HARRY'S P.O.V.

The silence that followed my confession was crisp and awkward. I should have waited to say something but I couldn't stop thinking about it and it just came out. I slightly regretted bringing it up but I knew it would happen at some point that day and this could have been the only alone time we would have. Still catching her breath, she turned her head to face me and released a long sigh before speaking.

"Well, what are we supposed to do about it? I don't want this to be the last time I see you either, but I feel like if we don't leave it here, I'm going to end up heartbroken."

"What makes you think that you'll be the heartbroken one? I think I would be on my way to heartbreak if we left this island and never spoke again."

I placed my hand softly over her cheek and she leaned into my touch, closing her eyes. She started to tear up as she spoke.

"But, how could this even work? It can't! You're going to be all over the country for the next few months and that's the closest you'll even be to me! After that we will be on separate continents." She sniffled during her pause. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying. It's all just a bit overwhelming, I guess."

I felt a few warm drops fall from her eye onto my thumb. I wiped them away and pulled her closer to me, holding her close to my chest. This wasn't fair. I never expected this to happen. I don't usually care about the girls that I sleep with. Not like this anyway. Sure, I respect them and try to be as nice as I can. But, it's usually them bringing up seeing me again, not the other way around. What has gotten into me? I kept telling myself that this couldn't happen. I thought about it before and dismissed it, knowing that a new relationship was impossible on tour! I felt so stupid for bringing it up; It was only going to make leaving harder than it already was. Piper breathed deeply and looked back at me, no longer crying.

"Well, what do you suggest we do?"

I bit my lip, trying so hard to do the right thing, to say the right thing.

"We could try." She glanced at me hesitantly. "No, please, hear me out, Piper. We could try spending more time together. We have a few weekends off during the tour and we could meet up and see what happens. It's better than wondering what could have been."

I couldn't look at her, afraid of what she was going to say. Why couldn't I just say what I should have, 'We have to just leave it'? Because I didn't want to!

"Really? Do you think it'll work?"

She grinned at me, a gleam of hope in her eye and I couldn't help but laugh at how stupid of a decision we were making.

"Only one way to find out."

I leaned over and kissed her forehead and she moved in closer to me. After a few minutes of just laying there she broke the comfortable silence.

"We should join the rest of the group, huh?"

I shrugged but then nodded. She was right, if we were going to really try this, we didn't want our friends getting the wrong idea from the beginning. Plus, the guys should get to know her if I was going to. We got out of the bed and re-dressed ourselves, leaving off our shirts since we were going to the beach. Hand in hand we left the house and headed back to where we left the group. When we walked up, Zayn and Louis were kicking a football back and forth, chasing it across the beach. Niall sat in a beach chair, Carona in hand. Liam and Riley seemed to be playfully wrestling in the water, splashing each other between shoves and embraces. I walked over to where Niall sat, still pulling Piper along with me.

"Hello, you two. Have fun in there?"

He chuckled as Piper shot him a look and I smacked him on the back of the head.

"Just a joke, calm down. Want a beer?"

Piper and I both accepted and he reached into the cooler to his left, pulling out two more beers. I opened Piper's and handed it to her before taking my own. Louis and Zayn noticed us (or maybe it was the beer) and jogged over to us, Louis kicking the ball along in front of him.

"Where have you guys been?"

Zayn acted innocent as he reached into the cooler. We ignored his question and Piper waved to Riley, who was still in the water with Liam. She waved back excitedly and grabbed Liam's hand, running toward us. When they reached us, Liam pulled out two more beers. We all stood there for a minute, enjoying the view when Riley pulled Piper aside. I let go of her hand and the two of them walked toward a nearby tree, talking in hushed voices. I turned back toward the boys, who were all staring at me since the girls left.

"So, erm, the weather is nice, eh?"

They all dismissed my mundane attempt at conversation and I remembered Louis being on the phone that morning. Awesome, something to distract from me and Piper.

"So, Louis, what happened with Eleanor this morning? Sounded pretty intense."

"Nah, I think it's just been too long since we've seen each other. I'm gonna fly her out here next week and hopefully it'll be back to normal."

"Oh." I nodded understandingly. If Piper and I try this and it get's to that point, I wonder how we would handle the distance. I didn't want to get ahead of myself, but I couldn't help but to think about how we would deal with it once I was back in England. I wonder what responsibilities she has. I probably should ask her. We really knew nothing about each other. She only knew what I did for a living because everyone knows that. We know nothing personal about each other but perhaps that was what the next few months were for; Getting to know each other. Between shows. It was going to be rough, I knew that. It just seemed like so much more work hearing Louis talk about his relationship, which had been in existence for a long time.

"Harry, what's going on with you and Piper? Just trying to get as much as you can before we split?"

I knew they wouldn't be able to resist bombarding me with questions. It did surprise me that Niall asked, though.

