Here Without You

Chapter 13:

Chapter 13

My fingertips gently touch my cheeks, warm from the blush. My hands cup my mouth from the sudden shock of all these people in my house. Harry had managed to invite every single friend here for my 24th birthday, and now every single bright face is jumping up, shouting one chorus simultaneously of Happy Birthday! Harry walks forward with his arms open, "Happy birthday, babe." He says with a grin.

He wears a loose blazer over his favorite light blue collar shirt and black skinnyjeans. I had spent the whole day with him except for the last few hours, which resulted in some studio recordings. Where Harry must have gathered the crowd, food, and decorations. All my friends are here. Including friends that I can barely ever hangout with such as Demi.

My mouth stays agape as Harry embraces me tightly. He wears my favorite cologne on him, something i bought him last year. He pulls back from the hug, giving me a lingering kiss on my mouth. I find myself pulling into a huge smile and look around, bubbling with questions. Instead of asking them, Harry is dragged off by the boys and I'm dragged off by my long-lost girl-friends. Hailee, Selena, Demi, Britt, and surprisingly, Abigail. I haven't seen her in what seems like ages. We hug tightly, muttering a muffle of 'I've missed you so much' and old accents of jokes. The others basically have to pry us apart.

"Share some of your hugs for others, birthday girl!" Hailee laughs, earning a chuckle from the other girls. Loud music pounds which blends with the chatter. I part from Abi's hug and embrace the other girls'. I've hung out with the other girls' recently but I haven't seen Abi in the last few months. We spend a bunch of time catching up with eachother until I inform them that I should go greet the other guests. They all nod and I slip away. Hunter Hayes stands having a conversation with Tim McGraw and Cher Lloyd. Weird mix but I don't think too much about it. I stick in their conversation and smile, greeting each with a hug and a thank you for coming. I leave them back to their very in-depth conversation on what I believe is about guitar.

Ed sits at my bar stools in the kitchen, having a friendly conversation with Ellie, Goulding that is. I run up to them and blindside them in a hug. I'm sure they're use to me by now.

"Happy Birthday!" They both chorus as they return my hugs.

"You look amazing!" Ellie splurs, causing me to look down at the cute dress Harry had bought me days before for my birthday. Very expensive, but also now my favorite dress.

"Thank you so much! Do y'all know where Harry is?" I ask, more to Ed since he's closer with the boys. He nods, tilting back the beer in his hand.

"I think he and the lads are doing kareoke in the backyard. I may be going out there in a few minutes," He explains. I nod, giving them both and thank you before scurrying out the double glass doors of my Rhode Island estate. A small minature stage is set up in the grass, Harry really outdid himself. His voice echoes through the amps, singing Bye Bye Bye with the other One Direction boys. They mimick the NSYNC dance moves, all of them jumping at once. Everyone surrounding them is bursting out laughing at their antics and I cant help but smirk and cross my arms. Harry sees me and spreads a smile as the song ends. Applause rises as he slaps shoulders with Liam and Niall. They all stumble off the stage, obviously in a drunken daze, except Harry.

He opens his mouth to speak but just shakes his head and keeps eye contact with me. "This is called Nothing." His raspy voice says as the music begins. He begins singing, motioning me forward until I stand on stage with him, him singing into my eyes. The song makes me want to break down. This is how he felt without me.

My heart aches for him as my hand laces inbetween his and I give it a squeeze. He squeezes back as the song ends.

I take a glance at Harry as the beginning music to Cowboy Casanova plays, I smirk at him. My DJ, Ricky, tosses me his cowboy hat and I place it on Harrys head with a laugh and strut to one side of stage.

"You better take it from me,
that boy is like a disease."

I sing, motioning to Harry from making eye contact with Selena whose laughing a little too hard. I circle him as I sing, lingering my fingers on his shoulder as I do, switching the mic from one hand as I walk foward to the crowd. Harry is blushing bright red, tipping down the brown cowboy hat.

Carrie is probably out here somewhere, listening to me sing her song. Probably laughing at my attempt to bring back my country accent I had picked up from my young years in Nashville. I end the song and motion to Selena and Demi who stand next to the stage. They run on stage and smile, Harry blushing as he rejoins the other slurred boys. We take a moment to agree to sing Come and Get it together, assigning Hailee to get it on camera for us to remember.

My eyes focus on Harry, pulling all the boys on stage. Demi and Niall making a little too much eye contact. Selena begins, dancing next to Liam but singing to the camera of Hailee. He has a girlfriend of course but still.

The chorus strikes and we all join in, all dancing awkwardly. Selena better than all of us.

"you got the kind've love that I want
let me get that, lemme get that, yeah"

I sing, bouncing on heels then spinning low at the 'lemme get that, yeah' part. Demi sings the solo where the music cuts as we all belt out the next, dancing way too close to our boys. Well, I'm the only one officially dating one of these boys. Niall and Demi and Selena and Liam are dancing rather roughly close, most likely because of how drunk they are. All of them are, except Harry and I, who have yet to get around to it.

A sweat starts on my head as Harry and I exit the stage and into the house which still blares with music. I yawn, popping a cake-pop in my mouth and gulping down a bottle of water. My throat burns from singing all day and my eyes grow heavy. It has to be at least 2:30 in the morning. The crowd is still pretty strong, but many have disappeared out the door. Harrys hand squeezes my waist before pressing my mouth to his.

"You look really good tonight, babe,"

My cheeks become warm and he grins, his dimples as bright as ever. His eyes gleam with happiness, wanting me to feel happy too. Which I do. And I throw a dish rag at him from the sink in retaliation in reply to that happiness. He raises an eyebrow and laughs cutely.

I stand and continue back over to him, leaning down so our lips brush. I skim past them and to his ear, "Remember who's birthday it is." before walking off, knowing he'll be watching me go from behind. Oh well, I have a party to attend to.

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