PARTY UP THE STREET - HARRY STYLES (AU)

23

P H O E B E

f r i d a y
6 p m

"I don't know." I stress.

"You just gotta blurt it out. Have you had a glass of wine yet?" Lola asks.

"Yet?! I'm not a bloody alcoholic, Lola. You sound like Jack." I laugh.

"Sorry. Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Have a glass of wine, and wait for him to come home. Then come to mine after." She says and I shakily breath out. "Say: Jack I have to break up with you, because you're an arsehole and I've found another fantastic coc-"

The door handle jiggles. "Lola." I nervously laugh. "Jacks just got home, I'll speak to you later."

I didn't even get enough time for a glass of wine.

"Hi." Jack smiles at me, shutting the door. I look down to see a bunch of flowers in his hand, and a small bag.

"Hi." I turn on the sofa to face him. "Ja-"

"Phoebe I'm so, so sorry." He sits on the sofa. "I'm such an arsehole. I can't even begin to explain how sorry I am. You're always so kind, helping me out, cooking me dinner, cleaning the house, just being there. I'm... none of those. I don't do any of those and I'm so sorry. Please..." He hands me the flowers and I awkwardly take them. "Please forgive me." He bites his lip.

"Um, look... Jack..."

"I got you this." He hands me the small bag.

"You didn't have to, Jack. I wanted t-"

"Open it, please." His leg bounces up and down.

I swallowed, opening up the bag and pulling out a box.

A Christian Dior box.

"Jack, seriousl-"

"Please." Jack pinches his bottom lip with two fingers.

I opened the box to find the necklace I always admire in Selfridges. A dainty chain with the classic 'CD' initials, created with tiny pearls.

A £400 necklace.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Thank you Jack." I turn to face him. "It's beautiful."

"I'm so sorry, Phoebs. I promise you, I will never treat you like that ever again." Jack tells me and I give him a tight smile.

He leans forward and kisses my cheek, and I look down to the necklace. His finger on my chin, he moves my head to face him. Jack plants a chaste kiss on my lips and I screw my eyes, kissing him back.

Jumping back, I stand up. "Um, Jack. Sorry, I do... sort of forgive you but I can't do this right now." I place the necklace on the table and turn, making my way upstairs.

I throw myself onto the bed, face in the duvet. My heart was clenching, disappointed in myself.

•

s a t u r d a y
1 p m

"Phoebe!" I turn my head to see Harry across the road.

I gulp as he runs towards me. I was going out for a walk, mainly to get away from Jack. Last night I fell asleep on the bed after I face planted, and Jack slept on the sofa.

"Hi." I give Harry a tight smile.

"You okay?" He asks, gently grabbing my arm to stop my walking.

"I'm great." I nod, proceeding to walk past him.

"Phoebs?"

"Harry I really just want roll to be alone. Please." I could feel the lump in my throat.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Please call me if you need me?" He says and I nod, giving him a small smile.

"I'm sorry. I just, really need some time Harry. I'm so sorry." I turn to proceed my walk to - wherever. At this point I didn't even care if I got lost I just needed to get out that house.

•

m o n d a y
5 : 3 0 p m

"Where's your stuff?" Lola asks as she opens her front door.

"I still haven't told him." I walked through the door and sat down on her couch with a huff.

Lola sits down on the couch too. "What?"

That's when I burst in to tears.

"Oh... Phoebe..." She took me into her arms and gave me a tight hug, rubbing her hand up and down my back as I cried into her shoulder.

I pull away and wipe my cheeks with my sleeve. "I go to tell him Friday, and he's being so sorry. He's bought me flowers, a Christian Dior necklace."

"What?!?" She exclaims. "That's just to guilt trip you... surely."

I shrug. "He's being so kind... I'm just going to look like an arsehole if I go to him and say I want to break up with you. Oh, and I'm sleeping with someone else." I throw my hands around as I speak and Lola watches me.

"He's only being nice to you now because he realised he fucked up. Also, this isn't the first time this has happened. Remember before when he outright said to laser off your stretch marks because they're ugly? He bought you flowers and this." She points to the Tiffany bracelet on my wrist and cover my face with my hands, trying to tame my crying. "He's only going to do it again, and again. Phoebe I'm not telling you to do this because I don't like him, I'm telling you because I know that you don't like him. You would also need to tell him about Harry, anyway. Kill two birds with one stone.. ay?"

I take a deep breath and unbuckle my bracelet, laying it on her coffee table.

"It's so hard." I cry out.

"Life's not easy." She gave me a sympathy smile.

"I'm such an arsehole, too. I've been ignoring Harry all weekend and he thinks he is doing something wrong. I just couldn't deal with that weight on my shoulders."

"Do you miss Harry?" Lola asks.

I nod.

"That's good." She gives me a side smile.

"He's gonna hate me." I cry. I'm definitely hormonal. "I haven't spoken to Harry since Thursday. I did on Saturday, but I might as well have told him to fuck off."

"Harry will understand. The stories you've told me before he sounds really genuine."

I take a deep breath.

"I'm so lucky to have you." I give Lola and side hug, basically laying on her lap whilst I plan out in my head how I'm going to tell Jack.

•