I Can Change Your Life

“Gianna!” Louis screamed from the other room.

I looked over to Harry and he quickly jumped up to pull up his shorts and shove his weed back into his sock drawer. I adjusted my top so that I was fully covered and pulled my binder back onto my lap.

Louis barged into the room right after Harry took a seat in front of his desk. He was hunched over, pretending to do homework, most likely to try and hide his boner. Weeks had passed since Louis and I had made up, and now that everything had gotten comfortable, Harry and I decided to be risky and try to get away with fooling around while Louis was home. Well, we had gotten far too comfortable because obviously we almost got caught.

“Gianna,” Louis said. “Wanna go catch a movie with me? Best friend date?” He batted his eyelashes and let out a pout. “Plleeassee?”

I moved my homework over and sat up. “Sure,” I said. I began to pull my shoes on, but Harry turned his neck toward me very quickly.

“Wait,” he said abruptly. Louis and I looked over to him. He looked frantically between us. “I need help with my homework,” he said. I knew he was trying to talk in code. By homework he actually meant his hard-on. I smirked when I picked up on it.

“Well, the movie starts in like twenty minutes, so we have to leave now,” Louis said.

“Looks like you’re going to have to do it yourself,” I shrugged.

“What?” Harry asked in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll help you when I get back.”

“It’ll be too late,” he said quickly.

I just shrugged. “I’m sorry. I need to hang out with Lou.”

“Yeah, you can’t always have her to yourself,” Louis said as he pulled me closer to him. He placed a kiss on the side of my head.

Harry quickly turned back over to his desk and groaned. “I hate doing it by myself,” he whined. “It’s so much better when you help me.”

Louis told him to deal with it and we left the room. Once we got to the car, I told Louis that I forgot my phone in Harry’s room. He told me to hurry up and get it while he started the car.

I ran back into Harry’s room to see him sitting in the same position. I walked up to him and turned his desk chair around quickly. I sat down on his lap and took ahold of his outline through his shorts. He grunted and bit his lip.

“We’ll do homework when I get back,” I said before planting a kiss on his lips. “Promise.” I let go of him and winked as I went to walk out of the room, grabbing my cell phone off of the bed as I left.

“You fucking drive me crazy, Gianna,” he called after me. I turned around one last time as I shut the door and make a kissy face at him. He smiled and watched me as I left.

Everything was in slow motion. It felt like an eternity as we drove to the theater, bought the tickets, and then got into the lobby. Once inside, I removed my sunglasses and immediately winced at the light. Harry and I had shared a blunt in his bedroom not too long before Louis walked in, so I was a bit high. But going to the movies was always so much better while high.

We got into the line to buy a soda and some popcorn. Louis turned to look at me and ask me if I wanted any candy, but before I could answer he grabbed ahold of my face and turned it so he could look into my eyes.

“Gianna!” he exclaimed. “What the fuck! Are you high?” he whispered the last part.

“What?” I scoffed and looked away. “No…”

“Oh my god. I’m not stupid. I can see how huge your fucking pupils are! And you seem really out of it.” Louis ordered some sour patch kids, popcorn, and a large Coke for the two of us to share.

We walked into the theater and sat down. Louis ended up reading the movie times wrong so we were actually really early for the film. We were going to be watching an old re-run of my favorite Disney princess movie, Pocahontas. We always used to come to this theater. Every month they designate one theater to play re-runs of classic Disney movies. I had to go see Pocahontas every time they showed it.

“You can judge me all you want, Lou,” I said through a mouthful of popcorn. “I don’t give a fuuuuuck.” I said the last part in a joking tone, but he didn’t seem to think it was very funny. “C’mon, we used to say that all the time, remember?”

“You’re different,” he said quietly. “You’re so happy all the time.”

“And that’s a bad thing, because…?”

Louis smiled a bit and shook his head. “It’s not a bad thing. It’s great. It just, I don’t know. I guess I’m kind of jealous that I couldn’t be the one to make you this happy.” He laughed a bit at his own confession. “Who would have known that it was Harry all along?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, unsure of what Louis was trying to say. I started to become slightly paranoid, wondering if he knew about mine and Harry’s relationship behind closed doors…and in cars…and over pinball machines…and on the side of the house while everybody else was watching a movie…we had to get creative with our locations.

“I don’t know. It’s like, he’s so protective over you. Someone says one thing about you, and he’s in the conversation, defending you, sticking up for you, even when we’re only saying good things about you or just mentioning your name. I’ve never seen him like that before.”

