It took even a few seconds more for me and Louis to find a way to let go of each other. We turned around and Liam was standing there, staring at us with wide eyes. He cleared his throat and looked away, “I just had to go to the bathroom. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He turned away from us and walked into the restroom. I turned and saw Louis looking at me, worry coating his beautiful face. I’m pretty sure he was thinking the same thing I was. What have you done?! You have a boyfriend! Should you tell them what you did? Maybe it should just be kept a secret. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. Can you really lie to Harry like that? What if Liam tells though? Oh goodness. I felt my stomach twist like I was going to be sick. The worst part was that I was still happy that Louis had kissed me. I hate myself so much right now. I should have just went straight back to bed. I physically felt like I was about to be sick and started deciding if it could wait for Liam to get out of the bathroom or if I’ll have to make a run for the trash can. It took me a second to realize Louis was speaking to me, “We won’t tell them. I can’t… I don’t want to see Harry’s face if he realizes I betrayed him. We’ll talk to Liam. I just… I’m so sorry Emerson. I wasn’t thinking. I was just acting on emotion. Harry’s my best friend, if he were to find out about this he would never forgive me.” He looked at me with pleading eyes. “Harry is my boyfriend. He would hate me more. It was both of us, it wasn’t just you. What about Lizzy? You haven’t mentioned her.” He looked at the door for a moment. “If we tell her, she’ll tell Harry. I think I’m just going to send her home today. Call her a taxi. I shouldn’t have brought her, I’ve been wanting to break up with her. I don’t love her Emmy, not like I love—” Liam came back into the room then, cutting Louis off. He came over to where we were, “What’s going on? Why are you guys with Harry and Lizzy if you like each other?” I looked at Liam figuring I might as well answer him with the truth, maybe he could help? “I wasn’t given the choice to decide who I truely liked. I guess I’m still confused. When Louis got with Lizzy everybody acted like it solved everything and it was obvious who I should get with, but it didn’t mean that I was sure. I was still trying to decide who I wanted to be with, but Harry became the obvious answer since Louis was taken. I really like Harry, he makes me happy, but I still like Louis alot, too, and I always find myself wondering and I don’t know, upset over him. I just don’t know.” Liam nodded while I was talking. I looked over at Louis, who realized I finally answered his question. I am happy, but that’s an unfinished sentence, I’m only happy some of the time. Now Louis was talking, “I don’t like Lizzy as anything more than a friend. I’ve never liked her as anything more. I only got with her hoping to solve everything. I was wrong. It’s still obvious who I would rather be with. I love Emerson.” His voice was rough by the time he was done talking. Love. Such a strong word. It did strange things to my stomach hearing that small sentence. That was when the door opened and a sleepy Harry was staring at us. I could tell by his face he hadn’t heard anything. “What are you all doing outside the bedroom door?” I was thankful that Liam was there in that moment, because it would have looked suspicious to just be me and Louis. Liam answered him, “I was just asking them why they couldn’t fix breakfast for everybody, since they fixed it for themselves. Selfish people.” Louis laughed acting like himself, but I noticed the hardness in his eyes. “I fixed my own food. Emerson fixed her own food. I think you can get off your lazy bum and fix it yourself.” He smiled at him. Harry rolled his eyes at them and wrapped his arms around my waist. I buried my head into his chest, hiding my face. “I missed you when I woke up. I was wondering where you went. It would have been nice to see you beside me when I first opened my eyes.” “Sorry. Let’s try it again, I could use some more sleep.” I lied. I was wide awake, but I drug him back towards the bed anyways. I made one quick glance in Louis’ direction again and saw how much this hurt him. I bit my bottom lip, fighting the tears that were forming in my eyes. Why did I have to keep hurting him? I let the pain beat at me while Harry quickly fell back to sleep. I heard Liam’s soft voice as they walked back into the living room. “I won’t tell, but you guys are going to have to talk and figure out what you need to do before anybody gets hurt.” “Too late.” Louis said it very low, his voice rough with emotion and then they were out of my hearing range.
~~~
I pretended to be asleep when Harry started to stir. Lizzy got up a couple hours ago and shut the door, so I had no idea what was going on out there and who all was up. I only heard people walking around every now and then. I opened my eyes and saw Harry staring at me with a small smile on his lips. “That’s better.” He lightly kissed me on the lips. The same lips Louis had kissed earlier. Guilt washed through me. We got up hand in hand and walked out into the living room. Niall was sitting in bed, eating and watching tv. Liam was sitting in the chair and Zayn was still snoring. I looked around wondering where Louis and Lizzy were. Liam noticed my search, “They’re on the balcony. Somebody should probably go out there before she pushes him over.” Harry gave me a confused look. I shrugged my shoulders, but I knew what was going on. Harry walked outside, towing me along. Worrying over his best friend. When we got out there Louis was sitting in a chair his head in his hands, apologizing over and over again as Lizzy towered over him, tears streaking down her face. She looked up and saw us, realization dawning on her face. “It’s because of her, isn’t it? She’s the reason you’re breaking up with me and sending me home. Isn’t she?” She screamed at him and Louis’ shoulders slumped forward even more. She continued to scream at him and he just kept apologizing. It was a very sad scene. Harry interrupted her, “Hey, lay off. I’m sorry he’s breaking up with you, but you don’t need to scream at him like that. He obviously feels bad enough.” She pointed at him, “You stay out of this.” I gave her a look and she shrunk away. “He likes your girlfriend. Doesn’t that bother you?” Harry looked at Louis but didn’t say anything. She continued to talk, “Ask him, he won’t answer you though, because he doesn’t want to lie about it. She likes him, too.” Harry quickly looked up at her again, “She used to. We’re together now. She only likes me.” Lizzy rolled her eyes, “You’re so blind it’s sad. Louis tell him, tell him how much you ogle his girlfriend, how much you fantasize about her.” “Enough! He does not. I think it’s time you leave.” As Harry spoke I could see how much it really did bother him, her saying those things. “Stop trying to ignore it. Tell him Louis! Tell him how you hate that they’re together! How much you loathe him being with her! Tell him how much you wish they’ll break up so you can have her!” I could see Louis shaking, he lifted his head and looked at Harry, pain and anger coloring every inch of his face. “Fine! I love her, Harry. I love Emerson.”
