All Again

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX
BECCA

Then

I awoke to a mass of brown curls in my face.
A hand on my stomach.
Small warm breaths on my skin.
Mumbles and grumbles from the British lad laid across me and a loud hotel alarm.
Memories of last night were hazy.
Jack and Harry. Tequila. Their drunken antics, and Harry’s Norway show.
Today we had a mild day ahead of us, and as I looked at the clock that read 7:32am, I knew I still wasn’t ready.
I had only had a few hours of sleep.
“What the hell is that?” Harry moaned, lifting his head.
“The alarm.” I said, as if the noise didn’t already give itself away.
My eyes caught his briefly as he reached and hit the alarm with his long arm.
Within seconds he collapsed back on top of me, and his hands wrapped around me, and I felt him press his face on top of my stomach, going back to sleep.
“We have to get up.” I said gently.
“No.” he mumbled, muffled in my skin.
I smiled.
“Babe it’s after seven.”
We were to be on a private plane back to London around 10am.
“Ten more minutes.” he said.
“Harry-” I began, but was interrupted.
Further in the room, I heard the famous unlock click of an Iphone.
Glancing to my right, I saw Harry’s close friend Jack turning on his phone, and rubbing his eyes. He was on the hotel couch a few feet from us.
I had briefly forgotten we weren’t alone.
Seemed Harry did too.
His skin was bare on top of mine, and as he suddenly rolled off of me, I quickly reached for the cover to shield myself.
I was far from naked, but it was a respect thing.
Harry’s friend didn’t need to goggle at my wife beater and shorts.
“Fuck…” Harry muttered beside me, sitting up.
His hair was wild and his loose curls were tangled.
“I feel like I haven’t gotten any sleep.”
“You haven’t.” I reminded him. We had both been asleep for three hours.
His hazy green eyes looked back at mine.
“Jesus,” he groaned again. “Why the hell did you let me drink?”
I just smiled, as he looked at me sheepishly and pouty.
Grumpy Harry was a new one for me.
Jack stood in the room and headed for the bathroom, briefly acknowledging us. Harry grumbled a ‘hey’ and plopped back on the pillow.
Raising his hands to his face to yawn, he was all man as I took in the armpit hair, muscles, dozens of tattoos sprinkling his chest, and the small morning wood in his pants.
I patted his stomach affectionately and then took advantage of the moment.
The moment that bathroom door closed, I climbed out of the bed.
Harry pulled his hands down and watched me. I moved by my bag and grabbed my robe.
“I feel like my head is going to explode.” he whined.
“Bad headache?” I asked going over to him.
“Bad hangover.” he clarified. He rolled his body, and reached for me as I neared him.
I sat on the edge of the bed beside him, and he wrapped a hand around my waist, pulling me down.
Within seconds, I was pinned underneath him horizontally.
His lips brushed my forehead.
My hands went to his loose hair, gently massaging his scalp. His curls were getting longer and longer by the day and fanning over his face.
“Give me a remedy.” he said.
I smiled, looking into his foggy green eyes. “Like what?”
He smirked, boyishly. “You can start with a kiss.”
I smiled as he leaned down and teased my mouth briefly with his. He quickly undid my robe.
His hands moved down by my panties, and he settled in the sweet spot between my legs. He seemed to get renewed energy, cupping me.
“Jack.” I reminded him with a whisper.
“He’s pissing, and probably puking.”
His mouth moved down to my neck as his hands rubbed my intimate area.
“Nice mental image.” I said and Harry smiled against my skin.
His lifted his head and his green eyes locked on mine.
He moved a piece of hair from my face.
“They look greener today.” he said. “Your eyes.”
“Hmm? Like yours baby?” I questioned softly.
“No.” he said, and his lips moved back to my neck. He started leaving gentle pecks.
“Kind of like a sparkling green apple, or like the leaves you see after the winter, ya know, when spring is starting…”
I instantly brought his head back up with my hand and looked at my curious poet.
