Color Me (H.S)

CHAPTER 22

CARLI'S P.O.V        

I brushed out my wet hair and quickly got dressed, I was beyond late to getting to the coffee shop to meet Zayn. I dressed myself in a black crop top, following with a matching skirt. I looked through my shoes, grabbing a pair of colorful heels. I slipped them on and looked in the mirror. I grabbed the upper half of my hair and put it in a bun, quickly grabbing all my things that I needed for class.

"I was about to leave." Zayn grumbled when I finally arrived. I rolled my eyes at him and grabbed my drink from him.

"Sorry. I woke up late." I lied. No really, I just layed in bed calling Harry. "Ready to go?"

"I have been for several years." He teased. I sent him a playful glare as we walked out of the coffee shop. We walked to the college, making small talk on the way. The class seemed like it went on forever and I was glad that I finally was out of there. I walked to the front of the school, siting down on a bench. Harry was supposed to pick me up and I was looking forward to it. I sat my bag down beside me and waited.

An hour passed and sadly there was no sign of Harry. Maybe he fell asleep? I had to admit it hurt and made me sad that he was this late, but I never knew what could've happened. I got up and grabbed my bag, swinging it over my shoulder as I walked out of the school. I looked around one last time, seeing him nowhere near. I walked back to my apartment, cursing myself for not putting on a jacket. My dress was no match for this chilly weather and my nose was stiff and cold.

I walked up to my apartment and tried to ignore that my heart was hurting. I had given Harry another chance and he forgot. Or maybe something came up. I grabbed my house keys and unlocked my door as Louis walked out of his apartment.

"Hey!" He said, sending me a big smile. I sent a soft one in return and opened my door. 

"Hi, how are you?" I asked.

"Good. Can I come in?"

"Sure. I guess." I shrugged and walked inside with Louis on my heels. I slipped off my heels and ran my fingers through my hair. 

"You look pretty, you going somewhere?" He asked, sitting down in a chair.

"No. My plans fell through." I simply said, sitting down across from him. I crossed my legs and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. 

"Look, I don't know what I did but I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever since you met Harry you've kind of ignored me and acted like we never had chemestry." Louis said. I could tell he was upset, but I had no idea it was because of me.  "I took you out on a date, I talked to you several times and it all stopped when you started talking to Harry."

"Louis, I have no idea what you're talking about." He seemed nervous, his hands figgiting with his phone. 

"Me and Harry don't like each other."

"Well I know that, but why?"

"He just is a monster. Harry hurts people that he really loves and they always leave him in the end. He has no respect for anyone but himself." Louis rambled on. Louis rambled for several minutes, saying the same thing but in different ways.

"Louis, are you okay?"

"No.. No I need to tell you something." He got up and walked towards me. "Harry knows your brother. He talks to him. He's working with him behind your back, Harry wants you to fall for him so you trust him so that Harry can take you back to your brother."

"What?" I whispered. What was he talking about? Harry knew Liam? And how did Louis know about this?

"Harry.. We used to best mates years ago. He started hanging around people who were thugs and met your brother, Liam. Harry skipped more things to hang out with him and eventually almost killed Liam and himself. Carli.. Harry isn't who he says he is. He really isn't."

I suddenly got up, my eyes filling up with unwanted tears. "No." I whispered, wiping away the tears that trickled down my cheeks. 

"Yes. Trust me please."

"Tell me more." I croaked.

"Not here. People are watching.. Harry is watching. Come with me and I will tell you more." Louis stretched his hand out to me, his smile soft. I wiped my cheeks once again with the back of my hand and walked to the door. I opened the door, stopping in my tracks as Harry stood there. His eyes fell on Louis, his body freezing. Harry looked at me, anger evident on his face. 

"Harry, it's ok. Louis was just leaving." I turned to face Louis, my tear falling more frequent. "Aren't you?"

Louis looked baffled, his jaw dropping slightly. Harry stepped aside as Louis walked out, sending a cold glare to Harry and a hurt expression towards me. Harry walked in, shutting my door in Louis' face. 

"Why was he in here?" Harry demanded, his hands clenched into fists. 

I sighed at Harry and rubbed my forehead. "Please calm down."

"What do you mean calm down? What did that dirt bag say about me?" Harry said, my eyes meeting his. 

"I think you should explain yourself first. Why were you an hour and a half late?" I demanded.

"It's a long story, I had to visit some important people." He said, not giving me any details.

"Don't you think I deserve to know? Jeez I didn't even do anything wrong." I said, taking a step back. "Louis told me things about you, supposedly. I want to know who you are but you're so secretive! I can be trusted Harry! I'm not a girl that walks around running my mouth about someones secrets. Do you think that I'm that kind of person?"

"You could be. I don't know you so I can't say." Harry said.

I stood there, my anger raising. Here I am again getting hurt by Harry. Here I am again the one who always gets stabbed in the back. I shook my head, looking out the window. How foolish I had been for getting close to Harry. How foolish I was for thinking maybe, just maybe Harry can get over himself and see that I too have been hurt in the past.

"I think you should leave." I whispered, crossing my arms over my chest. Harry looked at me, shaking his head.

"Please Carli.. Please don't do this." He pleaded.

"Why do you care? You don't know me. I should tell everyone how you know my brother and is being completely rude and hiding it from me!" I screeched. Harry's face paled, his frown deepening. I thought Louis was lying about Harry knowing Liam. But at this moment I could see that Harry did know him, and that he was hiding more from me than I have ever imagined. I walked to the door and turned to face him. "Harry, don't speak to me. Don't look at me and don't you dare try to get a hold of me. I need you to stay away."

"You've got to be kidding me." He sent me a glare. "For how long?" He whispered.

"I don't know." I muttered honestly. I watched Harry leave, closing the door behind me. I put my hands on my door, allowing myself to break down. I hated Liam, I hated Harry and I hated Louis. I had been so nice to all of them, and was treated horribly. I was being lied to my face. I walked to my bed, slowly falling onto it, my face cuddled into the sheets, my tears slowly soaking them. 

I huffed out a breath as my phone broke the silence.

"Hello?" I said as I wiped my tears away.

"Carli, this is Ron. Do you think you can come into work tonight? Zayn is coming in and I have a big job that I want you to help with."

That's the last thing I wanted to do today, but was glad for some kind of distraction. "What time?"

"As soon as possible." I said yes, hanging up the phone after. I got up and walked to my closet, my throat throbbing from my cries. I gripped the closet doors, my knuckles turning white from the strength.

How am I going to trust Harry?

You can't, Carli. He's someone that's a liar and should be alone for the rest of his life.