Awkward Beat [H.S]

Chapter 32

In which there's always Niall

Chapter 32

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

At first, the noise was incorporated in my dream, and when Harry said, "I'm done with you", all I heard was buzz. Time's up. Game over.

Then the sound dragged me out of a restless slumber and I groaned, cursing myself for setting an alarm when I was so obviously going to be hungover. Blindly, I reached out to shut it off, but my hand didn't come into contact with my nightstand. Rather, as far as my arm could reach, I was touching cool mattress.

This confused me.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

I opened one eye – just one – to find myself nestled in someone's chest. Taken aback, I raised my head to see Niall dead asleep, his free arm casually draped across my waist. Then it all came rushing back, hazy but undeniable. My memory flooded with everything I'd drank to forget.

I remembered coming to Niall's and, after making a scene in front of Liam and Zayn, pushing Niall to the far corner of his bed so that I could sleep on the other end. I'd slept on my side with my back to him, but during the night, I'd apparently wandered the width of the bed, unconsciously searching for comfort.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

What was that?! I rolled over less than gracefully, squinting in the daylight as I searched for the source of the buzz. It took a few more seconds, but finally I dug my hand under one of Niall's pillows and retrieved his mobile.

It was only half past eight. Who could be such a disturbance at this early hour?

Head pounding, I swallowed the awful taste in my mouth and tried to figure out how to turn off the bloody device. As soon as the screen lit up, the name of the nuisance flashed across the screen: Harry.

His latest message popped up, as well: I'll keep calling til you answer me.

Looking over my shoulder at Niall, whose mouth hung open in a deep sleep, I knew that Harry would be waiting quite a while for his answer. But the curious side of me had to know the question, and so I sifted through Niall's messages. Four calls from Harry, two texts. Six texts from Claire – and with a shudder, I assumed this meant Muffy's sister – that I decided not to read in order to preserve my innocence.

She left last night, was Harry's first unanswered message.

The second: Is she with you?

I should have just switched off the phone and gotten myself cleaned up, but that's not what I did. Instead, I stared at the messages for a long time before picking up the mobile and answering him myself, before he called again.

Yes, she's here.

A response arrived almost instantly: When is she coming home?

A few moments later, another message: She didnt bring her key. I need to make sure Ill be home when she gets here.

I chewed on my lower lip, a frown forming my expression. Normally I was the one living in delusion. This time, it was Harry who seemed to think that everything could be the same.

Trying my best to sound like Niall, I replied: She doesn't want to come home, mate.

His quick response: Is she all right?

It was then that I realized what I was doing – having a conversation with Harry under the guise of someone else. Feeling horrid, I slipped the phone back under the pillow and left him hanging.