You Make it Real {A Harry Styles Fan Fiction}
Chapter 23
PIPER'S P.O.V.
When I woke up on Thursday, I felt like my head was going to explode. Why did I drink so much in the middle of the week? My eyes were heavy and my stomach was constantly turning. I awoke suddenly at about 5 am, running to the bathroom to vomit. I hadn't felt like that since the first time I drank. I didn't think that I was that drunk, but James kept giving me drinks and I honestly didn't know how many they ended up being. I reached for my phone and saw that I had 4 texts, all from Harry.
*FROM: Harry <3
Let me know when you get home safe. x*
*FROM: Harry <3
Are you alright, Piper?*
*FROM: Harry <3
Are you mad at me because I didn't say it back?*
What was that last one about?
*FROM: Harry <3
I guess you're okay. Liam talked to Riley. Sorry for being a stalker. x*
I felt really bad for not seeing his texts. It seemed like he stayed up later than planned to make sure I got home okay.
*TO: Harry <3
Hey, I'm so so sorry. I came home and fell asleep immediately. I didn't even see your messages. What do you mean, am I mad at you? For not saying what? You're allowed to stalk me anytime ;) Miss you. Just text me when you wake up- I know it's early. Kisses*
I fell back into my pillows and wrapped my sheets tightly around me. I needed aspirin. Bad.
I threw the covers off of my body reluctantly, sticking my phone in my sweat pants pocket and walked into the kitchen, quietly so I wouldn't wake Riley. That was pointless because she was already on the couch, studying what seemed to be some sort of Algebra.
"Morning, Pip. What time did you get home?"
"Good morning, mom," I rolled my eyes at her sarcastically, "I'm not really sure; I'd have to ask James and Ash."
"Gotcha. So, you've been hanging out with them a lot, huh? They seem nice."
It was true, I had hung out with them multiple times since James first introduced me to the group. There was James and Ashlee, his step-sister (but I swear they hook up sometimes), Mark, another guy in my Psych class, his friend Colby, and Colby's girlfriend Hilary. They were all great to be around, and they enjoyed the same things as me; they weren't especially rowdy and they liked to just hang out and talk. The past few times it's only been James, Ashlee and I though because the other three were pretty slammed with school; each taking about eight classes and working part-time.
"Yeah, you should come hang out with us sometime."
"Alright," she didn't seem thrilled at my invitation, "you know you had Harry worried sick, right?"
I let out a heavy sigh. I knew that was what it was about.
"I know, I feel terrible about it; but I guess I just didn't look at my phone."
"Yeah, I know. He's not mad; he just couldn't sleep so Liam called me at like 3 and you were already home. You know, I don't think he'll ever tell you this, but I'm not so sure he's thrilled about the amount of time you're spending with James. Have you guys talked about it?"
Harry knew that James was just a friend; and we have a class together so it was nice to have a study partner. I had thought about it though and that's why I told Harry the day I met James that I planned on hanging out with him. He reacted fine so I never really thought about it again.
"Yeah, he knows we're just friends."
"Alright, Piper, you know how jealous guys get, though. Especially when he doesn't know the guy."
"I know, I want them to meet next time Harry is here. I want him to meet everyone I've been hanging out with. You too, Ri! Come on, go out with us tonight! There's no class tomorrow. PLEASE!"
She thought about it for a second and answered with a look of instant regret on her face.
"Alright, fine. I'll come hang out with your new hipster friends."
I ignored her playful diss and hugged her, suddenly remembering my pounding headache. I sat there and rubbed my temples, yawning in between sighs of discomfort.
"Sit down. I'll get you an aspirin and some coffee."
"Thanks, Ri. Love you!"
"Uh huh."
I pulled my phone out and noticed that I had a new message from Harry.
*FROM: Harry <3
Glad you're alright and... nothing... Forget I said anything. x*
What the hell was he talking about? I don't remember much from our phone conversation besides what his text messages reminded me- we were going to California in October; and that it was a secret from Riley. What else did we talk about. What did he 'not say back'. Oh god. There was only thing that I could possibly 'get mad about him not saying it back.' Fuck; Did I tell him that I loved him? Over the phone! While I was drunk! Dammit, Piper.
"Eugh, Riley, we have an emergency."
"Huh? Are you going to throw up because if so, please make it to the toilet."
