I'm standing in front of the mirror in Harry's room, trying on the costume that Gemma made. I expect my head to filled with insults, but it's actually complimentary. Anne straightened my hair so it looks more like when Faye Dunaway played in her in the movie and let me borrow her hat that is apparently very "robber-chic". Gemma did my makeup and I honest-to-God look like I could be attractive. And the costume is flattering, which is always a plus.

Harry knocks on the door. "I'm all set. You ready to go?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." I call back, opening the door. He's standing right there so I bump into him slightly. He looks quite dapper as Clyde and I catch him looking at me, which confuses me. No one looks at me like that.

"You look amazing, Beck."

"Thanks, Styles. So do you." I can't hide my grin, so I'm sure I look like some smiling idiot.

"OH MY GOSH look at the two of you!" Anne calls from down the hallway, Gemma at her side. "You look so cute together!" She pulls out her phone and starts taking pictures. I giggle as Harry groans.

"Mom, stop it. You're being annoying." Harry takes his hat and covers his face with it. I laugh.

"You're being annoying, Harry." Gemma says, smirking. We catch eyes and she raises an eyebrow as if to ask if I'm okay. I nod. She smiles. "Fine, Mom, let's leave the couple be."

He turns to me. "Sorry about them. You ready to go?"

"Yep. Let's go." He extends his arm, and I take it after no hesitation as we walk to his car.

The party is in full swing by the time we get there. People are dancing on things and each other. Red solo cups are everywhere probably filled with all sorts of liquor imaginable.

"Want something to drink?"

"No thank you, alcohol smells funny to me." I explain. Harry nods, his face closer to mine.

"I'm going to get some beer from the keg. Come with me, Lou should be there."

Gently taking his fingers in mine, he weaves us through the crowd until we stop at the extravagant kitchen. As we walk, people do double takes then sneer at me. I don't think Harry notices, but I definitely do.

There's something to be said about how many teenagers can pack themselves into one house. I've never been to one of these before, so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to compose myself. How should a suicidal, constantly-bullied, sober high school sophomore act in a situation like this?

"Harry Fucking Styles!" Louis Tomlinson, high school senior and soccer captain, greets loudly. He's dressed like a pirate, and he looks really drunk. "I knew you'd make it! I knew it!" He turns to Zayn Malik, a high school junior who is either dressed like a hipster or actually dress like that. "I told you, Z. Told you he'd make it."

Zayn rolls his eyes. "I know, Lou. We all heard you when you were shouting it on top of the keg." He says this loud enough to be heard by anyone willing to listen. I grin a bit, amused.

"Harry!" Harry is suddenly launched into a hug by a blonde blur. Upon closer inspection, I see it's Niall Horan, another high school sophomore and he's dressed like a surfer (which is probably his excuse to show off his admittedly-well sculpted torso). "What's up, dude?"

"Nice costume, Niall." Harry grins. "Where's your shirt?"

"Some girl took it when we were making out." He shrugs. "I don't mind. C'mon! Let's get smashed. Liam! We're getting wasted!" He calls off to Liam Payne, another sophomore who is dressed like a cowboy, who's talking to some girl off in the corner. He nods to the poor girl, then comes over to all of us together.

Suddenly, Liam looks over at me and seems to just notice my existence. "Hey, I don't think I've seen you around here much. I'm Liam."

"I'm Beck. Or, well Bonnie to his Clyde." I point at Harry, who is getting some beer with Niall, Zayn, and Louis.

"Do you go to another school?" He cocks his head, trying to place me.

"Ummm no."

"LIAM!" Louis calls, so Liam turns away and I'm suddenly yanked into another room.

"Watch it! What the fuck?" I fight against whoever it is but they're too strong. The room is tiny and I think it's the pantry. This is confirmed when I'm pushed back into a wall of shelves filled with cans and bags.

The light flicks on. I see Max standing in front of the door, wearing his football jersey and jeans. "What the hell are you doing with that Styles bitch?"

"What the hell are you doing dragging me into pantries and shit?" I yelp, rubbing at my bruised arm. "Seriously, George, this is a new low."

"I just want to know why you're ignoring the fact that he pities you."

"Excuse me?" I raise an eyebrow.

