Savior

The Boy with a Girlfriend

Girlfriend. Girlfriend. Girlfriend.

The word is one that I know; one that I am very familiar with, but somehow, it suddenly sounded so foreign. Foreign when attached to Harry Styles.

And she's gorgeous –of course she's gorgeous- hair as long as mine was before I took a pair of scissors to it, but instead of my awkward orange, hers is a silky chestnut. Warm brown eyes that remind me of sunflowers and heritage from some Asian country that gives her the exotic look I lack.

And Harry is standing next to her with almost the same exact shade of hair and they look like two peas in a pod.

Except, Jaime is smiling at me in a slightly confused, but very friendly manor. While, Harry keeps scratching the back of his neck and avoiding my gaze and it makes my stomach whir unpleasantly.

Jaime finally breaks the silence with her hand outstretched, "It's nice to meet you, Layla. How do you know Harry? Sorry... He just... hasn't mentioned you before?"

And that stung a bit, even though it shouldn't have.

"She's a germaphobe." Harry cuts in just as I raise my palm to slide it into Jaime's. This causes the both of us to turn to him –Jaime in confusion and me in slight surprise. Because that is the first thing I said to Niall when I met him and obviously isn't true; especially considering our little moment the other-

Oh my god.

And suddenly my brain begins to filter through everything that has happened in the last few months; Harry watching me, Harry defending me, me comforting him, Him... what? Was he trying to kiss me the other day?

But, that can't be possible, because here, in the flesh, is his wonderfully nice girlfriend.

A girlfriend that he hasn't even mentioned once since I have known him.

Suddenly, I am filled with an inexplicable rage and horrible twist in my gut. An odd sense of betrayal settles in my stomach, though I am not sure it is justified.

I send a sharp glare Harry's way –which he flinches at- before deliberately taking Jaime's hand in my own, shaking it, and holding it much longer than necessary. She still has the befuddled look on her face as my action obviously contradicts Harry's statement.

"It's nice to meet you too, Jaime. I live right next door, but I have to say the case is the same for me, also. Harry hasn't mentioned you either."

And it's petty and selfish, but I feel oddly hurt by this hidden secret and I don't want to lie to the girl. Before tonight, I didn't even know a Jaime existed.

Harry winces at my words and laughs awkwardly –probably trying to search his brain for an excuse. Jaime's own expression twists to one of hurt and she drops my hand to glance at Harry accusatorily. Eliza is still standing in the middle of our group, her expression one of mixed amusement and nerves.

Suddenly, I'm angry with her too. And Niall.

And every bloody person that knew that Harry had a girlfriend. But didn't tell me.

I know it shouldn't matter and it isn't my business, and I really don't care. But, how could I have spent almost every day of the last two months with these people and not known such a pivotal fact?

How could Harry –who has seen me almost every day and shared personal information not have told me that he has a girlfriend?  Are we... not as close to each other as I originally thought? And why does that prospect make me chest hurt when I was determined to keep everyone at arm's length upon coming here?