All Again

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
BECCA

Then.

He talked in his sleep.
Very quietly and jumbled.
Long after we had sex a second time and fell asleep, he remained on top of me.
He was heavy but I couldn't imagine him being anywhere else.
Between his light grumbles, light snore, and amazing scent and warmth, I didn't want him to ever move. Every now and then, he would shift or turn his head, but he didn't remove his arm from around my body.
I lied awake, long after he slept, just tracing his skin and watching the infomercials that played on the TV in front of us.
I could see the world waking around us and the moment the night turned to light, but I didn't close my eyes.
I just wanted to imprint the moment.
My thoughts kept running the same loop; he was going back to London.
Back to his other life and this was all ending soon.
I could feel it.
How many days did I have with him?
He hadn't really specified the day he would be leaving, but I knew his tour resumed early the next month so it was soon.
I had two weeks at most and even that was pushing it.
I liked him.Really.
Really, really liked him.
I liked him more than I had ever liked another guy.
Maybe I was even falling in love.
Well no...
That would be too much. And I didn't want to think about any of that yet.
As the infomercials turned back to standard TV and a sitcom began, my phone began to buzz on the mantle. By now it was 6am.
Removing one hand from under Harry, I reached for my phone.
The percentage was low and it would be dying soon.
It dawned on me that I needed to start carrying my charger if I was going to keep spending the night with Harry.
I typed in my password, thankful my keys were on silent, and brought the phone above Harry's head.
There was a new text from my Mother.
*Where are you?*
*Friend's house* I texted back, careful not to move too much for Harry to awake.
*Which friend?*
I stalled.
She didn't know everyone I hung out with, but my mother knew me well. I wasn't the sleepover at random friends type. If it wasn't Kelsey or the other girls I grew up with, then something would be up.
*Janine* I said finally. We had attended high school together, and though we didn't spend that much time together because of our schedules, it would be believable.
*When will you be home?*
I didn't know. I had to work at 3pm, and had been planning on spending the majority of my day with Harry.
*Do you need me home?* I asked instead.
*Yes. Be here by 9. I need your help with something*
I rolled my eyes. Why was she doing this to me?
*Is it with the store? Because I'm working later and I can do it then.*
*No.* she said and then, *9. No later.*
*Fine. Phone dying. I'll be there.*
I didn't wait for her to respond before turning my phone completely off.
I tossed it on the mantle in frustration.
Harry shifted a bit, but didn't wake up.
It was always me.
I was always the one she recruited for special projects.
God forbid she ever bother Taylor who never did anything but sit in her room and text, or lie on the couch pigging out watching shows.
God forbid the precious favorite be interrupted from her life of doing nothing.
I rolled my eyes. I hated being the oldest.
I rested my head back on my pillow and closed my eyes. My eyes were a bit heavy and I knew I would be exhausted by the afternoon but it was still worth it.
I gave Harry a gentle kiss on his head and relaxed. Shutting my eyes for a few minutes wouldn't be so bad.
When I opened them again, it was only because I felt Harry move away from me.
The heat from his body left me and the cold draft hit my nude body.
My eyes met his instantly. He was looking down at me and grinning boyishly.
"I'm sorry." he said. His voice was extra deep and rugged from his sleep and cold.
"It's okay." I mumbled.
"Good Morning." he said, leaning and giving me a quick kiss on my lips before turning and flipping his legs over the bed.
"How did you sleep?" he asked.
I watched as he bent down to grab his boxers and I shifted, turning to look at the clock. It was 8:02am.
Shit. I guess I had fallen back asleep for two hours.
I sat up instantly.
"Harry I have to go!" I said quickly.
"Huh?" he said turning to me in confusion.
I hopped up, jumping out of the bed on the other side. I grabbed my underwear and threw them on quickly.
"I have to go." I repeated, as I picked up my bra next.
"Go where?" he asked pulling up his own boxer briefs.
"My mom said I have to be home by nine."
He looked past me and looked at the clock.
