There was a strange woman standing in front of me when my eyes opened.

She's leaning over and it takes a minute for the rusty wheels to start turning in my head. When they did, I was thrown into alarm mode, I shoot up, darting myself further up the bed and my arms reach out to grab something as my defence.

That turns out to be a TV remote from the bedside table.

Startled, she spins around and holds her hands up in surrender. "Don't worry, I'm simply dropping off your clothes," she says and her head nods towards the couch that's pushed against the wall beside the bed.

My aching eyes dropped and indeed, there was a small stack of neatly folded clothes. On the couch that she was previously leaning over. "Oh! There's breakfast in the kitchen as well," she tells me and my eyes returned to her.

"Kitchen?" I repeated, still totally out of it. "Yes," she confirms and with that, my eyes follow her as she walks past the bed, to the open door that I assume is the exit. Groaning, I scooted myself back down so my head was on the pillow and closed my eyes.

Definitely, it wasn't time for me to be awake yet but there's no way the headache was allowing me to. When I replayed the last few hours that I remembered from last night, the headache got louder.

My eyes opened again into squints. There's a beautifully polished, wooden bedside table that has a lamp as well as a tall glass of water. It was covered with a napkin, telling me that it was placed there a while ago and beside it was two pills in a tiny cup.

Was it possible that those pills were meant to drug me? Yes. Did I gobble them down with water because they also could help my headache? Yes.

It dawns on me that I have absolutely no idea where the heck I am and that I should definitely find out. This bed was so perfect, practically begging me to stay in it and cosy up again until this stupid hangover lessens.

Not giving in, I side my legs off the bed, holding my head with one hand as I successfully planned my feet on the ground. This headache made my entire body feel dysfunctional, my eyes can barely remain open for a few seconds.

Easily, I found the bathroom that was one of the doors connected to the bedroom.
Waddling my way in, I used the toilet- of course, I hovered over the seat because no way was I going to sit comfortably on a toilet seat I don't know about. No matter how luxurious this bathroom was.

I flushed and made my way to the large mirror. Still in my nude dress from last night only now it no longer looked beautiful on me. Staring at myself in the mirror, I looked like a horrible mess. Just as I was about to wash my face, I noticed it was makeup free but I don't remember taking it off.

Confused, I started opening the sliding drawers, seeing them filled with bathroom essentials. One of them revealed an open pack of makeup wipes whereas everything else was sealed and unused. Then my eyes found the bin that stands next to the cupboards.

Walking over, I see them at the bottom of it. Makeup wipes are abandoned in there, dirty with the same colour as my eyeshadow, lipstick and even the shade of my foundation.

"God, Esrin. You got wasted," I spoke to myself, pushing my hair away from my face. I've got zero recollection of ever wiping my make-up off or even stepping inside of this bathroom.

Using the face wash I stumbled upon a minute ago, I washed my face and attempted to brush my messy hair away from my face, attempting to look somewhat decent. Put together, not like the mess I look like and definitely not like the destruction I currently feel like.

Following in the footsteps of that lady, I walked out of the bedroom. Damn it, the floor is so cold I miss my cow slippers.

Lower down there are two more doors that I assumed to be another bedroom or bathroom. Walking out completely, I'm met with a wide lounge area straight ahead and to my right, I spot the open kitchen.

Furnished with wood flooring and incredible furniture, I'm probably gawking at how beautiful everything was. Overall, there was the perfect amount of luxury and comfort.

Looking around, I admired the paintings and abstract sculptures that decorated the room and it reminds me of the penthouse. There's a small writing desk against a wall and I go to it, searching for any details of where I am.

On the top are some notepads paired with a fancy cup filled with pens and pencils. A brochure sits above the notepads, telling me more about the presidential suite I'm currently in, describing the area and the facilities.

Hotel Affair.

That's the name of the hotel I'm in. Placing it back down, I strolled to the kitchen.

Truth to her words, there were covered platers sitting on the beautiful granite kitchen top. Opening the lids, the beautiful scent of pancakes hit my nose and berries sit at the top of the stack. To the side, thick syrup in a little jug ready to be poured all over. Opening the other lid reveals a cute bowl filled with perfectly sliced and cut fruits.