"No, I'm not going to throw up; well- okay I might, but not from the alcohol."
"What? What happened?"
"I think I told Harry I loved him last night. On accident, but STILL! It's too soon and I did it the wrong way. The worst way, really. It's starting to come back to me. Oh, god, Riley, I said it in passing as we got off the phone. LIKE IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE. What the hell is wrong with me! I finally find a guy that I'm ha-"
"Stop rambling! It's okay, it's fine. I'm sure he knew you didn't mean it. He knows you were drinking, which isn't an excuse by the way, but it's not like he's avoiding you! I'm sure if you call him, he'll understand."
How could I have been so stupid!? Everything with Harry had been so special so far and then I go off and get trashed and say something stupid like 'love you' like it's nothing. God. I realized it half-way through too but thought I would sound dumb stopping in the middle. I honestly didn't know what I was thinking. I decided to call him right away since he had just sent me a message.
"Hello?"
"Harry, thank god. Look, I figured out what you were saying and I'm so sorry. I'm such a fucking idiot, I-"
He started shushing me and kept a hushed voice himself.
"It's fine, Piper. I know it just happened. I could tell it just slipped out. I was the idiot. I literally hung up and hoped you would forget about it."
I heard a breathy, sleepy laugh through the phone.
"Jesus, I'm such an idiot." I had to laugh at myself since I knew that he wasn't upset about it. "You sound exhausted, Harry, when did you sleep last?"
"Oh, you know, couple days ago."
"What! Why are you awake right now?"
He yawned loudly.
"I just wanted to talk to you, that's all. It's fine, I take something so I'm not so tired for shows."
Take something? What did he mean by that?
"What do you take?"
"Just Adderall. It's totally safe, I'm sure half the kids at your school take it to cram for tests."
He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more so than me.
"How often do you take it?"
"Once a day, if that. It's all good, Piper. I promise."
"Yeah, alright."
I didn't like that he was so tired from not sleeping that he took pills to stay awake. I really hoped that I had nothing to do with that.
"Try to get some sleep, Harry. Please. You're going to worry me."
"Oh, like I'm never worried about you."
"I'm sorry about last night, really. I should have looked at my phone but I was just so exhausted."
"It's not even that. It's just..."
He stopped himself and Riley walked up with a small pill, glass of water, and mug of coffee. I mouth a thank you and return my focus to Harry.
"What? What's bothering you?"
"I just can't stand the thought of you hanging out with that James guy all the time. I don't know him but he seems like a cocky bastard."
"Harry! He's not; he's a really nice guy. You guys are going to get along, I swear."
"Well, I can't promise that, but I'm definitely meeting him. He needs to know that you're mine."
I didn't like that he felt the need to be territorial but it would be nice for James to be around Harry and realize that I didn't make him up. James did get a little flirty at times, but maybe seeing Harry and I together could prevent that from happening anymore.
"Alright, hon. Well, it would make me really happy if you went to bed. Please."
Harry scoffed at my concern but had a change of heart.
"Fine, I'll take a nap or something. I'll text you later. Bye, love."
When I hung up the phone, I quickly popped the aspirin in my mouth and looked at Riley who was sitting opposite me on the other couch.
"It's fine now. Thanks for suggesting I call him. Glad I did."
"What's wrong then?"
"I don't know. He seems exhausted, overwhelmed. He's not sleeping; he's taking pills."
"What? That's crazy! Liam seems tired but he's been sleeping and he doesn't seem completely drained just yet. Pills, though? What kind of pills?"
"Adderall. I know it's not bad as long as you don't take too much. But, when you start taking it regularly, you eventually want more."
I tried to push that thought of my mind. I meant to talk to him about it when I saw him next. Riley mirrored my concern and we sat there for a while, sipping our coffee and talking about that weekend.
"So, what are you wearing to Cory's party?"
I had totally forgot about a costume.
"Uhhh, I don't know. What about you?"
"No fucking clue. Wanna go shopping tomorrow before we go sit in front of a Starbucks for hours, smoking cigarettes with the hipsters of campus?"
I rolled my eyes but nodded my head in agreement. After that we talked about Midterms and papers as well as family and movies. We really needed to catch up, even if that was at 5:30 in the morning.
