"So what exactly is going on with you and Harry?" Mum asks as she sits next to me on the sofa, Chloe was supposed to be here about half an hour ago. I turn to Mum and I think of where to start.

"Well we've decided to just take things slow.." I answer and my Mum nods, I can see she is trying to not smile.

"So you two are courting?" She asks as she raises her eyebrows , I frown as I ask what she's on about. She laughs as she basically explains it means dating.

"Why not just say that? Jeez Mum it's two thousand and fourteen." I sigh as I look out the window once more, where is she??

I know I'm snappy and I'm really on edge today, but it's only because of how nervous I am about telling Harry that Niall is going to be included in this band of his. I'm so nervous to his reaction, I've tried to think of ways I could get Niall out of it, but I couldn't think of any.

"You know, I can't get used to your hair like that." Mum says and I turn to look at her. I know my Mum was shocked by me going brunette but she understands exactly why I did it. "It's still surprising me, whenever I look at you" She says as she stares at my hair.

"I know, I look in the mirror and sometimes shock myself." I laugh and Mum does too. Luckily she ignored my snappiness and I like how she changed the subject. My Dad didn't agree with my hair being dark, he thought I was turning into a gothic look. It just proves how much my Dad knows, having dark hair does not mean I'm turning gothic.

"Well you still look lovely." Mum says and I smile in appreciation. I suddenly hear a car pull up and dart to the window. "Is it Chloe?" She asks as she walks to the window.

"Yeah, right I'll see you tomorrow evening." I say as I take my bag and I walk to the front door, Mum follows me out.

"Have a nice time." She says as she waves over to Chloe in the car who is now waving back. I smile at her as I put my bag in the back of the car and then take a seat in the front next to Chloe.


"Sorry I'm late, totally forgot to set my alarm." Chloe says as she looks over at me. "I can't wait to find out what Harry thinks of your hair" She adds randomly and I nod as I too can't wait.

"Well that's if we ever get to London." I tease and Chloe rolls her eyes and pulls away. She beeps at my Mum as she shuts the door I turn my attention to Chloe. "So you and Zayn are getting on well then?" I ask and Chloe smiles and glances over to me.

"He is awesome. He has his flaws like sometimes I'm trying to get a little deeper into his head but he really knows how to block me out. I find him so mysterious. But I like it." She answers and then looks back and forth to the road.

"He's a nice guy." I smile and she nods.

"What about you and Harry?" She asks without looking at me. I explain exactly what I say to everyone else who asks. Harry and I aren't official but we are working towards that stage in our relationship. I like the pace we are going at, I look forward to when I see him as our attitude towards each other is slightly changing. He texts me sweet things and I try my best to be just as sweet back. But Harry always wins as he brings lyrics into it and I'm just incapable of competing with him.

"I like his flat mates." I say and Chloe looks at me interested in what I'm about to say. She looks away again as I roughly explain Louis and Liam to her. I don't know much about them so I'm just going on my first impressions more than anything.

"Well maybe I can meet them soon. Why don't you bring them tonight when we meet up?" Chloe asks and I shrug as I'm not sure if Harry just wants to meet Zayn to talk things through about New Years Eve.

"I'll ask them." I say and Chloe nods. I look out the window as our conversation falls a little quiet. I'm starting to get so familiar with this journey, it's surprising how after a few times of travelling here, I remember the oddest buildings.

---

Harry's POV

"Ah shit my boots are still muddy from last week." Louis groans as he scrapes the mud off in the sink. I don't dare moan at him as I'm trying my best to keep him on my side, he's still not said yes about my offer but I'm really hoping he'll change his mind.

"Does it matter? They're only going to get muddy again." I say as I grab a bar of chocolate from the fridge. This is something that I'm used to now, at home we kept chocolate in the cupboard but Liam always says to put it in the fridge so it stays nice and cold. Apparently it tastes nicer, I can't believe we ever had that conversation and now I'm thinking about it.