"C'mon!" Max laughs a barking, harsh laugh. "You don't seriously think that Harry Styles could like you? You have no chance with anyone, you fugly freak." Lucky for me, I already know this so I don't react.

"Fuck off. Don't make me repeat history."

"What do you mean, you ugly, disgusting bit-" I cut him off with a swift kick to his balls. He goes down like a motherfucker.

"Stop it. Right now." I hiss, bending down as well as I can in my costume. "You're being a prick and I don't appreciate it. Leave me alone! God, do you really think I don't already know this stuff? Do you think you're being some great magnificent wizard for pointing it out to me? News flash, motherfucker, I know I'm ugly. I know I have no chance with Harry. I know I probably won't ever get a boyfriend. But I also know that I would NEVER go out with you, even if you're the last male on Earth. So just leave me alone." I kick him in the stomach for safe measures then step over him to find Harry and tell him I want out of here.

I look around, before someone gently touches my waist. I yelp and spin around before I notice it's Harry. He looks a bit frantic. "Where the hell were you? Li turned around and you were gone."

"Max Fucking George kidnapped and dragged me into the pantry." I dust off myself for safe measure, wanting that creep off me. "He kept on telling me... stupid stuff, so I kicked him in the balls."

"Wow, remind me to not get you mad." Harry tries to joke. I smile. "You okay?"

"I just want out of here."

"Wait, did I hear you say that George is in my pantry?" Louis comes up, sounding way more sober than he did before. "Jesus Christ, that asshole. Are you okay?" I nod. "Don't leave, I have a better solution." He points at Niall and gives him a quick thumbs down.

Niall cups his hands around his mouth and yells, "Cops! Everybody scram!" Harry quickly presses me against him to protect me from the stampede of people, including Max limping out of the pantry.

Once the house is left with only me, Zayn, Louis, Liam, Niall, and Harry, I turn to them all and say, "What in the world was that?"

"We were all pretending to be drunker than we actually were." Zayn shrugs.

"The fucking footballers getting into my party pissed me off. And what they did to you didn't help and the fact this party was getting way out of control anyway just was the icing on the cake to pull our evasive maneuver." Louis explains.

"Well thank you." I smile. "Can I help clean up?"

"That'd be fantastic." Louis grins, then turns to Harry. "Guess what fucker! You're her ride so you have to help out too." I laugh as Harry throws an empty Solo Cup at Louis.

An hour of cleaning later, the six of us are sprawled around Lou's living room. "So what was your name again? Drinking makes me forgetful." Liam asks.

"Beck Brayden."

"Are you that girl everyone hates?" Niall asks.

"Niall!" Harry snaps. "Don't be a dick."

"Sorry!"

"No it's fine. I know how things go around our high school." I shrug. "And yes I am, Niall."

"How did that happen?" Harry asks, his arm around mine in the seat we're sharing because the four other boys took up the entire couch.

"Yeah, you're pretty awesome." Zayn raises his glass to me.

"Ugh, Max George and the football guys were really pissed off I rejected him and kneed him in the balls back in 8th grade so they decided to turn everyone at our school against me."

"That sucks." Liam says after a pause.

"Did you really knee him in the balls?" Louis snickers.

I nod. "And kicked him in the balls tonight too."

"You're my hero." Niall playfully flutters his eyelashes. I giggle.

"Shit, Becks, it's almost my curfew. Should I be getting you home, too?"

"I don't have a curfew, but yeah we can go."

"Bye Beck! Don't be a stranger!" Louis says, waving as Harry and I gather ourselves and get ready to go.

"And don't expect anyone to be an asshole to you on Friday. Or ever again." Liam says. "We got your back."

I blush and smile a bit. "Thanks guys."

On the way back, Harry and I talk about the funny things that went on while we were cleaning. Like Zayn dumping Windex on Liam's pants or when Niall pretended to almost knock over a vase and Louis almost had a heart attack.

Harry nicely walks me up to my front door. My house is all dark since no one is there. Harry seems to notice, but he doesn't say anything. "Thanks for the awesome night, Harry. I had fun."

"Listen, ummm Beck. So..." I get confused and wait for him to say whatever he wants to say but then he just goes, "Fuck it." Then he kisses me.