Hi guys! Sorry I havent been posting for this one in a while! I know this chapter's short. I hope you guys still like it!
Chapter 17: Stop there and let me correct it:
(Katia’s POV)
I practically stumbled into the house, trying to make it to my room. I felt tears run down my cheeks. I stopped when I found myself halfway up. I shared it with Liam. If he came home, he probably wouldn’t want to see me—but he needed to know I wasn’t hitting on Noah—he was gay for crying out loud! Talking to Liam wouldn’t do me any good considering right now, I’m some ‘slut.’ It stung to hear that from him. I slowly turned, spotting Liam walking home, outside the glass walls. I quickly walked down to the bottom landing, making my way to the back door, in the kitchen.
I pushed the swing door out of my way, just when I heard Liam enter. I rushed to place my hand on the knob—
“And where do you think you’re going?”
I spun around, nearly gasping. I hadn’t seen him standing there. “I…um…”
Harry stood there, leaning on the kitchen counter, with his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk plastered on his face. He was in faded jeans and a white polo shirt. His dark curls seemed a bit tousled, but then again, it always looked that way.
“Why aren’t you with Liam? Where’s he? Why’re your eyes—Oh shoot.” He stopped, realizing what could have possibly happened. He most likely was wrong, but I guessed he got the picture. “Katia…if you want, I know there’s a Starbucks stall somewhere along the beach. Do you want to tell me over a cup of coffee?” He gave me a small friendly smile.
I returned the gesture, feeling less hurt than I was five minutes ago. Maybe telling someone about it would serve as some practice round for when I explain it to Li. “Yeah, thanks Harry.”
He grinned like a little boy before following me out the back door.
(Zayn’s POV)
“It might take all day.” Emmet said, whipping his oily hands on his shirt.
I could feel my fists ball up in my pockets. I wonder if he recognized Grace. Do muggers bother to recall the faces of the people they come across?
“Not really. We’re almost done.” Louis smiled cheerfully, like the little boy he was. He was oblivious to everything. Niall and I didn’t want him to worry. If these were all the help we could get, we might as well keep it in, just until Emmet and Mark finish up. I don’t know about the other guy—Joey—We might beat him up too.
“Just need to finish up cleaning that engine and she’s all good to go.” Joey said, smiling. Maybe he was oblivious to this too. But people like them were good liars.
“How long would that take?” It was Niall this time.
“Maybe an hour or less. Depends on how fast we move.” He shrugged.
I just had to wait an hour or less before I beat the hell out of those two creeps. I glanced over at Niall who glared at Mark. That little leprechaun always gets what he wants. I should know, considering he was my best mate.
“I’ll be back.” I muttered, walking out of the small garage and into the house through the front door.
I needed to stay away for a while. It wouldn’t help Grace or Kat if Nialler and I did anything stupid. I don’t think I could ever ignore the fact my girlfriend was robbed and threatened.
I walked up the stairs, feeling every part of my throbbing body as I moved. I’d been crouched down for nearly two hours just working on a dirty engine. He’d gone through all the trouble, just to find out that the reason why his van wouldn’t move is because he didn’t clean his engine.
I made my way to the room where Grace was. I pushed the door open. “Grace? Babe, it’s me.”
I stopped when I saw her. She lay on the center of the bed, sleeping. She wore ripped shorts and a navy blue camisole under one of my letterman jackets. Her hair had fallen over her close eyelids. She had her knees pulled up to her chest, clipping a pillow in between her legs as she hugged it. I felt myself smile. She always looked adorable when she slept.
I walked over to my bag, where my laptop was, and pulled it out. I had set it on sleep mode when we left Bradford. I flipped open the lid as soon as I sat on the bed, beside Grace. The website of Harvard came out. I’d gotten accepted to it along with other colleges. I couldn’t go there, but the offer was too big to ignore. I had the choice of staying in London with Grace, or leaving for America. I was all Grace had in London. Unless I found a way to take her with me, I would, but I’d be in a dorm for one. I could always send her back to Bradford, but she’d put her place up for rent. I don’t think she’d be thrilled with the idea of going home to Alabama. It would probably be too hard. But this was Harvard! I huffed, feeling my head whirl.
“Zayn?” I heard her say.
I turned to look at her, while my hands slammed the laptop shut. “Hey.” I smiled.
“What…what are you doing here? I thought you were working on the van.” Grace mumbled sleepily.
I smiled, kissing her quickly on her forehead. “I missed you too much.”
