HANNAH’S P.O.V.


As soon as I leave the bathroom, I let out an exasperated breath. I know he is intent on waiting to get physical, but I’m also determined to be spontaneous and exciting. In any other circumstances, a guy like Niall would be the perfect way for me to do that. However, something is holding him back. I would like to believe it’s because of the selfless reasons he professes, but something tells me there’s more to it. Despite it all, I’m falling for him fast. Louis is getting him soon and I plan on spending the afternoon with Harry.

I’m glad I told Niall about Harry. He doesn’t need to worry about my ‘relationship’ with him anymore and I actually have someone I can turn to if it all becomes a bit confusing. Besides, I feel like I can trust Niall, even more so since he told me about his sister-in-law and revealed the skeletons in his closet to me.

I pull out my phone as I finish cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast, easily finding Harry’s number and watching Joe’s expression as he reads the newspaper.

“Hey, Hannah. So, you think today will be good for us to have lunch?”

“Yeah, that’s why I was calling. How does one sound?”

I hear muffled noise in the background that I can’t make out.

“Perfect. I’ll pick you up at one. I-uh gotta go.”

He hangs up before I can say goodbye and I clutch my phone in my hand as I hear some bumping around from upstairs. I giggle to think of Niall trying to make his across the bathroom in only a towel and his hair dripping wet. Suddenly that image fades from funny to extremely appealing.

Now that he’s obviously out of the shower, I need to hurry and take my own since I only have an hour and a half before Harry is here. I wish I could spend a little more time with Niall before Louis arrived, but at least he’ll be close by for a while. Before I can make my way up the stairs, a hard thud sounds at the front door and I roll my eyes to think that it’s probably Louis. I at least wanted a few minutes to make out or something.

I turn to face the door and sheepishly glance over to Joe. He looks up, feeling my stare on him and rolls his eyes, throwing down the newspaper and mumbling something like ‘alright, alright’. He makes his way to the door, but not before Louis knocks again, even louder.

“Christ! I’m coming!”

I think our household wins the prize for most bizarre in town. Not only because of the way we greet house-guests and ‘hang out’ with the chauffeur, but also because of my parents recently revealed unconventional marriage.

Before Joe opens the door, I run up the stairs, hoping to make it before Louis realizes I escaped socializing with him for the moment. Surely we won’t have long anyway until Louis runs up the stairs and barges in, which is exactly why I lock the door behind me once I’m on the other side staring at Niall in fresh boxers.

“You look like you’ve just run from a killer. You alright?”

We walk toward each other and meet in the middle of my room.

“Worse. A kidnapper.”

He cocks an eyebrow at me, not sure what I mean.

“Louis’ here to take you away.”

He wraps his arms around my waist daintily and chuckles before leaving a soft kiss on my
forehead.

“So, you’re just going to keep me locked in here forever. Who am I, Rapunzel?”

“Yes, and I’m going to keep you locked away in a tower forever so no one else can have you.”

He leans forward and his lips softly brush against mine as he whispers.

“Well, I still have to take you on three proper dates before you can even have me, so maybe
you should wait until then.”

I scoff and my eyes downshift, unable to grasp the closeness of our bodies and his
antagonizing lack of clothes.

“You’re really making me think you don’t like me, Niall.”

I’m joking, in a way, but he takes my statement entirely too seriously and lifts my chin with his index finger and thumb delicately.

“Hey, that’s the exact opposite of why I’m doing this. I’ve never lied to you, Hannah. I’m only doing this because I care too much for my own good and it scares the shit out of me.”

I force myself to hold eye-contact even though I so badly want to turn away. I don’t even know where this sudden outburst came from, but I feel like this is all a bit silly for people our age.

“I’m glad the thought of sleeping with me scares you-”

“Stop putting words into my mouth. That’s not how I said it. I’m scaring myself because I’m not used to caring. Hannah, I want you to realize that I’m being completely honest with you. I don’t know how else to explain it. I’m just- fucked up- but, I’m trying. I just want to do this the right way. I want to fall in love the right way.”