"Harry, I was thinking about the songs to sing at the New Year's Eve gig" Liam says happily as he walks in and holds a few pieces of paper. I look over to him as he passes me the sheets. I read 'teenage kicks' as cool as that song would be, it's not what's expected from us.

"We are expected to do original songs." I say as I look up at Liam. "Trust me, I wish we could do this song." I say as I place them on the counter. "I've wrote one song that I think could be good but I need to write a couple more."

"Jeez what you doing a whole tour?" Louis snaps and we both look at him. "I just think it's stupid that Mark expects us to do this. He works in music for fuck sake, he knows many and many of musicians so why us?" Louis snaps again.

"Because everyone is booked up, okay there's probably a couple of artist out there we could have but do you know how much they require to be paid? Louis stop fighting us on this." I snap back at him as I just wish I could shake him and make him see how much I need him to help.

"Louis you have no right to give any input on this if you're not going to participate." Liam says as he folds his arms smugly. I can't help but smirk at him as Louis shakes his head and turns his attention back to his football boot.

"You say that Payne as if I'm bothered." Louis says as he takes his boot from the sink and walks out of the kitchen.

"Hey, there's mud in the sink Tomlinson!" Liam shouts and Louis mumbles something. It's really unusual for Louis to be this annoying. Liam looks at me and sighs.

"Is he really pissed off that we're relying on him?" I ask and Liam nods as he walks to the sink and begins to clean it. There must be more to it than what Louis is letting on.

"Can you get me the dustpan and brush please?" Liam asks and I walk to the end cupboard and I pass it to him. "So what songs do you want us to do? Slow songs? Up beat ones?" He asks and I jump up on to the kitchen counter.

"Well I reckon one slow, maybe three upbeat ones?" I say and Liam looks at me and his eyes widen slightly surprised.

"We have to sing four songs?" Liam asks and I explain that's what the other band were supposed to be doing. They were booked for twenty minutes, hopefully four will be enough in our case. "Shit, so this guy you were saying about last night, Zayn?" I nod as he questions, "when do we meet him to talk this through?" He asks.

"Well I'm meeting him later tonight, do you want to come along?" I know it could be quite a good idea to get Liam to meet him as well.

"Yeah I'll come. So what do we do about Louis? Shall we just give up?" Liam asks and I bite my bottom lip as I think of any alternative.

"Leave it to me." I say as I jump down and I leave the kitchen. I walk towards Louis bedroom door and I knock, he doesn't say anything so I annoyingly repeatedly knock until the door suddenly swings open. "What time is your match?" I ask and he sighs.

"One." He says as he grabs his hoodie and pulls it on over his head.

"Okay, I'll come along." I say as I walk to the hallway and I grab my coat. "Liam can you listen out for Stephanie, she won't be too long." I shout and Liam confirms he's staying in. Louis walks up to me and frowns.

"If this is to go on at me about the gig-" I shake my head at him and put my hands up in defeat. He nods as he shouts bye to Liam and takes his bag from the door. I shout bye too and I follow him out. I jump into his car and I'm desperate to try and find out what's wrong with him but I don't want to piss him off anymore. It's just hard because Liam and I do care about Louis and he never gets this uptight about things.

"So, what's been going on I with you?" I ask as he pulls away and I look over to him. He shrugs and explains how work has been rubbish lately as he has a new manager. I nod as I try to keep as interested as I can so I can communicate back, but all I want to do is ask him what the big deal is.

"I just think I can do better than a shitty sports centre." Louis sighs and I nod in agreement, "So you tell me why you're really coming with me" He adds as he looks over to me.

"I just thought I'd come watch you like I have done before." I say innocently and Louis smirks.

"No you haven't, because Stephanie is coming today so there must be a reason you'd be willing to miss a couple of minutes with her." Louis teases and I smile as I shake my head at him. He looks back at the road and I sigh as I contemplate asking him but I glance once more. Fuck it.