She chuckled. “So what were you looking at on your laptop?”
“It’s nothing. Just…restaurants around London I should take you to.” I plastered a smile. I haven’t told her about my dilemma, but she knew the schools I’d been accepted to. I didn’t want to hurt her.
She returned the gesture. “Sounds great!” She rolled off the edge of the bed, swinging her feet over it. “I’ll go find something to eat in the kitchen. How long until the van get’s fixed up?”
“Um, an hour or so.” I replied, trying not to think of what hid in my laptop.
I watched her gather her clothes and skip out into the hallway where the bathroom was.
She was everything to me and I wasn’t planning to let her go. Not because of a college. It wasn’t worth it.
(Kenz’s POV)
I stepped out of the shower, drying my now relaxed body. I knew I took long, but I didn’t care. With everything I’d gone through, I should be allowed to shower all day! I slipped into my orange top and black skinny jeans with flip-flops, and walked out, heading straight for my room. I dabbed on a bit of powder and lip gloss before running down to be with Lou.
“Done!” Louis exclaimed as soon as I’d found him. “I don’t think I can ever thank you enough Joey.”
“No problemo! Happy to help, right lads?” Joey had turned to two other men, one being blonde with a bland face, and the other, latino, with big shoulders and a tattoo on his ankle.
“Yeah, sure.” The blonde on smiled, before eyeing Niall, who looked ticked off.
“Hey!” I smiled as I neared them.
“Kenzie!” Louis shrieked before running to me with his grimy hands.
“Whoa, stop! You can hug me when you’ve showered!” I smirked.
His smile dropped. “But I’m clean! See—? Oh…” He looked down at the state of his clothes.
I giggled.
“Well, we should be on our way. It’s a long way back!” Joey smiled, waving as he started to walk off with his two partners. We watched as they piled into their truck.
“Bye-bye!” Louis turned to them, smiling like the little boy he was.
“And don’t come back…” I heard Niall mutter.
I wonder what’s gotten into him. He huffed. Storming back into the house, murmuring curses, leaving Louis and I alone.
“I should start getting the others. We’ll load the stuff in while you clean up.”
He nodded, smiling before following me into the house.
(Harry’s POV)
“You have to tell him it was a mistake.” I said, as soon as she’d finished giving me the details of what had happened.
We sat in a small Starbucks stand by the beach. I don’t know how long Katia and I were out, but it was almost sunset.
She sipped her coffee before replying. “What if he’s still mad at me?
“You have to tell him anyway!”
“Well, yeah. I guess.” She muttered, looking down at her drink.
Before I could say anything, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I slipped it out, scanning the screen. I pressed a button, allowing me to answer it.
“Hey Boo.” I said.
“Don’t ‘Hey Boo,’ me! I’d been trying to call you for the past two hours! Where are you? And do you know where Katia is?” Louis yelled, sounding tired and pissed at the same time.
“Calm down! I’m with Katia in Starbucks!” I huffed. “Why?”
“We’ve loaded all you things already. The van’s been fixed.”
“Aand? So when do we leave?”
“Now! Get over here curly!” He shrieked.
“Why didn’t you tell me!” I jumped off my seat, earning a confused look from Katia. I ignored her endless questioning when I grabbed her arm and pulled her with me as I ran, still on the phone.
“I’ve been trying to call you!” He snapped.
“Oh, right—Well, I’m on my way!” I hung up, viewing the missed calls and messages, all from Louis and the lads.
“What’s going on!” Katia asked as I continued to pull her.
“We’re leaving. The van’s been fixed!” I said, breathlessly. I could already see the house. In front of it, was he van and a pissed off Louis.
“About time!” He grumbled when Katia and I arrived.
“Where’re our stuff?” Katia said.
“In the back, now get in.” Liam came into view, leaning on the side of the van, near Louis, who opened one of doors and slipped into the driver’s seat.
He wore his normal plaid shirt and jeans with sneakers. His hair had been combed neatly, making him look a bit older than eighteen.
“Hanging out with Harry now, are we?” He raised an eyebrow, glaring at her, when she didn’t say anything. “Flattered by him too?”
“Shut up!” She snarled, and then climbed into the car.
“Mate, it isn’t what it looks like!” I frowned at him.
“Oh it isn’t? Cause it looks like my best friend’s backstabbing me!” He snapped.
“It isn’t—”
“Save it Styles!” He barked, entering the van.
This was going to be a long ride.