Break My Fall

Chapter Ten

(Harry’s P.O.V.)

When I woke up, it was early. It was far too early for me to be awake, but I wasn’t tired, so I got out of bed and decided to wander.

I bounded down the stairs, expecting at least one person to be in the living room, but instead I found Rachel and Louis sleeping in each other’s arms on the couch. I made a face of disgust and pretended to gag.

“Ugh. Couples. They’re disgusting.”

“Well I think they’re cute.”

I turned around to see Tessa walking into the living room behind me, smiling down at the pair. I felt myself panic and wished I hadn’t said that out loud.

“Not like, disgusting like – disgusting, but like disgusting like…too fast, right?” I asked, trying to cover up. Tessa snorted and grabbed a blanket from a nearby chair and draped it over the two. She looked at me then.

“What are you doing up at this hour?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I’m not sure. I woke up and I can’t go back to sleep, so I thought I’d explore,” I said with a cheeky smile. She rolled her eyes.

“Good luck with that, Harry. I’ll see you later,” she said, hurrying out of the room.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“I have to skype my boyfriend,” she said quickly. She ran up the stairs without giving me a second look and I sighed and sat down.

“Ew. Tell me they aren’t spooning,” Kara said with disgust, walking into the room. I laughed.

“Tell me about it. If they get any cheesier I’m going to have to separate them. Or knock you girls out of the competition,” I said with a wink. Kara rolled her eyes and sat on the arm of my chair.

“I’d love to see you try, popstar,” she said sarcastically, ruffling my hair. I screeched and pushed her off the chair where she landed on the ground, causing Louis and Rachel to stir.

“DON’T TOUCH THE CURLS WOMAN!” I shouted.

“Harry, shut up!” Rachel shouted, throwing a magazine at my face.

“Ow, what was that for?” Kara asked from the ground, glaring at me.

“Harry mate, go away,” Louis grumbled, eyes half open.

“You just managed to piss off the entire room within two seconds,” Rachel scoffed.

“I’m not going to help you out if keep pushing me out of chairs, arse,” Kara grumbled, standing up and jumping onto my lap so it hurt my legs. I grunted and she laughed.

“Help him out with what?” Louis asked, rubbing his eyes.

“See, Harry here needs my assistance in discovering how to seduce our darling Tessa,” Kara said, poking my cheek. I slapped her hand away.

“I don’t need help!”

‘Then I won’t help you,” she taunted.

“But – ugh, fine. I need help,” I grumbled. Rachel and Louis were laughing at me and I could feel my cheeks burning.

“Oh, don’t be embarrassed Haz, I needed help when I tried to get Sara interested in me,” Louis said. Well all fell silent and the joking look on Louis’s face dropped immediately. Rachel slowly pulled away from him so that she was no longer underneath his arm and I tried to meet his eyes, but he was staring at the table like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“Well, trust me, Harry’s doing much worse than I’m sure you ever did. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get drunk and confess his love for her again,” Kara joked. I glared at her and the other two laughed half heartedly.