What?
He smiled lazily at his own metaphors.
“I think I’m still drunk.” he whispered. His words melted together and it sure sounded that way.
I giggled.
“Come on, give me a remedy.” he groaned.
I pulled his face back to mine, and just as before, we kissed.
This time I deepened it, and as his lips began to trail downward, Jack opened the bathroom door.
I immediately tensed, but Harry acted quickly and picked up a pillow, throwing it at Jack.
“You’re not done pissing. And you see nothing! Get back in the bathroom!” he demanded.
Jack and I both laughed as he disappeared quickly, and as Harry continued his playful assault.
“You are so silly!” I scolded and Harry remained buried between my legs, just placing soft kisses.
A couple minutes later, Jack came back out, and this time Harry went in.
While he was in there, and I sorted through my luggage, Jack came over to me.
“So last night was fun?”
I looked up at him and smiled.
“It was.”
“I think you’re the only one without a stupid headache this morning.”
“I think you’re right.” I said. “It’s all good over here.”
I gestured to my body.
He smiled.
I picked up a t-shirt and began to fold it, readying my last minute things.
“So how long have you guys been-”
I looked back up as he began.
“Ya know,” Jack asked, finishing his sentence. “Hanging out? Harry said a bit.”
“Not long.” I reiterated. “Couple months.”
“Do you really like him?”
I looked at him in curiosity. I immediately felt it was a weird question for him to ask me.
After all, who knew guys even asked this stuff? My understanding was guys typically didn’t care about their buddies and their relationships.
I shrugged casually.
“Of course. You know how Harry is. He’s a loveable guy.”
He nodded yes.
“Yeah but that’s not what I mean.”
We locked eyes.
“Why are you asking?” I asked instead.
This time he shrugged casually. “No reason. Just being nosy I guess.”
I turned away from him.
“I’ve known him a long time.” he reminded me.
“I can tell.” I reassured. Between the stories yesterday and what Harry told me before he came, I knew they had known each other at least eight years.
“He deserves someone good.” he said suddenly. “Ya know, someone who will have his best interests at heart….Harry‘s one of the good ones ya know?”
I just gave a small smile because I didn’t know how I was suppose to respond.
Of course he was, yet this all sounded like a warning suddenly, and I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.
“Just keep that in mind…okay?” he asked, and I didn’t respond.
He turned away from me, and the conversation was suddenly over.
I went back to folding my clothes but the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.
Jack didn’t say another word to me.
When Harry came back out of the bathroom, he was still half clothed, but much more refreshed then before.
His hair was pulled back and I could faintly smell his aftershave.
Me and Jack both focused on him- the link that brought us all together.
“Are you gonna shower hun?” Harry asked me immediately, watching me sort my stuff.
He knew me well.
“Yeah. I shouldn’t take too long.”
“No worries.” he said waving me away. “We’ll give you your space.”
Harry moved to his bag and threw on a quick shirt while he and Jack locked eyes.
“Oh we’re leaving?” Jack questioned.
“Yeah.” Harry said. “Let’s give her a minute. Go downstairs and get something to eat. I‘ve seen this a few times before. This room is about to become very girly with her things.”
I smiled. “Whatever.”
Harry smiled back.
“I’ll have room service bring you something up.” Harry promised.
I nodded okay again and Harry gave me a quick kiss. Then the boys were gone.
I quickly worked my way through my shower and blow-drying my hair, and the boys quickly worked their way through their meal.
They were back before I even had time to miss them, and they took turns dressing in the bathroom.
By 8:55am, we had our bags and were all set to go.
Jack was taking different means of transportation, so as we stood in the hallway waiting on the other 1D boys, me and Harry were alone.
“Are you feeling any better?” I asked.
He was leaned against the hotel wall, texting someone.
He pulled his sunglasses that were resting on his head, over his eyes, and looked at me.
“Little bit. I took an Excedrin so I should be brand new soon.”
