Something Great

Harry’s P.O.V.

From the moment Riley came back from his business trip, Emma and him have been inseparable. Every night I’ve come home, they’re always making out somewhere around the house. It wasn’t bad in the beginning but as the days went on, it started to get on my nerves. Not just because it was weird to have to watch them make out but I hated seeing how aggressive Riley was. He was 6 years older than Emma which really bugged me. But I wouldn’t dare say a word about that to her considering my history with older women; I don’t really need her calling me a hypocrite. Guys are much different than girls, something I don’t think she really understands.

I walked into the door only to find Emma sitting on the counter with Riley between her legs and they were hooking up. Clearing my throat, they immediately stopped and looked at me. “Hey,” I said.

“Hey, sorry I didn’t think were coming home tonight. Louis said you were staying over Cara’s tonight,” Emma said wiping her mouth with her sleeve. Riley helped her down from the counter and for some reason his hands on her made me really mad.

“Nah, she’s going to Paris in the morning.” I dropped my bag and walked over to fridge. “So what’s up?” I asked, trying to keep conversation so they wouldn’t have a chance to make out, at least not in my presence.

“Nothing, we’re just gonna go back to Riley’s place. Don’t wait up!” She yelled already out the door. I leaned my back against the counter and took a large sip of my Gatorade. Louis walked into the room and he seemed surprised to see me.

“What are you doing home?” he asked, looking through the fridge. “I thought you were staying at Cara’s.”

“Nah, she’s going to Paris in the morning so I decided to come home. I wish I would’ve known Riley and Emma were going to swapping spit or else I would’ve stayed a little while longer,” I admitted.

“It’s not like it’s surprising, they’ve been doing that for the past week. I think it’s because she’s going away for a week to Wisconsin to see Bon Iver to give them the songs she wrote. Where did they go, anyway?” He left the fridge and gave his attention to me.

“They just left to Riley’s apartment. I don’t know about that guy, Lou. He doesn’t seem to be…I don’t know. He seems like trouble. I don’t want him to hurt Emma,” I pictured Emma getting hurt by him and the image made me cringe. “She doesn’t deserve that.”

“Harry, she’s old enough to know what’s good for her. Don’t daddy her.”

“I know, I know. I won’t. He’s just 6 years older than her and she’s a virgin. Don’t you think that he’s going to get a little mad when she doesn’t want to have sex with him? She’s only 17, she shouldn’t feel obligated to have sex with someone just because.”

“If that is the case, let Emma do her own thing. If she wants help, let her ask. If you hover she’ll get mad. Trust me,” Louis begged more than he told me.

“Hey Lou?” I asked, thinking back to the day Emma and I wrote that song. He looked at me waiting for me to keep going. “Last week, Emma and I wrote a song together and ever since then something’s been different. Like now whenever Riley touches her, I feel an ache inside. It just angers me. What is that?” I asked, confused with my own feelings.

“Are you jealous man?” He asked a huge smile about to form.

“I – don’t…no. I don’t know.” How could I be jealous? Never before did jealousy occur between Emma and I. She was my best friend; a feeling like that just didn’t take place in our friendship. But that night we spent writing together, she seemed to be like a whole new person in my eyes. “I think I’m gonna go to be,” I sighed and left the kitchen to my room. I undressed and climbed into my big, empty bed. Truthfully, it was always empty. Cara didn’t fill in the space like Emma did. That sounds bad and I wish I never thought it. But it was true, I admitted to my mind. My body rolled over, looking at the empty spot next to me and wished that Emma was lying there. Her hair all over the place, a light snore coming from her and her eyes fluttering because she was having a bad dream. Then I’d come in and wrap my arms around her tiny body, pulling her in and she’d ease back to sleep as well would I. Quickly, I ran my hands over my face and through my hair. What was going on with me? I thought. The thoughts felt right but the thought of my thoughts felt wrong. I wasn’t even making sense to myself.