Love? My heart flutters at his choice of words and I can’t help but to grin. I feel childish for how I reacted because in reality, Niall is so mature and serious, even though he seems the explicit contradiction. One thing is absolute; he’s completely paradoxical. Maybe I should be afraid that this boy I’ve only just met is mentioning falling in love, but then again, something indescribable within me is excited for that inevitable outcome.

“I don’t understand you.”

His nose skims fondly over mine.

“It’s alright, love, neither do I.”

I giggle and wrap my arms tightly around his neck, kissing him desperately for only a moment before the doorknob jiggles and a pounding ensues.

“Why is this door locked? Hannie! Niall! Open up! You better not be naked.”

We both laugh in slight frustration as Louis whines at the door. I break away from Niall’s comforting hold and walk over to the door as he continues to get dressed. As I swing the door open, Louis hops in and immediately jumps on my bed.

“You are the most impatient person I’ve ever known, Louis William Tomlinson.”

“Ahh, using middle names, Hannie?”

“Using stupid nicknames from junior high school, LouLou?”

He sticks his tongue out at me and Niall walks over, now in jeans, pretending to break up a fight.

“Come on now, guys. Play nice.”

Louis chuckles and lays back on my bed.

“Hurry up, Nialler. We’ve got plans.”

Niall looks at him inquisitively.

“Plans?”

“Xbox and weed. All day. It’s already noon!”

His casual statement arouses my interest.

“Shit, noon? I have to take a shower!”

“Wha-Why? Where are you going?”

I suddenly remember that I never told Louis about, well- anything involving Harry in the past couple days.

I glance over at Niall when I speak, so he knows I’m fibbing on purpose.

“I have to meet my mom in the city to go shopping. Supposed to leave at one.”

Niall gives me a knowing glance and Louis seems to be convinced as he rolls his eyes.

“Girls. Who takes an hour to get ready for shopping with their mother?”

I disappear behind the bathroom door and hear Niall’s muffled response.

“I don’t know, you’re the posh one.”

I turn on the shower and start to undress, hanging my towel just outside the curtain. After a couple minutes, the boys knock and say a quick goodbye, followed by a ‘I’ll call you’ from Niall. I grin to myself and try to hurry as much as possible as I prepare to see Harry.


______________


“Hey, Harry.”

I slide into the limp, sort of wondering why he didn’t come up to the door, calling me instead.
Then, I see the reason.

“Liam! It’s good to see you!”

He scoots up in his seat and gives me a hug. I haven’t seen him in about a year, when Louis’ sister got married.

“You too, Hannah. It’s been a while. How is my dear cousin, Louis by the way?”

I grin and pull back, sitting across from my ex and his boyfriend.

“Good, he actually was just here an hour ago picking up Ni- my- uh, I don’t know what to call him.”

I giggle nervously and settle back in my seat a the car starts to move.

“So, where exactly are we going?”

Harry looks over at Liam and then back to me. He looks so happy. It’s a side of Harry I’ve never seen.

“We have something to show you. It’s in the city.”

Liam reaches over and holds Harry’s hand firmly.

“Then, perhaps a late lunch/early dinner?”

I nod enthusiastically and smile at their entertained fingers against Harry’s thigh as the long drive begins.

I pull my phone out of my purse and check my messages.


*FROM: Niall

I hope I didn’t scare you with the ‘L word’.*


I grin at the illuminated screen and start typing excitedly.


*TO: Niall

Yeah, you’re getting a little too clingy... Kidding! You didn’t say you love me... there’s nothing wrong with what you said. It was endearing.*


I look back at previous messages and smile stupidly at my phone.

“Are you going to tell me about him?”

I’m snapped out of my moment of sentiment by Harry’s voice laced in humor and curiosity.

“Uh- who?”

Of course I know who he means.

“The guy you’re smiling for even though he isn’t here. I’m going to go out on a limb and say he’s the same one who was here this morning...”

Harry’s voice trails off and he winks suggestively making me blush as they both lean forward,
waiting for me to spill it all.

“Well, his name is Niall...”

I continue to tell them everything from the first night we met, to the crazy weekend that followed, ending with the sweet text he sent minutes before. Liam responds first.

“Wow, he seems like a great guy. That’s pretty special if he’s like, trying not to rush things.”

I nod and turn to Harry as he begins to speak.