“Kay.” I said with slight worry. I didn’t like to see him in pain and I could tell his head was actually bothering him.
Still, as always, his focus was not on his-self but on others.
“Did you need anything before the flight? Do we need to make any drug store stops?” he asked.
I shook my head no. “You?”
“Just need some sleep.”
“I’m with you.”
“Well Good Morning guys!”
We both turned as Liam appeared in the hallway.
“Hey.” I said warmly.
“Hi.” Harry said quietly.
Niall followed seconds later, coming out of his own room.
His carry-on was draped on his shoulder.
“Good Morning!” he echoed.
I smiled.
Seemed everyone was in a good mood today.
Niall came over, standing beside me, while Liam lifted Harry’s sunglasses.
“What’s up with you Styles?” he teased.
“I didn’t get any sleep.” he mumbled, and then swatted him away. “And don’t touch me.”
His tone was serious, yet playful, and Liam purposely touched him again.
They jokingly pushed each other until Louis came out, and then security all took us downstairs.
“You gonna be with us the next few days?” Niall asked as we headed downstairs and walked through the lobby. He was walking beside me since Harry was further in the distance on the phone. Whoever he seemed to be texting, had now called him.
“For the shows?” I questioned.
“No the promotion stuff. We have that launch coming up and then the campaign.”
I shrugged. “I guess.”
Though it was the first time I had heard about it.
Harry wasn’t too vocal about his schedule and it was kind of assumed at this point that I was just going to tag along.
“How long are you actually staying?” Niall asked.
“Couple more days. I have to be back in California by the 30th. My family is going to Mexico for the fourth.”
By now, it was June 20th and the month had quickly got away from us.
“Independence Day?” Niall questioned.
“Yeah. Family vacation. We do one yearly.”
“Does Harry know?”
I nodded yes.
“I’m shocked he agreed.” Niall said and I looked at him in confusion.
He smiled. “ It’s just at this point, I don’t think he can function without you.”
I smiled back and didn’t respond.
He seemed to be functioning quite well.
I looked ahead in the distance and Harry was still focused on his call, not giving anyone else a second thought.
As we loaded our separate vans, I waved bye to the other guys, specifically Niall since he was the only one really talking to me, and climbed in the seat beside Harry.
His accent coated the near silent car.
“Well I’ll have to let you know when I get back in town….it‘s in a couple weeks.”
His green eyes fell on mine as he continued his conversation, then moved around the car, taking in the logistics going on around him.
“Yeah I’m going, but I don’t know. It really just depends on how everything falls ya know?” he continued.
As he spoke, I focused on his rings that he never seemed to take off and his freshly painted finger nail.
He had done it a few days earlier as a joke, and it had stuck. Both of his index fingers were painted a bright eye popping red.
The car was starting to move, and outside of the radios of security, and Harry’s voice, the car was silent.
It felt like I was eavesdropping.
“Alright well I’ll text you in a bit; I’m headed to the airport and I‘m not alone.”
He turned back to me and gave me a small smile.
“Kay…” he said into the phone. “Alright, call Glenne she probably knows.”
I turned away from him again.
“Yup….kay…bye Kendall.” he said and I instantly turned back to him, feeling his eyes still on me.
He hung up his call.
“Sorry.” he said.
“No problem.”
He pushed his phone in his jacket and rested his head back against the seat. “I’m so ready to be back at the house…and sleeping.” he added.
I just gave a small smile again, knowing exactly how he felt.
When we arrived at the airport twenty minutes later, we took a private entrance and boarded the private planes.
Niall rode with us like usual, as well as Lottie and Lou this time.
I kept myself busy playing with my sister’s Nintendo DS, while Harry slept.
When we finally arrived back to the Heathrow airport, we all separated, and Harry and I took our private car back to his residence. On the ride, he kept himself occupied once more with his phone.
He texted right beside me, and I was a little curious who he was talking too.
