CHAPTER 31:

"Maybe it's the way he walked, straight into my heart and stole it." ~Best Song Ever, One Direction.

Saturday, 2nd November 2013

HARRY'S POV

We were all at Liam's house right now, having a guy's night out plus Dani. The reason we invited Dani as well was 'cos Liam always felt like a, erm... fifth wheel around us, and then we'd feel bad.

"MARIO KART RACE!" I heard Louis cheer from the sofa, followed by a chorus of yeses, mainly from Niall.

I was in the kitchen, making some popcorn and taking out some snacks out of the pantry for everyone, for later. We are supposed to watch a movie after this, but I wanted some popcorn right now. Wow, I sound like Nialler.

I was waiting for the popcorn to be done, watching the green numbers tick. I jumped when I felt someone behind me, then relaxed when familiar arms wrapped around my waist.

"You done yet? I miss you," Zayn murmured in my ear and I rolled my eyes but smiled, leaning into him.

"I've been gone, what? Five minutes?" I smirked. It felt nice when Zayn acted all sweet and coupley, I loved that.

"Five minutes too long," he whispered in my ear huskily and lightly bit my earlobe, making me inhale sharply. Zayn pulled back and I turned around to see a satisfied smirk on his face. The bastard knows the effect he has on me and he's proud of it. Not that I'm complaining.

I glanced at the microwave and was surprised to see that the popcorn was already done. I grabbed the bowl from the counter and transferred the popcorn into it, carrying it to the living room, Zayn trailing behind me.

I settled on the couch and Zayn snuggled beside me, grabbing a handful of popcorn and stuffing his mouth. Louis and Liam were involved in an intense reace of Mario Kart, while Niall and Dani were cheering for their boyfriends.

I looked around and smiled. It made me happy, when we all hung around like this, no drama, just all of us having a great time.

"Whatcha thinkin'?" Zayn poked my cheek and I turned to him, shaking my head.

"Nothing much, just happy thoughts."

"Right. Must be thinking about me then," he joked and I nodded, half-serious, half-joking. I fully turned around and lifted my hand, stroking his cheek which had a bit of stubble.

Zayn closed his eyes and leaned his face into my palm. I ran the pad of my thumb oven his cut lip, wincing slightly.

He shouldn't have fought yesterday, now he was in trouble 'cos of me. I still felt guilty about that, even if Zayn had assured me hundreds of time that it was okay and it was not my fault.

"What are you thinking now?" He asked me softly, his caramel brown eyes fluttering open.

"About yesterday," I answered slowly. We hadn't gotten a chance to talk about it, because Zayn had to serve detention after school, hten extra hours of lacrosse practice. And after that, it just didn't come up. Now was a good time as any. All of our friends were engrossed in the game.

"Zayn," I started. "Look, don't get me wrong, I love how you care about me so much that you beat up a guy just 'cos he called me names, but you have to understand that I can take care fo myself. You have to worry about yourself and I'm worried about you too. It seemed to me that what that lad had said had affected you, more than it had affected me."

Zayn looked down, biting his lip. "Yeah, it did affect me. I somehow think that it's my fault that you're getting called names, and that made me angry at myself and-"

"God Zayn, you are so stupid!" I groaned frustratedly, and it came out a bit too loud 'cos now everyone was staring at us.

"Er... be right back guys," I set the popcorn bowl down on the table and grabbed Zayn's arm, steering him out the living room, behind the wall.

"No, I meant that it's not your fault either Zayn!" I corrected myself. "We just have to bare with all of this together, without blaming ourselves."

"Yeah," he nodded, taking my hand in his. "I'm sorry if you feel like that, that I'm too controlling. I just want to protect you. Believe it or not, I still feel bad about how I had hurt you before I knew you, and-"

I clamped a hand over his mouth. "Don't. The past is the past. And what happened yesterday is in the past as well. I'm still keeping your promise of telling you if somebody will hurt me, but promise me that you won't do anything rash then?"

"I promise," Zayn nodded, smiling.

"Okay, now let's go. I want to watch a movie now," I tugged at his hand.

But he yanked me back and cupping my face, kissed me softly. I looped my arms around his waist, tilting my head and deepened the kiss. I felt Zayn press me to the wall and moved his hands from my face and braced them against the wall. I lifted my hands and pulled at his hair, messing up his quiff but I know he won't mind.