“Oh,” I said silently. A smile crept onto my face, and I was so thankful for the dim lighting so Louis couldn’t see the blush on my cheeks. I wanted to know more about what Harry thought about me, but I didn’t want to press the issue because I was still paranoid that Louis would catch on.

“It’s so crazy. Forcing you two together was the best thing I could have ever done for the both of you. Harry’s so much nicer and mature now that he’s looking after you. It’s like he has a purpose or something. And then you’re so happy, and you’re changing so much. You’re finding your old self again. The Gianna that isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and confront others when they’re wrong. Like when you called me out for not being around. I was so surprised you actually did that.”

“Wow, I never thought about that. I guess…yeah,” I said. “Harry’s pretty great.”

Louis smiled and grabbed my hand. He laced our fingers together and reached over to kiss my temple. “I don’t think I tell you enough, but you’re a remarkable human being. I’m so glad you’re my best friend,” he said.

“Louis, you’re going to make me cry and Pocahontas hasn’t even saved John Smith yet.”

Louis laughed at my reference to the last time we watched this movie in the theaters. We went to the latest showing after being at the zoo all day and I was so tired that I balled my eyes out when Pocahontas saved John Smith. I had seen the movie a thousand times before and knew that she was going to save him, but I still cried so hard. I cried all the way back to my house. And when Louis asked me what was wrong all I could say was how beautiful their love was.

The movie finally started and we both focused in on the screen. Throughout the entire movie I wished that I could have Pocahontas’s strength to stand up for herself, and speak out for herself and those she cared about. Even though her love with John Smith was forbidden, she still fought for it. I wished that I could fight for myself.

-

I barged into Harry’s room once we got back from the movie. It took a bit longer than expected because Louis also took me out for some ice cream since I still had the munchies at the end of my high. Harry was fast asleep on his bed. He was lying flat on his stomach with his arms and legs sprawled over the entire top of his queen-sized bed. His feet were hanging off the end of the bed because his head wasn’t even on the pillows. Part of me was happy that he wasn’t waiting for me, but I was also looking forward to “doing homework” with him at the same time.

I kicked off my shoes and began to crawl up onto the bed. I pushed his arm over to his side very slowly so I could have just enough room to sit next to him. I adjusted my head on his pillows. I gently began to play with his hair. I wrapped it around my fingers and twisted it. I heard him let out a sigh and then lift the arm that I had moved out of the way to drape it over my stomach and pull me closer to him.

“I promised you that we’d do homework, so if you want to we can,” I whispered as I bent down to kiss the back of his head.

His lifted his head up and used his chin to prop it up to look at me. “No. I don’t want to objectify you like that. You’re not just someone to fuck because I need to get off. I want it to be real, you know. Like in the moment, not just a promise to keep.”

I bent over and gave him a kiss on his forehead. “Thank you,” I said against his forehead.

He looked at the clock on his nightstand and groaned. “I should probably take you home now, huh?”

I pouted as I saw that it was almost ten o’clock. I wished that I could stay the night, but it was a school night and that would not be okay with my mom. “I can ask Louis to take me home so you don’t have to get up.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

I nodded and started to get up off of the bed to get ready to leave. I put my shoes back on, shrugged my jacket over my shoulders, and picked up my purse. I walked over to the door and opened it just a bit, but Harry said my name and I knew exactly what he wanted. I walked over to the side of the bed and he pulled me on top of him, connecting our lips right away as he did so. His tongue made its way into my mouth, and I couldn’t object. With Josh, I never enjoyed making out. He was too sloppy and quick. But with Harry, there was so much desire and attraction that went into it. He took his time with his lips and moved his tongue just enough to make my heart beat race.

I pulled away after a few minutes and got off of the bed. I turned around to head back over to the door that I had pulled open just a bit. Louis came into view, nearly making me jump out of the own skin.

“Good lord, Lou. You scared the shit out of me,” I said as I placed my hand over my racing heart.

“Oh, sorry,” he laughed. “I was just going to ask if you wanted me to take you home now.”

“Perfect, I was just about to go get you for that exact reason.”

Louis smiled and looked into the room where Harry was laying on his bed, looking over to us. He gave me an awkward wave and I gave him a shy smile in return. We still needed to work on how we acted when we were around Louis.

In the car, Louis brought up Harry again. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, anything,” I replied.

