Chapter 13 ~ Harry

I walk into the studio in a terrible mood and the lads don’t take long to realise there’s something odd with me. I just can’t understand her, it’s infuriating the way she pushes me away even though she knows we can get along. I thought everything was great, that things were finally going well between us and then, bam! She decides she still doesn’t want me around. But why? We had fun, she laughed with me, and she was smiling honestly. Why does she insist so much on being alone? I’m not asking her out or to be my girlfriend, yet she stills wants me out of her life. It’s like she doesn’t even care that I exist now. Before at least I knew she was thinking of me, even if it was whilst she threw darts at my face. Now I feel like she will forget everything about me.

I really want to know what happened to her that made her like this. I need to know why she pushes me away even though it’s clear we get along.

Only acquaintances.

I hate that, I don’t want to be only acquaintance with her, I want to be more.

“Hazza, you okay?” Liam asks when I throw myself to the sofa in the studio. All the lads are looking at me wearing worried expressions.

“Things didn’t go the way I planned,” I answer and soon Louis is next to me, his arm around my shoulders giving me comfort.

He knows me so well, he knows how frustrated I get when things don’t go the way I like, and he knows, as well, how into all this I really am. It’s not a game for me, I really want something more with Hannah, I want something serious and real this time. I know I barely know her and she’s probably not the girl for me, but I want her. I haven’t told these things to anyone, but Louis knows it. He knows me and therefore, he knows what I want. Sometimes he acts childish and immature, sometimes he forgets about others when he’s pursuing what he wants and sometimes he steps back when he should stand up for what he thinks, but that’s only sometimes. Most of the time, when no one is looking… he’s the best friend one could ask for.

“C’mon, cheer up, mate. Next time things will go better,” Louis tells me giving me a friendly shake.

“She said we’re only acquaintances. She accepted going to grab a coffee with me, we had a great time. She laughed! And then she just tells me that she doesn’t wanna even be friend with me!” I cried out, frustration clear in my voice and I even ruffle my hair out of desperation. “I wish she’d stop pushing me away.”

“The things we appreciate the most are those for which we work the hardest,” Zayn says and I chuckle humourlessly. Trust Zayn to be the deep one with his advice.

“I know, but the process is so damn frustrating, mate,” I reply with a sigh.

Soon, Niall is next to me, his hand on my shoulder. “Remember when I thought that I didn’t have a chance with Alex? When she kept rejecting me?” The Irish boy asks me and I nod. “She wasn’t easy to get, and we broke up because she didn’t think she was the right girl for me and everything seemed lost. But in the end everything worked out and she’s the best thing that has happened to me. Every moment of frustration, every time I felt like giving up and just taking the easy way out, everything was worth it because I have her now,” he concludes and I look at him in a way that I never did before.

He really loves Alex, they love each other and they are so strong. She’s always there for him and the other way around. I’m conscious that it wasn’t easy for them and that sometimes they fight and have rough patches, but they overcome everything because they have each other. He really is a lucky leprechaun.

“And do you remember how hard things with Mila were at first? She really hated me and so many times I thought she was interested in you instead. It was frustrating, but in the end it was worth it. It’s always worth it if it’s what you really want,” Zayn adds to make the point even clearer.

“Is Hannah what you really want?” Liam asks speaking for everyone there.

“She is,” I answer without major hesitation. I don’t know if she is the one, the only girl for me, but right now, she’s whom I want. I’m not sure why, I just know it, I feel it very deep in my soul.

“There you have it,” Louis concludes. “Go for her, don’t give up and make her swallow her words.”

I smile at my friends. It’s incredible how despite the fact that we were put together in this band, we complement each other so well and we really are five best mates. We help each other when we really need it. I couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity.

“Thank you, guys,” I say honestly, with all my heart. “What she said is not written in stone, right?” They all nod and smile encouragingly.

I’m about to say something else when someone nocks at the door. Soon, a black-haired girl walks next to a brunette who’s holding a cupboard tray with many Starbucks coffees and a bag from the same café.

“Hey, guys! How’s that hard work going on?” Mila asks giving us all a hug and finally staying next to Zayn who puts his arm around her waist immediately.

“Great!” Niall answers whilst walking towards Moni, though I should say walking towards whatever is in that bag.

“Brilliant. Now, if you want to eat, help me with this,” Moni instructs the blond bloke and he nods enthusiastically.

The girls have brought us coffees and muffins for everyone as they had a little break from uni and decided to give us a surprise visit. The happiest are Niall –due to the food– and Zayn, due to his girlfriend being with him.