The thought of eating made me want to throw up but a the same time, the food looked too delicious not to have a bite. Now that I think of it, I'm actually surprised I haven't thrown up. Very grateful, but surprised.

The twisting of a door handle tears my attention away and attaches it to the door. My eyes made sure to notice the silverware sitting on the kitchen top if I needed something for defence. Suspense builds as the door pushes open, giving access for someone to walk in.

Harry fucking Styles walks in with a coffee cup in his hands, freezing when he sees me staring back at him. "You're up," he clears his throat, his eyes leaving mine to wonder about the food in front of me before they returned to me.

So far I haven't gotten the chance to process that he was at the bar last night. The bar that I purposely went to because I knew there wouldn't be anyone I knew. The bar that he took me away from.

Harry is a wild card and trying to assume his next move or at least what he's capable of is very much impossible.

He's always switching so easily, I never know if he wants me dead or alive, fighting back or being obedient. I don't know when he cares or when he doesn't.

"Yeah, Sherlock," I'm already bitter even though I slept in comfort and not in a ditch somewhere because of him. "What's all this? Where am I?" I asked, gesturing to the food and trying to ignore how bad I felt for my snappy reply.

"I ordered you breakfast," Harry states calmly. Already, I'm suspicious of him, lifting my eyebrow. "You ordered me breakfast?" I repeated, eyes narrowing at him.

"Yeah, and the clothes too. That looks...uncomfortable," his eyes lowered, disgust morphing on his face as he stares at my dress. Yeah, not exactly an outfit I'd like to sleep in and wake up in the morning wearing. Wait, is it still morning?

"I would've had you paid for it all too but the manager said I had to pay right away," Harry adds, his eyes on me again. I scoffed at that, looking at the food again when I noticed Harry walking deeper into the room. The more steps he took, the hotter the room felt.

"I'll give it to you when I'm home," I stated with a clenched jaw. Harry rolls his eyes," like if I would ever take any of Zayn's money." What does that mean? "Oh and I ordered a coffee but they gave me tea instead. So you can have it," Harry holds the cup out and I stared down at it.

Hesitantly, I accepted it from his hand, our fingers brushing slightly and I quickly pulled the cup away from him. Opening the lid, I studied the deliciously looking liquid to see any signs of it being spiked but I didn't know exactly what to look for. Well, I guess that's the point of it, right? Even when I brought it to my nose for a whiff, it smelt alright.

"Stop being fucking dramatic, Sage. It's tea," Harry snaps. "Do you blame me? I don't even know where I am," I huffed. Harry chose to ignore that question when I asked earlier. "I'm sure you have questions but please go fucking eat. I don't need you dropping down in front of me," he sighs.

"You look like you survived a week in the desert," he adds with a scrunched face. Once again, Harry is looking at me like I'm wearing the most horrifying thing ever. Now, I'm suspicious because that's the second time he ignored the same question. "Answer the questions first," I pressed, placing the cup down with the food.

"You're at some random hotel because I really didn't want to bring you to Remi having to explain that you got wasted in a bar miles away," he rambles off. "The bar that you followed me to?" I accused him of what I had already assumed. "No I didn't follow you to the bar, I was there before you and you didn't realize it," he explains.

For my entire time at the bar, I didn't look around once. I avoided people as much as possible. So for that reason, I can see how that's true.

"What were you doing there?" I questioned. Now, Harry wore that evil smile of his again. "Oh, come on, Esrin. You're smart enough to realise that answer," he says. The first thought that enters my mind is Death Hood. Will I be finding out he killed someone else?

Oh God. What if it was Lennie? She did disappear out of nowhere. Wait, what if she was part of this too? "Do you know Lennie? Was this all some plot against me?" I asked him. My heart would fall out of my chest and break into a thousand unfixable pieces if I were right. "What the fuck? Fuck no, gosh!" Harry's quick to defend himself, shutting down my accusation.

"Do you blame me for asking? It's oddly convenient you appeared right after she disappeared," I jabbed, still not quite believing him. Harry groans, his hands covering his face and then they slide down until they're at his sides again.

"If you're trying to blame me for your little one night girlfriend running off on you, it's not going to work. Nice try," he states.

