Ever since, New York [h.s] AU

47 || I'VE GOT A TERRIBLE MEMORY

"Explain to me why you're still here?" I ask. Harry was currently sprawled out on my couch, fiddling with his rings while I was in the kitchen making us both coffee.

It feels as though all we do is drink coffee. Hopefully it doesn't affect my health, but who can blame me? Coffee is my savior.

I hear him sigh followed by footsteps and when I look up from the cups, he's sitting on the other side of the kitchen island, his elbows supporting his weight as he held his clasped hands in front of his face.

"Well," he beginning, taking the cup I passed to him. "My manager thought it'd be best to just lay low for a while. I've never been involved with drama before and we all just don't know how to handle it." He shrugs.

"How did people respond to your statement?" I ask, taking a sip of the coffee.

"Not as bad as I thought to be honest." He admits. "I'm also in the midst of selling my penthouse in New York." He adds.

"Really?" I raise an eyebrow making him nod. Aside from it being a pretty nice place, I was somewhat relieved. Just thinking about it brought back so many unwanted memories that I shouldn't be having. "Why so?"

"Kendall owns a house in that community, I didn't want to have to bump into each other when we go grocery shopping or even just at the local park when I go for a run."

"Coward move." I joke.

"Yeah," he breathes out. "But I'm going to buy a house in London, not so far from my family." He drinks from his cup. "Or you."

"Oh great. You'll have more time to annoy me." I groan though I was internally jumping from excitement. "When do you move?"

"As soon as possible. I've actually already had my agent transfer the down payment for it, I should be moved in by next week." He grins.

"Just in time for Christmas." I smile wide making him nod in agreement. "Does that mean you'll spend it with us?"

"More than likely." He says making me smile. I was glad he was moving back home, America sure does change people and sometimes not necessarily for the better.

Harry has managed to keep himself somewhat grounded and levelheaded. Not allowing himself too into the fame where he becomes just another cliche asshole celebrity. I like to think that it's because of him coming back home from time to time.

When it all started, I used to be so intimidated by him because he was the most talked about person world wide. Always so clean cut and he'd even smell expensive. It was like stepping on eggshells around him, you didn't want to say or do the wrong thing.

And that'd often get me mad. I thought he was so changed and spoiled but then I realized, he was not that at all. He has always been the same Harry I knew since kids.

I wish people would see him the way I see him. Not as Harry Styles, the singer/actor/model with a net worth of 75 Million.

To me, he was just Harry. The person who taped his own hand to a school desk because he was bored in maths. The person who would participate in every talent show, and the person before me who is in my house in nothing but sweats and socks.

"What do you get someone who has everything?" I ask, leaning over the counter with a taunting smirk. He notices this and sets down his mug.

"Well," he sucks in a deep breath. "I've always wanted the full collection of Harry Potter, I've never had the time to get it." He says making me laugh.

"You're ridiculous." Before Harry left to pursue his career, we gave each other simple stuff and that seemed to be enough for us. Now - it's kind of hard to think of presents to give someone who probably has it in different colors.

"Don't stress, Kate." He interrupts my thinking. "I don't want you to get me anything, okay? I mean it."

"Why? Cause you probably already have it?" I half joke making him look down.

"That's not it at all." He says. "Just don't get me anything. Please." The thing about Harry, when he says he doesn't want something it means he actually does.

That's the thing about having a narcissistic friend, he loves the attention and loves to feel involved in everything.

"Fine," I shrug. "No gifts then." I lie. I knew damn well I was getting him something, there's no way I wouldn't. Especially with it being our first Christmas together since everything changed.

He gives me a smile which I could tell was of relief before taking a drink from his cup. "So, you and Fred?"

I roll my eyes. "Ben, Harry. Is this always going to be a thing with you getting the names of my boyfriends wrong on purpose, just to be a dickhead?" I say, walking away from the kitchen to take my rightful seat on my couch.

"What can I say? I've got a terrible memory." He says with a mocking pout.

"What if I have a husband one day? Are you going to call him by the wrong name too?" I test with a raised brow.

Harry nods. "You think just because he gets you a shiny ring I change my ways? You were engaged and I still kept calling him the wrong name, although it was genuine. He had a very forgettable face." He admits making me laugh. "I only do that because they're guys, and any guy that gets within a two mile radius from you isn't worthy of you."

"Well, thank god Ben lives in another continent." I say with a smirk. "That must mean he's worthy."

Harry rolls his eyes at this before turning his attention to his phone. "Speaking of, I'm guessing you're bringing him to spend Christmas with us?"

"I hadn't thought about it, but if he's not busy then yes. Why?"

He turns his phone off and looks to his cup. "Then I guess I should find a date. I don't want it to be like that time in the third grade with David."

"Oh my god," I groan. "You were included!"

"I was a third wheel." He fights.

"That was ages ago." I point out with a laugh making him chuckle and look down to his cup.

"Yeah, it was." He agrees. "Things were so much easier back then. We were so close, much so than now."

I nod, remembering. "Our sleepovers." I reminisce, seeing our younger selves having a sleepover in his treehouse. It was very unsafe, there was this hole on the floor that Harry had just covered up with a small rug so I wouldn't notice it.

"People always thought we were dating." He adds making me turn to him to see him with a faint smile. "I remember we'd just look at each other with disgust and move a few inches away." He chuckles.

"Please," I say whilst turning to him. "Let's never let anyone get in the way of our friendship. Okay?"

He smiles. "Never again."