"You're not going to make it." he said lightly.
"I know." I said. "Shit!"
I reached for my shirt and jeans, quickly shimming them on.
"Why? What's going on at nine?" he asked.
"I don't know. She texted me early this morning saying she needed me for something."
Placing a hand in his hair, he looked around his room.
I could tell he was thinking of a solution.
"Well..." he said. "You didn't drive here. I still need to take you to your car." he quickly reminded.
I had forgotten about that. That would delay me even more.
"Can you text her?" he asked. "I can try to get you to your car by 9:15...the latest? I know some backroads."
"I'm going to have too."
"Kay." he said and moved towards his bathroom, mimicking my rushed actions.
I felt immediately bad.
"Harry?" I called and he turned.
"I'm sorry." I said.
His expression told me he was still waking up, but he gave me a sheepish smile.
"I'll be less than five minutes." he said going into his bathroom.
I picked up my phone, turning it on, and saw I was at 7%. My phone would be dying very quickly.
I went to my mom's contact and sent her a quick text.
*Mom, running behind with traffic. Be there as soon as I can*
Once more I didn't wait for her reply and turned my phone back off.
Harry came out of the bathroom seconds later and headed for his dresser. His toothbrush hung out of his mouth and he had already pulled his hair up.
He looked deliciously handsome in the morning.
I inwardly cursed my mom for not letting me get one more time to touch that. I was sure she had delayed some more mind blowing sex.
I sighed in frustration.
"Can I use a towel?" I asked him as he pulled a shirt out of one of his drawers.
He nodded and pointed to the bathroom.
I went in there and he followed behind me.
He removed his toothbrush and went in a small cabinet. Handing me a towel, he then turned and finished brushing his teeth.
He had a double sink, so I went to the other side and began to wet the towel.
"Did you text her?" he asked.
I nodded.
He spit out his toothpaste and then threw on his shirt.
"Can I use your toothpaste?"
"Sure." he said and left the room.
I quickly rubbed my face with the towel and then reached for his toothpaste. Placing a slither on my hand, I brought it to my mouth and began to brush my teeth, the 'walk of shame' way.
Harry came back in the room, fully dressed and watched me in amusement.
I fought a smile as he watched me curiously.
After I was done, I ran the water and rinsed my mouth.
"I do have extra toothbrushes you know." he said. "You could have used one."
"No I like this method best." I said with a playful smile.
He shook his head, chuckling to himself.
It dawned on me what he said suddenly.
"Why do you have extra toothbrushes? Have a lot of female company?" I asked.
"No." he emphasized, narrowing his eyes. "From tour. I always find them in my bag when I get home."
"Oh so they're used toothbrushes?"
"Some. What does it matter?" he asked.
He had a point. We had swapped many different fluids since we had met.
"It doesn't." I said finally.
"Are you ready?" he asked. "I'm done."
I scanned him and finally took him in.
His phone was now in his hand and I could see the imprint of his car keys in his pocket.
"You're fast." I said walking past him.
"I'm use to being on the go."
I grabbed my things and we headed downstairs.
"I'm sorry again." I said. "I don't mean to be an inconvenience."
"You're not." he said behind me on the steps. "But you are going to miss my famous French Toast."
I turned and groaned.
"Really? Not fair."
He smiled as we reached the bottom of the steps. He grabbed my hand and kissed it.
"I'll make it for you tomorrow if you come back and stay tonight."
"Deal." I said widely.
He smiled back, patting my butt and then we were off.
"Let's take the Mercedes." he said.
I looked at his vintage white car in the distance.
"Top down?" he asked as we walked towards it.
I nodded yes. I had seen this car in pictures and had always wondered what it was like to ride in it.
As I climbed in, I smelled the smooth leather.
"What year is this?" I asked.
"1968." he said proudly. "Do you like classic cars?"
"I love them. My dad use to restore them when I was younger."
"Cool." he said starting the car.
He put the top down, and then we were on the road.