"Then why-"

In an instant, my back is pressed against the edge of the kitchen top, Harry's body holding me there. Harry holds my jaw between the heavy grip of his thumb and index finger, the rest of his long fingers around the top of my neck.

"That's enough now, stop with the fucking questions, Esrin. You won't like where this is going," Harry warns, the look in his eyes telling me he wasn't bluffing.

This is the same person that apologised while kissing my neck last night? I wasn't supposed to be awake and that memory is definitely hazy but I knew it was a memory. I just knew it. It felt too strong of memory to be a dream.

"You're so fucking confusing!" I shouted, using the built up frustration, I pushed all the force I can and Harry pushes back and between us fills with space. "How do you expect me to keep up with all this, Harry? Fuck, I haven't even gotten time to sink in that you are here because I'm too busy fearing for my life because of you," I admitted.

No matter how much I wanted our paths to cross again since we separated on that rooftop, it's still so unbelievable that our paths did connect again.

My outburst makes him speechless and I don't care because I still have so much weight to get off my chest since the last time we saw each other.

"One minute, you're threatening my life. The next you're insulting me and hurt when I do the same. You're fighting me, hurting me then saving me from the bar? Damn it, you made sure I had breakfast and clothes. You apologised last night while..."

I couldn't say it. The words fainted on my tongue. "When we're back home you're going to be threatening and hating me all over again," I can almost see it happening before my eyes.

"Why don't you trust me to tell me the truth of what's going on? You were right, Harry. I care too damn much about my own life to do what's right and rat you out. Even if it brings justice...my work is too important," the confession grows the ball at the back of my throat that makes it hard for me to swallow.

"If you think all of this was me going soft on you, wake the fuck up. I told you to stay alive and last night you were being too reckless," Harry finally breaks the silence spell he had on himself. There's undeniable anger written all over him. He's not wrong...last night I took it too far.

"Say whatever the fuck you want, I don't fucking trust you. I already told you the bodies I dropped aren't good people. Whether the public knows about it or not. They deserve it. What more do you want from me?" his voice is somewhere between shouting and screaming.

"Who do you work for?" I blurted out. Harry laughs at this, shaking his head. "Someone very above your pay grade," is his reply. "Very funny," I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him. Harry noticed the action, anger swirls in his eyes because of it.

The distance between us vanished and suddenly, I could feel the heat radiating off of him. "Do that again and I'm chaining you to the fucking bed, got it?" he warns. I dare not move or even breathe. Roll your eyes again. The voice in my head screams at me to disobey him but I'm genuinely afraid and unprepared for what will happen if I do.

"Get off me," I spat and he listens, once he is away I can breathe again. How is it so easy for him to scramble my mind?

When I remembered my phone, I'm marching up to him. "And you know what? You owe me a new phone!" I screamed. Who even knows where my stuff from the bar is right now?

"You had no right to break mine like that," I pointed at his chest until my finger was pressing into him. Harry grabs my wrist and pushed me away. "I don't need to have a right to do anything. You should know that," Harry snaps. His nose looks so damn punchable right now.

Another thing pops into my head- my dad's friend.

"How is Luther a bad person?" I asked after recalling his previous words. Our eyes never leave each other, heavy contemplation working behind Harry's. I waited patiently with my arms crossed and my foot tapping against the floor.

"He was an accomplice to a murder a few years ago and covered it right up. Along with all the other fucked up charges against him. He wasn't innocent, Esrin," Harry breaks. For a moment I don't believe him but it's stupid of me to think that he'll lie about that.

Did my dad know?

"But neither am I. You know what I've done," I reminded him. There are far worse things that have happened that I think Harry doesn't know about. "Why not just kill me? It would solve everything, won't it?" I pressed when Harry refuses to answer.

When he's near, it's like my body wants him even closer. My hands were folded, putting space between us but when his chest brushes my arms, they dropped to my sides.

"Yeah, that's right but I'm afraid ruining you is far more fun than killing you," his voice was low enough, perfect for my ears only. As compared to all the shouting we've been doing. That fuzzy feeling returns and I absolutely hate it.

Last night I blamed it on the alcohol and today I blamed it on the hangover.

