When the Clock Strikes 12:00 // L.S.

Chapter Twenty Four: Where It All Began

Harry's POV

I'm very comfy.

I'm not quite sure where I am or what is happening but I am very warm and someone is cuddling me. I also have a terrible headache and my thoughts feel like molasses, gooey, slow, and unorganized.

I flutter my eye open and see two people looking straight at me.

"Ah!" I yelp and sit up quickly, regretting this choice as my head buzzes numbly from the sudden movement.

I hear Niall's soft laughter and Louis's arm on my back to support me.

"He's up you guys." One of the voices say.

"Where am I?" I ask looking around. I see Niall and Zayn looking at me and Louis's arms around me but I can't completely focus on anything else.

"Oh man, it seems three shots hit your boyfriend hard." Zayn snickers.

My head still feels funky and I try to stand up. This was a mistake when I felt my insides flop and I sprint to the bathroom where I proceed to empty my stomach. "Yuck," I mutter as Louis rubs my back.

"Hey, it's alright baby, there you go," Louis cooed and I shudder.

I slump against the bathroom wall while Louis flushes the toilet and wipes my face with a warm washcloth.

"Let's not have you near vodka anytime soon." Louis laughs as he leads my limp figure back to the couch and I climb into his lap.

Now that I'm fully awake I take in the sight before me in the kitchen. Zayn and Maya stand at the stove, flipping what smells like pancakes and eggs while Ash and Gigi set the table. Niall is fiddling with the radio and Liam is pouring orange juice into eight glasses. They all look so domestic, dancing around one another as they get breakfast on the table. It was at that moment I realized, blood did not always make family because this was mine right here.

"This is nice to watch," I sigh as I lean into Louis's arms.

"Mhmm," Louis agrees running his fingers through my hair. He does this a lot and I like it. "Do you want me to make you tea?" He asks and I nod.

"I'm feeling a bit better, I think I can still go to work today."

"Ok but just...take it easy alright babe?" Louis watches me closely as I get up.

I still feel a bit dizzy but much better. I make myself a cup of tea and then join the rest of them at the table. Breakfast is nice. Since we still have the rest of the winter break off from school I don't rush through my breakfast to make it to my morning lecture. I don't talk much and just listen as the others discuss movies and other random subjects.

Niall and Ash leave after breakfast and Maya is soon to follow.

"You all need to crash here again!" Zayn calls after them as they head for the door.

"Wouldn't miss it." Niall responds patting his belly, "Zayn, Maya, you two make the best pancakes a lad has ever digested."

"Thanks, man," Zayn says from where he stands doing the dishes.

"Guess it's just us now," Liam says looking around at the five of us.

The whole room felt silent without Niall's cheerful chatter but we get on with the dishes and cleaning up the place from the night before.

"What are your plans for today?" Louis asks from the floor where he's picking up Clue game pieces.

"I'm off to finish up my winter break homework." Liam sighs, "I might have procrastinated."