“My girl,” Eleanor squealed, stroking my hair. “I missed you so much. Tell me everything that’s happened."

We kicked our shoes along the street in San Francisco. This was another amazing city. The air was cooler, and the people friendlier than L.A.

“Well, I’ve got bigger, as you can tell. None of my clothes fit me. I’ve spent the last two weeks throwing up everyday. My back hurts constantly, and I’m only just turning four months.” I took a sip of iced tea. “So basically, don’t have kids.”
“Aw, bless you. But, Annie, you look so well. You’re just glowing.” She smiled. “How’s Harry finding it?”
“He’s excited. He’s convinced it’s a girl.” I shook my head. “He really wants a little girl."

Eleanor nodded, listening but not really listening. That was just Eleanor, so I didn’t take it to heart. We slowly made our way back to the arena. I could see how excited she was to see Louis perform. I watched as she ran off to join him when we got inside, her arms throwing around him, her lips crashing to his.

I noticed Harry talking to a small group of maybe three girls. I guessed they were probably VIP’ers, because the only people here were officials for soundcheck. I looked down at my stomach, deciding I should probably find somewhere to sit down until the preparations for the show took place. When I walked into the back, Gemma was sat on the sofa with a cup of tea, Lou across from her and Lux asleep on her lap. I guessed she was probably whacked from the jet lag.

“Hello love,” Gemma patted the seat next to her. “I’ve just been on the phone to mum. She thinks she can make it out for the New York dates, if you can hold on that long! I did say you’d be six months by then, but she insisted.”

I really felt like I could do with a visit from Anne. My parents were not sure when they could make it out, so Harry’s mother would probably be the next best thing.

“Hiiii lovely women of my life.” Harry sat down next to Lou and immediately went for Lux, like he always did. He pulled her from Lou’s lap, cuddling her in his right arm. She stayed asleep the whole time.

Louis and Eleanor had been gone for a while when they came into the dressing room, just in time for Lou to do his hair. When Eleanor returned, her face was like stone. She was paler. In all the time I had known Eleanor, she had never worn an angry expression, but right now, she did.

Louis looked terrified. I wondered what they must have thought about. Harry still sat with Lux on his lap, while her mother tried to organise those curls of his. I leaned into him, glad to have him after seeing Louis and Eleanor on such bad terms.

I mouthed “are you okay?” Eleanor just looked at me, and nodded, quietly. I couldn’t really get much from her throughout the show, what with the music and the screaming from the fans. Every time I gave her a side glance, her face just looked empty of emotion. She never met my eyes once.

I left to go backstage early, taking Lux with me. I decided to wait on the bus, and wasn’t surprised when only Zayn, Niall, Lou, Gemma, and Liam joined. Harry, Louis, and Eleanor took the next one, since the boys got caught up signing things.

Lux clung to my chest, sucking her thumb and nuzzling into my neck. She was the most adorable, petite thing I had ever seen. I couldn’t wait to have my own little baby in my arms.

---

“Loved that show.” I said, clambering onto the bus and pulling out an ice-cold Corona from the fridge. I didn’t usually indulge in a post-show beer, but since it was all we had, I took it.

When they joined me, Louis happy-go-lucky, excitable demeanour had vanished. Eleanor was absent of any words or emotions too. I slumped onto the sofa, ready to endure a half-hour ride to the hotel, wondering what these two could have argued about in the space of ten minutes. I thought of Annie straight away. Her rosy cheeks, her soft skin, cuddling up and sleeping with her sounded like heaven after such a tiresome night.

I didn’t even notice when Louis and El made their way to the back of the bus. I wondered if they were going to indulge in a quick sex session, and I can’t lie, I was jealous. Annie and I were still having sex, but not like we used to. Then again, I was getting a baby out of it, so I didn’t think to complain too much.

I looked up from my bottle and my phone when they both returned, and Louis shut the curtain behind him. The air was tense, and for some reason, I knew something was up.

“Harry.. mate, I-“ Louis began, but Eleanor stepped forward.
“Harry, you’re my boyfriends best friend. You’re my best friend’s boyfriend. You’re like family, but I’m not.. I’m not taking this.” She looked back at Louis. “You! How could you keep this from her? And you.. How could you do that to her?”
“Do what?!” I said, looking straight to Louis for explanation.
“You cheated on her! In a sleazy bar! With a sleazy waitress!” She shouted, and I prayed that the crew couldn’t hear her. Louis did his best to embrace her, but failed. “She’s terrified, you know, she’s carrying a baby in there, but she’s holding it all together. All together for you. She thinks you’re so excited and so supportive.” She shook her head, spitting out her words. “And the whole time you’ve just been keeping that from her. I’ve just stood there for two hours, watching her face light up every time you sing. You don’t deserve her."

