Stephanie's POV

I look over to see Chloe and Lucy fast asleep on the other sofa. So much for watching The Hunger Games. Chloe's parents are away for the night so we're keeping Chloe company. That's why we had drinks with a movie night. I look to Niall as he's only just got his eyes open. I grab the blanket Chloe got us from the floor and Niall looks at me. I smile as I quietly place it over us. We've all drank quite a lot tonight, I think that's why Chloe and Lucy are flat out. I'm surprised Niall and I are still awake.

"Do you want to come this end so we're both covered?" Niall whispers as he pats a small space next to him. He shifts his body over into the sofa so there's enough room for me.

He doesn't need to ask me twice as I move towards him, I turn my back to him as I balance on the end of the sofa. I sit up as I pull the blanket on top of us, I slowly lean back and I feel Niall's arm behind me.
I smile to myself as he gently pulls me into him and he wraps his arms around me securely.

I hope this isn't the drink that's making us this close, I hope deep down he just feels the same as me.

"Are you comfortable?" Niall whispers, I feel his hot breath tickle down my neck. I look at him and I nod.

"Are you?" I ask and he nods. I rest my hand on his chest and I completely forget about the film. His eyes lock on mine, I feel so natural being this close to him.

"You're so beautiful.." Niall whispers as his hand starts to stroke my hair. I feel my heart rate beat to the dozen.

"I really like you.." I whisper and I shock myself at the words. I'm never this forward but maybe I'm more confident now. Maybe having my heart broken has made strong.

"I really like you too" He says quietly and I feel myself jumping up and down with joy inside. I'm so happy he's said it back. I smile and I really want to kiss him. He starts to smile as he moves closer to me. I close my eyes as I feel his lips gently kiss mine. This is it, I'm finally kissing Niall.

---

Harry's POV

I gently stroke Louise's arm as we both lay quietly watching a film that I can't remember the title. It feels nice being this close to her, it's slightly odd as I hardly know Louise but I feel so comfortable with her.
I wonder what past Louise has, who her partner was and what attracted her to him. Why did she take an interest in me? Could I ever be enough for her if we ever did decide to make a go of things?

Fuck, what am I thinking? I've only just met Louise and I'm already looking too far ahead. Louise may not want to see me after tonight.

"You're a really nice guy Harry. " Louise says as she looks at me. "I mean it, not many guys would take a girl back to theirs and just chill out." She adds with a smile.

"Thanks.." I smile as I look at her and I stop stroking her, I find her hand and our fingers entwine. "I don't know many girls like you, there's something about you that just pulls me in. I know we've only just met.." I stop as I don't want to get too ahead of myself.

"But it feels like we've known each other for a while." She finishes my sentence and I nod. "Would you like to meet again?" She asks.

"Yeah, definitely." I smile and Louise looks relieved. I take the plunge and I lean down and I kiss her. Her hand reaches up and she runs her hand to the back of my head, pulling me into her. Our kiss becomes a little deeper but we soon stop, I look down at her.

"Thanks for being lovely." She says as she turns away and looks at the film. She definitely is someone I can imagine being with. I smile to myself as I look at the tv. I never thought I'd get to the stage of liking someone else. I go into my own little world as a sudden memory flashbacks to me.



"You can't leave, I don't want to be here alone." Stephanie cries as she looks to me with her puppy dog like eyes.

"Mum says we've got to move.." I say as I hold her hand. "You'll still be my best friend Stephanie." I add.

"But I need my best friend here with me!" Stephanie pleads. There's nothing I can do, I hate the fact we have to move.

"I'll still see you Steph, I promise" I hug her tightly and she looks away.

"You can't promise that.." She cries and she looks to the floor. I sigh as I look at her.

"Stephanie look at me," I demand and she shakes her head. "Stephanie Anne May, look at me!" I say with harsher tone. She slowly looks up at me.

"Don't promise Harry, they never keep." She says and I shake my head.

"I will never leave you. Ever!" I say and she softly smiles. "Ever" I repeat.

"Okay" She sighs as she throws her arms around me.


If only I realised back then, Stephanie was right. Not only did I break my promise, I left her not once, but twice. I mentally kick myself as once again I'm thinking about her.

---

Stephanie's POV

I wake in the middle of the night with Niall's arms securely wrapped around me. The alcohol has made me so thirsty, I need some water. I gently move Niall's arm and I place it down as I slowly sit up. I check he's still asleep and then quickly jump up.
I guide myself from the street light than shines through the small gap in the curtain, I reach the door and I slowly open it, hoping not to wake anyone.
I quietly close it behind me and I open the kitchen door. I jump as Chloe looks at me as she's sat on the counter top.