While we drove, I listened to the radio and Harry talked to his assistant. I was on edge because it was the first time we were out publicly- without the careful constraints of his roof, and the walls of a crowded restaurant. I was afraid my picture would finally be snapped.
As he drove I kept a careful eye on my surroundings.
Harry patted my leg to calm me down.
"Babe, chill."
"I can't." I said. "I feel like we're on display."
Harry smirked, but didn't reply- not immediately.
I continued to study everything.
"You know Becca...you're going to have to be seen eventually." he said casually. "You shouldn't worry too much."
It was so different from his worry a few weeks earlier.
"But you said your fans-"
"Oh they will." he said cutting me off. "But we're friends and I'm sure you're going to be with me a bit. I can't hide you forever...just promise you wont go to the press and talk about what we do...or when it ends."
"I wouldn't do that." I said.
"I know but...I have to say it."
I turned from him.
No he didn't.
I was the last person he had to worry about.
I was the queen of keeping my relationships secret, mainly because I never knew what was completely going on with them. It had been years since I had a real relationship.
"Maybe you should tell your family though," he continued. "And your best friend so they're not so surprised. I mean...they won't go to the press either will they?"
"No." I said. "But, I don't want that conversation yet."
"Why?" he asked, taking turns watching me and the road.
I grew quiet.
I didn't want to say because I knew it wasn't going to last. I probably shouldn't have, but a few days earlier I had watched a video of the '15 Girls That Harry Styles has Dated' and cringed. It seemed many of his dalliances didn't last, and after they ended, the girls were never to be seen again with him. I was going to be one of those girls, and I figured it would probably be easier to just keep everything to myself so I wouldn't have to relive everything with my family and friends down the road.
That could be worst then losing him.
I picked at the fabric in my jeans.
"I just don't." I answered simply and he turned from me.
"Well that's fine." he said. "But you can't hide me forever either Becca. I won't be your dirty little secret." he said with a smile and I grinned.
We made it to my car at 9:15am on the dot, and I thanked Harry again.
"It's okay." he reassured me.
I leaned and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.
"I'll call you later."
"Alright." he said. "If I don't answer right away it's because I'm at the studio."
"Kay." I said and climbed out. "Drive safe!"
I made it to my car, and drove like a speed demon all the way home.
When I made it through the door at 9:50am, my Mother was not happy.
"What took you so long?" She asked as I walked in the doorway. She was already there waiting for me.
"Traffic." I said shutting the door behind me.
"Janine lives less than a half hour from us, so what's your new excuse?"
I sighed. "Mom what's the big deal? I'm here. And I saw Taylor's car outside...couldn't she help you with whatever it is?"
"No she couldn't. Besides I asked you."
She quickly crossed her arms.
"Yeah at 6 in the morning. How did you even know I was up?"
"I didn't. I called myself giving you enough time to get here, which obviously didn't work because you're still an hour late."
I rolled my eyes. "Well if you bothered to ask Taylor once and a while, we wouldn't have that problem would we..." I mumbled to myself.
I felt my mom cut her eyes at me and I knew I was in trouble.
As I looked back at her, I knew I was in for it.
"You know what, just go in the living room. How 'bout that?" she said sternly, done with the conversation.
I didn't reply and did as she said, ready to hear the long spiel about being responsible and how I had messed up her stupid special project.
I rounded the corner and instantly jumped.
I saw not one, not two, not three and four, but five of my closest friends sitting in the living room.
"What's going on?" I asked as my Mother came behind me and my Dad seconds later.
"Happy Birthday!" Kelsey called out.
"What?" I asked in confusion.
I took in the girls and their bags and their outfits. In some other world, they must have been headed to a club soon.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"The girls are taking you to Las Vegas for the weekend for your birthday." My father explained, standing beside my Mother.
I quickly turned to him in confusion.
"My birthday is on Wednesday." I said. It was Friday, May fifteenth.
"We know idiot. We got a hotel." Kelsey said.
"That we need to be checked in to by one." my other friend Jennifer threw out.