Composing himself, Harry steps away, turning around so I couldn't see his face anymore. "Now, we have to get going so you have twenty minutes to eat and get ready," he states, changing the topic.

"I'm not eating any of that. You could've done something to it," I flatly stated, staring at his back. Harry wore a thin white top, one that was slightly see through. I could faintly see the skin he was hiding under the fabric.

With a sigh, Harry spins around and those heated eyes are on me again. Was he as bothered as me too?

"If you eat the food and drink the tea, I'll answer one more question on the way home," Harry compromises. Surprised, my lips parted and Harry's eyes dropped to them for a split second before returning them to my eyes.

"Honestly?" I asked, lifting my eyebrow in suspicion. His little deal was one he knew was hard to pass up. "Yes, honestly," he sighs. "And you'll actually answer me, right? Not a half-assed reply?" I clarified. "Yes. Nothing about what we talked about already," he states his condition.

"Okay," I agreed. How could I not? With a short nod, Harry walks off to the same door that he came through which was the suite exit.

"Oh and Esrin?" Harry turns around, his hand on the opened door handle. I look up at him, waiting for him to go on. "That was the last strike of yours. Make today the last time you ever speak that way to me because the next time, I'll make you wish I killed you," Harry promises.

Chills. That gave me actual chills.

He called me brave for putting up a fight with him last time, now I realised that I was stupid, not brave. I'm lucky that I don't end up like the rest of the people that die at Death Hood's hands. I should realise how lucky I am for that and stop being so stupid. Harry might literally hold my life in his hands.

Maybe if he did kill me, that would be much easier.

Unfortunately yet, fortunately, that's not happening. I've also admitted that I'm not going to sacrifice myself just so I can throw him in prison. I have a plan, one that I have to stick to.

It makes me a little relieved that Harry lowered his walls for me a little today, I'm one step closer to breaking them down and finding some solid evidence against him.

I devoured all of the pancakes and fruits, enjoying the tea while lost in thought for a moment. When I realised I had less than ten minutes until Harry comes back, I dash to the bathroom.

I'll have to admit, it was nice using such a fancy bathroom. Everything was so crazily rich. The clothes the woman provided at Harry's request were a simple blouse and loose pants. While putting on the lace underwear and bra, I wondered if Harry was the reason behind that too.

"Come on!" Harry shouts, starting me, I didn't even hear him come in again. Thankfully, I was already dressed in my outfit in my hand and my high heels from last night on my feet.

Without a word spoken between us, we left the hotel room and made our way to the ground floor. I don't think I'd even want to see how high the bill would be for such a hotel like this.

I know nothing about cars but Harry's looked like it belong in a movie before the 2000s. I didn't want to give him the luxury of watching me gawk at his car so I pretended as if I wasn't admiring it.

I hear the noise that signals the car was unlocked. "Get in, your purse is in the backseat," he says and I completely forgot about that. I opened the back door and dropped my dress in and then got into the front seat.

I remembered Harry tricking me into getting into this car as I sat inside. He shuts the door, I reached to put on my seatbelt. More flashes of Harry doing that for me last night when I couldn't do it myself runs through my mind.

Harry takes off on the road as fast as he could. I wanted to ask if he was in a hurry to get somewhere. I can't believe I'm willingly in a car with the same man who watched me almost drown multiple times in a row.

Why did I have to remember that? Why now? Music fills Harry's car and I recognized the song to be Counting Stars by One Republic. It takes me away from that awful memory and I'm grateful.

My eyes are on him, how perfect the sunlight hits his profile, the way his fingers drummed to the rhythm of the beats, his head matching, softly singing the lyrics so that I can barely hear him. I have the need to ask him to sing louder. Harry was always a great singer, his voice has changed in ten years, I wonder what it's like now.

I looked away, snapping my head in the other direction when Harry's head turns to me. Almost, I was caught in the act. Even though I wanted to study more of him, I forced my eyes to remain looking out the window.

"We're making a stop," Harry states a few minutes later and then he's pulling into a parking spot in front of a mini shopping plaza. "For what?" I asked, looking at the variety of stores to see which one he would be interested in.

"Just come on," he sighs and I copy him as he unbuckles the belt and gets out of the car. He walks around the front, similar to the way he did last night and I remembered thinking he'd be a great model because of the way he walked. The thought almost makes me laugh now.

