well, we have this chapter and one more before we're done! I have the last chapter written. I have already started on the sequel (crazy i know. This was just supposed to be a freaking one shot! LOL) so for those of you reading who enjoyed this, whatever you feel about the last chapter, please know that there is a reason I opted to write a sequel. So, without further ado!
xxxxx
When I wake up in the morning, panic starts to set in. I roll with a gasp and feel for Harry beside me, but he's not there. I've got no idea what time it is and I'm praying to God that it's still early enough to get inside and get the mess from the night before cleaned up before the queen B comes in for her shift.
I nearly tumble from the top bunk in my rush and I curse as I stub my toe into Zayn's bunk below. I hear him groan and shuffle in his sleep but he doesn't emerge so I scramble for the bathroom and make quick work of my tangled hair and my streaky, sleepy make up. Once I'm cleaned up enough to not scare anyone who sees me out and about, I head for the bus door, still in Harry's insanely comfy clothes.
I stumble down the steps and my toes pop and I could really use a cup of coffee. I start to jog for the garage door when I hear Harry shout. It's a loud, angry battle cry and then the sound of two solid masses colliding pop through the garage and I turn and immediately run for the sound. I have no idea why he'd be fighting any one in here this early in the morning none-the less; unless he's secretly a total hot head, which I could not see in the slightest.
I slow my steps as the sound resonates again and I hear Paul speaking to him.
"Good form. Nice attack. I want that again." He mumbles and Harry yells again followed by a loud popping noise that earns a grunt from Paul.
"YES! Perfect. Again!" he cheers. I creep around the front of the bus and watch, mesmerized as Harry and Paul spar one another. My boy is in nothing but a pair of oversized gym shorts, a pair of boxing shoes, and mits. Paul has guards on and pads on his hands that he's using as targets. The muscles in Harry's back and shoulders bulge and ripple with each fierce punch he sends flying into Paul's mits. He's a beautiful, angry, controlled mess, fighting with everything in him and yet caring after the broad looking man in front of him who loves him like a father but protects him like he's paid to.
I watch quietly from my perch at the front of their bus until I remember that I've got work to do, so I tip toe up the garage ramp and head for the guys' dressing room. Once I reach the door, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the mess it's sure to be.
I gasp once the door opens and I see that someone has apparently been in here ahead of me. The place is in better shape than it was before they got here. The table tops nearly sparkle and it smells like fresh cut flowers throughout the entire place. I smile and chuckle, plopping down on the couch and dropping my head into my hands. Considering I hadn't seen Julie yet, I was pretty sure I knew who had come behind and done my job. I owed them big time.
Slowly, I creep to the stage to take care of the cooler and the empty boxes that are the only things left around as evidence of last nights shenanigans. There are two bottles of champagne left in the cooler and I decide to take them to the bus for mimosas once the rest of the guys awake. I'd make Zayn concoct them since he was so good at it.
I head back to the closet and shove the cords, batteries and now empty cooler where they belong and head back for the bus. My head is a bit fuzzy and my heart just as heavy. Harry's question had been a constant ringing in my head. 'Come with me.' He'd begged and as much as I desperately wanted to, could I?
I still don't know.
With a heavy sigh, I shake my head and head back to the bus. I'm sure I look like a proper alcoholic slut with my hair a messy bun on the back of my head, my boyfriend's shirt on and a bottle of champagne tucked beneath each arm, but I could care less.
Harry rounds the bus, wiping his forehead on a white hand towel as I approach. He smiles at me when he sees me and dips his head to kiss me on the mouth, pulling a bottle of the champagne from my arm as he does.
"Morning, beautiful." He mutters against my lips and I lick the salt of his sweat from my mouth as I grin up at him, all heaving chest and sweaty skin. He's perfect in each and every one of his many states.
"Morning. You've been busy this morning." I say as he opens the bus door and lets me through ahead of him.
"Yeah, needed to get some training in and blow of a little steam." Harry states behind me and I hear him pop the bottle open.
"Hey! Wait for everybody else to wake up, crazy." I scold him turning and pulling the bottle from his fist before he can drink any. I set the champagne down on the counter and grab some water from the mini fridge for him instead. I turn around, handing him the bottle and placing my hands behind me against the counter for balance. He places a hand on my hip and chugs the entire bottle of water with the other hand.
"Thanks sweet heart." He grins, setting the bottle in the trash and then placing a kiss to my forehead.