~*~

NIALL'S POV

"Woo! I win! Take that! Can you feel the Payne, Liam?" Louis was taunting Liam after an amazing victory, wiggling his sexy bum in Liam's face.

Liam groaned and shoved Louis' bum away, which resulted in him toppling over on the carpet and the sight sent me into another round of laughter.

"Niall! How dare you laugh at your boyfriend! Help me up!" This made me laugh even louder and Louis huffed, but got up and plopped down beside me.

"Hey guys, you think Harry and Zayn are okay?" Dani asked suddenly.

"You don't think they're fighting again?" Liam scrunched his brows.

"I'll go check up on them," I announced, standing up. I went out of the living room and looked around in the right hallway, then in the left- oh! They were okay all right, and they were making out against the wall.

Before I would've blushed and walked away, giving them their privacy. But being around Louis had made me a bit of a pervert.

"Wey hey! What do we have here!" I called out loudly, which made them both pull away in surprise. Both of them looked equally annoyed, which made me guffaw.

"What the hell, Nialler?" Harry groaned, but he was blushing.

"Sorry guys," I wheezed out. "I just had to."

Zayn rolled his eyes. "Being around Louis is gonna ruin your innocence."

I shrugged with a smirk. "I don't mind." Then I turned a bit serious. "You guys okay now?"

They both nodded. "Now come on, we're voting for which movie to put in."

All of us walked back to the living room. Zayn and Harry snuggled on the love seat. I sat down beside Louis on the couch and leaned into him, but he turned away with a hmph. Oh, right. He was still mad at me for laughing at him. He's immature sometimes, but I love that about him.

I pouted and pretended to look sad, and a minute later Louis was wrapping his arms around me, kissing my cheek.

Zayn and Harry were whispering among one another, while Liam and Dani were busy choosing some movies from Liam's massive collection.

Zayn and Harry both looked like they were going to have a fight before, but thankfully everything looked fine now. They had even broken up once in the two months they had been together and had a few spats, but their relationship was stronger than ever.

They say that the best relationships are the ones that fight occassionally, but Louis and I never fight. We've never fought in the one month we've been together, just banter. So does that mean that we don't have the same feelings as Zayn and Harry do?

"What are you thinking so hard, Ni?" Louis asked, nuzzling his head in my neck.

"Um..."

"Okay guys! Vote! The Vow or Transformers?" Liam asked, raising both the CDs in the air.

In the end, The Vow had won. Hmm, looks like everyone was in the mood to cuddle.

~*~

LOUIS' POV

Niall looked deep in his thoughts. "What are you thinking so hard, Ni?" I asked him, nuzzling my face in the crook of his neck. He always smelt so good. Like... chicken?

"Um..."

"You okay? Wanna go get some more snacks?" Everyone had bought food for themselves and Liam was putting in the movie that we all had voted for.

"Yeah, let's go," Niall pulled me up and grabbing my wrist let me to the kitchen. I reached up and took out some bags of crisps and two rolls of Oreos from the mini pantry.

"Uh, Lou?"

"Mhmm?"

"Do you think we have an okay relationship?" I paused.

"Of course we do Nialler," I answered with a bit of surprise, setting the food down and walking to him. "Why'd you ask that?"

"It's just that- I was just thinking that- Zayn and Harry, I mean they fight a lot, but they always come back stronger than ever. And we don't fight, ever. I know this sounds really weird but... I know I sound stupid," he sighed, shaking his head.

I frowned in confusion. "So you're saying that you think our relationship isn't strong 'cos we don't fight?"

"It sounds really stupid now that you said it out loud," he mumbled sheepishly, rubbing his neck.

"Aw Nialler!" I pulled him closer lovingly. He's too cute sometimes. "We don't fight, isn't that a good thing? But how about that time when you thought I was flirting with Eleanor? You gave me a good hearing then, and that was a fight I guess," I reminded him cheekily.

His mouth widened in surprise. "You're right!"

I continued. "And we've only been together for a month or so, but these months are the happiest I've been. Now you can see how our relationship is."

"Yeah, I feel the same. Thanks Lou," Niall hugged me and I hugged him back tightly.

"My silly Nialler," I murmured into his hair. He pulled back and shot me a big grin, then grabbing my face, placed his soft lips on mine. I pressed his back to the fridge, kissing him deeper.

