Paige

"Hey! How was your first night?" I asked excitedly, quietly gushing over my success in finally finding the perfect place for Harry to stay.

He sighed, "It was pretty good... I guess. The people above my room partied all night. They just have the perfect view on being courteous neighbors." Harry sarcastically stated while cracking his knuckles against one another.

As if he knew courtesy, I thought while restraining from letting out a snicker that was creeping up behind my lips.

We were sat in an expensive Italian restaurant, and Harry didn't bother at all to cover his tan tattooed chest though he was wearing a button-down shirt. He left it to hang open, with only two measly buttons keeping the flaps of thin flamboyant fabric held together, always threatening to pop open and reveal more skin. Today, he adorned himself with a black felt hat and a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses that he decided to wear indoors. Courteous of everyone, isn't he?

I felt like we couldn't go anywhere high end because of how he dressed all the time, like a freaking Mick Jagger when he was no more than a freshman at university. For once, you'd think he'd developed some sense of decency since he had private tutors ever since he could walk, and he went to the most prestigious schools in the area we lived with our father. He didn't even have the decency to look at the waitress in the eyes while ordering his lunch or when we were brought our food; instead, they drifted about 9 inches south of there.

I looked out the window to see the gorgeous city, bustling streets and college students sitting in coffee shop and café windows, their noses buried in stacks of books and new syllabuses. It was going to be a beautiful sight, seeing Harry finally get his life together like I have, but it was incredibly difficult to picture him as one of those students – mature and responsible.

I diverted my attention back to a distant Harry, sitting across the table from me. His gaze was wandering around, checking out anything that he found attractive – which really meant whatever had a pretty face and a big chest. He picked up his fork and moved his food around like he was going to eat, but never took a bite. Harry stared at his plate intently, as if he was having the most eventful conversation with a bunch of hormonal sorority girls. What was he doing, flirting with the plate?

"You doing alright, Harry?" I decided to ask, holding my phone over my platter of food to take a picture for my blog.

I'm a social media influencer, my niche being food and travel. I would like to believe I did as much good as I could in this world, as over half of the money I made went to charities and I'd worked with over a dozen causes for humanitarian aid – but it doesn't take away from my fair share of drunken nights or miserable one-night stands... Let alone the dark side of my past.

I felt extremely excited for the upcoming semester; I was finishing my second to last year of getting a double bachelor's degree in public communications and journalism. But Harry was joining me at university, and knowing him, this may be the hardest year of my life yet. It's quite ironic, you can face down death, be shot at, and make impossible money heists, but still, nothing compares to the hell siblings bring.

I looked up to see him now grimacing down at his plate, eyebrows furrowed, and puppy dog eyes were forming.

"Something wrong?" I questioned distantly, knowing the familiar sinking pit of disappointment brewing in my stomach told me what he was going to say next. He was a watched pot; you'd never get anything out of him until you diverted your attention.

"Well, I just don't know if it really feels like it can be home, you know?" He replied, squinting and waving his free hand like he was unsure of what he said. It was an awkward and way overused movement he made when he wanted to have something but pretended he didn't. He used the same tactics since he was old enough to understand the word 'manipulate,' probably the only lifelong skill you gain coming from a family like ours.

I sighed irritably, "When I found that apartment for you, I didn't see anything wrong with it. I mean, come on, remodeled, new, nice neighborhood, close to the college, what more do you need, Harry!" I slammed my fork down, making tucked strands of hair behind my ears fall in my face.

I ignored the sudden turn of startled heads in our direction and zeroed in on him, glowering as if looks could kill. I could nearly strangle him right then and there in the middle of a public place, just to knock some ounce of sense and consideration into him. I felt my hands curl into fists until my knuckles turned white and my fingernails dug into my palms. My hazel eyes shot darts of death at him through a small curtain of light brown curls. I pointed at him violently with my fork, trying to keep my voice low in such a respectable restaurant.

"You are the one who asked me to find you an apartment so you could finally get a place of your own while you go to university, but I know that's what you tell mom and dad when really all you want is a bachelor pad and no education!" I furiously ran a hand through my hair, practically ready to tear it out. I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Might I add... this is the fifth one?" I finished, my voice tired from having the same conversation over and over again. I dropped my hand to the table and shoved a couple bites of food into my mouth to prevent myself from rambling on more.

After graduating from high school by the skin of his teeth, our father pulled a few strings and called in a few favors to get him into Yale University, and I knew this. Just like I also knew that he favored Harry and would never do anything like that for me. But, I did try my darnedest to make sure I didn't resent either of them, family was the most important thing to me – and everyone took advantage of that because they knew I would do anything for them.

I knew I would help him again; it was just a matter of time before he needed someone to hold his hand like a five-year-old. He was my only real family though...

