"I drove her," Harry replies nonchalant to Austin.
"She is capable of driving herself.. Last I checked," Austin furrows his brows in a mopey kind of way.
"No she isn't! And if you would have been there to take care of her like a boyfriend should then maybe she would have been capable today!" Harry seethes.
"Oh wow.. OK.. I think Harry should come with me.. I'll show you around the campus while these two can battle it out in private," Julie steps in. She links an arm with Harry and for a slight moment I am sure Harry is going to push her away and punch Austin.
"Yes!, go please," I beg them. Harry's eyes search mine. When he sees I'm serious about wanting him gone, hurt flashes in them and he lets his head fall down slightly.
"Fine.. But this isn't over," he throws at Austin and then storms out the door pulling Julie after him.
I turn then, throwing my hands to my temples squeezing at my head in frustration.
"What did he mean?" Austin finally asks. He sounds deflated, and I spin to gaze up at him.
"Something happened.." I mumble.
"Did you cheat?" He is hurting. I can tell. I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut as I lie to him. I might have not cheated yesterday.. But I had a few days ago.
"What is going on Cassie?" Austin grabs my wrist.
I breathe a shaky breath, which Austin doesn't miss.
"Someone slipped something into my drink last night," I glance at our shoes, to ashamed to meet his eyes.
"What?!"
"I was drugged... But Perrie got Harry just in time.. Before anything worse happened.. Sarah didn't want to take me home to Sam so we went to Ed.. And Harry's flat.. And that was why Harry answered my phone," I whisper.
"Why didn't they take you to the hospital? Why didn't they call the police?!" Austin is holding on tightly to my wrist and it has started to hurt. I pull back from him, and he let's go.
"They found who did it.. And found out what drug it was.. There was no point in calling the police," I explain.
"No point?! Are you mad? Of course there was! What if he had done it to other girls? What if it was a different kind of drug? What if it caused you an allergic reaction? Cassie you are much smarter than that!" Austin accuses me, disappointment is written all over him.
"I wasn't quite there at the time was I? I was busy being unconscious," I flush with anger.
"Yes but your friends!" Austin raises his voice at me.
"They couldn't call the police since they could have shut down the shack and Louis could have gotten in trouble.. And anyway.. It's against their code.. They take care of matters on their own.. They don't need the police," I explain, losing my patients.
"Are you listening to yourself? Against their code? What are you? part of a gang? How do they take care of things? Beat the person? Kill him?"
"Not kill him.. They're not a gang," I am not sounding convincing.
"It sure as hell sound like they are.. Look Cassie.. This is not normal.. You should go to the police. I'll go with you, you need to take care of this the right way," he tries to convince me. I shake my head.
"It's over Austin.. It was taken care of."
"How so?"
"I told you.. They found the guy.. Made him pay, and of story.. No point reliving it.. It will only get my friends in trouble and Harry can't afford to get locked up again and Guy isn't a citizen so his visa would be taken away and.. Forget it," I huff.
"This is just mad... Can't afford? He was in jail before? These are the people you're friends with? Thugs that take the law into their own hands?! Really?" He is accusing.
"You don't know them! You make them sound evil! They are my friends and they are good people! They were there to take care of me! Where the hell were you?!" I'm shouting now.
"Cassie... Dammit! Look.. I'm sorry OK? I'm sorry I wasn't there, I should have been.. But seriously.. Look at the company you keep," he tries to reason which only makes me more angry.
"Who do you think you are to say these things to me?! You don't know them or our past together! You have no right!" I'm furious.
"That is because you kept your past to yourself! Since Harry got back..."
"Since Harry got back what Austin?" I challenge him to finish.
"You keep turning to him instead of seeking my help.." He says in a low hurt voice.
So this is what it all comes down to. Harry.
"No I don't," is the only thing I manage to come up with, though we both know I'm lying.
"It's an old habit.. That's all.. But I'm Here now.. And he's leaving.. He's irrelevant," I assure him.
Austin lets out a sigh and shakes his head. He heads to the sitting area and let's himself fall onto the little sofa.
"That's the thing isn't it?" He smiles a painful smile. I pace over and lean in front of him, crouched down.
"What thing?"
"If Harry was here... You'd still turn to him.. You'd pick him," he is staring at his hands. His voice is full of pain and for a moment I am not sure what I should answer him.
"I chose you," I say in my most convincing tone.
