Harry
"What the fuck are you doing back in town, Styles?" I heard someone shout into my ear, their words slurred and breath rancid with the lingering scent of fireball whiskey. I turned to see my old buddy from sophomore year staring at me with a large grin on his face.
"Hi Tyler." I smiled half-heartedly, accepting the awkward hug he was offering.
"I haven't seen your ass in years!" he remarked while laughing. Tyler threw his arm around my shoulders, leading me towards the kitchen of the frat house we were at. I was never into the partying scene, but my roommate had guilted me into coming by threatening to drive home drunk, so I figured it would be better for me to go. "Did you transfer here?"
I shook my head and leaned against the counter, making a small effort not to knock over the hundreds of cups littering it. "I graduated from UCLA early. I just moved in with a friend while I try to get my shit together." I laughed.
"Hmm, that definitely sounds like the Harry I remember; you've never have your shit together." Tyler busted out into a drunken laugh, one that I've heard many times before. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. My reason for leaving suddenly was coming back to me. I grew tired of the same old shit with the same old people. I was tired of the drugs and the alcohol that was a constant with this group. "So how's Maddy? You still fucking her?" I choked at his question, my blood already beginning to boil.
"No, I'm not." I answered through my teeth. What a fucking idiot.
"Sorry man, didn't mean to piss you off. She was just your first girlfriend, so I figured she was still around. I don't know why you didn't stay with her, her tits were-" I stopped him.
"Shut the fuck up Tyler." I spat. I was gripping the counter so tightly I thought it would break. He just stared at me like I was a stranger. I watched as his eyes shifted to something behind me, growing wide.
"Hey how about we go outside? Talk about old times?" He nervously stuttered, once again putting his short arm around my shoulders, trying to pull me away. I looked over my shoulder, curious as to Tyler's weird ass behavior. You've got to be fucking kidding me. A tall dark-haired girl with dark eyes was making her way towards us, and a jumble of memories came tumbling back to me.
"Harry, how've you been?" she breathed, a smirk playing on her red lips. I stared down at her, struggling to find words. Even with Maddy in heels, I towered over her and most of the other people around me.
"Maddy." I answered curtly.
"Hm, someone's shy. You'd think after all the things we've been through you'd be a little happier to see me." she frowned dramatically. I felt sick to my stomach. I looked her up and down, taking in her impossibly short black shorts, red lacy top, and black shiny heels. I had felt like I was transported back 3 years, back to the summer after senior year when I had been with Maddy at every second of the day, always high off of something, whether it was weed or her moans. Unfortunately, that's all Maddy ever was for me; she was just someone I had messed around with, and that's all I was for her. The only difference is that I had moved on, and Maddy was still stuck in the never-ending life of parties, sex, and drugs.
"We were just heading out for a smoke," Tyler cut in awkwardly. "So we'll see you later, Maddy." She looked at me for a few seconds, her dark eyes making me uncomfortable. Maddy took a step towards me, placed her hand on my arm, and brought her lips to my ear.
"Call me sometime, Harry. I've missed you." she whispered over the loud music in the background. Goosebumps spread across my skin, and I exhaled shakily. Maddy smirked as she strutted out of the room, pulling along a few girls as she left. One of them was staring at me. She was blonde, wore dark makeup, and looked like she could be one of Maddy's many followers. Nothing that wasn't expected. I turned back to Tyler, who was looking at me nervously.
"C'mon buddy." He sighed, pulling me through the back door. The yard was less crowded, and felt far less suffocating. We sat on the stone wall, and I people-watched as Tyler pulled out an Altoids tin. "Want one?" he offered me a joint. I immediately shook my head, I moved on from this. You're at a fucking party, you haven't moved on, my subconscious reminded me. I sighed and held my hand out.
"Fuck it." I muttered. I needed a distraction.