I bit his bottom lip and our kiss turned a bit more steamy. We pulled away, gasping for breath and Niall slipped his hands under my shirt, pulling it off. I raised my eyebrows at this bravery and he shrugged, blushing.

Not wasting any time, I started kissing my boyfriend's collarbone. He tangled his fingers in my hair, pulling me even closer if that was possible.

~*~

ZAYN'S POV

Liam put The Vow, a cheesy chick flick movie, in the player and pressed play. Well, no worries if it's a cheesy movie, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on it any way 'cos of a certain sexy curly haired lad pressed to my side.

Five minutes into the movie, Dani looked around. "Hey, where are those two idiots with more food?"

Liam groaned. "Niall have better not started making sandwiches again. He messes up Mum's kitchen!"

When nobody volunteered, "Well I'm not moving, I'm too comfortable!" Dani announced, snuggling into Liam. "And you aren't either, mister," she glared at him and Liam shrugged, smiling at her.

I looked at Harry and he was too engrossed in the movie. I found it insanely adorable how he loved chick flicks, but he'd never admit it to anybody else.

I sighed. "Fine, I'm going." I untangled myself from Harry and walked down the long hallways to Liam's massive kitchen, to see something that I wish I hadn't seen. Ever.

Niall and Louis were heavily making out against the fridge, and something told me it was about to get a bit more, er... intense, judging by Louis' shirtlessness.

Just as I was about to turn back, an idea popped in my mind. Ah, revenge is sweet. Trying to keep quiet, I strode in the kitchen them boomed out, "KEEP IT PG YOU ANIMALS!"

Both of them separated and glared at me. A surprised laugh escaped my lips and I smirked, locking eyes with Niall. "Revenge is sweet, eh Nialler?"

I nonchalantly turned back around and walked back to the living room, sitting back beside Harry and cuddling him close, who was getting a bit teary eyed from the movie. Aww!

Niall and Lou joined us minutes later with food, both a bit embarrassed. I snickered quietly.

"What happened?" Harry questioned curiously.

"Those two were snogging in the kitchen and I cockblocked them," I smirked evilly and Harry chuckled, shaking his head.

"Just like Niall did to us. Ah, revenge," he nodded in understanding, still laughing.

"You get me!" I gushed dramatically, kissing his cheek. Harry and I cuddled and I tried concentrating on the movie like everyone else.

I felt something vibrate against my side and Harry reached down, pulling his glowing phone out. He frowned at the screen for a second then got up and walked outside to the balcony to answer it.

About ten minutes later, Harry still hadn't returned. I figured it must've been an important call or something. I was thinking about going to check up on him when he walked in.

"Where were you Haz? Who-"

"Harry?!" My eyes widened when I took in his expression. His eyes were glassy, his face pale as a sheet. I noticed his hands were trembling.

I got up and grabbed his upper arms, shaking him. "What's wrong Harry? Who was it? Come on, snap out of it!"

Harry was still looking past me, his eyes unfocused. He was in shock. Oh God. My blood ran cold. Something bad must have happened.

By now, all of our friends had noticed and the TV was off.

"Mate? Talk to us?" Louis urged him, shaking Harry's shoulder. Harry's lower lip trembled and then he was sobbing. I gathered him into my arms and soothed him.

"Haz, shh. Tell us what's wrong baby?"

He coughed. "M-my, m-my Mum. C-call, c-call."

"Make him sit down, I'll bring some water," Liam instructed.

I pulled a still hysteric Harry down on the couch with me. "M-my Mum," he started again, his cheeks wet.

"Go on, love," I urged him softly, giving him the glass of water which he downed shakily.

"It w-was, a c-call from the h-hospital," he choked. Oh my God. No. What could've happened to Mrs. Cox? Drug overdose? Did someone break in again and hurt her? I squeezed Harry tighter.

"T-they said it- she is in, in c-critical condition. She, she's g-got in, in a-an acc-accident!"

~*~

Oh... dear. 

So, um let's hope that Anne is okay. And again, no offense to Harry's mum, I'm just using her as a character for my story, not related to her personally in any way expect her name!

And this was the first chapter to have more than two different POVs! Did anyone notice? :D

VOTE PEOPLE! <3 And thats for the 19K reads and 1.3K votes. <3

**Next update after 54 votes, 12 comments and 230 reads.**

~bemycupcake xx