"Your brain might have chosen me.. But your heart.. Your heart chose Harry a long time ago.. And it will keep choosing Harry... Look Cassie.. Your life will always be linked.. If you're not together in real life you're together in the papers.. And helping each other.. You gravitate to him and he to you.. We don’t have that," he claims simply. This is not the first time someone says that about Harry and I. I am taken back to a few years ago at school where I was out at the back with Michael and his friends when Ashton claimed just that.
"Are you breaking up with me?" I ask straight out, since this is what it feels like he's building up to.
"Do you want me to?" His eyes sought mine.
"As if it is really up to me," I turn from him, hurt.
"Have you cheated?" He suddenly questions.
"P-pardon?" I stutter, not ready for that question.
"Did you cheat with him?"
I can feel my cheeks reddening, giving me away.
"He kissed me once.. When I got back," I mumble, not able to lie to him. I glance up at him. He wipes his cheek swiftly and my heart clenches in pain for him, for the pain I caused.
"Son of a bitch," escapes his lips. Austin is not one to curse and I glance down.
"Austin I'm just as much to blame.. And I'm so sorry.. I told you straight up that I'm with you.. That I chose you and that he needs to step down.. Please.." I beg when he shakes his head.
"He promised me he'll play fair," is his reply and I'm confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"Harry said he'll get you back.. That it's a matter of time.. But that until then he'll play fair," Austin explains.
"When was this?"
"When you left me with him."
"Harry doesn't matter Austin.. You do.. We do.. We were perfect! Let's not let him ruin that for us.. We can get back on track," I try to reason.
"But that is just the thing Cassie.. We were not perfect.. Not really.. You never gave me everything-"
"Are you talking to me about sex?!" I cut in.
"No! God.. I'm saying that you always were a step back.. As if something is keeping you from giving us your 100% and I always thought it was because you were truly hurt.. But it isn't all that is it? You still love him.. You heart belonged to him all along.. I never stood a chance with you.. It's like your soul mates or something," he claims.
"No-"
"Yes Cassie.. Stop lying to me.. And even more important stop lying to yourself!"
"But I chose you," I am not able to hold my tears back any longer.
"Maybe.. But your heart chose him, and I'm tired of trying so hard to compete.. I want what you and him have.. Not this make believe thing.." His finger flicks from him to me.
"It wasn't make believe!" I wipe my cheek.
Austin reaches out to touch the spot where my tear fell.
"But it was somehow wasn't it? You were looking for what you lost with him and tried to have that with me.. And maybe you convinced yourself you have that but now that he is back.. You can tell it's not true.. We should cut our loses while we can," he says softly.
"Do you hate me?" I gaze up at him as he stands up.
"Oh Cass... I can never hate you," he pulls me up and into his arms, kissing the top of my head.
"We are still friends! I'm still here for you.. It's a small campus," he smiles lightly. I nod and step away from him.
"Are you OK?" He questions.
"I will be," I shrug.
He nods thoughtfully before turning to leave.
I watch him go and once he is I sit back down and let the tears I was trying to hold back wash over me.
How did this happen? And did I not see this coming?
I think of what Austin said about my friends, about them taking matters into their own hands and how it is wrong. Is he right? Am I blinded by them that much that I don't see it? Am I that different at home then what I am here?
Julie and Harry come back and when Julie sees me she hurries over and hugs me.
"We broke up.. He dumped me," I tell her.
"Assholl," Harry hisses.
"As if you're not jumping with joy," I snap with as much venom I can master.
"Maybe.. But I never wanted to see you hurt and crying.. I wanted you to realize he isn't the one for you and do the dumping.. Not the other way around," Harry claims softly.
"And you promising him to play fair? And in the meantime breaking down his confidence in me and our relationship?" I accuse.
"That is not what I did," He states stubbornly.
"I need to get out of here," I stand up and storm away from Harry and Julie and out the door to the cold air outside.
I start walking swiftly when my arm is grabbed.
I'm yanked to a stop and pulled forcefully, made to turn and look at him.
"You don't walk away like that! You don't get to accuse me of things and just storm off," his voice is low and his stare is fierce.
"What do you want Harry?" I shake his hand away from me and take a step back.
"I want you to calm down.. I want you to talk to me.. And then.. I would like you to drive me to the tube," there is a faint trace of a smile on his face.
"Why do you take care of things your own way? Why wasn't the police called last night? Or ever?" I suddenly question. I watch his eyes go wide with surprise and then narrow.
"You know why.. And you never questioned it before," he folds his arms.
"Well I am now!"
"You're questioning what kind of people we are.. Don't forget that the group in question contains people other than me Zayn and Louis.. There is Niall and El.. Perrie and even you."

Notes