Alison woke up with a pounding headache and dry throat. The sun was shining through the thin curtains and she had to blink a few times to adjust to the light. As soon as she remembered what had happened the night before she quickly turned her head around and was met with bashful looking Harry. He had been looking at her, lying on his stomach and leaning against his elbows.

"Morning," he greeted with a raspy voice which indicated he had just woken up too. Alison smiled slightly at him but after the last night's events it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Morning," she replied, her eyes scanning over Harry's face. He had a pillow mark on his cheek, his lips looked puffy and his eyes hadn't quite opened fully yet.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently after they had been just looking at each other for a moment.

"I'm-," her voice cracked and she had to cough on her hand a few times because of the dryness in her throat.

"I'll get you some water," Harry said and before she had time to protest he had jumped out of the bed and walked in the little bathroom. She stared at his back and wondered what he was thinking. Was he mad at her? Rick clearly hadn't told him about her and Josh's little arrangement in the meeting.

"Here," he said when offering her a glass of water. She took it gratefully and after sorting her throat she opened her mouth to speak again. "I wanna talk," she said while putting the glass on the side table.

Harry looked like he wasn't sure what to do. He stood there staring at her before tearing his gaze and starting to look for his clothes from the floor. It was rare for Alison to see him looking so unsure because usually he looked like he knew what he was doing.

"Just sit down here," she sighed after he had picked up his clothes and was about to put them on. He nodded but pulled his shirt over his head before sitting down. He swallowed, the adam's apple bobbing on his throat visibly, before looking straight at her and waiting for her to start.

So she told him all about what had happened between her and Josh. About how she thought he had some feelings for her and then how he had denied it when she had tried to talk to him about it. Then she also told him about the chat they had with the manager.

"I mean the situation isn't actually ideal but the tour'll be over soon," Harry tried to assure her.

"I know," she said quietly. "And I told Louis about how Josh reacted when I tried to talk to him and he said Josh woul come around eventually. Which I really hope 'cause he's a great friend. And it's not like he's in love with me or anything so I guess he'll get over it soon," she explained while fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

They sat in silence for a while until Harry's stomach rumbled making both of them laugh. They smiled at each other and Alison felt so much better after she had told Harry everything.

"I just-," Harry started to say, his smile changing into a frown as he darted his eyes to his hands that were resting on his lap. "The Europe leg of the tour is over soon and then we're heading home for a week before going to America. So I just thought that... that maybe we should keep our distance 'till I'm back from the States. Like... a little break maybe?" he said. After he had finished he looked at Alison anxiously and started to fiddle with his bottom lip which he seemed to do everytime he was nervous.

"I think it'd do good for us," Alison said, nodding in agreement. The boy in front of her let out a sigh of relief and she smiled at him reassuringly.

"Good... That's good. I thought so," he said.

"I think I'll head to downstairs for breakfast. I'll see you there then?" he then asked, standing up and starting to put on his jeans.

"Yeah," she agreed. She looked as he gathered his stuff before standing up of the bed and stretching her arms.

"It was good to talk things through though," she said just when he was about to open the door to leave. He turned around to look at her.

"It was. We should do it more often. The talking. I mean," he said smiling which she copied.

"Bye Harry," she did a little wave with her hand.

"Bye Alison," he said softly, finally opening the door and leaving her alone.

Notes