“Well, don’t get mad or anything,” Louis said. And I knew right away that I was probably going to get mad. “But, do you…have a thing…for Harry.”

I tried my hardest not to make any sort of movement that might give my frustration away. I hated bringing up feelings about this, and although Harry had stopped bringing it up, I knew that it was still eating away at him. “No, why?” I responded.

“Oh,” he said, “you would tell me if you did, right?”

That’s when I felt extremely guilty. I didn’t even know if I would tell Harry if I did. I just wasn’t the kind of person to express my feelings like that. “I would like to think so,” I said. “You know I’m no good with that stuff.”

“Yeah, I know,” Louis sighed as he parked the car in front of my house. “Should I come in and say hi to your mom?”

“Yeah, she probably misses you. When was the last time you saw her?” I asked as I pulled my seatbelt off.

“Man, I don’t even know. It’s been a while, like, a month or two.”

We walked upstairs to my mom’s room. I was expecting her to be getting ready for bed, but instead there was music playing really loud and all of the lights on in her room. I pushed open the door and saw her frantically pulling things out of her closet. She had a glass of champagne in her hand and a casual dress on. It was weird seeing my mom in something other than her professional business attire or pajamas.

“What are you doing?” I asked over the music. She turned around and her face lit up when she saw me and Louis.

“Oh! Gianna there you are, sweetie. Help Mommy pack. Louis, you too. I need a gentleman’s opinion.” She walked over the piled of clothes on her bed and began to separate them off into different outfits.

“What are you packing for?” I asked as I poked my head into an over-stuffed JCPenney’s bag. She had new dresses and hats and sandals and tank tops and a few other accessories that looked like you would bring to a beach.

“Hawaii, baby! WOOO!” she held her hands up in the air as she screamed, but was very careful to not spill her champagne. I hadn’t seen my mother drink this much in years. Or, probably ever. She was obviously intoxicated, and I could see Louis’s amusement as she continued to go on about Hawaii.

“What the heck? Since when are you going to Vegas?” I asked as I picked up random things on her bed to inspect them. “What do you need this for?” I asked, holding up a black, lacy lingerie set.

“Oh! That’s just for fun. You never who you might meet, am I right?” she winked and elbowed Louis. “Louis knows what I’m talking about. Right, Lou?”

Louis just laughed. “Uh, sure.”

“I’m so confused. Please calm yourself a little and tell me what you’re talking about.”

“Man, is she always this serious?” my mom asked Louis. “Honey, you need some champagne. You want a glass? Louis, you want one?”

“What!” I said, throwing my hands up in the air. “Oh my god. Mom! Focus! What are you doing?” I asked with a laugh.

“Packing for my Hawaii trip with the girls!” She hollered as she held her glass in the air again.

“Since when are you going on this trip?” I asked.

“The girls asked me to go today! We leave in the morning.”

I looked over to Louis who stared back at me. I knew we each had the same thing on our minds.

“But, tomorrow is Friday. Don’t you work?”

“Nope, I was able to get tomorrow through Monday off! I’ll be back Monday afternoon. Oh shit, I should have gotten some cash out for you,” she tapped on her bottom lip as she began to think. “Oh! I can just transfer some money into your account.”

I looked over to Louis and he mouthed the word “party” with wide eyes. I nodded with the same expression on my face.

Just to humor my mom we decided to help her pick out some outfits that she could wear. She kept trying to flirt with Louis as the night went on. She ended up drinking a lot more, and keeping us up way past midnight. She finally started to crash out as we finished packing her toiletries.

Louis and I guided her over to her bed and laid her down. I slipped off her shoes as Louis took her glass of champagne away from her. I gave her a kiss on her head before going to turn the lights out.

“Gianna,” she croaked out.

“Yeah?”

“I like that Harry boy,” she slurred.

My cheeks grew hot and I immediately became nervous. My mom didn’t know anything about me and Harry as far as I knew, but I was still afraid of her bringing it up with Louis around.

“That’s nice, Mom. So do we,” I replied. Louis snickered from beside me.

“I know you do, Gianna,” she said as she wiggled her eyebrows with a laugh. “Is he good in bed? Tell your mommy.”

“That’s enough, Mom. Goodnight,” I went to shut the door but she called my name again. I pushed the door back open and waited for her to speak.

“Let him, Gianna. Let him treat you right. You need him.”

“I know, Mom. I know,” I bowed my head a bit and let out a sigh. I could feel Louis shifting beside me. “Goodnight, I love you.”