"Well if she would have been on time, we wouldn't have to worry about that would we?" my Mother said behind me. Her tone was stern like before, but this time she wore a smile.
I needed to process.
"Wait a minute, wait...what is going on?" I asked in confusion. "We're going to Vegas?" I asked to clarify.
"We're going to Vegas!" The girls screamed in excitement.
I shook my head in disbelief.
"It's Billboard weekend and we thought since you did so well these last couple of semesters-" My Dad began.
"And you've been really helpful with the stores...we'd do something nice for you," my Mother finished. "So go. Your bag is already packed and everything."
"And I'm covering your shifts. So, appreciate it." Taylor said coming out of the back room.
"Where are we staying?"
"The Palms." My Mom said. "One of the Penthouses, so don't waste it."
Oh my gosh.
"We have set money aside for this. I'm borrowing from my equity line," My father pointed out quickly upon seeing my face. "So be responsible please. We don't want any phone calls."
"You won't get any!" I said quickly and rushed to hug them. All of them.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I said to everyone.
I was going to Vegas!
But I really needed a shower. I hadn't had one since before my shift the previous day.
"Give me ten minutes!" I said darting up the stairs.
Throwing off my clothes, I hopped in the shower and washed up as quick as I could.
When I got out of the shower, my mother was once again waiting in my room.
I gave her a wide smile.
"Thanks so much Mom." I said moving around the room getting dressed. "This is so amazing."
"Don't thank me yet." she said dryly sitting on my bed.
I lotioned up while she looked back at me.
"What's up?" I asked.
"You lied to me." she said. "You told me you were at Janine's."
My eyes grew wide. Janine was downstairs and she had been downstairs the entire time. My lie was out in the open and spread completely across the room.
"Um," I bit my lip. I needed to think of a quick lie.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"Um..." Harry's words from the car were in my thoughts, but I couldn't tell them yet. "I was with a friend."
"What friend? Because the majority of your friends are downstairs, and they have been most of this morning."
"You don't know him." I said and then realized my slip.
"Him?" she asked curiously. "You've been spending the night with a boy these last few days?"
I swallowed and didn't answer.
My parents knew I was no virgin, but we didn't discuss things like this; especially when it was so blatantly obvious it was going on. After all, girls don't just spend the night with boys.
"Who is he?" she asked seriously.
"Just some guy I'm seeing."
"I didn't know you were seeing anyone."
Her tone remained tight and dry.
"It's not serious." I said. "Just...we're having fun."'
I could tell by her face she didn't like that expression.
"So your fuck buddies?" she asked reading between my words.
"Mom!" I said at her crass words.
"What?" she asked simply. "I was your age once too. I know you're not innocent. Besides... it seems that way to me since you've been sneaking out. You haven't brought him over here... You must be ashamed of your own behavior."
I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
"I haven't been sneaking out." I said honestly. "And...he's not a...ya know..."
I didn't curse in front of my parents.
"Then what is he? Your boyfriend?"
"No. We're something...I just...we haven't really defined it in depth yet. It just started."
"But you're sure you're dating?"
"Yes." I said. "You must think your daughter is a complete slut."
She ignored me, and continued.
"What's his name?"
I sighed, throwing on some shorts and a top. "Mom I really don't want to get into this now."
"I don't care if you do or don't. Where have you been staying?"
"At his house and his name is Harry."
"His house? With his parents? They don't care that you've been spending the night?"
"He has his own place."
Her eyes grew wide.
"How old is this boy?"
"Mom jeez-" I began.
"Hey birthday girl!" Kelsey said suddenly, popping her head in the door."You ready? We need to get on the road."
I was so thankful for her distraction.
My mother turned to Kelsey. "She almost is. But...Ms.Cahoots, how long have you known about this guy?"
"Guy?" Kelsey asked in confusion.
"Yeah. The one she's been sneaking to see. I know you know about him." she said.
"Yeah." Kelsey said after a moment. "But she's been quiet about it...hey wait, did you meet him or something?" Kelsey cut her 'betrayed' eyes at me.
