"I can't wait to see this." I remarked as Paisley sat in the passenger seat beside me.

"What?" She chuckled.

"I just can't wait to see you at a party." I smirked.

"Well, Harry Styles, I think I'll be just fine." She proudly said, her head held high. Although I wouldn't want to tell her this, but she was already way off. I'd noticed that she liked to call me by my full name occasionally.

Paisley had pranced out to my car wearing a flowy skirt that went just above her knee and a white lace top. She looked nice, but she would definitely stand out from the girls with skin-tight outfits and their whole chest exposed.

Besides the fact of the way she's dressed, I can already tell this whole scene should be interesting. Paisley's just too much of a goody-goody to be at one of these parties. I was shocked when she asked me to take her to one. It's probably against my better judgement to bring her to one of these, but since when do I do the right thing?

"So do you know everyone that will be there?" Paisley asked.

"Most of my friends will probably be there but I won't know everyone. This will probably be one of the bigger parties of the year, since school is out."

"Cool." She said, and I could tell she was nervous.

"You'll be fine." I soothed.

"I know. I just wanted to say I've experienced the high school party atmosphere." She said.

"Well, you'll definitely be able to say that after tonight." I said, shaking my head. I picked Paisley up and am going to take her home tonight too. Since I haven't been drinking lately anyway, I just figured this would be easiest.

A little while later, we pulled up to the house the party was being held at. It was supposedly some kid Niall was in Chemistry with. There were people standing on the front porch, drinks in hand, and I could already feel the vibrations from music.

"Oh my gosh." Paisley said, eyeing up the place.

"Want to leave yet?" I teased.

"Nope." She said, her voice strong, but her eyes displaying a different emotion.

"Let's head in then." I said. We both got out of the car and started to head up to the porch. I walked beside her, and I could tell she was worrying. It was also against her better judgement to be here, but the buzz of nervous excitement she was emitting also told me that she wanted this experience.

As we were walking up the front porch steps, an obnoxious voice on the right caught my attention.

"Harry! Haven't seen you in a while." A red headed bimbo spoke to me. I'm pretty sure I kissed her at one of these 'get togethers' but couldn't quite remember and didn't care enough to try.

"Oh, uh yeah." I said without looking at her and walked inside, Paisley in front of me.

"Did you know her?" Paisley asked, a smile on her lips as though she found my behavior amusing.

"Not sure. I don't remember." I admitted, sending her into more giggles.

When we made it into the dark house, Paisley stopped as if she didn't know where to go.

"Kitchen." I said, and nudged her in the right direction. In the kitchen, there were cups and various bottles for drinks. "Do you want something?" I asked, and she shook her head, although she seemed almost hesitant in doing so.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"I probably shouldn't drink. One of us has to get the other home safe, right." She said.

"I'm not drinking." I said, and her eyes looked somewhat surprised.

"Why?"

"I haven't been, lately." I admitted.

"Oh."

"You can have a drink if you like. But don't feel like you have to. I know you're not used to this."

"I want to." She suddenly blurted. "I mean, just one, ya know. I'm only doing this once, so might as well go all the way."

"Are you sure?" I asked, the ghost of a smile forming on my lips. I think it's funny how she feels the need to experience a true high school party.

"Yep." She said, much more confident now.

"Okay." I said, walking over to the counter and pouring her something light. I handed it to her and she brought her lips up to it, her eyes going wide. "Well?" I asked.

"It's everything I thought it would be." She mused, thoughtfully looking into the cup.

"Care to elaborate?"

"I don't know. Everyone just raves about alcohol. It's literally just a fluid. I don't see why you need this to have fun." She said logically. And she was right. It was literally just another beverage.

"Always so thoughtful about things." I stated.

"Yep, that's me." She said, bringing the cup to her lips again.

"Let's go outside." I said, and she turned right away, following behind me.

We walked through the kitchen and to the sliding glass door which led onto a deck, coincidentally where all my friends happened to be.

"Harry!" Liam said, waving me over.

"Hey." I said, Paisley hanging tight to my side as everyone greeted us.

"Didn't know you were bringing a friend." Louis smirked. Of course, they didn't know who Paisley was, because like me, they ordinarily didn't pay attention to anyone out of our group.

"Yeah, who is she?" Carrie, Liam's girlfriend asked. I was surprised to see her here. Ever since her and Liam got together, she's tamed him quite a bit, and I've heard from Liam that she doesn't like the party atmosphere. But then again, I brought Paisley here.

"She's, uh-"

"Just a friend." She surprised me by cutting me off and actually sounding very confident while doing so. I knew Paisley wasn't really shy, but I didn't expect her to be so friendly with an entire group of totally out there people that she's never met.

"This is Paisley." I said.

"It's nice to meet you." Everyone mostly said in agreement. Paisley gave a small smile in return, those blue eyes that have grown on me so much sparkling in the dim light under the moon.

Ashton immediately started telling some story to the group, and Paisley stood quietly beside me. In my preiphreal vision, I could see Carrie moving from beside Liam and walking over to Paisley.

Still listening to the nonsense Ashton was speaking, I could tell that Paisley and Carrie were having a nice conversation and I was glad of that. As much as I didn't think Paisley should be here, I think Carrie will make her 'idealistic image of a high school party' better. After all, they were really similar from what I knew. Carrie didn't really care for the party atmosphere, so already they sort of had something in common.

