he was drunk, we were both so angry at everything."

"When?"

"W-what?"

"When did you and Harry have sex?"

She blinked a few times, "the day before you left. Pleas believe me, I was the one who convinced him to chase you the morning after. I regret every second of what happened and he did the same."

As much as I want to believe her, she's lied to much and she's broken my trust. So why should I believe her now when all this time she has been nothing but an infidel?

Wow, infidel is such a strong word though. But the more I try to listen to her voice, the more hate words enter my mind.

Liar, unfaithful, cheater, phony, unbelievable, two-faced... I could go on for days.

"Call Calum," I said, cutting her off from whatever she was explaining. I didn't hear half of what she said anyway, and I kind of don't care.

"What? Why?" She asked nervously. "H-he doesn't know anything."

"He needs to know right now then."

Jane took her phone and speed-dialed Calum's number, and when he answered, I immediately spoke and said the address of this park.

"Go here, right now, Hood." I said and hung-up. "Now call Harry."

Jane's eyes widened. She didn't expect me to react this way. I didn't expect that I would react this way either. I felt different today, somehow my anger is giving me a courage boost. I just hope the plan in my head will work.

* * * *

Harry and Calum stood a few feet away from us, Jane still sitting on the swing and I was leaning against the red-painted, metal frame of the whole set. Harry absent-mindedly bit his fingernails while Calum kept on tapping his foot on the sandy ground.

"Jane, would you care to explain what the hell is going on?" I demanded, which startled them all.

"Sidney, will you please--" Harry tried to speak but I held out my hand in defense, "shut up, we'll talk later."

Jane sighed, "I messed up. I messed up big time but I swear I didn't mean to ruin everything. I was a mess when Calum and I hooked up and getting pregnant is the last thing on my list of life-before-marriage goals. Sidney, I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry for destroying your relationship with Harry. I-I admit that I was a bit jealous of how happy you both were, I never experienced that kind of love. Seeing how happy Harry makes you and vice versa, it killed me. Everyday I ask myself why no one would ever look at me the way Harry looks at you. And that one time I made Harry fall under my spell, I thought that things were finally going my way but I realized that I was wrong. Harry loves you so much, Sid."

A tear fell from my face and I immediately wiped it with the sleeve of my sweater. I heard Harry sniff from behind me and I knew that he was crying too but would rather turn his back on us to avoid any eye contact.

"Calum, I-I want to hear your side of the story." I said.

"Things were never okay, Sidney. I came back here to get away from all the bullshit that's been happening at home. My sister ran away and we found her in this old crack house, wasted and drugged up. My mom and dad kept on fighting because mom keeps on defending Mali while dad wants to kick her out completely. I was offered a football scholarship but it was taken back because I'm failing most of my majors. Life isn't easy back home and I thought that leaving for a while would make things better, guess I was wrong. I messed up too and I'm sorry. Forgive me please, you're one of the few good things left in my life." Calum answered, holding back his tears.

I sniffed, "this is so messed up." I forced a sad laugh from my throat, "look at us, young adults with messed up lives. It's ridiculous, isn't it?" I looked at each of them, but they weren't amused by my sick joke. I wasn't even angry anymore, I was confused, yes, but hearing their different sides made everything clearer and now all I want is for this to be over.

"It's not too late to start again, you know? We've got a long journey ahead of us, and this is just one bump on the road. Jane, I forgive you. I absolutely won't forget what you did to screw things up but I still forgive you. Calum, I wasn't even mad at you until a few hours ago but that doesn't matter, you're still forgiven. I just hope our friendship won't change because of this."

I walked over to Harry and entwined my fingers in his, "do you have something to say?" I whispered.

He suddenly pulled me in for a hug and sobbed hard, "I'm so sorry Sidney, I'm sorry, I love you so much. Please, I'm sorry."

"I love you, Harry. I love you so much, I'm sorry for not giving you a chance. Shit, I don't want to lose you ever again. I love you, I love you." He pulled back and crashed his lips on mine, teeth clashing and breaths heavy. I've missed the taste of his lips, his touch, him.

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A/N: Hi!!! How are you guys? I don't have school for a few weeks so yeah :P Umm I think this is the last chapter??? Unless you want another one before the epilogue? Let me know! Vote and comment! :)

AND THANK YOU SOSOSO MUCH FOR 17.9K READS OMGGG IM CRYING I LOVE YOU ALL