Chapter 8.
*Charlottes POV*
I didn't know what I was doing with Harry. I didn't know if I was just rebounding or if I actually liked him.
Don't get me wrong. Harry was undoubtedly handsome. Charming to say the least. He was very sweet and kind. He was the complete opposite of Zach.
I didn't know what to do. I know that I didn't want to break Harry's heart. He would never forgive me. I couldn't make up my mind...
"Charlotte are you alright?" Harry spoke swimming towards me in the pool.
"Harry..." I started, nervous for what I was about to say.
"I don't think I can start a new relationship right now... I just got out of one that was terrible for many years. I need time to-to think and work through the memories that run through my mind over & over like a broken record. I-I don't want to hurt you..." I spoke softly.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I like you. I know that you're a good guy. I just need to get over the things that kill me inside." I said with tears in my eyes.
Sniffling, I looked up at Harry. The look on his face could kill. He looked upset.
"Harry I-" He cut me off.
"Charlotte, I don't blame you. I know that we rushed into things. But Charlotte, I will wait. Okay? I know that you have to work through your past relationship." He said looking me in the eyes.
"You know he was my only boyfriend? We met when I was a sophomore in high school and I've been with him ever since." I looked away.
Both of us got out of the pool, wrapping towels around our wet bodies.
"I understand that. Charlotte, we can be friends." He smiled at me. "We can be more, maybe sometime in the future. But for now I'm okay with being friends. If you need someone to hold your hand, or if you need a shoulder to cry on, I will do my best do be there." He spoke softly.
"Thank you for understanding. I couldn't ask for a better friend..." I said trailing off.
"We should probably get back to the hotel room. I'm worried about Riley. She's my calm." I whispered.
"Okay." Harry said walking towards the door with me.
It was silent the entire way back to the joint hotel rooms. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world. It was about 8 o'clock at night and everything was dark. The hall way, the elevator, everything and then you got to our hotel room and it lit up like a Christmas tree. Opening the door with his key, Harry & I walked in to find all four boys and Riley watching something on Nick Jr. and I laughed. Riley, mommy's here! Let's get you fed & then ny-ny time for you!" I spoke picking her up from Louis' arms.
"Thank you for watching her. I really appreciate it... Don't think I'm like taking advantage of you, please. I really am grateful for all the help." I said to all of the boys.
"Of course!" They all say at the same time.
"I'll be out in a few minutes," I spoke walking towards my room.
I almost instantly heard the four boys start asking Harry questions and internally laughed.
*Harry's POV*
The boys immediately started asking questions, at the same time.
"Alright, chill out mates. One at a time please." I laughed.
"Are you guys together now?" Louis asked.
"No... We just had a conversation and she said she wanted to be friends for now because she's still trying to move on from Zach..." I trailed off.
"Oh." All four of them spoke.
"It's not a big deal... I-I knew that things were moving too fast." I said, trying to convince them and myself.
"What makes her so different, Harry? You've met plenty of girls who are nice and seemed to be into you.. Why Charlotte? Hm?" Liam asked.
I just looked at him.
"Why are you being so rude, mate? She hasn't been anything but nice to you and all of us... Why the hostility?" I asked back, taken back by the way Liam spoke of Charlotte.
"I'm just concerned, that's all, Harry. You need to be careful because she might just be using you." He spoke.
"I know that, Liam and I am grateful that you care so much... But, I know what I'm doing. Charlotte isn't like that. She's different. I can't explain it. When I'm around her, I never want to leave her side. When she's smiling, so am I. When she's upset, I'm upset as well. She's got a hold of my heart. And I don't want her to let go." I said softly.
"I'm glad you found someone like that, mate. Bout damn time!" Zayn cheered. Niall agreed.
"But she doesn't want a relationship right now! What do I do?" I asked them, completely stuck.
Just as they were about the answer, the beautiful girl that were talking about walked out of her room. Riley must've been sleeping. Charlotte had changed into some new clothes. A black tank top with a white zip up over it and black joggers. Her hair was a complete mess from the pool, but it was gorgeous. Tied in a messy bun on top of her head. She wasn't wearing any makeup- that or I couldn't see any on. You could ever so slightly see a scar on her left cheek. Probably from Zach. God she was beautiful.