I looked at Louis, dumbfounded. Louis looked at the floor, unable to face my eyes. “She went down my phone, mate. I tried to explain it..” Was all he said.

I looked between them both.

“Eleanor, a waitress came onto me in a club in the bathrooms when I was throwing up over myself.” I said, slowly and carefully. “She physically planted her lips on mine. She pinned me down.”
“So you kiss back? You KISS back?” Eleanor shouted, and I could tell she was tired of the bullshit. I lowered my head.
“El, I kissed her back for a second because in my heart of hearts, I thought it was Annie.” I heard my voice shake. “We’ve all kept it from her because she doesn’t need to know that. It wasn’t intentional. It was just some horny slut. I was so drunk I was seeing things. I swear to God, Eleanor, that girl is my life.”
“Harry, all the girls you have been with and you expect me to believe that?” She started pacing the room, while Louis just stood pathetically behind her. “Harry! This isn’t just any girl! That’s your baby, inside of her.” She threw her arms around. “She’s my best friend, Harry, she’s been through so much. After everything with Will.."

I stood up, unable to control my body. I wanted to go for her for comparing me to him. Louis stepped in front of her protectively, and I realised immediately. I backed down.

“I’ve told you, El. I walked into that bathroom. I saw her straddling him. He was basically unconscious. That.. woman.. whoever she was.” He took hold of her by the shoulders. “She was just kissing his neck and stuff. He was out cold when Niall and I lifted her off of him. She was just swearing and going crazy.”
“So Niall knows as well? How many more people are keeping this from her?!” Eleanor was irate now, her blue eyes festering with fury. She was so angry she wasn’t even listening to our logical explanations.
“Louis, Niall, and I.” I sighed. “Eleanor, I would never, ever hurt Annie. I would never cheat on her. Have you seen her? She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. And you’re right, that is my baby in there. I would never jeopardise that.”

Eleanor paused, circling the small cabin. She was silent for a while.

“Harry,” She sighed, sitting down. “The fact is, you kissed that girl, you did. Whether you knew it was Annie or not. You kissed her. You have to tell her. Especially when everyone else knows but her.” She swallowed. “I know.. I know it wasn’t your fault."

I felt my hands shaking with anxiety. The thought of losing Annie.. the idea of that. Incomprehensible. We hadn’t even been together for a year, but I knew I would marry that girl.

I closed my eyes, feeling tears brimming, which made me even more frustrated. When whoever-she-was straddled me, she kissed me with such force, such passion, I was sure it couldn’t just be a random waitress. I moved my lips with hers, for no more than half a second. Her hair, her smell, everything was like Annie, and when you’re drunk, so drunk you’re hallucinating.. I shook my head. I didn’t realise what a big deal it was. I had cheated - whether it was intentional or not.

“I can’t tell her.” I said, looking up in defeat.
Eleanor looked down at me. “Obviously, we all get it. We know you were basically attacked. Louis even saw, for God’s sake. But Harry.. I can’t. I can’t stand there and know what I know, and pretend it’s all fine. You’ve got to tell her and explain."

I looked at Louis pleadingly.

“Mate, I know it would be easier to not tell her. I know it meant nothing. But it’s unfair to hide it from her when we all know. I’ll back you up one hundred percent. I know you didn’t kiss that girl. Not properly, not on purpose.” He looked down at Eleanor. “But you’ve got to tell her. We don’t know who that bitch was. If she has photos.. some kind of proof.. we’re screwed. Annie will find out the hard way and her heart will break. Who knows when that could be. What if it’s after the baby’s born? It’s better to tell her, H. She’s a good girl, she’ll get it."

Before I could even reply to him, we had pulled up outside the hotel.

---

Annie’s POV.

Pulling back those covers and sipping on that hot tea was the best feeling ever. My feet were aching more than ever. I checked my watch. Harry would probably be here in a second. I slumped down, leaving my bump exposed, running my fingers over he or she over and over.

I heard the lock in the door click open, and I saw straight away that Harry’s allergies must have returned.

“Baby,” I said, worriedly sitting up. He walked over to his side of the bed like a zombie, sitting down, staring out of the balcony window. I realised then, that he was upset. “Baby, talk to me. What is it?"

I scooted so I was sitting next to him. Harry looked at me, his face full of sorrow. His skin greyed, his eyes sore. I took his hand in mine and placed it on my stomach, hoping it would cheer him up. He met my eyes, grimaced, and stood up.