Following behind him, Harry walks to a freaking phone store.

"Any protest you make to my decision and I'm telling Remi all about your fun night, got it?" He threatens. Have to say, I'm not surprised but I'm still disappointed that he'd go there.

"That's a low blow, Harry," I frowned. "Well behave and comply," there's a smile on his face. Harry spins around and opens the door. He lets me walk through first like the gentleman he is.

It takes me this long to realise that I easily gave Harry another thing to hang above my head. If I wasn't so reckless last night, I could've taken myself home. But then again, it's not my fault Harry was there.

"Good day!" He beams, shutting the door behind him. Already, his energy brings a smile to the worker standing behind the glass showcase filled with phones on display.

"We're in a bit of a rush and the need for a phone," Harry states with a generous smile. "This lady here threw hers out the window when she lost the WiFi connection," he says, pointing to me. Have I mentioned he has a nose perfect to be punched at?

My teeth started hurting from how harshly I clenched my jaw. "Oh, of course. We have all the latest," the worker says, looking excited to gush about these phones.

Harry and he talk over the showcase and I stand behind him. Was it possible he was actually buying me a phone?yes. Am I going to feel guilty about it? no. He did break my phone into two pieces, whether that was hot or not. Did I just admit Harry breaking my phone was hot? What the heck is wrong with me?

"Choose a case," Harry brings me back to earth. There's an entire glass showcase of all phone cases for the model of phone he selected. There's such a wide range of them, this store is very passionate about providing that I assume.

There was a variety from simple, to artistic, to protective and even animated ones. Some of them were even based on Disney princess movies and I silently gasped when I found one from Beauty and the Beast.

It made me bubbly inside that they even had one. Such a unique one too, I fell in love with it. My eyes lingered on it longer. A beautiful shade of pastel blue smoothly covers the entire casing. In the middle is a simple cartoon drawing of Chip.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see the intensity that Harry studying me with. I never need to see him though, I can always feel when he's staring at me.

My eyes lingered on that specific phone case a second longer and then, I'm reaching for a simple black design. "This one," I softly say, meeting Harry's eyes again. Harry rolls his eyes, coming closer to grab the one I was staring at, the beauty and the Beast one. "This," he adds with the phone.

Harry pays with his card and after that, we're walking out of the store. "Did you know him? Was that all some act? Is that phone tampered with?" I asked, looking up at him while we walked to the car.

"Such silly assumptions you make on me, Esrin," sarcasm was laced and dripping from his tone. "Oh fuck off," I swore, standing by the car door.

I don't realise Harry opened my door for me until he was waiting for me to get in. It wasn't out of his convenience for him because with the way he parked, the passenger side door was closer to the store.

What the heck is going on? This is too much. Harry is doing too much.

Acting casual and normal as I could, I quickly got in and buckled up. When Harry gets in, he does the same and hands me the phone box then he drives off.

"Since you asked so nicely, no I do not know that guy and I did not tamper with the phone," he says. I don't believe him. "Why did you actually get me it in the first place..."

"Yesterday, Remi came by after work. She was curious about why your last one was damaged," he reveals," something about you always being careful with it, couldn't believe you broke it."

"It's your fault! You did this!" I harshly reminded him. "Yeah, we'll now I'm fixing it," he brushes off.

While Harry drives, my attention is on the phone, setting it up with all my information. I decided that I'd ask Julius to give the phone a check for any bugs because I still don't believe Harry. The phone case sits on Harry's lap.

I eye it, waiting for Harry to hand it over but he never does. "Give me the case," I ordered, holding out my hand. Grabbing it from his lap is a great option but that might involve touching his leg.

"Who said this was for you?" Harry lifts his eyebrow at me, now holding the phone case box to his chest away from me. "Give it to me, Harry. You know I wanted it," I ordered. "Under one condition?" Harry decides.

"What? You want to choke me again?" I fire, recalling how fuzzy I felt the last time he did it. he turns his head, losing eyesight of the road. "Aw, darling. Don't make it sound like you didn't like it as much as I did," the smug bastard smiles proudly. "It's okay to admit you like the pain," he cheekily adds.