“I love you, too, sweetie. More than anything.” Her head fell against the pillow as she fell into her drunken slumber. It was going to suck for her to wake up in a few hours to leave. I had never seen my mother drunk, and it was awesome to see, but I was really glad that I didn’t have to see her with a hangover.

“Thanks for sticking around,” I said once we entered my bedroom.

“Of course,” Louis laughed. “That was very entertaining.”

I agreed with him but soon fell short in my slight laughter. I was certain that Louis was going to bring up what my mom said about Harry, and I was afraid of how to handle it. I didn’t even know how to handle it when my mom brought him up. I don’t know what everybody saw us as, but for some reason people were starting to think we were something more than friends. Which, I guess we were, kind of, but we didn’t act that way in front of other people.

“Your mom is right,” Louis finally said. “Harry could treat you right. He’s had a rough past with girls, and he hasn’t always been the greatest to them, but with he’s different. But, I do have to disagree with your mom on one thing she said.”

“What’s that?”

“I think Harry needs you more than you need him.”

I just nodded, unsure of what Louis was talking about. I wanted to question him further, but I was just far too tired to go along with it. “So,” I said, trying to change the subject. “Party tomorrow night? Just a small one. Mostly just us.”

Louis’s eyes lit up. “Hell yes! It’ll be more of a kick back than a party. It’ll be fucking awesome!” Louis gave me a big hug. “I really gotta get home. Goodnight, Gianna. Love you.” He kissed my cheek and left the room.

I was too tired to even change out of my clothes, so I just collapsed onto my bed the way I was and tried to go to sleep. It was almost two in the morning and I had to be getting up for school in four hours. I tried so hard to let my body succumb to the sleep, but my eyes wouldn’t stay shut.

I thought about life. I thought about Josh, and everything he had done to me. I thought about how happy I was around Harry, and how Louis said he could treat me right. Surely I knew that was true; he already made me feel so appreciated and beautiful just in the short couple of months that we had really known each other. I thought about what Louis had said about him needing me more than I needed him. I wanted to write it off as nothing, but I couldn’t stop rolling the idea over in my head. Louis did say something about how I gave him more of a purpose, but it just didn’t make sense. What was it about me that could make Harry be this way? We were both slowly transforming into better forms of ourselves. With him, I feel appreciated and alive, and when he’s with me, he’s so comfortable and protective. It didn’t make sense. We didn’t make sense.

-

“Gianna.” There was a shaking of my shoulders. “Gianna, wake up, we’re going to be late for school.”

I opened my eyes just a bit to see Harry hovering over me. I shot up and looked at the clock. It was seven fifteen. How had I over slept? How did Harry get in the house? I sighed and laid my head back down on my pillow. I must have forgotten to set my alarm since I was so preoccupied with my drunk mother and racing thoughts.

“How did you get inside?” I asked.

“The door was unlocked. I came in after I tried calling you and you didn’t answer. I…I got worried.”

I smiled a bit. “Did you wait long?”

“Nah, only like five minutes. But you’re usually already waiting outside. I guess I kind of overreacted.”

I blindly held out my hand and searched for his face while keeping my head buried, face down, in my pillow. I found his face and cupped it in my hand before slowly dragging it down his face. I could feel the slightly scruff on his face tickling my hand.

“Lou told me about your drunk mother when he got home,” Harry laughed a bit as he pushed his face into my hand. He kissed my palm. “You’re probably tired from staying up so late.”

Harry pulled his face from my hand and shuffled around on the bed next to me. I heard him slip off his shoes. He laid down next to me, lifted his head to remove his hat, and then bent over my kiss my cheek. I turned so that I was facing him. I opened my eyes and saw that he was looking right back at mine.

“Your eyes make me warm,” I said, half-asleep.

He reached out to wipe the smudged makeup from underneath my eyes. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he continued to caress my face with the pad of his thumb.

“I take it we’re not going to school?” I somewhat asked as Harry crawled under the blankets. “Come here,” I said as I tried to pull Harry closer to me.

He scooted over and put his arm around the top of my head. I snuggled into his side, just under his arm. He curved it around me and placed several kisses on my forehead. My eyes shut and I was able to fall back to sleep with Harry’s heartbeat as my lullaby.

Notes

Well, Gianna's mom knows a little bit about Harry and Gianna.
And Louis is starting to catch on...

Stay with me to find out what eventually happens :))