"Oh, come on! It's not that big of a deal, the next one will probably be the one anyways. Just please, Paige?" He ignored my outburst and drooped his head toward the table. "Help your little brother?" He smiled innocently through his lashes, knowing he had me from the moment he said please and gave me those god-awful innocent eyes I wanted to punch in the face. Right back where we started, just like the past four times he made me find a place for him live.

"Fine," I huffed, rolling my eyes dramatically. Defeated, I crossed my arms and scooted back in the chair, flinching as the cold dark metal touched my pale arms.

My words were incredibly different from what my face told, that he was a selfish and helpless boy who doesn't think any other place will feel like home because everything used to be done for him...Mama's and Daddy's boy.

I had been looking for apartments for Harry for the past six months, what more could he ask of me? I hardly ever asked him for anything unless it's to get me out of a date where I wished I could have a heart attack and hitchhike with the ambulance. Maybe the doctors could see whatever the problem I had being allergic to guys. One less problem to deal with though, I'll just bask in the glory of singleness forever with a bottle of wine.

I brought myself back to us sitting at the table and inhaled deeply. "Fine, I'll do it Harry."

I glanced up at Harry to see him making googly eyes at the waitress, confident that he was all that. That stick was stuck so far up his ass, you could see it in his perfect little smug smile.

Did he even hear me?

"Thanks," he smirked, sitting up straight in his chair. I was positive that he was purposefully oblivious to my squinting and subtle sudden head turns as if I was looking at him like he was literally a teenager who just learned what the phrase 'read a book' meant. I decided to not open the can of worms about his plans for university; he kind of looked grim about it? Or maybe he was regretting it... who knows?

After finishing our lunch in unbearable silence, I decided to speak up after the waitress refilled our empty water glasses. I pushed away the guilty feeling nipping at the back of my head and got straight to the point.

"Can you at least promise me one thing, Harry?" I ventured while gently picking at the skin at the corners of my nailbeds. It was such an unhealthy habit, but it was an impossible tick I couldn't drop when I start to feel uneasy.

"Sure," Harry replied, only half paying attention as he was peering out the window with no apprehensions to my nervous voice lingering in the air.

"Will you at least take a look around the city and see what you find too? That way, not all of the pressure is on me, you know?" I sighed, feeling a massive weight being lifted off of my shoulders already. I sat a little straighter and continued, "I mean, who knows if you will find something better than what I find, all it could really take is you putting in some effort so I'm not stressing out over this anymore."

Harry opened his mouth to protest, contemplating what I said and just as he was about to protest, I quickly began talking again once I saw the troubled look on his face.

I laced my fingers together and set them on the wooden table. "You know I love you, you're my brother so I kind of have to." I chuckled at seeing him crack a small crooked smile, "But if I'm doing this for you, can you please do this for me too? I will still keep an eye out, but it's a bit fairer that way, don't you think?" I frowned and leaned forward across the table to ruffle his dark curly hair playfully.

He jerked back and whined, his face pouting, "Not the hair, sis, you know that!"

"That's why I did it," I laughed, thrumming my fingers against the table. I turned serious and stared at him questioningly, awaiting his response. I was never confident around family, I only got anxiety when I tried to do something for myself – but one of my previous dorm mates was helping me turn that around.

A teasing smile played across his face before turning away. "Well, I don't..." He buried his face into his hands, before looking up distressed. "I just..." He shook his head and looked away, deliberately not facing me and acting distracted – that was, until he actually was sidetracked when the waitress came back to their table.

"Is there anything else I can get for you two?" She smiled, showing pearly white teeth while she puffed out her chest.

I rolled my eyes and kicked Harry under the table.

What? He mouthed while frowning, a glint of mischief hiding behind his green eyes.

"We're fine, thank you." I nodded to her while handing her my credit card I pulled out from my purse.

Her mouth subtly twitched as she forced a smile at me, no longer looking at Harry. She spun on her heels and scampered away, she probably thought I was his girlfriend or something since we actually looked nothing alike. Ha, good luck to whomever that will be. I turned back to Harry who was still trying to watch the waitress, Stacy I think her name was.

I cleared my throat, staring him dead in the eye as he turned around to face me.

"So, will you?"

He ran a hand through his hair once more, "Fine, yeah I'll look for myself."

I beamed at him, tempted to say it was about time he took some responsibility, but I held my tongue. Instead, I reached across and held his hand across the table and whispered a sincere thank you, hoping he would know how much it really did mean – especially coming from him.

He half smiled, "Sure, whatever." He rolled his eyes and took a sip of water through his straw.

After I was handed my credit card back and we got up to leave, out of the blue he said he needed to use the loo.

I frowned at him, "We're leaving now, and your apartment is less than a block away. Can't you hold it? I still have to meet my new roommate."

He shook his head urgently, hair falling into his face from behind his ear. He shifted his feet uncomfortably.