I sat sort of dumbfounded for a second, wondering if I had said or done something wrong. Harry stood right by the window. I stood up, and tried to embrace him from behind. “Bug?” I asked, one last time.

Harry turned back and looked at me for at least ten seconds. He cleared his throat, and swallowed.

“Buggy,” He smiled weakly, and I saw straight through it. “You had better sit down.” He whispered.

I felt my heart surge with anxiety. I did as I was told, and watched him move around the room again. He was thinking, I could tell that. his eyes were trying to do anything but look at me.

“Annie, just know that we tried to keep this from you because we thought- I thought, it was the best thing to do.” He kneeled down and sat in the chair beside the bed. “Annie I’ve loved you and wanted to look after and protect you from day one. I’m so proud of you, so happy that you’re having a baby with me."

“Harry, what are you-“ I tried.

“Annie, I’ve done something, so stupid.” I heard the crack in his voice. “Do you remember when I went to that bar, with Niall and Louis? The night Gemma stayed?"

I nodded, feeling the bricks hit me already. I knew what was coming. I placed my hand over our baby, as if it would stop them from hearing.

“Annie I..” He took a deep breath, but it wasn’t enough to stop the tears falling. “I don’t know how you’re going to take this. This.. woman, waitress, she was being so over the top with me. The boys, they ordered another shot and it was too much for me, so I ran to the bathroom. Annie I was throwing up all over myself. I was hallucinating, I was paralytic. Gone."

I swallowed.

“Anyway. I don’t know why, I don’t know who she was, but this waitress comes in. I’m literally falling over as I open the door. I stumbled back and fell onto the seat."

I couldn’t stop the tears forming in my eyes. Heartbreak, again. Could I really do this, again? And I was stuck to this asshole forever by blood. I couldn’t believe I had been so stupid again.

“Annie, she just straddled me, baby, I-“ A small, throaty sob escaped his chest. I shook my head, wanting him to stop talking. “I thought for a second, it was you. Her hair was dark, like yours, she smelled just like you."

“Stop.” I croaked.
“Annie, she pressed her lips on mine, and I swear to you I kissed her for half a second. Not even that - infact, all I did was just not push her off. I was so confused, I just assumed that nobody would do something like that.” He tried to wipe his eyes, pushing back his hair.
“You cheated on me.” I stated.
“Baby, I would never.” He cried. “I did everything to get you away from that asshole. I would never do that to you.”
“You already have.” I whispered. He shook his head. I stood up, trying to be grown up and gather all my things. Harry grabbed my arm tightly.
“Annie, you can’t leave with my baby.” He said, sternly. I brought my hand up and slapped him firmly across the face.
“This isn’t your baby any longer.” I spat.

“Annie, please,” He said, chasing me round as I gathered my clothes. I didn’t know what I was doing, I just knew I had to leave. “Annie, it was a mistake. I hardly even touched her.. Louis, Niall, Eleanor, they’ll all tell you. We didn’t want to tell you because we’re so good together, baby, nobody wanted to ruin that.” He sniffed hard, trying to control his body.

I stopped and looked at him.

“That.. mistake, Harry..” I whispered, trying to keep my voice strong. “I know it probably was a mistake. But I can’t be with someone who makes those kind of mistakes, because when Will ‘made a mistake’, it nearly killed me. It would have, if it wasn’t for you.”

I pulled on my jacket.

“Annie, please, don’t leave. It’s cold and you’re tired and you’re pregnant.” He cried. “Please don’t take my baby away. I want you here, with me, I’m going to marry you, some day, Annie. You’re everything.” He was trying anything he could, but I still believed it all.

“I need to go home, Harry.” I shook my head. “This tour is all too much anyway. I need my mother and father.”
“I didn’t kiss her, Annie.” He said, again.
“Harry, you did kiss her, but it was a mistake. But a big enough one to make me realise I shouldn’t be here, with you."

Harry’s white t-shirt was stained in his tears. He had never looked more pathetic. His sobs were becoming worse and worse.

Did I believe him? Yes. Did I want to be with him right now? No. I think had I never been cheated before, maybe I would have reacted more adult. I knew that experience with Will had warped me for the worst.

As I looked back at Harry’s face, I felt my heart snap in two. I even felt the baby’s sadness grip the pit of my stomach like nails going down a blackboard.

His pleas, his cries, his sadness made me want to grab hold of him and love him forever, but the thought, at that moment, of a woman taking hold of the father of my baby and him kissing back was just too much.

I threw on a coat, ignoring his pleas. I decided Lou was my best bet, and stormed away from Harry to her room. I would send for my things in the morning, and head back to London.

Notes

:( Hope you understand that Harry really was tricked and fell for it..
What a bitch!