Hailie’s POV

‘’Come on, dad!’’ I implored. It’s always difficult for me to convince my father, especially when the subject was about guy staying the night here. Even if it was Niall. He groaned and shut his eyes. Habitually, that meant he gave up and I win.

‘’…..Alright….’’

Before I could say a world, my father added: ‘’He sleeps on the ground.’’

I laughed and nodded. Seriously, dad? You really think I’d do that with Niall? I’d never! It’s Niall! You just can’t do those things with him! It’s… it’s Niall!

My dad went to bed and I waited for Niall on the couch. After 10 minutes, I heard a car pulling on my drive way. I looked through the window, hiding behind the curtains. It was Niall dad’s car, a red Jeep. But there was no one on the driver seat. Oh boy, I knew what was coming.

Just before I ran away from the sight of the window, Niall popped out, his hands up, an ugly face on. I stumbled on my foot and fell on the grown, miserably. Every. Single. Time. Even if he was outside, I could easily hear him laughing. I stood up, rubbing my bum and unlocked the front door. Before I put my hand on the cold door knob, Niall burst in.

‘’Come on in, make yourself at home, pe-lease!’’ I sarcastically said.

‘’I know, don’t worry.’’ He replied, mimicking my tone. I shut the door while he removed his shoes. I took off Niall’s bag and put on the floor. I stepped back to impulse myself on Niall’s back.

Niall’s POV

Just before I could get up, I felt something landing heavily on my back. I was losing my balance, but I quickly put my two hands on the ground, rescuing my face from a hard collision with the floor.

‘’Puffy, you could have waited.’’ I said, laughing.

‘’You scared me. Revenge is sweet.’’

‘’I’m doing this every time I’m coming over at night, and you still get in my trap!’’

‘’Whatever. Take me to my room, slave.’’ Just before I rose up, Hailie grabbed my bag. I rolled my arms around her legs and she wrapped her left arm around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder, her cheek pressed on mine. I climbed promptly and I kicked Hailie’s bedroom door to open it.

‘’Puffy.’’

‘’Leprechaun.’’

‘’Time to get off.’’

‘’Time to stay on.’’

‘’Alright, you’re playing this game? Fine.’’ I smirked. I let myself fall on Hailie’s bed. A little squeal escaped from her mouth.

‘’That’s unfair, Ni! You are way bigger than me!’’

She let go her grip so I could rolled to the side. We talked a bit, and then I attacked my math’s homework.

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Tuesday
Hailie’s POV

I woke up, my eyes sunken. I wasn’t able to get some sleep, Niall was always disturbing me. We slept on my bed. There was not that much place for two people to sleep in, but I didn’t mind-a bit, because Niall had always a leg or an arm on my face. Ha.Ha.Ha. If Niall had slept on the floor, he would have probably died frozen or eaten up by monsters. Yes, there is monsters in my room, don’t judge me.

I sighted and rubbed my eyes. I tried to see my alarm clock, but Niall’s head was hiding the view. I stretched my neck and gulped: we had exactly half an hour to prepare for school.

‘’Hey, Ni, wake up.’’ I whispered, shaking him a little. He groaned. I guess we’ll do the hard way, than.

‘’Gimme five minooaah!’’ I kicked Niall off the bed.

‘’How rude of you!’’ Niall complained with his morning voice. ‘’Seriously, I was in a super cool dream and you just-’’ I cut him by jumping on him, making him squealed just like Eleanor would.

‘’When I say ‘wake up’, you ‘wake up’. Now stop acting like a girl and put yourself together: we have less than 30 minutes. We have to take our shower too.’’

‘’We can take it together.’’

‘’Right. Go on, I’ll take my breakfast.’’ I left my room and went downstairs for breakfast. I grabbed a bowl and filled out with cereal. As I sat down eating, my father entered.

‘’Morning.’’ He said. He was still sleepy.

‘’Hm…’’

He put two toasts in the toaster.

‘’So.. Uh… About yesterday ni-’’

I cut him: ‘’Dad, I’m alright now. It just… You know. I’m a girl, so it’s in my nature to act weird.’’ He chuckled before I continued. ‘’It’s… It’s been five years since mom’s gone and… it’s still fresh for me. And Lily…’’

My father sat down next to me and put his hand on my shoulder. ‘’Darling, it’s fresh for me too.’’

I smiled weakly. ‘’Dad… I…’’ I looked in my bowl and sighted. Come on, he's your father.

‘’I love you.’’ My head pulled up. I was shocked.

‘’Me too.’’ I finally said.

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Harry’s POV

I closed the door and locked it. As I leaved my porch’s house, I saw Hailie stepping out with Niall. I jogged to them.

‘’Hey Harry. You want a ride for school?’’ asked Niall.

I nodded and opened the door of the red Jeep. Hailie sat in the front passenger seat.

‘’Please, Niall: put the heating up!’’ Hailie pledged. The morning was cooler than yesterday so I putted on a dark green beanie and a black hoodie. Hailie had her winter suit on (imagine the hair’s ginger).

‘’Are you kidding me?’’ I laughed at her appearance.