"Something like that." I chuckled but decided that they deserved to know what was going on. "I think I really like her, though. We just decided to get to know each other better and see how it goes. I really think it's going to be worth it. I know it'll be rough but, come on, she's funny, beautiful, and," I looked around to make sure she wasn't within earshot and continued in a hushed voice, "the sex is incredible. I can't even describe it."

All of the guys roared with laughter but looked happy for me, not disappointed like so guys would be.

"Yeah, Riley wouldn't give it up so easily, but I'm okay with that. I really like talking to her, honestly. Hey, if Harry's gonna be seeing Piper a lot, maybe I can tag along and spend more time with Riley!"

Liam was always the softy. This was typical for him; getting excited about a girl. I just hoped that maybe this time, he would stay happy with her and not bend over backwards for someone who didn't care about him. Riley did seem different from his usual girlfriends, I had to admit. She was goofy and care-free, just like him and he needed more of that in his life. I had a feeling that his parents would like her, too. They were always worried about someone taking advantage of his status and money, which could be done easily since he's so giving and thoughtful. He definitely had the biggest heart out of us all and I hated seeing it get stomped on. Riley really seemed to like him though. If she was like the shallow girlfriends he had before, she would be acting fake and constantly worrying about how she looked. Instead she seemed to be acting like herself; outgoing and playful. She even made silly faces when she spoke to him, which of course he returned. He didn't need someone that was shy and detached. He needed someone who could lift him up and make him laugh when he was tired and sick of touring. We probably all needed that.

"Hey, maybe you guys will have dates for me and Perrie's wedding!"

Zayn didn't get overly excited about the wedding with us much but he still brought it up quite a bit, which none of us minded. We were happy for him.

"Yeah! Should be fun. Niall, you should call up your house guests from last night and see if they'll be free."

Niall chucked his empty beer bottle at me, trying to look legitimately pissed but failing miserably. He couldn't help but to join in the unstoppable laughter of the rest of us. As our amusement died down, the girls walked back over, wide grins on their faces, separating as they reached us, Riley ending at Liam's side and Piper at mine. I put my arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head, earning an 'awe' from everyone in the circle. She and I both blushed and ignored them.

"Guys, it's almost two. We should probably head back."

Why did Zayn have to ruin it? He was right though, we had to move on to the next arena for sound check and to get ready. My heart sank at the thought of having to say goodbye to Piper so soon. We gathered our things and walked back to the dock solemnly. Piper pulled her shirt back on and grabbed my hand, hold her shoes in her empty one. I tightened my grip around her fingers, giving her a knowing look of sadness. She pouted and squeezed my hand in return.
When we reached the dock, Preston and Captain Rick grabbed the things we brought back and stowed them away before helping everyone climb on.

"You guys were supposed to be back sooner! We're gonna have to hurry."

Preston tried to scare some sense into us but it hardly worked. We knew he loved us despite the fact that we never listened. Piper and I made our way to the seats we took on our way there and got comfortable before we started moving. The ride back seemed even quicker than before as we sat with our bodies intertwined in silence. When the yacht came to a complete stop, we hesitantly stood up and climbed onto the dock. Zayn, Niall and Louis helped put everything in the bus before they hugged the girls and hopped on the bus. I walked with Piper to her car and prepared myself to say goodbye. When we got to the driver's side of the car, she leaned against it and pulled me to face her. I laid my body on top of hers, getting as close as possible, which still felt too far. I rested my forehead on hers and looked into her eyes.

"Harry, I don't want to make this harder than it has to be so let's just leave it at, 'I'll call you'. Let me know when I can expect to see you and I'll spend every day until then looking forward to it."
I saw a tear fall from her eye as she looked at the ground. I placed my hand under her chin and pulled her face closer to mine.

"I can't wait."

I met my lips with hers, slowly and meaningfully, feeling my lips quiver as I wondered how long it would be until I would feel this again. We let our kiss linger for a couple minutes before Liam and Riley walked over.

"Hey mate, sorry but we have to go now."

He pecked Riley on the mouth before opening her door and closing it behind her as she sat down. Piper put her hands on my bare chest and kissed me one last time, a little more forcefully this time, but even more emotionally. I hugged her tightly and pulled the car door open. When she turned the car on, I closed the door and she rolled down her window. I knelt down and placed my elbows on open window.

"I'll miss you, Piper. I know I just met you, but I'll miss you."

"I know."

It was all she could let out before turning away from my face. I backed up and shoved one hand in my pocket. As she looked up again before driving off, I brought one hand to my lips, kissed it, and blew it to her, while an enormous smile crept onto my face. She reached one hand up and pretended to catch it, putting that hand against her own lips and even though I couldn't hear it, I saw her laughing through the window. After her car was gone from sight, I reluctantly turned around, kicking the ground as I walked to the bus. When I opened the door, I didn't look up and went straight to my bunk. As soon as I laid down, Louis came up behind me and patted me on the back.

"Hey, Harry, I know it's tough but it's going to be alright. I promise."

I wanted to believe him. I really wanted to.

Notes

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