When I woke up on Thursday, I felt like my head was going to explode. Why did I drink so much in the middle of the week? My eyes were heavy and my stomach was constantly turning. I awoke suddenly at about 5 am, running to the bathroom to vomit. I hadn't felt like that since the first time I drank. I didn't think that I was that drunk, but James kept giving me drinks and I honestly didn't know how many they ended up being. I reached for my phone and saw that I had 4 texts, all from Harry.
*FROM: Harry <3
Let me know when you get home safe. x*
*FROM: Harry <3
Are you alright, Piper?*
*FROM: Harry <3
Are you mad at me because I didn't say it back?*
What was that last one about?
*FROM: Harry <3
I guess you're okay. Liam talked to Riley. Sorry for being a stalker. x*
I felt really bad for not seeing his texts. It seemed like he stayed up later than planned to make sure I got home okay.
*TO: Harry <3
Hey, I'm so so sorry. I came home and fell asleep immediately. I didn't even see your messages. What do you mean, am I mad at you? For not saying what? You're allowed to stalk me anytime ;) Miss you. Just text me when you wake up- I know it's early. Kisses*
I fell back into my pillows and wrapped my sheets tightly around me. I needed aspirin. Bad.
I threw the covers off of my body reluctantly, sticking my phone in my sweat pants pocket and walked into the kitchen, quietly so I wouldn't wake Riley. That was pointless because she was already on the couch, studying what seemed to be some sort of Algebra.
"Morning, Pip. What time did you get home?"
"Good morning, mom," I rolled my eyes at her sarcastically, "I'm not really sure; I'd have to ask James and Ash."
"Gotcha. So, you've been hanging out with them a lot, huh? They seem nice."
It was true, I had hung out with them multiple times since James first introduced me to the group. There was James and Ashlee, his step-sister (but I swear they hook up sometimes), Mark, another guy in my Psych class, his friend Colby, and Colby's girlfriend Hilary. They were all great to be around, and they enjoyed the same things as me; they weren't especially rowdy and they liked to just hang out and talk. The past few times it's only been James, Ashlee and I though because the other three were pretty slammed with school; each taking about eight classes and working part-time.
"Yeah, you should come hang out with us sometime."
"Alright," she didn't seem thrilled at my invitation, "you know you had Harry worried sick, right?"
I let out a heavy sigh. I knew that was what it was about.
"I know, I feel terrible about it; but I guess I just didn't look at my phone."
"Yeah, I know. He's not mad; he just couldn't sleep so Liam called me at like 3 and you were already home. You know, I don't think he'll ever tell you this, but I'm not so sure he's thrilled about the amount of time you're spending with James. Have you guys talked about it?"
Harry knew that James was just a friend; and we have a class together so it was nice to have a study partner. I had thought about it though and that's why I told Harry the day I met James that I planned on hanging out with him. He reacted fine so I never really thought about it again.
"Yeah, he knows we're just friends."
"Alright, Piper, you know how jealous guys get, though. Especially when he doesn't know the guy."
"I know, I want them to meet next time Harry is here. I want him to meet everyone I've been hanging out with. You too, Ri! Come on, go out with us tonight! There's no class tomorrow. PLEASE!"
She thought about it for a second and answered with a look of instant regret on her face.
"Alright, fine. I'll come hang out with your new hipster friends."
I ignored her playful diss and hugged her, suddenly remembering my pounding headache. I sat there and rubbed my temples, yawning in between sighs of discomfort.
"Sit down. I'll get you an aspirin and some coffee."
"Thanks, Ri. Love you!"
"Uh huh."
I pulled my phone out and noticed that I had a new message from Harry.
*FROM: Harry <3
Glad you're alright and... nothing... Forget I said anything. x*
What the hell was he talking about? I don't remember much from our phone conversation besides what his text messages reminded me- we were going to California in October; and that it was a secret from Riley. What else did we talk about. What did he 'not say back'. Oh god. There was only thing that I could possibly 'get mad about him not saying it back.' Fuck; Did I tell him that I loved him? Over the phone! While I was drunk! Dammit, Piper.
"Eugh, Riley, we have an emergency."
"Huh? Are you going to throw up because if so, please make it to the toilet."
"No, I'm not going to throw up; well- okay I might, but not from the alcohol."
"What? What happened?"
