Stephanie's POV

I diverted the driver to Jed's as he text me confirming they've all gone back. I feel like I'm slowly starting to sober up.How have I managed to become such a mess? I used to have a clear head, I almost nearly made the right decisions and hardly ever got myself into awkward situations. I was never the centre of problems, but now, it looks like I keep on creating them.

I worked so hard to move on from Harry. I knew I could become stronger and I could block the sensitive me out. But he just manages to bring me back, all in the space of a couple of minutes. Is he really that powerful to me? Or was I just naive to convince myself I had moved on.
Things were hard enough before between Harry and I. We had our issues but we managed to work them out. But that was when my heart only belonged to him, now a part of it is drawn to Niall. I hate the thought of being caught between two guys, although I know Harry is who I'd bleed for. Niall is too sweet to be hurt by me. How can I drag him into such a messed up situation.

I like Niall, I know I can rely on him. I feel different with him as he makes me feel special. I know he respects me as he treats me well and he's a gentleman; and that's exactly what I need.
But Harry, he knows me so well. Not only is there love for him, there's a heavy case of lust. He makes me feel alive when I'm with him, I know he's a little rough around the edges but I've seen the sensitive side to him. But he's let me down too many times and my stubbornness just won't forget about it, I guess I'm just scarred.

I'm not stupid enough to forgive Harry yet, the way I am thinking at the moment isn't exactly right but I still have mixed emotions towards him. I know I should have sat down with him at first, but I was too mad at him to have any patience. I shouldn't have covered up the truth, I do still love him and I can no longer pretend I don't. I can however, try my best to move on from him now we've cleared the air. I can try with Niall and see how things go, after all Harry's going to be here so that makes it much easier.

"Did you want your friend's change?" The driver asks as he turns to face me. I hadn't realised we were back already. I look at him and shake my head, I tell him to keep it and he smiles. "Thanks, have a good evening" He says as I open the door.

"You too." I say as I close the door and I slowly make my way up to the door. I press the buzzer and Jed's voice appears. He opens the door and I start to wish he hadn't. I'm going to be bombarded with questions.

"Are you okay?" Niall asks as he quickly approaches me. I look at him and begin to apologise for running off. He looks at me with a steady look, I hesitate to go any further than ' I couldn't go on the Eye' but he bite his lip quizzingly.
"Where did you go?" He asks and that's the question I really didn't want him to ask.

"You decided to return, don't ever run off like that again Steph." Jed snaps as he interrupts us. I look at him and smile, my brother always was good to interrupt at the right time. "I mean it, I'm your order brother so it's my responsibility to make sure you're safe." He adds protectively. I shake my head at his drunken state. I've definitely sobered up a bit.

Jed starts to guide Niall and I back inside and I can see Niall is annoyed that I never answered his question, sooner or later I'm going to have to tell him.

---

Harry's POV

I feel better now I've seen Stephanie. I think she may feel the same about me as I do about her. I know it's not as simple as she's involved with Niall, but I am relieved she hasn't got over me so easily. We have something that I personally think not many people have, that's what makes us so strong.

Liam's words were spot on, if we are meant to be then we will be brought back together. I think he's right, I really do. But I'm not that much of an idiot to convince Stephanie to be unfaithful to Niall, I still like the guy even though I do feel sensitive about them together. I was eager to kiss her tonight, I just wanted to feel her again, in my arms, with me. But I know it's not right, I was brought up to be better than that.

"Honey, I'm home!" Louis calls as he and Liam walk in. I really hope Louis has come home alone as I want to explain to them about tonight.

"Hey.." I say as I meet them in the hallway as they take their coats off. "Good evening?" I ask as it's just them two, good no girls.

"Yeah, it was busy tonight." Liam says as I follow them into the living room. "How was your night?" He asks curiously.

"Well, it was different than what I had expected." I say with a small laugh. They both look at me eager for more, so I continue to explain that the evening started off at Louise's for dinner. They both smile and Louis sit back as he listens. As soon as I mention I came home they both look confused.

"So you never stayed? Why?" Louis asks as he suddenly sits up right and looks as if he's trying to study me. Liam waits patiently for me to answer.

"It just didn't feel right Lou." I say as I can't help but smile, they both look at me as if I am mad. I cough to clear my throat, "It's a good job I came home, as I found Stephanie sat on our doorstep." Their eyes widen and I smile.

"So I take it things went well? " Liam asks warily. I nod and I explain everything that was said. Liam stays calm and collective but Louis seems really worried. I stop as he looks away in confusion.

"What Louis?" I sigh as I feel my high is being dragged down. Haven't they realised I've felt low enough recently, I'm finally finding that positive feeling they kept going on about.

"Well, the thing is you don't fuck with a girl who's seeing another dude. It gets messy Harry, really messy." Louis says as he looks at me and runs a hand through his hair. I break contact from him as he really does have to rain on my parade.

