PARTY UP THE STREET - HARRY STYLES (AU)

24

P H O E B E

w e d n e s d a y
4 : 3 0 p m

I had left work early, finishing off the last few bits whilst I sat on the sofa.

On the sofa in the house I share with my boyfriend... who I still hadn't broken up with.

I wasn't in the right state of mind to tell him Monday after my meltdown. Last night Jack had gotten late, moaning he was tired and going straight for a shower.

This was all whilst I drank my night away, clearly upset. Of course, though, Jack never realised anything was wrong.

My heart felt heavy today, knowing that I have to tell Jack when he got home.

•

6 p m

"Hey." Jack comes through the door and I turn my head from watching the TV.

"Hi." I reply short.

"Is dinner not ready?" He asks and I try to stop my blood from boiling.

"Can you sit down." I say, muting the TV.

"Okay?" He furrows his eyebrows, taking a seat next to me.

"Jack... we need to break up." I spit out and he raises his furrowed eyebrows.

"What?"

"We need to break up." I repeat.

"And why?" He asks.

"Why?" I ask back. "Why do you think? You treat me like I'm nothing to you, Jack. You think you're being so caring when all your being is patronising and rude. I'm tired of it. You take control of everything no matter how much I try. You're tiring to be around, quite honestly Jack. I'm so grateful that you've bought this house and put a roof over my head. But all you've done is made me feel like I owe you something. Especially guilt tripping me when I didn't suck your dick... that's so fucked up. All these horrible things you've ever said to me... I'm fat, my stretch marks are ugly, my hair needs cutting because it's ratty. 'I didn't buy you this because you'll put on weight', or 'stop eating that, don't drink alcohol'."

Jack looks gobsmacked. I wondered if he's gobsmacked that I'm actually ending things, or that he's realising how horrible he actually is.

"Honestly... I've realised ever since we moved into this house - which by the way, buying a house on a student neighbourhood because it's cheaper and you'll be able to sleep through it. Not once did you think about me. But anyway, I've realised I can do so much better." I spit.

"You can do so much better? So like shag the guy across the street?" Jack raises an eyebrow.

"Sorry?" I'm taken back.

"I called Tom when you left the other day and he said you wasn't there. The next day when you leave again... I look out my window and watch you go into that uni house which you 'hate'. Then I see you speaking to a guy across the street another day. You're shagging him." He says.

"Yes. I am." I tell him. "He's made me realise how much of a fucking dick you are, Jack. And how much your dick don't work for me. Because all you do when we 'shag' is finish yourself off and leave me there because you do not care about me." I point to me chest as I stand up.

"I don't care about you?" He laughs. "If you were so grateful about me buying this house... why are you fucking him?"

I furrow my eyebrows and then laugh, throwing my head back.

"Did you not listen to anything I said just then?!" I shout. "I'm not going over it again. I realised you're not good enough for me. I'm sorry I cheated on you... but at the same time Jack, I'm glad I fucking did." I spit and walk away, storming up the stairs to grab a suitcase.

I grab my clothes from my draw and start to load it in the case.

"You're being stupid." Jack stands in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I'm not being fucking stupid, Jack!" I shout. "I've been so blind to the way you've been treating me. I'm really fucking sorry to say it, but everyone has made me realise that you are an arsehole. Everyone thinks you are, and I was blind. I'm done with you, Jack." I throw all my stuff into the suitcase that I know I need.

Everything for work, hygiene, clothes, valuables.

"Where you gonna go? To your new boyfriend?" He laughs and I ignore him, shoving my shoes into another bag. "Oh, so you are?"

"I'm going to Lola's." I mumble. "She'll probably come and pick up the rest of my stuff another day. I don't wanna see your face again." I throw my bag over my shoulder and zip up my suitcase.

I make my way out the bedroom door and Jack grabs my arm.

"Get off me." I yank my arm but he had a tight grip.

"Thank you." He spits.

"I'm glad you appreciate me."

"Not for that. For finally getting the fuck out of my life. It's right when people say you gain weight in a relationship. That's all you've done since we got together, you've let yourself go."

My jaw drops my I lift my hand to smack his smirk off his face, but he grabs my hand. "Fuck you." I don't let my voice wobble. I bring my knee up to his groin as hard as I can, and he hunches over. I take this chance to push him to the floor and make my way downstairs, bumping my suitcase down behind me.

Grabbing the last few bits I saw, I spot the Dior necklace. I shoved that into my bag, knowing how much I'll get when I sell that on.

I sat in my car after loading it, and held back the tears as I drove to Lolas house.

Lola answered the door after 5 quick knocks and it was seconds until I was in her arms.

"Oh baby." She mumbles into my hair. "I'm sorry."

"He's such an arsehole." I cry. "He was so nasty to me."

"S'okay, don't have to talk about it. I've been preparing for this moment - I've got face masks, ice cream, and romcoms at the ready." She pulls away and grins at me.

"I don't know where I'd be with out you."

"Yeah I don't know where you'd be either." Lola jokes and I laugh, wiping my cheeks. "Now go sit down, Tom will be joining us soon."

•