After just staring at the ceiling for hours, I decided to check the clock and it was already 5 a.m. A noise came from downstairs and then quiet footsteps raced up the stairs and down the hall. I decided to see who it was, because it could be anyone of the boys. But it wasn’t, Emma’s light was on and she walked out with just a bra and underwear on. When she saw me, she let out a small scream and held her heart. “Jeez! Harry don’t do that to me!” She breathed heavily. Then her eyes met mine and sudden feel of insecurity overcame her as she pulled her towel over her exposed body.

“Sorry, I thought you were at Riley’s.” I stated confused as to why she was home.

“I was, but I had to come home because I have to pack. My flight’s tonight,” she leaned her back against the wall as if we were about to have a long conversation. “What are you even doing up?” she asked. “Usually, you’re completely out at this time.” A smile formed on her pink lips.

“Yeah, I know. I just – I couldn’t sleep that much.” I admitted wanting to tell her it was lonely but knowing not to cross that line.

“Why not? Got a lot on your mind?” She asked, interested. As she always was, she was an amazing listener and I feel like such an ass because I feel like I’m only noticing this now.

“Uh, yeah a lot is on my mind. I’m actually just – I don’t know. I’m really confused right now.” I was talking in circles and a laugh came out of Emma.

“How about after I take my shower, I’ll make you some tea and we can talk about whatever you’re confused about? Yeah?” Her smile was warm and content. I took advantage of her offer, knowing I shouldn’t but I ignored myself. I nodded. “Alright, go lay down and I’ll be in soon.”

I laid back down in my bed and the only image in my head, replaying was Emma in her bra and underwear. Why was that rerunning itself over and over again? She was so beautiful. My hands reached for the pillow next to me and I pulled it over my face, screaming into it. I heard the shower go on and images of her showering came into mind. “What the hell?” I muttered to myself. “Stop, Harry.” I demanded. They wouldn’t leave, it was like the images were rebelling from my brain. Before I knew it, the shower turned off, some more footsteps, other noises and there Emma was in the door way.

“Wait, your tea-“ but before she could leave I stopped her.

“Em, its fine. Just come here,” I said not wanting to wait any longer for to be by my side. She turned around and started slowly walking to my bed and then jumped in on top of me. I let a groan out of my body. “Jesus, Em!” I turned my head to face her to see her big blue eyes. Those eyes are what made me so protective over her. They were like a little 5 year old girl’s eyes. So wide and bright blue, innocently looking at you. I found my hand making its own decision to caress her cheek. My thumb rubbed her jawline and her smile immediately turned into a straight line. I ignored her emotionless face and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her in as I imagined I would before. She let it happen but her facial expression didn’t change. I leaned down to her lips, about to kiss her and go against all my thoughts. But before my lips could press to hers, she pulled away and when I looked down at her and she was crying. Her innocent eyes were hurt, tears dropping from them. I didn’t understand. Emma picked herself up and she looked at me.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and left the room.



Later that day, I was running on no sleep at all but that wasn’t my first priority which was Emma and why she ran out this morning. She left to Riley’s house around 4 o’clock because he was taking her to the airport, she said goodbye to everyone besides me of course. Louis walked into the kitchen and dragged me into the living room. He sat me down on one couch and sat across from me on another. “So Emma told me some interesting news before she left for Riley’s. Do you know what that interesting news was, Harry?”

“I have a feeling, I do…” I trailed off.

“You tried to kiss Emma?!” He stood up, completely in shock as if I had just told him the news for the first time.

“Yeah, I – I’m really confused Louis,” I confessed, dropping my face into my hands.

“She’s angry with you,” he filled me in.

“Why is she angry with me? I mean she started to cry, I don’t understand. Am I missing something?”

“I don’t know man,” he sighed. “Do you like her now?”

“I don’t know,” I sighed because I didn’t really know at all. But kissing her seemed like something I really wanted to do. And it made me so mad that she’d be going to Wisconsin for a week and I wouldn’t even be able to talk to her about it.

Notes