‘’What? Its freaking cold!’’

‘’But we just began September!’’ I giggled.

‘’I have to agree with Harry on that, Puffy. A hoodie is more than enough.’’ Niall said, showing what he was wearing.

‘’I don’t care. If I’m cold, I put on warm clothes: end of the story.’’

We laughed and Niall started the car. We pulled out of the driveway and Niall drove us at school.

When we arrived, Hailie told me to join them where we ate yesterday. ‘’Every morning, we meet up and chat there. I guess you’re welcome now! See you there!’’ I nodded and reached my locker. My phone buzzed.

*If you don’t answer me, I’ll come and get you eventually ;)*

Yeah right. I slid my phone back in the left pocket of my jeans. I looked at my schedule to see in what class I was beginning my day. History. I grabbed my books and headed to the cafeteria. Niall was there with another guy. Hailie wasn’t there yet. I hesitated to join them.

‘’Oy! Harry! Come, mate!’’ I looked at Niall who waved at me. I stood there.

‘’Oy, come join us!’’

I stepped forward and sat down with them.

‘’Why did you hesitated? We’re not mean! You’re welcome to sit with us now.’’

‘’I-I don’t know. I didn’t want to disturbed you.’’

‘’Nah, you wouldn’t have.’’ The other said.

‘’Jayden! You’re alive!’’ Hailie joined us and sat in front of me.

‘’So… What was the reason of your sudden sickness?’’

‘’It was a real sudden sickness, I swear!’’ She glanced at him. ‘’Okay… Why are you on the defensive?’’

He stood up before mumbling: ‘’I… Maybe later.’’ and left. What was that?

‘’Aaalright. Let’s skip that moment!’’ Hailie said, breaking the awkward silence caused by Jayden’s reaction.

‘’Oy, Perrie’s at her locker. She said she’s waiting for you.’’ Niall added, turned to Hailie.

‘’Okay. Thanks Niall. I’ll see you in History, Harry!’’ She hugged Niall and started walking.

‘’Huh, Hailie. What do you think you’re doing?’’

‘’Huh… Heading to Perrie’s locker?’’ She mimicked him.

‘’You forgot Harry.’’ Niall pointed me.

‘’He’s creepy. He doesn’t deserve any attention of mine.’’ Hailie smiled at me.

I acted like I was hurt: ‘’What about yesterday, then?’’

‘’I… Moment of weakness, it won’t happened again. I promise.’’ We laughed and she left.

‘’What happened yesterday?’’ Niall smirked.

‘’We worked, well; we tried to work on our essay in chemistry, like the sheet we have to do for Friday’s lab exam. She invited me on a sort of ‘party’ this Friday. She had difficulties to put her words in line. So I asked her why she was nervous. She started explaining me and she stopped all of the sudden. I didn’t push her to continued, she seemed to regret her words. So I told her I was there if she needed a good listener, because we live near. She appreciated and thanked me with a hug.’’

Niall sighed. He knew what Hailie was going through. ‘’Mate, she’s been through a lot back in Middle school. I don’t understand why she’s still… her. But she’s strong. Don’t insist to know the story. She’ll confess eventually.’’

I wasn’t sure to understand his last statement. He continued ‘’Hail has a sort of radar: she’s able to differentiate people who could be mean to her and people who’ll be nice, something most of the society isn’t capable of. And you look like a good bud.’’

I smiled weakly.

Hailie’s POV

‘’Jeez, Hail! Why don’t you cry! It’s not that difficult!’’ shouted Perrie.

We were in the bathroom. When we entered, Perrie opened every toilet cubicle to make sure no one would listen to our conversation. When I was walking to her locker, my body was present, but not my mind. I haven’t had the time to think of what happened at Harry’s house, when I almost dropped my secret to Harry. Well, it’s not a secret… But I preferred to avoid the subject. Since Perrie is my besties, which means she knows me better than I do, which means I’m as good as Niall on diet for lying to Perrie, she instantly remarked I wasn’t 100% there.

I remained silent.

‘’God, Hailie! Fuck that stupid promise you made to Lily! It’s not good for you to keep all that negative emotions inside of you!’’

‘’Excuse me?’’ I was stunned. ‘’That ‘stupid promise’ is the last thing I told her! And you have the guts to scream this to me? Who do you think you are?!’’

‘’Your best friend trying to help you!’’

I laughed darkly. ‘’Uh, right. Since when a best friend act like they don’t care?’’

‘’It’s not I don’t care, Hailie! You should know that! It’s what you’re doing to yourself isn’t the solution!’’

‘’I’ve heard enough.’’ I pushed the door.

Notes

Queeeeeeestioooooooonns (don't worry, I'll be writing my thoughts when I'll eventually be posting chapter 26! if you don't know what I'm talking about, go read the notes from chapter 3.)

-Do you think Hailie and her father will be able to reconnect together?
-Why is Isabella still texting Harry when he has never replied to her?
-Is Jayden hidding something or he's just being him; weird?
-Who's Lily? And what did Hailie promised to her?

Keep reading and thx for commenting, rating and subscribing! :D
Love you xoxo