"What are you doing up?" I ask as I feel my heart hurt from fright. My hand reaches up to my chest and holds it as I take a deep breath.

"I needed a drink, what about you?" She asks and I repeat the same. I take a glass from the cupboard and I hold it under the tap as I fill it half way with water. I turn the tap off and I lean back on the counter as I look at Chloe. I take sip.

"How long have you been awake?" I ask and Chloe shrugs unsure. She looks tired and I'm surprised she's managed to stay awake. I look away as I sip some more of my drink.

"You looked pretty snugged with Niall." She says and I quickly look up at her. She raises her eyebrows and I bite my lip. "What's going on with you two?" She adds beating me from answering. I don't know whether to play it safe and say we are just friends or whether to tell the truth. I don't want to lie Chloe but I feel anxious about her knowing I like Niall.

"I really like him. He said he likes me too.." I say as I lean back on the counter and I drink my water. "Are you okay about that?" I ask nervously, she smiles and rolls her eyes.

"I'll be honest, it doesn't bother me, but I guess the only concern I have is if you two ever did get together, what if it got messy? He's my cousin and you're my best friend." She says. I smile at her kind words but I know she's right. "I don't want to be caught in the middle.." She adds. I nod as I look away.

"We wouldn't rush into anything. We've not even discussed anything except we like each other. That only happened tonight." I explain and I remember the kiss. I don't think I should tell anyone until I've spoke to Niall as I don't know what he wants from all of this. He may not want to be more than friends.

"Are you ready to be involved with anyone else, I mean you must be over Harry." She states and I look away. I hate hearing his name. How does it still manage to set butterflies off in my stomach whenever I hear that five letter word. I don't know why I'm bothering letting him have such an affect on me.

"I'm trying to get over him, liking Niall is a good sign isn't it? I want to feel like this again, the excitement of being around someone, I haven't felt this way in months." I answer as I know deep down my heart is still wanting him. But I know someone like Niall is good for me, I could be happy.

"Okay, you sound like you know what you're doing!" Chloe says as she slowly jumps down and smiles. I look at her a little surprised that the conversation is cut off so quickly.

"I think I do," I say and she nods, "I could never hurt Niall and I believe he'd never hurt me." I add and Chloe smiles.

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning," She says as she leaves the kitchen. I drink the last bit of water and place the empty glass next to Chloe's on the side counter. I know she is trying to look out for me, after all she saw what I was like when we came back from London.



"He's leaving me again, he's hoping to get this job in London." I cry as I sit on my bed with Chloe next to me.

"I'm so sorry Steph.." Chloe says as she puts her arm around me.

"Everything was so good between us. We were happy and I loved the idea of us in London together. I just never thought I'd come back single. I can't face him leaving me again" I cry as I lean forward and let my head fall into my hands.

"Sometimes people have to go their own way Steph. I know you're upset and its going to be hard, but neither of you wanted to split. You could always come back together again." She says and I shake my head.

"He's let me down twice now, I can't trust him anymore. He's broke my heart Chloe." I sob as I look at her. She sighs as she softly rubs my back.

"I'm here for you okay?" She says reassuringly. I nod as I appreciate her kindness but all I want is Harry.

---

Harry's POV

I look down to see Louise fast asleep. I gently lean forward and I pull the duvet cover over and I turn the TV off with the controller. I make sure she's covered and I lay in silence listening to her breathing beside me.

How did I ever get to this? I never dreamt in a million years that I would live in London. I thought I'd be stuck in Manchester for the rest of my life dealing with the same crap day in and day out.
I start to think about people back at home. Like Naomi, I have no idea what she's doing or how life is treating her. I only get to see what she puts on facebook, but a part of me wants to know she's okay.
She really wasn't a bad person but she sort of reminds me of Amy. She isn't as nasty as Amy or so narrow minded, but they both had the same drive. If there was something they wanted, they would try their best to make sure they got it.

I seem to attract girls who like to be quite dominant. I think that's why Stephanie stood out, she never tried too hard or tried to control me. She was very free flowing and just took each day by day, I felt relaxed around her and that's why I was able to change as a person.

I'm still the Harry she knew, the one that would get into trouble and wouldn't be afraid to sort it out. But I think before I act now, I've learnt to address how I feel before things get out of hand. I've come a long way and that's what has made me become the person I am today, I have a job that pays well and I've moved out. I've achieved a lot and I do feel proud, but I just hate the fact I lost so much by achieving that.

Notes

Thank you to all the readers that have vote and subscribed to my story!
I really appreciate it! :) :)
Please leave feedback and let me know what you think of this story so far,
How do you think it will go when Harry and Stephanie finally come face to face?
oh and,
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

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