"I think I told Harry I loved him last night. On accident, but STILL! It's too soon and I did it the wrong way. The worst way, really. It's starting to come back to me. Oh, god, Riley, I said it in passing as we got off the phone. LIKE IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE. What the hell is wrong with me! I finally find a guy that I'm ha-"
"Stop rambling! It's okay, it's fine. I'm sure he knew you didn't mean it. He knows you were drinking, which isn't an excuse by the way, but it's not like he's avoiding you! I'm sure if you call him, he'll understand."
How could I have been so stupid!? Everything with Harry had been so special so far and then I go off and get trashed and say something stupid like 'love you' like it's nothing. God. I realized it half-way through too but thought I would sound dumb stopping in the middle. I honestly didn't know what I was thinking. I decided to call him right away since he had just sent me a message.
"Hello?"
"Harry, thank god. Look, I figured out what you were saying and I'm so sorry. I'm such a fucking idiot, I-"
He started shushing me and kept a hushed voice himself.
"It's fine, Piper. I know it just happened. I could tell it just slipped out. I was the idiot. I literally hung up and hoped you would forget about it."
I heard a breathy, sleepy laugh through the phone.
"Jesus, I'm such an idiot." I had to laugh at myself since I knew that he wasn't upset about it. "You sound exhausted, Harry, when did you sleep last?"
"Oh, you know, couple days ago."
"What! Why are you awake right now?"
He yawned loudly.
"I just wanted to talk to you, that's all. It's fine, I take something so I'm not so tired for shows."
Take something? What did he mean by that?
"What do you take?"
"Just Adderall. It's totally safe, I'm sure half the kids at your school take it to cram for tests."
He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more so than me.
"How often do you take it?"
"Once a day, if that. It's all good, Piper. I promise."
"Yeah, alright."
I didn't like that he was so tired from not sleeping that he took pills to stay awake. I really hoped that I had nothing to do with that.
"Try to get some sleep, Harry. Please. You're going to worry me."
"Oh, like I'm never worried about you."
"I'm sorry about last night, really. I should have looked at my phone but I was just so exhausted."
"It's not even that. It's just..."
He stopped himself and Riley walked up with a small pill, glass of water, and mug of coffee. I mouth a thank you and return my focus to Harry.
"What? What's bothering you?"
"I just can't stand the thought of you hanging out with that James guy all the time. I don't know him but he seems like a cocky bastard."
"Harry! He's not; he's a really nice guy. You guys are going to get along, I swear."
"Well, I can't promise that, but I'm definitely meeting him. He needs to know that you're mine."
I didn't like that he felt the need to be territorial but it would be nice for James to be around Harry and realize that I didn't make him up. James did get a little flirty at times, but maybe seeing Harry and I together could prevent that from happening anymore.
"Alright, hon. Well, it would make me really happy if you went to bed. Please."
Harry scoffed at my concern but had a change of heart.
"Fine, I'll take a nap or something. I'll text you later. Bye, love."
When I hung up the phone, I quickly popped the aspirin in my mouth and looked at Riley who was sitting opposite me on the other couch.
"It's fine now. Thanks for suggesting I call him. Glad I did."
"What's wrong then?"
"I don't know. He seems exhausted, overwhelmed. He's not sleeping; he's taking pills."
"What? That's crazy! Liam seems tired but he's been sleeping and he doesn't seem completely drained just yet. Pills, though? What kind of pills?"
"Adderall. I know it's not bad as long as you don't take too much. But, when you start taking it regularly, you eventually want more."
I tried to push that thought of my mind. I meant to talk to him about it when I saw him next. Riley mirrored my concern and we sat there for a while, sipping our coffee and talking about that weekend.
"So, what are you wearing to Cory's party?"
I had totally forgot about a costume.
"Uhhh, I don't know. What about you?"
"No fucking clue. Wanna go shopping tomorrow before we go sit in front of a Starbucks for hours, smoking cigarettes with the hipsters of campus?"
I rolled my eyes but nodded my head in agreement. After that we talked about Midterms and papers as well as family and movies. We really needed to catch up, even if that was at 5:30 in the morning.
Notes
Please let me know what you guys think about the story development <3 I really love the input from everyone!! xx
@jasyjas18
awwww thank you so much! where is this awards nomination? lol I didn't know about it, but thank you so much!!!! :) I'm gonna start the sequel now ;) should be up today or tomorrow!
8/4/14