London time was a little past noon, and if he was talking to someone in the States, realistically, they would just be getting up.
Still with Harry you just never knew. Nothing was as it always seemed with him and the ‘Kendall’ slip was playing on my mind.
I was well aware of their rumored fling years (or was it months?) earlier and didn’t even know they were friends still. Surely it could have been any Kendall in the world, but something told me the chances were slim.
“Do we need anything when we get back to the house?” Harry invaded my thoughts suddenly. “Any things we were missing?” he questioned aloud.
“No.” I answered turning to him, shaking away thoughts of any other women.
“We didn’t need cheese, eggs or milk?” he questioned, giving me his full attention.
I shook my head no again.
“What about that almond milk that we liked. Did we drink that all up?” he asked and I smirked at him. Whether he realized it or not, he was making the conversation very domestic, as if we lived together permanently or something.
“No we should be all good.” I said. “I think the fridge is still pretty stocked.”
He moved closer to me, resting against the seat.
“Cool. I think I’m going to barbecue tomorrow though. Get some burgers and hot dogs. Would you like that?” he asked turning back to me.
“Yeah I’d love it.” I said honestly. I could go for a good old fashioned barbecue, especially since I was going to be missing my normal one for independence day.
“Well we’d probably have to go to Tesco tonight or the Hampstead butcher that I go too. Would that be okay?”
“Yeah sure.”
“Great, we’ll go after we get some sleep.” Harry said, looking back in his phone. His fingers started taping again and his phone pinged with a new message.
Deeply concentrating, it was clear he was texting someone again.
Curiosity got the best of me.
“Who are you texting?” I finally asked.
Harry looked up at me and then smiled.
“What?”
“Who are you texting?” I asked again. My voice had a hint of jealously, though I tried to swallow it down.
I couldn’t help it though. Harry just knew too many people, and the thought of him having regular conversations with women- and as I had discovered today, exes- was not something I was comfortable with.
He smiled wider and tilted his head.
“My London girlfriend.” he said not missing a beat. “Her name’s Marissa if you must know.”
I instantly cut my eyes at him feeling a wave of jealously and anger take over my throat, hands, face-
He laughed.
“God you’re so easy…I’m just kidding! It’s no one important.” he said a second later.
He kept his eyes on me. “But…Why?”
“No reason.” I said turning away from him and wiping away invisible lent. I was trying to hide from that new curious stare.
He continued smiling, amused at my small jealously.
“It’s not a girl either.” He offered.
“I never thought it was.” I said looking back at him, though it was a lie.
“Good. Cuz you don’t need to worry.” he said with an amused grin.
“I’m not.”
“Are you sure?” he teased. “You’ve never really taken an interest in my phone before.”
“I’m positive.” I said turning from him, now feeling foolish that I had even asked. He obviously like the thought that I could be jealous, and he didn’t let up that he was delighted.
“You’re sure?” he teased again and I looked back at him. “Want to check my phone?”
“I’m fine.” I reassured.
“Absolutely sure? You don’t want to-”
“If you don’t shut the hell up Styles!” I said finally smiling back.
He laughed again.
“Fine…well, good.” he said. His deep British accent made the words sound slightly funny.
“Good.” I said mimicking him with my own small smile.
He gave me his own look before surprising me and reaching for me.
He pulled me to him and tickled me.
“Stop!” I squealed as he attacked me in the backseat.
“I’ve told you about mocking me.” he warned, placing kisses on my neck, as his hands tickled various parts of my stomach, sides and legs.
“Punk.” I said when I finally managed to get him off of me.
He went back to his place in the car and picked up his phone again, resuming his message.
“’Rissa says hi.” he said a second later.
I kicked him with my shoe in protest and he laughed.
“Oh Becca…” he just said.
I was still curious.

Notes

I'm back guys. I'm sorry i was gone so long. Between computer issues, trying to move, starting a new job etc... i just haven't had the time. Please enjoy the five new chapters i am posting today for you!