"Boxing with Paul isn't the only kind of busy I was referring to." I say, not letting him get away with avoiding what he and whoever else had done.
"Hey! I did NOT have sex with you unbeknownst. I would never do that to such a pretty, sleeping woman." He says, feigning offense. I roll my eyes and shake my head.
"That's not even what I was insinuating and you know it, Herald! I'm talking about the quick work you made of the dressing room I was supposed to spend hours toiling over today as punishment for you snogging me on stage in front of God and everybody." I can't keep the smile from my face as I watch his smile grow wider and wider the more I talk.
"It was entirely my fault you got into any sort of trouble; therefore, it was my responsibility to clean up, not yours. It's only fair." He explains very matter-of-fact.
"You're impossible." I sigh and I shiver as Harry pulls me against him.
"I know." He says simply before kissing me, long and slow and sweet. I groan and pull his hips flush with mine. Before long, he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.
"I should shower off." He sighs. "The lads will be up any time now." I nod and check my phone. There's still no word from Julie and I don't know if I should be worried or relieved.
Harry steps back slightly and stares down at me, the sweetest little grin playing at the corner of his mouth as his eyes rake over my body.
"What?" I ask, blushing under his gaze.
Harry chuckles, clearly amused by my embarrassment.
"I just really enjoy the way you look in my clothes is all. They look good on you."
"I was thinking the same thing, actually. Which is why I've decided to keep them." I say very matter-of-fact.
"Is that so?" Harry quirks an eyebrow at me speculatively.
"Mhmm. Sorry about your luck." I smile, nudging him backwards toward the shower.
"Now, thank you for the new outfit, but you have a shower to take."
Harry turns for the bathroom and lets out one long, exaggerated sigh.
"You say I'm impossible? Puh-lease." he groans as I shove him into the bathroom and close the door behind him, pleased with myself for acquiring my first stolen-boyfriend-outfit.
Boyfriend.
Harry's my boyfriend. I think. It feels so weird but it sounds so right and…
"GOOOOD MOOOOAAANING!" I look up to see Liam standing in the hallway, his thick, black Nike sweat pants slung low on his hips and a sleepy smile pulling at his mouth. He's adorable with the pillow lines still streaked over his face and his hair mussed up on the one side. He very much resembles a little kid who has just woken from a tossy, turny sort of sleep so he can watch Saturday morning cartoons. I grin at him and walk over to give him a quick hug.
"Morning Liam. How'd you sleep?" I ask.
"Well, I awoke in the bus this time round so I reckon quite well." He says, hugging me back.
"You a'right, Christina?" he asks. "Nice outfit by the way. Looks a lot better on you than the curly haired one."
I chuckle as Liam steps around me and heads straight for the open champagne bottle I've left on the counter.
"Been in to the bubbly this morning already, have you?" He asks, holding the bottle up.
"Actually no. That's left over from last night. Harry tried to get into it after his work out but I made him wait for the rest of you guys to get up." I reply, walking over and turning the water in the sink on. I figure I should wash out some glasses and get them set up for when Zayn wakes up. If I've already got everything ready to go, he won't be able to deny us mimosas.
"Work out? He's been up and sparring already this morning?" Liam asks, sounding surprised.
I push the sleeves of my shirt up so they don't get wet and nod my head.
"Holy moly." I hear Liam exclaim as he grabs hold of my wrist and tugs my arm toward his face. "The hell happened to your arm, little one?" he asks. I blush and tug my arm back toward my chest, feeling a little self conscious.
"It's kind of a long story. I was sort of careless last night and got into a bit of trouble in the back alley with a drunk frat guy who wasn't too happy about not getting a midnight kiss. He got pretty demanding and…" I swallow the lump that's started to form in my throat. Remembering Harry crouched over Douche Bro 5000, pummeling his face made my stomach knot up.
"Wait… some ass hole attacked you last night? Where the hell were we? When did this happen?" I'm honestly touched by how concerned Liam is for my well-being, and a little nervous at how angry he seems.
"Who's been attacked?" Louis has joined the party now and his Ironman pajama bottoms are a force to be reckoned with. He's sporting an oversized, red Reebok t-shirt and a pair of bright red, fuzzy slippers to complete his ensemble. I grin a little as he rubs the sleep from his eyes.
"Christina was, last night apparently, out in the alley way." Liam states, turning to Louis and pulling my arm back so Louis can see.
