Absolution ➺ H.S. AU

Chapter 21 ➺ Harry

It is Saturday night and I've got nothing to do. My mother and father are out of town-no surprise there. Although, it's not like they'd really be here even if they were sitting in the next room.

I don't like to just sit home alone, but I have no one really to invite over. Paisley is on her date with Will.

Fuck.

I don't like the idea of it, to be fair. Just thinking about them on a date together makes me want to gag. It's sad really, because deep down I know why it bothers me so much, but I'm not willing to admit it to myself. At least not yet.

I pull out my phone and text Louis. I might as well go hang out with my friends. I haven't seen them in a while anyway.

I get a response about 16 minutes later saying that Luke was having people over. I told him I'd be there and went up to shower and get dressed.

I didn't plan on doing anything stupid tonight, but it was better than just sitting at home pouting over Paisley.

The clock read 7:03 as I walked out the door and into the car. The party should be in full swing by the time I get there. Hopefully, I can just see my friends and then get out of there without getting involved in any shit.

Twenty minutes later, I was walking into Luke's house. It seemed fairly quiet considering the kind of parties Luke usually hosted. The you-have-to-park-2-miles-away kind. There were people in the kitchen, but the majority of everyone was in the back. I saw the warm glow of fire through the window. Since I didn't see my normal group anywhere, I assumed they were outside. I said hello to a few people inside and then popped the collar on my jacket, heading outside.

There were more people out here than there were inside. I walked over to the fire, Louis spotting me before anyone else.

"Mate! You made it." He said, walking over to me.

"Yeah." I said.

"Where have you been lately, dude?" Liam asked. God, did they have to fucking grill me right as I arrived?

"I've been kind of busy, I dunno." I said.

"Well, we're glad you're here." Carrie said, hanging all over Liam. The chatter around me resumed as everybody continued their conversations they paused when I walked up. Niall was right next to me, a pretty brunette girl on his other side.

"I never see you anymore." Niall said, playfully elbowing my arm.

"I know." I said.

"You always seem to be with Paisley these days." Niall said. And his tone wasn't jealous or mean-spirited, on the contrary it seemed like he was happy for me. But his comment sparked something inside of me that caused the total opposite reaction than what I was feeling.

"What? No I don't."

"Shut up. Yes you do and we both know it."

"No you shut the fuck up, Niall. You have no idea what you're talking about. Her and I are just friends." I snapped. Niall put his hands up.

"Sorry, geez, take a breath, bro. I didn't say anything like that." Niall said exasperated, and that's when I realized I really flipped shit on him for no real reason. He turned away from me and to his other side talking to the brunette girl I didn't know.

She was pretty. She had long, brown hair and a narrow face, berry colored lips that formed into a smile when Niall said something to her. I wonder if Niall and her had a thing. I perked my ears up to try to hear bits of their conversation, and from what I heard, it wasn't anything too personal. I had a feeling they were just being friendly.