"Fuck off," I spat, wanting to roll my eyes at him but I don't. "You've been using that word more often lately, haven't you?" Harry points out, all smug with himself. He isn't wrong. "Give it to me, now," I ordered, ignoring his previous statement.

"Save my number on your phone first," Harry states, that being his condition "What?" I'm surprised, quickly switching to confused," what for?"

"It will be much easier than kidnapping you, won't it?" He says. Harry is capable of anything and that includes gaining access to my phone and I'm sure all he needs is my phone number. I do want that phone case though. It's like dangling a piece of meat in front of a lion.

I'll just delete his number when I'm phone. In fact, I'll block and report it.

"Fine," I say, sliding over the phone. Harry manages to store his number on my phone and he even messages himself so he'd have mine too all while driving. Smart asshole. "All yours," Harry gives me a satisfied smile obviously because he got it his way and he hands me back my phone. With the phone case on top.

Feeling giddy, the child in me was so happy that I had a phone casing of my favourite character from my favourite Disney princess movie. "God, you're worst than Sunny," Harry mutters, shaking his head. "Who's Sunny?" I wondered.

"No one," he brushes off. I don't see it as something that I should demand so I let him drop it.

"Can I have my question now?" I asked, reminding him of the deal we made if I had eaten the food and drank the tea. "Sure," he permits, his eye trained on the road.

"Does Remi know? About you," I asked. It would answer a lot of blank questions on how Harry knew it was me breaking into his Halloween store and he wasn't one bit surprised to see me the next day at the penthouse. Plus, Harry says he works for someone above my pay grade. One of that possibilities could be the law enforcement of which Remi is part.

"No. She'll turn me in the second she does, friend or not," he denies smoothly. "So what's keeping you from threatening her, just like you did with me?" I asked. Harry knows he has to answer because this was the deal.

Harry licks his lips, my eyes picking up on it. It was such a fast action as his tongue peeked out to dart over his bottom lip but my eyes see every detail of it.

"Well, she hasn't found out about me but if she ever does, I've got a few ways of keeping her mouth shut too," he reveals. He has dirt on Remi too? That's messed up, he's her friend too but I can't say I'm surprised.

"So how do you know so much about me? It's impossible for you to know I was going to check out Spooky Silhouettes," I wondered, trying my luck with this one.

Harry's eyes glanced at me, the road was much busier so he couldn't keep them on me for more than a second. "Not impossible at all but that question has nothing to do about Remi so I don't have to answer it," he says.

I huffed, suddenly wanting to punch his nose. That was him also telling me that our deal is finished and I can't ask anymore. Harry turns up the music

"Wait where the fuck is my car?" I blurted out, grabbing onto the door with one hand and the dashboard with the other, clearly startled.

Harry finds my reaction funny, laughing so much that I can barely see his eyes and the skin at the sides of them crinkled. I missed that laugh so much.

However, I'm panicking too much to appreciate it right now. It's unbelievable that it took me this long to realise that I had no idea what happened to my Jeep. Disappointed in myself would be an understatement.

"Harry I'm serious, where is it? You didn't leave it at the bar, did you?" I asked, nervously chewing on my bottom lip. "No, relax. It's somewhere safe. After I dropped you off at the hotel I went and got it," he assures me but it doesn't work at all.

"I love that Jeep so much-"

His hand that was previously on the bottom of the steering wheel is on my face, similar to the way it was last night. Harry tugged on my bottom lip until I released it from my teeth.

Then he goes on as if that never happened and it's hard for me to do the same.

"If you truly did then you wouldn't have gotten so wasted. What if you drove home and crashed it?" Harry puts the thought in my head that I absolutely hate. "It's safe, Esrin," he softly adds. I believed him and I look away, easing back into the seat.

Harry's phone that sits between us vibrates twice and he grabs it, glancing down from the road to read the notification. "Oh, look at that," Harry turns his phone to me and I read off the message from Remi.

'Since you're on the way stop by the penthouse and demand Esrin to join us!!'

'Please and thank you. Tell her there's an emergency. There isn't lol.'

"I just want to go home," I sighed, sinking lower into the chair. "Too bad," Harry says and returns his phone there. I don't even know where we're going but it's not home. Harry turns up the music and I distract myself with it, listening to the lyrics while he takes us to where ever.

