-Harry's POV-
I pace back and forth as Ava stands there, intent on being the most frustrating woman on earth.
I have no bloody idea if she's mad at me cause I brought a date or for something else I could of said or done.
All I can do is hope.
Hope that it's because she wanted to be here with me. That she wants to be with me. Like we were before. Well, like we almost were before.
But I'll probably never know. Trying to get Ava to express her feelings, her true feelings, is nearly impossible. And I know better than to just ask her outright. That tactic has never worked well for me.
I understand why she is the way she is, with all that happened in her past. The thought of what she's went through makes me want to hunt down the little prick who did all this to her and kick his ass a second time. And perhaps a third, just for good measure.
"Harry, I'm sorry."
I sigh and take a seat on the steps leading up into the house. "Can you ever just say what you think?"
"I did." She replies, her voice small. "That's why we're here right now."
"Riiiight. The one time you speak your mind is to tell me I'm an asshole." I scoff, looking up at her. "It took months of pulling teeth to get you to admit you fancied me, but when you hate me, you have no problem just blurting it out."
"I don't hate you." She frowns, "Please don't do this. I'm sorry I said that, I shouldn't have. I don't want to fight with you. Can we please just go enjoy the party?"
"Well this is a shocking turn of events. Ava McCain, wanting to end a conversation because it involves real feelings." I look into her eyes and instantly feel like a total dick when I see tears in them.
"You know what? I take that back. You are an asshole." She glares at me.
I quickly stand up, effectively blocking her exit as she tries to move past me and back into the house.
"Fuck Ava, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
"Really? Because I think that's exactly what you meant." She replies, taking a step back.
"It's not." I run a hand through my hair in exasperation. "It just... It's drives me mad you can't just answer a simple question. Why would you call me that?"
She doesn't answer me, instead looking down at her feet.
I take a deep breath before I say my next words, knowing when it comes to Ava, they could easily push her away.
"Were you jealous?"
Her eyes narrow slightly, letting me know I've struck the nail on the head, "You're reading way to much into this, as usual."
"Really? Don't think I am." I reply confidently.
Once again she stays quiet, now avoiding my gaze.
"Your silence speaks volumes Ava."
Her eyes shoot up to mine and I search them desperately, willing her to just say what she feels. For once.
But she doesn't.
Her lips stay closed, holding a tight line. God she's stubborn.
"This game we're playing." I say, motioning between us. "I'm bored of it."
"I'm not playing any games."
"Aren't you though? Our entire relationship has been one fucking game. I pull, you push. I chase, you run. I can't keep trying to guess what you're thinking or how you feel. You either trust me or you don't. You either just tell me or you don't." I take a deep breath, knowing I may very well be digging my own grave. "It's like a bloody chess game, we just keep moving around the board endlessly. No one ever wins......"
"It shouldn't be like this should it?" She asks quietly. "It shouldn't be this hard to just be friends."
"I don't think we can just be friends." I shrug, shaking my head.
"So that's it then?"
"You tell me."
She looks away from me yet again, and I feel my chest tighten.
"And once again silence."
She shakes her head as a single tear rolls down her cheek. It takes everything in me to not walk up her, wipe it off her cheek, and crash my lips against hers.
I love her. I fucking love this woman. But it's no use. She won't let me in.
I knew it would end like this. With her in tears. But I did it anyway, to selfish and in love to be reasonable.
So instead of doing what I want to do, I do what I need to do. I stand there, watching everything I lost a year ago once again slip through my fingers as she walks past me and out the door.
I drop myself back down onto the stairs, feeling like my life has rewound.
I'm sitting at this bloody charity ball or whatever the fuck it is, feeling like a total piece of shit because I've lost her. I couldn't even keep her just being mates. We somehow managed to just fuck it up all over again.
It feels like hours have gone by before I finally manage to haul myself up off the garage steps, my whole body feeling numb.
I want to just leave. Walk straight out of here and not look back. But I can't. No matter what I've been through, I can't just ditch Becca like that. Not after the favor she did by coming with me tonight.
I make my way through the house and out the back door, praying I don't see her. I sigh in relief when I finally spot Becca across the garden, talking with Liam and Niall.
"Hey stranger! Where you been?" Becca asks once I'm standing in front of them.
"Hell looks like. What happened to you Haz?" Niall asks, looking me up and down.
"Nothing." I answer, turning my attention towards Becca. "I need to go. You ready?"
"Actually if you don't mind, I'll stay."
"Doesn't matter to me." I shrug. "Thanks for coming. Tell Abby hi for me."
She nods and I give her a forced smile before swiftly turning and heading back inside.
I make it all the way through the house and to my car before I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Not now Liam."
"What did you do?" He asks as I turn towards him.
"Nothing."
"Nothing.... So that's why Ava left crying. Because of nothing."
"She left?"
"Yes. Quite a bit ago."
"Shit." I pull out my phone to call her, then angrily shove it back into my pocket. I don't know what I was thinking, she wouldn't want to speak to me.
"Did you try to go after her? Did you call her?" I question.
Liam nods in answer.
"Call her again." I demand.
"She won't answer me."
"Then text her. Just ask her if she's alright."
"She's a big girl Harry. She can take care of herself. Now what happened?"
"A lot of shit. I don't even know really."
"Well that's descriptive." He scoffs at me.
"I'm going home." I pull open my car door and slide into the driver's seat.
"Don't do anything stupid this time." Liam warns before shutting my door.
I nod as I start my car and drive off, relieved he didn't push me to tell him everything. Now I'll just have a proper scolding to look forward to tomorrow. Can't wait for that.
I drive towards my house slowly, not looking forward to spending yet another night alone.
Soon enough I find myself at my gate, mindlessly punching in the code.
I pull up to the house just as my housekeeper walks outside. I don't waste any time in getting out of my car and walking towards her, "Nora?"
"Harry! How was your party? I'm sorry to surprise you. I know I'm not usually here this late."
"Its fine." I smile at the older woman. "Everything alright?"
"Yes. I just left my phone here earlier today. I came to fetch it." She smiles, holding her phone up.
I nod and walk her to her car to open the door for her.
"Thank you Harry. I left you some cookies on the counter."
"You're the best Nora."
"Oh, and your friend is waiting for you on the back patio."
"My friend?"
"Yes. I'll see you on Monday." She gives me another smile before driving away.
I groan as I walk to my front door. Apparently Liam decided my night hasn't been shitty enough already. Sadly, this won't be the first time he's showed up unannounced to lecture me on my bad choices.
I try to think of what to say to convince him to leave as I walk through my living room, keeping my eyes on my feet as I step outside and slide the patio door closed behind me.
I look up, fully prepared to just tell him to sod off and leave me alone, but my eyes widen in surprise when it's not Liam I find standing on my patio.
It's the one person I would have never expected.
Ava.
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