“Are you sure you can trust him after he betrayed his own brother like that?”

I try not to laugh at the irony of it all: Harry trying to make sure a boy isn’t going to hurt me.

“I think I can. I mean, he knows he made a mistake. The fact that he was up front with me about is a big deal too. He didn’t have to tell me. We just met.”

Harry shrugs as if to say, ‘just watch your back’ but Liam gives me a thumbs up once his boyfriend is looking the other way.


_________


We pull up to a tall building near Central Park that I can’t quite see yet, but once the door is open, Harry steps out and offers me a hand, helping me out of the long black limousine. I start to pull away as Liam climbs out behind us, but Harry tightens his grip, speaking softly.

“Don’t let go. You’re our cover.”

I nod and smile curtly at the doorman, noticing the sign behind him.

“Why are we at a hotel, Harry?”

“You’ll see.”

Liam follows just behind us, looking like a proper chaperone, even though that’s really my role in this all. We make our way to the elevator and once inside, Harry releases my hand and slips his arm around Liam’s waist instead. He pulls his wallet out of his back pocket and hands me a key card.

“Here Hannah, hold this up to the sensor and press the top button.”

I grab the card from his hand and press the button as he directed. The elevator shoots up and we make our way to the penthouse. I can’t help but grin as Liam and Harry whisper to each other between small, chaste kisses. I’m so happy to feel like I’m finally starting to understand Harry. He was just kept from the person he is and that’s exactly what’s been wrong in my life.
When the elevator doors slide open, my eyes go wide in astonishment.

It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen. Sure, it’s just as nice as the homes in Old Westbury, but the style is much more modern and fun. The walls are white to match the marble floors. The foyer is gorgeous, accent colors flourishing from artwork and pillows scattered on pure white couches.

“Harry, this- this is beautiful.”

He walks over and rests his elbow on my shoulder.

“Well, I’m glad you like it.”

“What exactly is it? Like is it yours?”

He chuckles and urges me to follow him into the living room. The decor is beautiful, classy and contemporary.

“If you like it, it’s partially yours.”

I turn slowly to face him, shock commandeering my expression.

“W-what?”

The three of us sit in the living room, Liam and Harry sat close together.

“I know you like the city and need a reason to be here. Obviously your mom isn’t going to let
you move here; mine won’t either. However, I know we can make it here on weekends or something if we’re ‘together’.”

I don’t even know what to say. I’m taken aback and completely awestruck.

“It’s brilliant, Harry! Oh my god! It’s fucking perfect!”

I clasp my hand over my mouth to contain my excitement.

“I’m sorry, I’m just- Wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

I rush over and practically tackle them both on the couch in a bear hug.

“No, Hannah. Thank you. It really means so much to us that you’re helping out until things get
sorted out with my parents. Liam has his own place too, so we won’t be here often. It’s really at your disposal. Consider it a runaway place or a safe house.”

If anyone else were to spend this kind of money on me, I would be mortified. I know it doesn’t affect the Sinclairs’ bank account in any way, though, and it’s a relief to know that I have some sort of options. I can’t wait to show Niall and it scares me that he’s the first person I want to share this with.

I hardly know him and he’s taking over my every thought.

“Thank you so much. It’s perfect.”

“Seriously, it’s the least I could do. Right now, though, can we go eat? I’m starved.”

I grin and stand up from the couch, Liam and Harry following suit.

“Yes, but can we please come back after?”

“Of course! I believe some celebratory champagne will be in order.”

I can really get used to the freedom my fake relationship with Harry is providing. I don’t mind the friendships I’m gaining from it either.

Notes

Sooooo sorry about the wait. Took me a while to get all of my thoughts together and on paper (well, screen haha) but, we are back on track! xx Thanks for your patience :*

Anywhooo,
What do you think about the surprise? Do you think it'll work with her mom?
Please comment with any opinions or just anything that's on your mind! haha. Next chapter should have some more Lirry ;) as well as Hiall/Nannah (whatever you like better.. actually let me know which we should go with xx).

Always feel free to message me whenever your little hearts desire for advice/company/just a good chat! I'm all ears ;)
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and make sure you have a safe New Years!!!!

Much love!