"Harry." Louis coughed.
He snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked at him.
"You were staring, hard core." He whispered.
Oh. I heard Charlotte giggled. I looked up and saw her staring back at me. Hmm. I thought.
"Harry, can we see my brother tomorrow?" Charlotte asked as she walked towards me.
I forgot about him.
"Yeah, of course. Just give me the time & the place so I can let the driver know." I smiled at her.
"Okay. So we want to meet up at around 11 in the morning at this place called True Kitchen." She spoke softly, probably repeating what she was reading on her phone.
"Okay. I'll let the driver and security know. Alright Princess?" I asked her.
I knew it drove her nuts when I called her princess, but I couldn't help it. She deserved to be treated like a princess because that's what she was and is.
"Okay, Prince." She mimicked, smirking as she looked at her phone.
"Charlotte, do you have a Twitter?" Niall asked.
"Yeah but I never go on it. My name is uh, charchar_gomez." She smiled.
Of course I already knew that.
"I'm going to follow you... And I see Harry already did!" Niall spoke.
We both laughed.
"Tweet Charlotte!" Louis said.
"Okay... What should I tweet?" She asked with a smirk.
"We should all take a selfie and you post it!" Liam said.
Wait, what? Liam said that? Interesting, I thought to myself.
"Okay. Get in here," she spoke reaching her phone out ready for a picture.
We all huddled around her.
"We all aren't fitting in the frame..." She said sadly.
"Why don't you sit on Harry's lap?" Zayn said, slightly amused.
"Okay. That'll work." She said standing up. Waiting for me to sit in her pervious spot. Sitting down, she sat right in my lap. I put my arms around her as she snapped the picture, all of us smiling.
"Perfect." She said.
The boys all went back to their seats and typed on their phones. Charlotte, however didn't move. Neither of us had moved, actually. She tweeted the photo, tagging all 5 of us in it.
"I like that photo." I said softly.
Charlotte just nodded.
Suddenly, I heard someone's camera go off. Looking up I saw Liam with his phone pointed right at us. He was smiling. Then, my phone went off indicating a new message. I looked down and saw it was from Liam. Swiping the message I saw the picture he took. Charlotte was cuddled up in my lap and I had my arms around her. We both were smiling. I was looking at her and she was looking forward, right at the camera.
"I want that picture." She whispered.
I hadn't realized that she was also looking at my phone.
"Okay, I'll send it to you right now." I spoke.
Tapping over to Charlotte's name I looked at our conversations we had over text. She was a flirt when she texted. Winky faces left and right. She called me boo sometimes. At first I thought it was because she liked me-but now I'm not sure.
Sending her the picture, I set it as my lockscreen background. We looked happy. She made me happy. And the fact that she still hadn't gotten up from my lap, really made me happy. She smelled of some sort of fruit or berry. The arrow necklace that she never took off was silver and it seemed to fit her.
"What does your necklace mean, Charlotte?" I asked her quietly.
"Oh uhm... Arrows are kind of my thing. You know? It's like if you want something, you need to aim for it." She spoke softly.
"And that's what you do with arrows... You aim for the target. I get it now." I smiled.
She nodded, smiling down at me.
"You're my target, Charlotte." I whispered.
She just looked at me.
"Don't- don't say stuff like that." Charlotte said.
"Why not? It's the truth, Princess." I spoke.
"It's not fair." She whispered, standing up from my lap.
"Charlotte, don't be upset." I stood up with her. She was so small compared to me.
"I'm not, Harry." She quietly, looking up at me.
"Then why'd you get up?" I asked her, trying to figure out what just happened.
"I'm- Uh tired. I think I'm gonna head to bed. Don't you guys have rehearsal tomorrow night?" She asked.
"Yeah, we do..." Zayn said out of nowhere.
"And we have to meet with my brother at 11." Charlotte chimed in, walking towards her room.
"Okay. I'll see you in the morning, Princess. Goodnight." I smiled at her.
"Goodnight, everyone." Charlotte spoke, ignoring my comment.
And with that she went into her room and shut the door.
"What the hell was that mate?" Louis asked.