"Who's in for a shot?" Louis yelled, walking off for the kitchen. Paisley returning to my side.

"Me."

"I'm all in."

"Yesss!" Were the main responses to that, so minutes later, Louis came out carrying a bottle of alcohol and several shot glasses. He started pouring the liquid into the small glasses and handing them out. He offered Paisley one, but she declined, saying she had her one drink and that was it. Suprisingly, he let it go pretty easily, probably because he didn't really know her.

"Harry?" He asked, shoving a glass in my hand.

"No thanks." I said, handing it back.

"Oh come on, Harry." He said, shoving it again.

"I said no thanks." I insisted, giving it back.

"Oh, you've just been a kill-joy since that fucking accident." Louis said, and by the sharp intake of breath beside me, I know Paisley had heard and knew exactly what he was talking about. It's not Louis' fault, he didn't know the 'friend' I brought tonight was the girl I almost killed in that "fucking accident."

And  now I was mentally kicking myself because I should've known it was a bad idea to bring her here.

She didn't say anything, but I knew she was upset. Who wouldn't be?

"Shut the fuck up." I said, grabbing Paisley, hooking her arm with mine, and leading her down the stairs of the deck and out into the backyard. In the very corner was a big oak tree, with a little bench underneath it. There were some candles lit all around the backyard, giving off a warm glow.

She was completely silent, but I could see the tears rolling down her cheeks in the shine of the moonlight. I sat her down on the bench, sitting close beside her.

I was silent for a moment, not sure what to say. This was already a fucked up situation, but it was getting better by the two of us becoming friends and now it felt like Louis had just caused us to take about ten fuckiing steps back.

"I'm sorry." I started.

"It's okay." She said, wiping the tears and taking a deep breath.

"It's really not, though. You're upset."

"Yeah, but it's fine. I just have to get over it." She said, no emotion in her voice.

"No, it's not fine." I said, but she didn't respond. She just stared blankly around her. "Could you show a little reaction maybe?" I asked, my temper rising. I don't know why she thinks it's okay to act like that never happened. I know I can't turn and get mad at her though.

"Harping on it won't help. I had my few tears. It's over, I'm done." She said.

"It's okay to show a little emotion." I said, a smile taking form on my lips, trying to lighten the mood.

"You're one to talk." She smiled back. The silence was back again.

"So have you really not been drinking?" She asked after a while. I figured she would find out eventually, but not tonight. I guess she would buy the whole 'I'm not drinking because I'm driving you home thing.'

"No."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do. Tell me." I could tell the alcohol was just the little bit of liquid courage she needed, because she wasn't ever this forward with me.

"Well I'm not just going to start drinking profusely again after all this." I said honestly. Paisley looked at me deeply, as if she was taking in what I was saying. Her blue eyes bore into mine unceasingly.

"I'm glad for you, Harry." She said, grabbing her hand in mine.

"I'm really sorry for what happened back there. They're careless people, all of them. They don't bother with the people they hurt, and I didn't either. They had no idea you were her."

"It's okay, really." She said. She forgives so easily. I don't see how she does it.

"Well, Louis is a fucking dick that has no filter." I said, still agitated at Louis.

"Why do you curse so much?" Paisley giggled.

"I don't fucking curse too fucking much. What are you fucking talking about?" I taunted, sending her into more giggles.

"You do, Harry." She said.

"I just don't think you curse enough." I said proudly, and she looked at me as if she was outraged. "Say fuck. I dare you."

"No." She said, like I just asked her to jump off a bridge.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Fine...fuck." She said so quietly, you almost couldn't hear it.

"What was that? I couldn't quite hear it?" I smirked, which I knew would annoy her.

"I said fuck." She said, now laughing.

"That's better." I said. It was weird, sitting here just talking to her. I feel bad about what happened tonight. Normally if something like that happened I wouldn't think twice about it. But with Paisley, it's different. It's almost as if I'm protective over her. Which is weird, because that's the last thing I should be towards her, but I am.

"I didn't expect this to be here." Paisley said, patting the bench. "It's such a cute little corner, with the tree and the bench and all the candles."

"Why didn't you expect something like this?" I asked.

"Because we're at a party and stuff and people just drink and do drugs and have sex at parties. Not sit on a bench under the moonlight." She said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"So you're saying people that go to parties can't be romantic?" I asked, laughing, because she was so oblivious. And I think when I said this, she realized how ridiculous her thought was.

"Oh, I mean...I guess. Well are you romantic, Harry Styles?" She asked playfully. I know she meant it in a totally friendly way, but recalling the feelings I had the night I went over to Paisley's house the first time, I knew I had to definitely shut down any hope. This was strictly a friendship. We were friends and only friends.

"No." I said, my tone changing sharply. And I know I sounded like a dick, but I can't give in to feelings like this. I just can't.

"Oh okay." She said, a little taken aback.

"We should, uh, probably get you home." I said, my voice a lot softer now.

"You're probably right." She admitted. We walked back through the house and out to the car, where I drove her home. The car ride was silent, but not uncomfortable. She was used to my mood swings.

However, as I was laying in bed, I couldn't help but ponder how I had been on such a rollercoster of emotions with Paisley, all in one night.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  

Harry curses too much  l o l 

Anyway, I know it's been a hard week, so I hope this cheers you up a little bit  ♥

Let me know what you think and don't forget to vote if you liked it!

Macy xx