Human

Chapter 9: (polyvore link)


♫ Good morning to you, good morning to you! We're all in our places with sunshiny faces… ♫

My alarm from my phone sounded Jimmy Neutron. It was the saddest wake up call I've ever heard but also one of the cutest. The struggle in Carl's voice as he obnoxiously sang was just hysterical. The perfect way to wake up and start a new day.

"Shut that fucking thing off!" A pillow hit me in the head. The voice was unfamiliar to me, so I let my phone sound again. "I said to shut the annoying fucking thing off!" Harry emerged from a nearby couch.

"Paris I'm going to murder you if that thing doesn't shut off!" Casper voice sounded from an air mattress.

"Where are we?" I muttered.

"The lounge, Lou set it up for us." Niall groaned and shifted in his sleep. "Now please turn the damn thing off."

I sighed and dug my phone out from between the couch cushions. A few more people groaned in agony from my alarm. Switching it off, Iooked at the time. 6:30 am. My weekday school alarm.

"I'm ditching you all. See you later Casper." I whispered and climbed off of the couch I was currently positioned in.

How did I even get down here? And why am I in Casper's pajamas?

I really wish they weren't all so sleepy cause I really am starting to worry about what they can and will do to me when I'm asleep. Sure, moving me inside was nothing. But redressing me was absurd and uncomfortable for me to imagine. Whoever helped me in my late night slumber was even kind enough to pack my bag for me and place it conveniently beside me.

Normally I would be all excited to go to school. The first week is the best because you get to meet new people and see how easy or hard your class is going to be based on the teachers. And if you don't like something, you can easily switch out of it.

But as of right now, I was so tired and worn out, I was emotionally dead. School would be way too much for me to handle. So for the first time on my educational background, I am taking a personal day, for no reason.

My day consisted of sleep, snack, sleep, sleep, sleep, bathroom, sleep, snack, sleep. Busy right?

"Grrr..." I groaned as my phone buzzed next me, as I woke up for yet another time, that afternoon.

> Coffee shop, in ten minutes <</strong>

Weird, I thought Liam put himself in my phone last week. Guess not.

< Give me a few more minutes, I just woke up >

I texted and started to get dressed. Stripping of my pjs and duvet, I pulled on a pair of white lace leggings and light crew, crew neck, Adidas sweater.

> Yeah, yeah. Just get down here as soon as you can <</strong>

Well then, I thought Liam would be a lot kinder than that. Not wanting to annoy him any more, I laced up my converse and grabbed my phone, closeting my dorm door behind me.

< Calm down, I'll be there in about eight minutes. >

I took the rest of the money Cody gave me, along with a few more bucks to get myself a drink. Hopefully the bus ride won't be too bad or long. I don't want to keep Liam waiting, he doesn't seem to be too happy.

After a peaceful ten minutes on the bus, with limited interruptions, I was at the cafés front door. Once inside, I didn't see Liam anywhere.

"Paris!" A voice called from the opposite end.

I sighed, and rolled my eyes. Walking towards Harry, located in a small booth at the far end. He already had a drink in his hand, and a scowl. Perfect, just wonderful.

"Can I help you?" I made sure the annoyance was clear in my voice.

"Sit down." He directed. "We need to talk."

"Yeah, we do. Why don't you start and tell me how you got my number?" Let me tell you, I'm not one of the OCD people who doesn't want their number any where, and only friends. It's just scary to know someone gave him my number, because of the sketchy environment and intimidating location.

"Who cares?" He gave me a look. "We need to discuss some things."

"Just let me get a drink, I just woke up like twenty minutes ago." I stood up to head towards the barista counter.

Harry grabbed my hand and pulled me back down. "Take mine. We really need to talk. And it's going to be awhile."

"What is this?" I took his coffee in my hand.

"Hot chocolate, I don't like coffee." Harry settled a bit after I sat back down.

"Me neither, now what do we need to talk about." I tried to get comfy in the cold booth.

"Everything. You've been asking what's going on, so I'm going to tell you." I cocked an eyebrow, trying to find the catch. "First off, what do you know about Casper or the building, or me?"

"I know that your building has one way glass windows. You party a lot, have a creepy doctor visit every once in a while, you dress the girls like sluts, Lou is the best, Nerf wars are good practice, you never have fun, you have keys to every room, and you're like the ring leader." I sighed.

"We're in a gang, and so are you." Harry just said it like it was nothing, completely laid back for a change.

"What? Excuse me?" I stood up.

"Let me explain." Harry yanked me back down, once again. "It's not my fault, just please give me a minute to elaborate about this."

"No! You can't just make accusations and accept me into a gang of yours! I'm not a fucking doll!" I shouted.

"I know, and you say that every time! Would you please just let me explain what's going on." Harry tried to calm me.

"No, I'm not apart of your system you've got going on. Just do me a favor and leave me the fuck alone!" I shouted and threw his cocoa at him, watching the hot liquid sizzle and burn him.

He completely deserves that...

God how could he think I wasn't going to act like that? Just assuming I would accept that and join them in their little gang battles.

I was absolutely furious as I stormed down the street towards the nearest bus stop. I was nearly there when my phone rang from my pocket.