"Fine, I'll wait outside."

Before I walked outside, he was already in the men's room, the door swinging shut.

Ten minutes had passed. I checked my watch, tapping my foot on the pavement while standing outside the restaurant, feeling the first drops of rain hit my face as dark clouds suddenly began looming over the city.

I heard the door close behind me and a rush of warm air blow past me. I felt Harry on the right of me, who was breathless, bare chest heaving up and down.

"You done? If it took that long, what did you eat last night?" I arched my eyebrows annoyance, still not paying much attention to him. I turned to face him, "Should we catch a taxi or walk back to your place, Rose is going to drive me any –"

I looked down to his swollen red lips, a smudge of lipstick on them and on his teeth.

He was looking around at the busy traffic, "I think we should just walk, get some exercise."

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

I rubbed a hand over my face and down my cheek in annoyance. "You have lipstick on your teeth." I stated as bluntly as I could.

His green eyes widened as he realized that it meant that I knew what he was actually doing. He was now a deer in the headlights of a massive trucker, and I was trying hard to pull the breaks on snapping at him.

"You didn't have to take a shit. Faker," I scoffed, spinning on my heel and walking in the direction of his apartment.

"I-I-I-uh." He stuttered, trying to keep up with my fast pace as the light rain sprinkled the sidewalk, leaving tiny dark polka dots against its paleness.

"Save it," I snapped, "I told you I have to go to my dorm to get all set up. You know classes begin in a couple days." I dropped my hands to my sides, regret filling my chest. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap, it's just a lot of stress already I have to deal with, and I hate delays that could've been avoided. I mean look, it's already raining, and we'd already be inside it you didn't feel the need to be a horny teenager."

Harry apologized with a tone of animosity in his voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you hanging. But, Paige, don't take your anger issues out on me. I was pretty damn fine before you started to put all this pressure on me about growing up. I'm about to go to university, that's pretty big in itself, so can't you just cut me some slack?" He huffed.

Quite frankly I was taken aback by his outburst, needing a moment to recollect myself to process his argument. My anger flared as I skidded to a stop, my shoes scuffling against the concrete. "We had a nice lunch, Harry. I asked you to find a place so not all the pressure was put on me. It will be your place. Don't you even realize what you have put me through these past couple years?" I asked in a low threatening tone. "And my anger issues? What about your issues Harry? I never pointed them out to you, even when I had to hold your head over a toilet, or find you in an alley passed out somewhere, or convince your drunk ass not to mess things up for us with them, did I?"

I noticed a familiar darkness taking over his bright green eyes – the same darkness that brought us to where we are now.

He snapped at me, venom dripping from his words, "You have no right to bring up what happened these past couple years. The next time you do that, you know I'll do? I'll tell Mum about what happened to you in high school that initially got us here." His eyes showed no sense or even a hint of remorse or guilt.

I felt the wind knocked out of me as my jaw was became unhinged. I was just telling him that I was pissed at him for lying when I told him I needed to do something.

Mouth still agape, I shook my head, verbalizing my thoughts. "I was telling you I was pissed at you, and then you had to lash out at me like that?" My throat burned as I held back my eyes from watering, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "We had our dark years together and I thought we both got past that." I paused so my voice wouldn't crack. "I've been having a lot of anxiety because I always feel like I am walking on eggshells around you. Do you want to know why?" I hissed back at him.

"Why?" He said sarcastically, the black slowly fading form his eyes in his moment of weakness where I struck a chord in him.

"Look at yourself and you'll know, Harry." I felt like I was suffocating in his presence, needing to claw my way out of the toxic air surrounding our bubble.

I whistled for a taxi and raised my hand. Seconds later one pulled up and I swung the door open and turned to him just before slamming the door shut.

"I'm not helping you at all this semester; you need to find your place in this world, without me being your life crutch, Harry. I should've done this sooner, and I am sorry for that much – but Harry, you need to know you were in the wrong. I know I screwed up, but it was the both of us who were responsible for getting involved with them. We can't change the past, but I'm making a better future, and I can't do that right now with you in my life."

I slammed the door closed; feeling a tsunami of pain hit me in the chest. Choking back sobs that threatened to rattle my ribcage, I whispered my new destination to the taxi driver.

As the car jerked forward into speed I turned around and looked out the back window, Harry was still watching me go while he stood in the exact place I left him, drenched in the pouring rain. Holding back my sniffles, I whipped out my phone and dialed a number I never thought I would. It rang only twice before she answered.

"I need a favor."

A/N: Hopefully this is a good first chapter! Please comment, vote, and share my story if you like it! So, if it's confusing, this is a bit of romance, thriller, and action fan fiction - but the beginning may be slow. It would mean the world to me if you give my story a chance! Love you all! xx

Happy 30th birthday Louis, can't believe how fast time goes by! <3