"I, I honestly have no idea man." I said, sitting back down on the couch.
"You guys looked so happy and then it was like something changed-in her. I could see it in her face, Harry." He spoke again.
"I know! Do you not think that I realized that? This isn't the first time that's happened, guys." I whisper yelled.
"That guy really messed her up, Harry. You think you can handle the mind of an abuse victim?" Zayn piped in.
"Yes, I do. I'm just not sure how..." I trailed off.
"I need to get some rest guys, can we talk tomorrow? At rehearsal?" I asked.
"Yeah that works. Goodnight mate." Liam spoke.
I walked into my room with my mind spinning. I have to think of something. I need to help out the princess that my heart has grown so fond of... but how? I thought to myself. Getting into bed, I couldn't get my mind to shut off.
After a sleepless night, I finally decided to get up and have tea at around 7 in the morning.
Walking out onto the balcony, I watched the sun rise higher & higher. I couldn't take my mind off Charlotte.
Suddenly I heard the door open. Turning around I saw my princess. She looked like she had been crying, but was still so beautiful.
She was wearing a different outfit than what she went to bed in. She had on a long cardigan on with a white tanktop and gray shorts on.
"Good morning, Princess." I spoke softly.
"Morning." She gave me a small smile.
"Would you like some tea?" I asked her.
"Sure." She said, walking towards the chair right next to me.
Pouring her a cup of tea, I handed the mug to her.
"Why are you up so early?" I asked her.
"Oh I just couldn't sleep, that's all." She sniffled. Sipping her tea, she stared off into the sky.
"It's so pretty here."
I nodded in agreement. It was beautiful in Florida.
"How are you feeling, Charlotte?" I asked her.
"I'm, uh, I'm okay, Harry." She looked down.
It was silent between us.
"Is there anything I can do?" I said softly, looking at her.
She just shook her head. Not a word was spoken. I knew she was thinking about something.
"Are you ready to see your brother?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"I am. A little nervous though. I haven't seen him in a year." She said looking at me.
"Well, don't worry. I'll be there. Riley will be there. It'll be fine. I'm sure you guys will pick up right where you left off." I smiled.
"Okay. Thank you. I better get Riley up. And then I'll get ready." She spoke, getting up from her chair.
"Okay. Be ready by 10:30, alright?" I said, following her back into the hotel.
And with that, she walked into her room.
Oh man was I falling for this girl. I thought to myself, shaking my head.
*Charlotte's POV*
I had nightmares all night long. About Zach. They were bad. I woke up in tears. Tossed & turned all night. But whatever. I was going to see my brother. He was going to meet my daughter-Like actually meet her. I was nervous to say the least.
After getting Riley and myself ready for the day, I looked at my phone. The photo of Harry & I was my lockscreen. It was the perfect picture.
10:23am. Time to go! I thought to myself.
I texted my brother, letting him know we'd leave at 10:30.
I heard a knock on my door.
"Charlotte? Are you ready?" I heard Harry ask on the other side of the door.
Grabbing Riley and my purse, I opened the door.
"We're ready!" I said with a smile.
He smiled at me and turned around to walk out.
He looked good. Too good. And he smelled of cologne-Which just added to his attractiveness. His hair was pulled back into a small bun. Damn he was beautiful.
On the way down to the car, Harry was playing with Riley who giggled and giggled. It was adorable, to be honest.
Getting into the car wasn't as easy as I would've liked, thanks to the hundreds of girls outside the hotel.
"Thanks for coming with me, Harry." I smiled at him.
"Of course, Princess." He said.
As we pulled up to the restaurant, my heart was pounding.
"Charlotte, calm down. I don't want you having a panic attack. Please, calm down." Harry whispered.
Trying to calm myself down, I nodded at Harry.
"Let's do this." I spoke.
Pulling Riley out of her car seat, we opened the car door.
Here goes nothing.
Walking towards the entrance, I could see my brother.
Harry opened the door for me and I walked in. Turning the corner, I saw him.
We both just looked at each other for awhile. I walked towards him.
Finally speaking...
"Drew."
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Okay. There's chapter 8! Hope you like it.
xoxo
-A