"What's really the deal with the whole singing thing? There's more than what you're telling me." I ask and Louis doesn't even flinch or look at me. But I keep my eyes firmly on his as I wait for him to say anything.

"I don't want to go into this Harry." He says a little more calmer than I thought he would.

"But something is bothering you and Liam and I just want to be there for you. I don't want you to be do anything you don't want too, so I accept that you don't want to sing with us but I'm concerned what's made you so edgy." I explain and Louis sighs as we stop at a red light.

"See I knew there was a reason why you were coming with me." Louis snaps as he looks at me. "If it's really that important to you then fine, I don't want to sing in a stupid band because it brings back too many fucked up memories for me, okay?" Louis says sternly and looks away from me. His small outburst fills an awkward atmosphere between us, I try to think of what I can say without annoying him any further, but to my surprise he starts to talk,
"I used to sing, my parents thought I was actually good. So me being a naive little boy that I was, I entered a school singing competition, it was like battle of the bands except I was solo. Anyway, I don't know why I did it because the prize was shit." He pauses and I look away as I can't help but softly smile at his words. "But I got quite far and it was just a bit of fun, a girl I sang with called Haley had a great voice and we started to go out together." He stops as the traffic lights change.

"Louis-" He starts to talk over me so I stop and listen to him,

"My friends decided that singing wasn't cool, and that football was. So when they found out I was participating I basically got bullied by groups of people. Haley did too but she didn't care as she never was really in the cool crowd, but that's what I liked about her. Anyway, it all got too much and I ended up having people trying to surround me threatening to beat me up, god it's so pathetic." Louis laughs sarcastically as he stops.

"It's not pathetic Louis." I say as I look at him. His story doesn't make me think any different of him, I had enough idiots in my life to deal with, I was constantly surrounded by trouble so in a sense I can relate to him a little.

"One day, I couldn't even open my eye. They bruised me badly, but I wasn't the type of kid to just let people treat me like a punch bag." Louis says as he looks at me. "I gave as good as I got. But it did however change my opinion on singing, it even turned me against the idea of ever singing again. So that was it, I lost Haley because I decided I'd rather be cool and I chose football. I do love football, but I decided singing was not going to happen ever again, it made my life hell." Louis says and I instantly want to kick the shit out of the people who made him feel this way.

"But you were younger then, immature little pricks like them think they rule the roost. They don't anymore, you can do whatever you want. This isn't just singing in front of people, this is in Hyde park, it's insane. As much as I feel the same about you, I have to do it and I know you can do this with us, fuck those guys who thought they could decide what was cool and what's not." I say and Louis looks over to me as we pull up at the ground.

"I appreciate your words Harry, but it's really not me anymore. I just know if I did it, I'd be shitting myself as I'd feel like a twat." Louis says as we get out of the car. "I'd appreciate it if you don't tell anyone either. My reputation is pretty good now, especially as one of the guys who tormented me the most at school got the shit kicked out of him a year back." Louis smirks proudly and I smile.

"Revenge was sweet?" I ask and Liam laughs.

"Fucking sweet." Louis grins and I have to smile at him. I understand now why he was so defensive, it makes sense and I don't blame him if he's really been put off. I just wish there was something I could do to help him.

---

Stephanie's POV

"Call me at six and we will decide a place?" I ask as I take my bag from the back of the car and I shut the door, Chloe unwinds her window.

"That's fine, I'll speak to you later babe." She smiles. I nod and I wave as she starts to drive off. I look up at the flats and I smile as I'm so eager to see Harry.
The last time I came here was quite interesting, everything I did wasn't a very good idea. I tried to be spontaneous and seductive but I was still hurting too much that I don't think it went down as I had hoped. Never mind, I'm here now.
I walk to the buzzer and I wait to be filled with Harry's voice, instead it's another voice that I think is Liam's but I'm not quite sure. I follow his instructions and I head on up through the door.

