After (Larry Version)

~*Chapter 84*~

Harry notices Jace the same time that I do and turns to look at me, then back at Jace, tensing immediately. For a second it seems like Harry might turn us around, but then Jace definitely spots us, and I know Harry won't risk antagonizing him by backing away now. All around us, the party rages, but all I can focus on is Jace's mischievous smile, which flat-out gives me the creeps.
As we reach the top of the stairs, Jace gives an exaggerated look of surprise and says, "Didn't think I'd see you two here, you know, since you couldn't make it to the docks and all."

"Yeah, we were just coming here—" Harry begins.
"Oh, I get why you were coming here." Jace smiles and pats Harry on his shoulder. I cringe as his brown eyes move to me. "It's definitely a pleasure to see you again, Louis ," he says coolly.
I glance at Harry, but he is too focused on Jace to notice. "Yeah, you, too," I manage.
"Well, good thing you didn't come to the docks anyway. Cops came and broke up our party, so we moved it here."
Meaning that Jace's slimy friends are here somewhere—more people Harry doesn't like. I wish we had just stayed at my dorm. By the look in Harry's eyes I can tell he wishes the same.
"That sucks, man," Harry says and then tries to continue on down the hall.

"Jace grabs Harry's arm and says, "You two should come down and have a drink with us."
"He doesn't drink," Harry huffs, annoyance clear in his voice. Unfortunately, that annoyance seems to encourage Jace even more.
"Oh well. You should still come have some fun. I insist," he says.
Harry looks at me, and my eyes widen as I try to silently say, No! But then he nods at Jace. What the hell?
"I'll come down in a minute,let me get him... settled in," Harry mumbles, then pulls me by my wrist to his room before Jace can say anything. Unlocking the door to his room, he hurries me inside and quickly closes the door."

"I don't want to go down there," I tell him as he sets my bag down.
"You're not."
"And you are?" I ask him.
"Yeah, just for a minute. I won't be long." He rubs the back of his neck with his hand.
"Why didn't you just tell him no?" I ask. For someone who claims he isn't afraid of him, Harry seems to be very intimidated by Jace.
"I already told you, he is hard to say no to," he says.
"Does he have something over you or something?"
"What?" Harry's face flushes. "No... he's just a dick."

"And I don't want any trouble. Especially not around you," he says and steps forward to me. "I won't be down there long, but I know him, and if I don't go have a drink with him he will come back up here—and I don't want him anywhere near you," he says and kisses me on the cheek.
"Okay," I sigh.
"I need you to stay in here, though. I know it's not ideal, with the music bumping downstairs, but I can't really think of a way out at this point."
"Okay," I repeat. I don't want to go down there anyway. I hate these parties, and I definitely don't want to see Molly if she's here.
"I mean it. Okay?" he demands in a soft voice.
"I said okay. Just don't leave me up here alone for long," I plead.
"I won't. We should go sign that paperwork tomorrow for the apartment. Right after you get done at Vance. I don't want to worry about this kind of shit again."

"I don't want to have to deal with these parties and my small dorm anymore. I want to eat my meals in a kitchen instead of a dining hall, and I want the freedom of being an adult. Spending time on campus and living there only reminds me how young we actually are.
"All right, I'll be back soon. Lock the door when I go out and don't open it again—I have a key." He swiftly kisses my lips and turns for the door.
"Geez, you act like someone is going to murder me," I joke, to break the tension, not that he returns the laugh before walking out of the room. I roll my eyes but lock the door anyway,the last thing I want to deal with is drunk people wandering in here looking for a place to fool around.

I turn on his television, hoping to drown out some of the noise from downstairs, but my mind keeps wandering to what's going on down there. Why is Harry so intimidated by Jace, and why is Jace such a creep? Are they playing their usual immature game of Truth or Dare again? What if Harry's dared to kiss Molly? What if she's sitting on his lap like before? I hate the jealousy that I feel toward her—it drives me insane. I know Harry has slept with and fooled around with many different girls, Nick included, but Molly just gets under my skin. Maybe it's because I know she doesn't like me and she tries to shove her fling with Harry down my throat.
And you caught her straddling him with her tongue down his throat the first time you met her, my subconscious reminds me.
And eventually all these thoughts get to me; I know I should stay put and keep the door locked, but my feet have other plans and before I know it, I am taking the steps two at a time to find Harry .
When I reach the bottom of the stairs I spot Molly's hideous pink hair and barely there outfit. Much to my relief, Harry isn't anywhere to be found.
"Well, well, well," a voice from behind me says. I turn to see Jace standing less than a foot away.
"Harry said you weren't feeling well. He's always lying, that one." He smiles and pulls a lighter out of his pocket. He flicks the top with his thumb, igniting the flame, and brings it to the hem of his jean vest to burn off some of the fringe.