"What?" I snapped in the phone.

"It's just me Paris." Niall's voice cooed. "I know how stupid Harry was to just throw the gang thing at you. But we honestly need to talk, not about the gang, but about something else." Niall's voice mellowed me.

"Where?" I spit out, still a little bit rude from my upsetment.

"Where ever you want."

"My place. Can you pick me up on your way? I'm at the corner of Main St. and North End."

"Yeah of course, I'll be there in five."

"Thanks." I was about to hang up.

"Wait, Paris?" I mumbled a yes. "Please be open minded." He pleaded.

"I will, as long as you don't force me into a gang." I teased.

"I won't, see you in a few."

Minutes later we were speeding down the street towards my dorm. Once inside I made us some popcorn to start the meeting off right. Just in case you didn't know, popcorn can make anything better...

We talked for a two hours straight. Never once running out of words.

"Everything in a nutshell... We are all in a gang, trying to stop the man you saw the other night. He owns a series of strip clubs, bars, cage fighting clubs, drug cartels, and prostitutes. Harry wants absolutely nothing to do with this, so could you please just help us all out of this fucked up mess?" Niall pleaded after his long explanation if all this.

Basically, somehow Harry was forced into working for this creepy old man. Now Harry is trying to get out of it because all of his work is highly dangerous and illegal. They all are students at the university and have plans of graduating, but this big issue keeps getting in the way. Harry is supposedly not a prick-- good guy my ass-- and is actually compassionate. And they need another girl in their plan, someone the man has not seen.

"So all those come backs I've had about being controlled like a doll, are all completely irrelevant now?" I joked.

"Does that mean you're in?" Niall started getting excited.

"Only for you, Casper, and Lou, and maybe Liam. But other than that, I hate every fucking person there, besides you guys."

"Thank you so much Paris! Believe it or not Harry has good intentions, there is just a fork in the road. Trust me, I know him better than anyone else." Niall gave me a big squeeze.

"Mhm, sure. I've already said yes, so you can stop sugar coating it." My voice was muffled by the material of Niall's jacket.

"One last thing." He paused. "You need to move in with us." There it was. Niall separated from me.
I bit my lip thinking it over. "So... That's the bad news." This was a tough one.

"I'm sorry Paris, but he's a control freak and it's just easier for everybody else. I can assure you a room on Casper's floor. If you want I could maybe even talk Harry into making Peyton switch to a different room or floor, if you'd like. We just really need you to be there and not this far away from everything..." Niall rambled on.

"Niall!" I gripped his jaw. "Under one condition." I let go.

"Go on..." Niall nervously twisted the Irish colored bracket on his wrist.

"I expect nothing but the truth. You will be honest to me, and I will be honest to you, and that's the deal."
There is no way I would follow through with the gang thing, without this rule. Why would you join a gang of lies? After all, you met these people less than a week ago.

"Deal." Niall and I shook. "Let's get you packed." Niall started shuffling around.

"What? Right now?"

"Yeah, Lou has some new ideas for looks and clothing. She wants us all present for fitting. Just let me give Harry a quick call." Niall excused himself from my dorm.

Well shit, they really do move fast in gangs. And damn, I really don't know anything about them. Like what if I have to get some type of branding tattoo? Fuck no!

"Okay. Harry's got three rooms for you to choose from when we get there. Let's get you packed and let's get on the move." Niall grabbed my suitcase and shoved my clothes in.

All in all, we had everything bagged and in Niall's car in about forty five minutes. Not too long with all our snack brakes, because we are both pretty lazy. Every four items we were pretty much sitting down and eating something. That's one bonus of living with them, free meals. And hopefully I wouldn't have too pay so much for their huge rooms and view. Incase they need a reminder, I'm on a students' budget.

>You said yes!? Fuck yeah! I'll have Liam and Zayn ready to move your bags! <</em>

Casper texted me as we rounded the corner to the building.

"Just about here, you go on in and deal with Harry. I bet Casper will have Zayn get your stuff." Niall read my mind.

"Actually, Zayn and Liam. But good guess." I teased.

"Whatever. He's just going to give you a quick tour, and let you choose your room."

"Damn, feels like my first day of college all over again. I've hot those butterflies in my stomach and an uneasy feeling about this."

"You'll be fine, I'm here for ya." Niall smiled and pulled up to the front of the building.

"Thanks Nialler! I gave him a one armed hug over the council of the car and ran out.

"Paris!" Casper engulfed me in a hug, nearly tackling me to the ground. "It's been so long!"

"Yeah, like eight hours!" I brought out my award winning acting skills.

"Now get that little ass of your inside and go pick a room, Peyton's being slutty and practically eye raping everybody, even girls." Casper whispered the last part.

I shuttered at her chilled breathe on my neck. "Gross. Is Harry ready?"

"Yeah, he's in there waiting I think."

Just as I thanked her and opened the door, I collided with a hard body. Before I could stop my clumsy self, I was tripping over my own feet, falling backwards. And no, this is not some shitty cliché moment. Cause I fell back, hard.