"Hey, Wow, you've dyed your hair?!" Liam laughs and I'm surprised he noticed. "Harry's popped out to Louis' football match, he should be back soon." Liam says as he greets me politely. I didn't realise Harry wouldn't be here, but it's not the end of the world, I liked Liam last time so it's nice that I can spend some time with him and maybe get to know him a little more.

"Okay, thanks Liam." I smile as he lets me in, he takes my coat and hangs it up on the coat rack, he then guides me into the living room.
"Would you like a drink?" He asks but I tell him I'm fine for now. He nods as he sits down on the other sofa. "So what made you change your hair?" He asks with a smile. I explain why I decided to go brunette and he nods understandingly. "Does Harry even know?"

"No, I haven't mentioned anything." I say and Liam laughs. "Hopefully he will like it." I add.

"I'm sure he will, it looks good." Liam says politely and I thank him. The conversation quickly moves on to the gig that Harry is stressing about. Liam however is the opposite, he sounds really interested and excited. It's nice to see such enthusiasm and I hope eventually Harry will feel this way too.

"We're back." We both stop as Harry's voice make me jump. I smile as I stand up and Liam does too and we make our way to the hallway.

"Hey, hi Louis." I smile as I look at them both. Harry looks at me and his eyes widen, he goes to speak but he doesn't say anything.

"Hi Steph! I like the hair, I prefer you darker." Louis smiles and he walks off into the kitchen and I think him just in time. Liam laughs as he follows Louis. I look back to Harry.

"Your hair is very different." He smiles as he reaches forward and kisses my cheek and runs a hand through my hair. "When did you do this?" He asks as he looks at me.

"The other day. Don't you like it?" I ask as I bite my lip really hoping he's going to say he does like it. He smiles and nods,

"Of course I like it, you look beautiful whatever you do. It's just a shock really, but it looks good." Harry smiles as he puts his arm around me and I lean into him. "Oh, Liam is coming tonight" he says randomly and I pull away from him.

"Okay that's fine, I was going to ask anyone if he could come. What about Louis?" I ask and Harry shrugs, we head into the kitchen and I ask Louis if he wants to join us.

"Yeah why not." Louis says as he downs a glass of water. I smile at Harry and he looks at me and nods to leave so I follow him out of the kitchen and we head into his bedroom.

"I've missed you." Harry smiles as he wraps his arms around me, I smile as I wrap my arms around his neck. I ask if Louis has decided to join them with the whole band idea but he shakes his head. I nervously bite my lip as I contemplate telling him about Niall. "So far there's only me, Liam and this Zayn guy." He answers and I nod.

"Well I sort of have something to tell you." I say and Harry sits down in the bed casually. "Chloe sort of organised someone else to join." I mumble and Harry's eyes widen as he looks interested, oh Harry, if only your enthusiasm stayed this way.

"Who is it?" Harry asks as he smiles warily. I sit down next to him and take a deep breath before quietly speaking,

"It's Niall." I say and Harry's smile suddenly drops and a small frown appears. Shit. I know this wouldn't go too well.

"Niall? As in your ex Niall?" He asks puzzled as he looks at me, I slowly nod and he shakes his head. "How am I supposed to work with him?" He asks and I immediately try to think of words to soften the idea.

"Well, you two did get on really well before and I think it could actually be good for you both to do this together." I suggest and Harry looks away from me.

"It's going to be a little awkward isn't it?" Harry asks and I don't say anything. I know he has every right to feel this way, but the only thing I can think of saying is Niall and I weren't together long enough to make it really awkward. That's my opinion anyway.

"You can talk to Niall about it but he seems up for it so he's obviously letting the past go." I say and Harry looks at me sighs.

"I'm not sure about this, it's a bit weird." Harry says and I nod as I look away. "I suppose I'm just going to have to deal with it if Chloe's already asked him." He sighs and I hear the frustration in his voice. I don't blame him, we are trying to get on the right path and any hurt that we felt in the past is supposed to be left away from us.

Notes

Hi everyone,
This is part one of a double update :)
Please let me know what you think in this chapter and remember to read the next one too!
:)
thank you!