Harry pulls up into a garage of a flat, modern house. It was in a neighbourhood I'd never been in before. "Eddie's home," he tells me, unblocking his seatbelt and I do the same.

My social battery was not charged enough but I guess it's time to pretend that it is.

I follow Harry through the home and he takes me to the kitchen where Remi, Eddie and Finley were. "They're here!" Remi shouts with excitement. I put a smile on my face and said back," hi."

Finley walks to me, wearing a messy cropped tank top with grey sweatpants low on his hips. "Aw, sweet pea you look like you need a hug," Finley frowns, opening his arms and I walked right into the, resting my head on his shoulder with my arms wrapped around his bare torso.

"She gives nice hugs," Fin tells the others, cuddling me in his arms. Even though I wanted to stay there longer because he was right, I did need that hug, I pulled away first. "Thank you," I shyly smiled.

I leaned against the countertop and he stays with me, throwing his hand around my shoulder and leaving it there. Remi, Harry and Eddie lean over the kitchen island in the centre, a box of pizza open in the middle.

"Hey, did you come home at all last night?" Remi asks me, a pizza slice in her hand. I considered lying and I considered telling the truth. Of course, I went with the first option. "Crashed at Louis."

She nods her head but my eyes flicked to Harry, an I know you're lying look on his face as his eyes were on me too. "Want?" Eddie asks, referring to the pizza but I was still so filled from breakfast.

"I've got some snacks too," he offers and I declined. "Are you sure? There are drinks in the fridge," he points behind him where the large fridge stands. "I'm fine, really," I say with a small smile.

His eyes narrow. "Don't worry, you'll have something before you leave. My house is irresistible," Eddie states confidentially, pushing his hair over his shoulder.

They decided to move to his living room with a few beers and I noticed that Harry had a soft drink instead. Finley directs me to the couch that's big enough for three people and we sit down. Me in the middle and him to my right.

Remi and Eddie sit on the couch enough for them both and when Harry returns from getting his drink, he sits down on the only seat available- next to me.

Harry pays no attention to it and I was trying really hard not to show the way I was freaking out on the inside. We were so close that our knees touched and if we moved a bit, our arms and shoulders would too. My body was so hyperaware of every single brush he made against me.

Deep breaths. That's what I told myself repeatedly until Eddie brings attention to me, tearing me away from being lost in my head.

Eddie picks up this ceramic bowl that was on the coffee table and holds it out in my direction. "Do you want a condom?" He so casually asks. "What?" I blurted out, staring down inside the bowl.

True to his words, there are a bunch of condoms but they're gummy ones. "It's one hundred percent tasty and zero percent protection," Finley says, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I- no thank you," I declined and Eddie shrugs his shoulders and takes it away. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that there are gummy condoms candy and even dick-shaped candles. Which rock have I been living under?

"Oh hey, are we still planning on going to Harry's house?" Finley brings up. "Oh, yeah! The beach house! That's still on, I was supposed to tell Esrin about it today actually," Remi states. At the mention of my name, I asked," what?"

"Remi is having a few days off and we're all going to Harry's beach house as a mini vacation. You are coming and there's no debate about it," Eddie explains. "Well, I'm sure you can ask Zayn for some time off, right?" Remi adds with hopeful eyes.

Harry, a Halloween store owner by day and a disguised killer by night owns a beach house. "I'll try..." I say, not saying I'm in or not. I'd love to spend some time at the beach though but having a job as I do, things like that aren't always up to me.

For a while, I listen in on their constant talking and bickering, laughing along when I left like it. They understood that I was tired and didn't mind my quietness yet they still made me feel included.

As every second passed, my attention on them fades and the tiredness grows.

I didn't mean to feel sleepy, I didn't realise that I would. As a result of my wonderful night, I still didn't feel a hundred percent like myself yet. As the tiredness became louder and the darkness got closer, a nice little nap right here seemed like the solution.

My head falls to the left side and I'm already giving into the darkness so I couldn't stop it. Once my head hit his shoulder, I was out.

Thank you for four thousand reads, you lovely people🫶 hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Fun fact: Smut is nearing very close...