"Fuck! These leggings better not be dirty!" I shouted and dusted myself off as I got back to my feet.

Casper just erupted into a fit of giggles. "You're stupid enough to trip yourself and fall, hard. Then after, just get up and be all fussy because your pants may have gotten just a little bit dirty. This is why I love you!" By the end of her speech she was barely audible and clutching her stomach for all the laughter.

"Shit, sorry about that Paris." Finn finally apologized.

"Nah, it's nothing. My fault." I gave a warm smile and reentered the building.

Inside Harry was sitting on the far bench, trying to contain a smirk and laugh. Quite a change from his normal scowl and frown.

"What? You saw that too?" Although on the outside I seemed outgoing, on the inside I was cowering from sheepishness.

"We all did princess." Liam giggled from across the room.

"Great, haven't even stepped foot in the building yet and I'm already embarrassing myself." I covered my face with my hands.

"Nah, it was cute!" Liam tried to limit his expressions to an overjoyed grin.

"You better think it was, cause there is a lot more clumsy moments coming your way."

Now Harry had given up and was smiling and silently laughing at the ground. He's face was all lit up and happy. I studied and savored it. Who knows the next time I might see this?

"Ready now?" Harry calmed himself.

"Of course." I remained humble when I was talking to him.

"Good, cause I'm not waiting any longer. Don't want you to hurt yourself anymore." The sass was clear in his voice.

"I was not hurt, I just don't want to ruin these pants!" I defended.

"Sure, that's it." He mocked.

I just gave him a look and crossed my arms as we rocked high into the sky via elevator. We arrived at Casper's floor shortly after.

"We are going to look at Peyton's room, and then the other two vacant ones. If you don't like those, we have some more on the other floors."

"We can skip looking at Peyton's. I don't want to hassle anyone or ruffle any feathers. There is no need for me to make her move, I'm not any more special than she is."

Harry mumbled something under his breathe and called the elevator. There was some awkward tension as we waited to go up yet another floor.

"I thought Casper said she lived on the top floor?"

"Nobody in the gang has lived up here. Just Lou, and possibly you."

I nodded and stepped out of the freight elevator to a circular lobby, at least twenty times more extravagant than Casper's. Being one floor up higher, you could see everything. The city, bridge, historical buildings, the river, old buildings, the campus, everything. This gathering space had twice as much light coming in and much cleaner, brighter windows.

Hell, I'm only in the circular hallway before my room.

"Lou likes the morning so her room is on the left, so east that is." Harry pointed me to one of two tall and dark wood doors.

"Perfect, I love sunsets." I was grinning from ear to ear.

"Because nobody really lives up here, you actually have a large room and kitchen. But it is still mandatory to attend group meals, or there will be consequences..." Harry's voice trailed off as I would imagine him replaying the scene in his head.

"You shouldn't have to worry about that." I followed him into the room. "Oh my fucking god!" I shouted and shoved Harry aside, running around my little apartment.

I was like a little kid in a candy store. I've always been like that, having little knacks for little kiddie activities. But so be it.

My walls were completely glass with hardwood and brown, rustic concrete floors. A lavish and expensive stainless steal and granite kitchen. White leather couches, large fireplace, and coffee table with a Tv mounted on the wall above the mantle. And the bedroom... Modern, and rustic. Concrete floors, stainless steal shelves, wood accents, and statement windows. With a walk in closet and private en suite.

"I fucking love you!" I screamed, racing back to where I left Harry at the door.

Approaching him, I opened my arms wide and engulfed him in a bear-tight squeeze. Harry didn't even flinch. His muscles tightened but he didn't push me back. His arms were stuck at his side, creating an awkward embrace for me.

"Thank you so much!" I danced around before averting my gaze to my window walls.

"Calm down, what are you four?" His tone was stiff, but it no longer bugged me, I was used to it by now.

"How'd you know?" I fake pouted.

"I'm just that good." Harry playfully teased and took a seat next to me, on the floor.

We sat there, side by side, for hours. Nothing more than a few points and smiles after an exchange of ten words. Both of our minds seemed to be consumed with thoughts and invested deeply with the beauty in front of us. Every few minute or two I would snap a picture, preserving a memory. One to mark my first day with them. But on Harry's account, he seemed distant, there physically but not mentally. Not until he got an alert and dug out his phone. A picture was displayed in such color and detail, it seemed real, vivid.

And somewhere along the line, I may have rested my head on his shoulder. But you didn't move or tense. You let it be, like it was something suppose to be. And as my eyes blurred, so did the sky. Beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows ran like watercolors. Smearing along the boarder. Each second growing darker and darker until the light shone no more.

Your soothing voice sang me a melody, a sweet and passionate one. One that had the heart and soul I never knew you had. The rhythmic sound caused my eyes to linger and grow weary. And with a small and gentle amount of pressure applied to my forehead, I slipped into a peaceful sleep.

Notes

Paris's Outfit (click the link)

Next chapter will be in Harry's point of view. And I'm thinking of making you guys have to comment for an update. But we'll see, so prepare yourself.

-E

Any questions or opinions? Let me know, below.

(I fixed the problem with the bold font and it won't save. Sorry about that!)