"Fuck me. You aright there, Christina? What happened to the dirty bloke that did this to you?" Louis sounds concerned now too and I kind of want to shrink into the floor and disappear. I'm not exactly one for attention, especially like this.
"I'm really fine, guys. It's okay. It was a little scary and I was more than a little stupid for going out for air without taking someone with me, but I'm good. Harry came out before the guy had his way with me, thank God… and he was pretty pissed. His knuckles were pretty jacked up after he got a hold of the guys face but Paul got him off of the dude and I was able to get some ice on his hands shortly after. Sounds really crazy. But everything is fine." I hurry through my explanation, hurriedly washing glasses as I go.
"Ohhh shit. I've only seen Harry mad enough to actually fight once ever and it was over his mum. It's terrifying when you manage to get him that upset. It takes an awful lot." Liam sounds lost in thought.
"Right-o Payne-o." Louis chirps. "Harry's the furthest thing from an angry man. He must really love you." He grins, scratching the back of his head. I blush nearly purple and shrug my shoulders, totally unsure how to respond. My heart is running a marathon in my chest. Even these guys, his best friends, see that there's something very real between us. I might be sick. Just as I think I'm about to, the seriousness of our conversation is broken and the tension seeps from my shoulders.
"It's 2014." I hear from behind Liam and Louis and we all laugh as we take in Zayn who is swaying on his feet in a pair of Batman boxers and a do rag. He looks like he just smoked a bowl, his eyes hardly open and his little lazy grin is adorably hilarious.
"That it is, my friend. That it is! And what shall you do with your first waking moments of this brand, spankin' new year?" Louis puts his fist in Zayn's face, holding an imaginary microphone to his lips.
"MAKE US MIMOSAS!" I yell before Zayn can answer.
"RIGHT-E-O, my dear lass!" Louis wails, spinning away from zayn and pointing at me, with his fake microphone up to his own face.
"Zayn. If you'll do the honours please. And even if you won't, well, do it anyways. Thank you, good sir. And Happy Hanukah." He sounds like an obnoxious talk show host and I can't help but laugh.
The sounds of an acoustic guitar, muffled by blankets and curtains start to fill the bus and I know Niall is officially awake. I smile to myself and raise my eyebrows expectantly at Zayn. He looks at me defeated knowing he has no choice in the matter, but I know he's secretly proud of the fact that nobody else is willing to settle for a half-assed drink when Zayn makes them so well. It makes him feel good whether he's admitting it right now or not. I pat him on the back as I let him squeeze over to the sink to get to work and I follow the sounds of Niall's guitar back toward the bunks with the rest of the lads. Niall is staggering down the hall, plinking his guitar and the other guys are lounging around the couches when the bathroom door opens.
"It's the eye of the tiger it's the thrill of the fight! Rising up to the challenge of our rivals! And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night and he's watchin' us all with the eyeeeeee of the tiger!" Niall croons and everyone chuckles as Harry emerges from the bathroom, a towel wrapped about his waist and a smirk on his face.
"Lemme see those knuckles, lad!" Louis exclaims, bouncing up from his seat and I hang back as the guys crowd around Harry. He flexes his fingers a bit for the guys to see, shaking his head as they inspect the damage.
"It was worse last night, but I had a pretty good nurse to get me back into fighting order for this morning." Harry smirks at me over the top of Louis' head.
There's a lot of chatter and a few questions and Harry explains the jist of what happened.
"Proud of ya for layin into that horses arse, Hazza!" Niall says, slapping a hand over harry's shoulder and grinning at him eagerly. "I'd have loved to have seen that brawl! Damn ya, Christina! Next time get a friggen video!" he laughs, winking at me over his shoulder. I shake my head.
"If I have it my way there wont BE a next time, Niall." I reply.
"LAAAADIES! YA DRINKS A READY!" Zayn whistles, sounding too much like a sexy female secretary for my comfort. The boys hoot and holler and Harry drapes his arm around my shoulder as he passes by, dragging me along for a morning drink.
"There wont be a next time. Not as long as I'm 'round." Harry murmurs into my ear, tipping his glass against mine in a cheers and I smile into my hands as he tips his drink back.
xxx
If you haven't, you really should A. read the article on Seventeen's website about Harry's headscarf attacking him... it's HYSTERICAL. And B. Watch the 2012 Itunes Festival performance by Ed Sheeran of Give me Love. So inspiring! I love that little ginger brit!