ABTS 2: Chances

He's Home

"He just got released, they're on their way here," Vik tells us after hanging up the phone with Josh.

All the guys are at the house. We are all gathered in the living room in a circle. We were originally supposed to just be hanging out, but recent events made things a little... tense.

"Josh said that since it's Harry's first offense, they are gonna let him off the hook. Especially considering the circumstances of why he was doing what he was doing," Vik adds on, giving me an awkward look at that last part. I feel really weird and look down.

"I can't believe Harry did that, I'm kind of proud of him," JJ blurts out.

"Mate you should've seen him, he was a man gone wild," Ethan hypes Harry up.

"Guys, he could've gotten really hurt," Tobi lectures.

"Yeah, or gone to prison for a long time," Vik adds.

"Should we throw a welcome home party," Simon says sarcastically, earning a giggle from Tobi.

I miss this banter from the guys. I miss the guys. I smile to myself while listening to them joke with each other. But I know deep down, despite what's going on outside my body, I can't shake what I'm feeling inside. A burning flame that I can't seem to put out no matter how hard I try. I cant explain what I feel towards Harry, but I do know that I am dreading facing him, yet altogether cant wait to see him to make sure that he's okay.

"Earth to Alex," I snap out of my thoughts at Ethan waving a hand in front of my face.

"Shit, sorry what'd you say?" I scramble.

"You good? I asked what kind of pizza you want, I'm ordering some for when Harry gets here," Simon says with concern.

"Oh, uhm, yeah, I'll eat whatever you guys eat," I say, and the weird thing is, eating food sounds actually acceptable right now. I guess I've felt so sick from everything going on that now that its resolved and Zach is gone for good, I feel free, almost.

"What were you thinking about?" Simon asks me as the rest of the guys start talking about outrageous pizza toppings.

"Oh, nothing important."

Lie.

"Sure. Anyway, I'm filming a video with Lux and Freezy this weekend, wanna be in it?" He asks me really intently.

"Uhhhhh, not reallyyy, but I feel like I don't have a choice," I say slowly. 

"You do have a choice, but I'd be really appreciative if you did it," he says slowly too, mocking me.

I roll my eyes and say, "Fine, only because I kind of like spending time with you guys."

"I knew it," he laughs. "Thanks."

"Plus I know I'll get your views up," I add on quickly.

"Shhh, child," he puts his hand over my face dramatically. I push him away and laugh.

"They're home!" JJ shouts, taking me out of the conversation I was just having with Simon. We hear the door unlocking, my heart races.

The door opens, and in walks Josh, then Harry, who has a bruised eye and a cut lip, which breaks my heart. I cant help but to stare at him as the guys congratulate him and hug him. He's quieter than usual.

He then makes eye contact with me and it feels like our connected gaze is inseparable, but he looks away after a few seconds as the guys ask him what prison was like. I love seeing them all eager to hear Harry's story, but it's almost unbearable as my heart longs for Harry to run over to me and give me one of those good bear hugs.

I sigh and softly say to Simon, "I'm gonna head to my room, I'm feeling tired."

He nods and I get up and go to my room without anyone noticing.

———————

I scroll through Twitter while laying on my bed, doing anything to distract from my emotional confusion.

I get startled by a knock on my door. My heart races, it has to be Harry, anyone else would just barge in.

I sit up and mentally prepare.

"Come in."

The door opens and in comes the one and only, Harold.

"Hey," I say softly.

"Hi," he replies and comes to sit next to me.

We sit in silence for a few seconds, but it's not awkward.

"Oh my gosh, your wrists," he says and gently grabs my wrists which have bruises on them from Zach grabbing them harshly.

"Are you okay, do they hurt bad?" He asks with concern. I cant help but to laugh in disbelief.

"Harry," I look at him and smile. "Your face is literally beat, and you're worried about my wrists. You're too much."

He lets out a little chuckle realizing how weird it does seem. He lets go of my wrists and puts them in his lap.

I then reach out my hand to caress his face to examine the bruise and cut.

"You're gonna want to get some medication, does it hurt?" I ask.

"Yeah, but not anymore," he says softly, implying that it doesn't hurt cause he's with me. I blush at that and retract my hand from his face.

"I just can't believe you did that, I mean Ethan said you didn't even know I was with him, so why?" I ask curiously.

"I didn't. But I was out and about and I saw you and then as I got closer I noticed you were with him, and I don't know, I just couldn't contain myself," he shrugs and looks down.

I stare at him for a few moments before he adds, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-."

I shake my head, "No, no, it was endearing. He had it coming for him."

"That's true," he smiles at me.

I look down at the bruises on my wrists.

"I don't know, but I'm just glad he's gone," I say.

Then I begin to look up, but as I do, Harry leans in and kisses me, catching me off guard. Oh my gosh. I don't pull back, because I feel fireworks exploding in my body and I can't believe this is actually happening. My heart feels like it's going at a thousand beats per second, and I feel endless butterflies in my stomach.

Then, he pulls back and looks like he has immediate regret on his face.

"Alex, I'm so sorry," he starts. "That was so out of line."

I am frozen in my spot, I can't seem to form any thoughts because an alarm is going off in my brain.

"I can't believe I just did that, I'm so stupid. Forgive me, please," he rambles on to himself.

"Harry," I say.

He looks at me and waits for me to say something. And I can't believe what comes out of my mouth next.

"Please go on a date with me."

He looks at me in shock. Oh man, I am just as shocked as he is.

"I-," he starts. "Okay, yeah."

I sigh a breath of relief and excitement and feel my heart overflowing with emotions. This is real!? It's actually real. Oh my goodness.

I smile the most genuine smile I've ever smiled in months, "Okay."