"She's not serious about Niall, plus I am not fucking with her. This isn't some random girl, this is the girl that I have learned so much from. I figured out who I am, what I can achieve and how to love from her." I sigh, "I was fucked up before I was staying with her, I didn't care about anything. Everyone pissed me off and tried to get reactions out of me. But she helped me divert away from that, she saved me from losing the plot. I can't let her go, she's much more to me than just a girl. Niall doesn't know her like I do. No one does." I frustratingly ruffle my hair as I start to feel irritated.

"Harry-" Liam starts but I'm too wound up, I interrupt him,

"I never even knew how to treat a girl. I wouldn't even be polite or bother to be a good guy. I was an idiot, I had no care about how others felt. If they didn't like me for who I was then that was their problem. But then Stephanie made me realise that the guy I was, wasn't me. I struggled showing emotion, I couldn't even open up to her at first. So I've come a long fucking way to just give up" I snap and Louis looks to Liam.

"Harry, we're not saying how you feel is wrong. We know how much she means to you and what you've achieved, we're not doubting that at all. The only thing we are trying to get across is we care about you. What Louis said wasn't an insult to you, so don't just get defensive so quickly. All Louis tried to say is that this is no longer just about you and Stephanie. This involves Niall too, who before you spoke so fondly of. There is many hearts and feelings on the line this time around." Liam says and I look at them as I can't find words. I look away as Louis begins to speak.

"That's why I said it will get messy. It's not about Stephanie and Niall to us, it's about you. You could end up being the one who gets hurt." Louis says and his words echo in my head. I guess I haven't thought about it like that.

"Just don't give yourself away so easily, let Stephanie realise she has to decide what she wants and you need to make her realise that you're not always going to be there to fall back on. Because you deserve to be happy too, with or without her." Liam says and he's right, I shouldn't have let myself get so wrapped up thinking that she came back for me. She's confused and she needs time to think.

---

Stephanie's POV

I lay next to Niall in bed as the others are still awake in the living room. We lay quietly as I know Niall is annoyed with me as I've not yet explained to him where I went. How do I even try to word it to him. It's not going to sound good either way.

"Niall.." I say softly as I turn to him and he looks at me. "What's wrong?" I ask for confirmation. He sighs as he turns on his side and looks at me again.

"Just tell me the truth, you went to him. Didn't you?" He asks with disappointment in his voice. My heart starts to race nervously as I try to find words. I slowly nod and he sighs.

"But not in the way you're probably thinking. It was to make peace.." I say as this feels so awkward. I start to explain that Harry turned up here when they went out. Surprisingly he listens well. I continue telling him how horrible I was to Harry and how I just wanted to clear the air. I stop as he looks as if he's waiting to speak.

"Do you still love him? Now you've seen him again?" He asks and I hesitate to shake my head but I stay truthful.

"Yes, but we can't be together. Things have changed. I may still love him but I really do like you.." I say and Niall looks away.

"I think you should try and sort your head out. I like you Steph," He looks back to me, "But you seem all over the place since coming here. I know you and Harry were very strong, I can't compete with that." He says and his words hit me hard.

"But Harry lives here now, his life is so different to mine. I can be with you-" I stop as he shakes his head.

"Steph, I care too much about you. Harry is the guy you will always want. I don't want to get involved and for things to get sour. I really like you, I hate I can't have you. But if we take things further, it's putting everything at risk. If we split up, our friendship could easily be destroyed. I'd rather have you as a friend than nothing at all." Niall says and I feel my heart sink. He reaches forward and wipes a loose tear.

"I'm sorry.." I sniff and he smiles.

"Believe me, I'm gutted but I know for now this is for the best." He says, "Come here" He pulls me into a hug and I just rest my head on his chest.

"But what if you're what's best for me?" I ask as I can't believe he'd let me go just to save our friendship. He'd push aside his feelings to help me. I look up at him.

"Steph-"

"Tomorrow we go home and everything goes back to normal. I like being with you and I don't want to give up because I'm a bit of a mess. Loving Harry will eventually fade, he's here and I'm in Manchester. I haven't been thinking straight. We split because of his move, so why would it work now? It wouldn't. So let's just have fun and enjoy each others company?" I say without even thinking. I just want Niall to agree because I feel secure and realistic with him.

"You really want to take that risk?" He asks and I nod.

"Harry and I will forget about each other when I'm back home. If anything, I'll be the one that loses everything if this screws up." I say and Niall bites his lip. Without his say, I lean up and kiss him. I feel relief when he kisses me back.

Notes

Oh Stephanie, she really is all over the place. The fear of being alone is stopping her from thinking straight. She's given the completely wrong message off to Harry and she even thought she wanted him! But she also wants Niall, how is she going to prevent herself from going insane?
Especially now Harry is determined to make her his again. This really can't end up well, can it?

What do you think?

Poor Niall, at least he's warned Stephanie that she is taking a risk, do you think she's made the right choice?
Do you think Harry will ever get her back?

Thanks for voting and subscribing :)

Also you who keep messing with our votes, I may have reacted when I shouldn't have, but I am human and I do show emotion. You know who you are, you did annoy the crap out of me as you thought you were being clever when you're clearly just a pain in the ass. But I challenge you to write a story which is perfect and flawless, I'd love to read it seeing as you have so much to say about mine.