"No." My mother said. "I just found out about him, whoever the hell he is."
I sighed. She was being too dramatic about this.
She was angry and I could tell, but she didn't need to worry this much about it.
This was not something that was going to last.
My mother pointed her finger at me.
"We're not done talking about this. I want details. Lots of them. But when you get back. You guys need to get on the road."
"Are you going to tell Dad?" I asked quickly.
My father didn't react well to me and boys. It had taken him nearly a year to get use to my first love.
"I don't even have enough information to tell your father." she threw back.
She was right.
She moved her eyes between me and Kelsey.
"Be safe girls. And I better get no phone calls." she warned.
Kelsey smiled. "Yes Ma'am."
My mother gave me one final glance and then she left the room. When she left, me and Kelsey exchanged a look.
"Well someone's in trouble." Kelsey said immediately.
I smiled. "Seems like it."
I moved around the room grabbing last minute things. It seemed my mom was right when she said all my things were already packed. As I moved around, looking for stuff I loved, I was finding most of it was missing.
"Don't worry. I got everything." Kelsey said and sat on my bed. "But hey?"
I turned to her.
"Were you with Henry last night?"
I nodded yes.
Henry...Shit, I had told my mom his real name.
"You little slut." she said with a cheeky grin. "Getting it in every night aren't you?"
I playfully sighed and threw my pillow at her.
"Stop it!"
"Is it good?" she asked standing. "It must be amazing because-"
I placed my hands over my ears and headed out of the room.
"La, La, La" I began to sing while she followed behind me taunting me.
By the time we made it downstairs, we were both laughing and ready to start our trip.
I gave my parents and sister hugs and kisses, and then I was off!
As we hopped on the highway in my friend's SUV, I shot Harry a quick text.
*So I've been kidnapped. Heading to Las Vegas for the next few days. I'm going to have to miss out once again on the delicious French Toast. :(*
*Your loss. :) Vegas? Why? And by who?*
*My friends. My parents and friends surprised me with a penthouse suite and tickets to the Billboard show for my birthday. Super excited!*
*It's your birthday? Why didn't you tell me! And that's great love! Maybe I'll see you *
*That's right, you are nominated! And hopefully. BTW, birthday is not today...it's the 20th.*
* Well you still didn't tell me! When do you get back? I'll take you out.*
*No you will not. :P And the 21st.*
*That sucks. You know I leave around that time right?*
My heart instantly sunk. I had no idea.
*I thought you said two weeks?* I texted him quickly.
*It will have been two weeks. I think. Either way I can't push it back. I'm flying out with friends and family*
I didn't respond right away. I didn't know what to say.
I couldn't believe my time with him was already up.
All around me the girls were talking and giggling, but my mood was suddenly affected.
Was it bad that I was considering telling them to turn around so I could have more time with him?
My phone buzzed.
*It sucks, but we'll figure it out. I do want to take you out for your birthday, so set some time aside for when you get back if i'm still here. Even if its something quick, I want to do something for you.* he texted.
I still couldn't think of actual words to say, so I just said *Okay*
I sunk back in my seat and rested my head on the headrest. I was riding shotgun, and had a front row seat to all the desert scenery, but I didn't care.
My mind and thoughts were on Harry and how everything was about to change.
I wasn't ready for it.
*Have fun.* Harry texted. *I'm headed to the studio, so text me when you can. I'll have my phone off and on.*
Once more I sent a simple *Okay*
The entire mood was ruined.
Suddenly the Palms Hotel during Billboard weekend didn't seem so appealing.
I would have preferred to be with him.
He's lingering again... my thoughts warned.
I didn't even care.
Tossing my phone beside me, I closed my eyes and tried to zone out.
I was heading to Vegas, and maybe I could see him in a few days.
Maybe the night of the show, we could meet up afterwards and I could get my temporary fix.
Otherwise, I was on the way to a long and cold withdraw and it sucked.

Notes