“You better do a great job this time. I won’t allow any auto-tune, got it?” Mila warns and we all salute from our different positions in the room. “Good, that’s how I like it.”

“Yay!” Moni exclaims surprising everyone, because she’s not paying us any attention, she’s with her eyes locked on her iPhone screen. “Savannah updated! New video, hooray!” The brunette celebrates doing a little dance.

Moni is kind of obsessed with this Youtuber, she talks so much about her and how funny and witty she is. She expects her videos every week. Funny thing, this girl has the same name as Hannah’s best friend.

“I’ll watch it with you,” I offer and the brunette looks at me with her brown eyes big of excitement. She practically runs next to me on the sofa and throws herself at my side.

“You’re gonna love her!” She comments turning her iPhone sideway so we can watch the video better.

Soon, a black-haired girl, with long and wavey curls, warm chocolate eyes and cute dimples when she smiles, appears on Moni’s phone. She looks exactly like Hannah’s Savannah. She is the same Savannah. I confirm that when she starts talking about her near death experience in uni the other day.

“That’s Hannah’s best friend!” I exclaim and everyone turns to look at us. Even Zayn and Mila, who were really lost in their own world, are looking at us now. “Yes, I know her! I’ve talked to her!” I carry on and Moni stops the video.

“Are you telling me that you know my favourite Youtuber and the girl with the angel-like voice?” The brunette girl asks raising both eyebrows in sheer disbelief.

“Angel-like?” I inquire and then I remember Moni talking about this Youtuber’s friend who sometimes appeared singing. I remember she said that this girl voice was so beautiful and that she didn’t understand how it was possible that she didn’t have an album and was a complete success. “Show me that video!” I ask and Moni seems taken aback for a few seconds before realising what video I’m talking about.

Quickly she starts looking in Savannah’s channel and I wait impatiently. I know all the lads and Mila are looking at us still confused. I’ll explain it to them later; I need to make sure it’s the same Hannah. I don’t think Savannah has two friends with the same name. If it’s the same Hannah… I’m still not sure what I would do.

“Here,” Moni speaks and I lean in closer to see what she’s showing me.

Soon I see a young ginger girl with green eyes and shy smile looking at the camera awkwardly, her cheeks are rosy and it’s obvious she doesn’t want to be there. “The things I do for you, Savannah,” she mumbles before turning to the piano in front of her.

It’s Hannah, the same Hannah that came to my rescue when my Range Rover failed me. The same Hannah that accepted a coffee with me today. The same Hannah that throws darts at my poster. The same Hannah that doesn’t want to be my friend. But this Hannah looks younger, probably fifteen or sixteen, and she definitely doesn’t look empty and lonely like she does now. She looks happy and full of life in this video.

Her fingers fly over the keys, a beautiful and deep melody that sounds kind of familiar forms harmoniously. Then her voice joins the melody and I hold my breath, impressed with her sweet and angelic voice. By the second chorus I recognise the song: Set Fire To The Third Bar by Snow Patrol.

It’s a beautiful cover, only in piano with her incredible voice.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen of the Internet, was my best friend Hannah helping me out because I didn’t have any ideas for this week’s video. Isn’t she amazing?” Savannah appears next to Hannah this time and the ginger girl blushes. “I know right! Now I have to pay with my life because that’s what it cost to make her agree to this. It was nice to meet you all!” The black-haired girl adds dramatically and Hannah is covering her face with her hands, completely ashamed.

“Wow,” Liam says when the video finally stops. He didn’t see her, but he heard her and he knows, as all the others know as well, how amazingly talented Hannah is.

“She didn’t tell me she could sing,” I mumble still looking at Moni’s phone.

“It’s the same Hannah, then?” Niall asks and I look at him nodding. “Maybe you could help her to get a record deal. With that voice, I’m sure everyone would love to sign her!”

“Nialler is right! Maybe that way you can get closer to her,” Liam adds and I nod again.

Maybe if I help her she won’t push me away anymore. Maybe if I help her I’ll have more reasons to see her, we won’t be only acquaintances. Plus, the world needs to know how talented she is. She needs to share that amazing voice of hers. If I can help that happen, even better.

 -:-:-:-

The video on the multimedia it's how I imagine Hannah's voice and if you haven't listened to Snow Patrol, I don't know what you're doing with your life. Enough said.

Dedication goes to @Ccamiibordi because she's amazing and a dear friend of mine. Guys, you really need to check her stories, they are all so great!

Bel, xx