Soft Side

Chapter fifty-one

I sigh as I grab the fourth pair of Harry's pants that were laid across the floor, throwing them into the washing basket under my arm. He had done none of his washing since he had been home, leaving me to do it all but still having to look after the baby most of the time. Thankfully Harry had told me he was staying at home today to spend time with us, and that he would look after her while I did some of my jobs I needed to do. I walk through to the kitchen, switching the washing machine on before sighing at the sink.

"Harry you said you would- Ari no!" I call, as I rush over and grab the pen lid from her hand which she was just about to put into her mouth. "Harry she was just about to choke because you're sat on your phone" I snap as he looks up, "Can you not keep an eye on your own daughter for five minutes?" I ask as he locks his phone.

"I was watching her" he states as I shake my head, lifting the baby into my arms as she grins. "Let me go and make her bottle" he sighs as I nod, sitting on the sofa with her, her larger body on my lap as she beams happily at me. She was everything to me, my happiness and the reason I woke in the morning, even if it was sometimes at silly o'clock in the morning. I pepper kisses across her cheek as she laughs, putting her fist into her mouth as Harry comes back.

I take the bottle from his hand, instantly dropping it onto the floor as he looks confused. "Harry what the hell? That's so hot!" I shout as he sighs, picking it up. He'd never learnt how to know the correct temperature as he had never been around enough. "I can't give her that, she'll burn her mouth" I sigh as he shakes his head and sits down beside me.

"I'm sorry Soph, I'm just so tired being on this tour, I'm so glad to have this break before we head out again tomorrow night in London, it just means I can come and stay here for a few nights instead of that bus" He sighs as I shake my head. I know he was tired but I was also incredibly tired, having to look after a one year old baby and run around after Harry since he had been home. I nod, saying nothing with a sigh as he turns his head to look at me. "Our next stop is the UK leg Soph, come with me... I want to spend time with my girls" He says softly, "You could come back and work in the dressing room again" He grins as I sigh, shaking my head as I look at the baby laid in my arms having her milk.

"Harry it's hard enough to look after her on my own here, let alone on a tour bus with you all when she's this young" I sigh softly as Harry nods. "I mean, I could do, to try and boost us a little bit more" I shrug as he grins, a wide smile forming on his lips as he looks at both of his girls. He was happy about this and had agreed to help me out.

~~~~~~~

"Are you sure you know everything to do tonight? Her milk is in the fridge made it just needs warming up," I ramble as I rummage around Ariella's small suitcase that had been brought with us onto the tour bus. "Shit, Becky I can stay here and look after her, it's really no big deal" I sigh as she shakes her head, saying nothing and pointing to the door in an effort to tell me to go. "Let me just say goodbye" I say quietly as I walk to the end of the bus, finding Ariella asleep in her travel cot. I sigh softly, stroking her cheek softly and leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead

"Soph you need this, you both need the time on your own without her" Becky says as I slowly walk out of the room looking at my hands, "and remember you can call me to check how she's doing, but you know she will be just fine... but please go and have a nice evening, you deserve it" She smiles as I nod, grabbing my handbag and jacket as Harry walks from the bathroom where he had been previously, getting himself ready for dinner. I sigh softly and head for the door with Harry in tow. We left the bus, my head turning back to look at it as he smiles softly, placing a hand on my lower back and guiding me to the taxi ahead of us.

The car journey had felt like forever but we soon arrived as a restaurant in central Manchester, somewhere that was on the slightly pricier side but nothing massively expensive. We walked inside, sliding into the seats around the square table which acted as a support for the white table cloth laid over it. I thank the waiter as he pours a glass of water for myself, my hands smoothing down the emerald wrap around dress I wore as I tap the screen of my phone, seeing the photo of Ariella with her birthday cake in front of her. It had been such a wonderful day. Her first birthday. We had so many members of the family and lots of friends here to see her, Harry had been there all day and she had been completely spoilt. I sigh softly, remembering how excited she had been about the balloons and how she had spent so much of the day cruising around the furniture.

"Ariella's birthday was a good day wasn't it" I say softly, looking around the restaurant, "Harry" I state as his head lifts. A mumbled apology and his eyes lowering to his phone a mere few seconds later. I sigh softly, thanking the waiter for the food as Harry's eyes stayed lowered. "Harry your foods here" I state as he nods. I shake my head, beginning to eat as he never lifts his head, not even occasionally to eat. I sigh, finishing my food as he places his phone down briefly to cut his steak up. Then within a flash it was back in his hand. I sigh, grabbing my jacket and bag and walking to pay as Harry shuffles along behind me.

We walk out, Harry sliding his phone in his pocket as he scurries over to me. "Soph what's the matter?" He asks as I laugh softly and shake my head. "Seriously Soph what is wrong" He states this time, holding my wrist and spinning me to face him.

"Harry, all evening all you have done is sit on your phone. We came out tonight to try and patch up the missing pieces and you haven't said a word to me at all tonight, what even was the point tonight?" I state as he sighs and shakes his head, looking down at the floor.

"I know I know, I'm sorry" He sighs as I shake my head at him with a laugh. "It's just management are getting really funny about every little thing since Zayn left and-" He mutters before grabbing his phone again as it signals he had another message.

"This is what I mean" I sigh, gesturing to him as he nods, typing quickly on his phone. "I'm sick of being second best to you Harry, everybody seems to come before me and it's just not okay... I'm sick of feeling like I'm on my own" I whisper as he doesn't respond. His fingers typing away before chewing on his nail and typing again. I sigh softly and slip on my jacket. "Go and fuck yourself Harry" I mutter and walk away from him. I could see cameras flashing to the side of me but I didn't care. Tonight was supposed to help us both but instead we were now in a heated discussion outside of a restaurant which had resulted in me walking away from him.

I climb into the taxi, the direction heading back to the bus. My head turns to see Harry stood on his phone still as the taxi pulls away, heading towards my destination. I pay the driver, climbing up the steps into the large vehicle, ignoring the stares from Becky and Louis and the confused looks they wore on their faces. I didn't even want to question why he was here, that was something for tomorrow. I heard a cry from the back room, a sigh leaving my lips as I walk in there, closing the door behind me and lifting my daughter from her travel cot, her head laying on my chest as I sat on the sofa in the back room, my lips pressing to her hair as a tear slipped from my eyes, cascading down my cheek like rain on a window. I sigh softly, singing quietly to her as she fell asleep in my arms. I sigh quietly to myself, closing my own eyes and feeling my body fall into sleep. On my own once again.