Twist Of Fate

You Guys Never Talk

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Harry says loudly, making us all turn our heads toward him. He's looking at me, as he brings our drinks. "Marc, the friend of mine who works in publishing, emailed me today morning." My heart starts hammering against my rib-cage. God, did he like my book? Did he not? Be positive, be positive. I mentally chant. I want to ask so many questions, but I just can't open my mouth and use my tongue. My palms feel moist, even though the apartment is quite cold. Cold enough for me to wrap myself in Harry and a blanket's warmth. "He...drum roll please," Harry pauses. I want to slap him for trying to create suspense. "Loved it!" Harry exclaims, making me release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. He loved it. Loved it. L-o-v-e-d it.
"Congrats, Mus!" Liam yells, throwing his hands in the air. Niall claps his hands once, letting out a short bark of laughter.
"Whoa, Mus, congratulations." Niall says, his eyes gleaming with excitement and happiness for me.
"Big deal. Boo-hoo," Louis murmurs. He's the only one in the room who looks bored out of his mind. My eyes shift from Liam to Niall and then to Harry. He's holding his phone horizontally, probably taking my photo. But why?
"Bumper, say something. How're you feeling?" Harry asks, his green eyes meeting mine over the black phone in his hands.
"I feel...can I have a minute?" I whisper, getting off the couch, the beige blanket still wrapped around my shoulders, covering my upper body. Harry steps aside, allowing me to head toward the hall where our rooms are located. I enter Harry and my room, and suddenly a smile breaks loose across my face. This is everything I ever wanted. This is what I've been dreaming about since I was eleven. Letting out a sigh, I squeal and climb the bed.
"He loved it!" I yell, jumping up and down. "Oh, yeah! He loved it!" I lift my hands up and twirl. Harry's standing near the room door, his phone's camera facing me. "Harry, thank you! Thank you. Thank you!" I jump off the bed, landing on the cold floor with a thud. I run toward Harry and wrap my arms around his neck. "Thank you," I whisper. I move back and attack Harry's lips with mine. He's the reason for this. He's the reason that my manuscripts when to a publisher. I show my gratitude for his actions in my kiss, practically sucking the life out of him. Harry chuckles, as I pull back, and rest my forehead against his.
"You don't have to thank me. It's your amazing brain and writing skills that are going to make you a bestselling author." Harry says, sliding his phone into his pocket.
"And your friendly shove and contacts. I really can't show you just how much I appreciate you and how grateful I am." I say, taking Harry's hand and making him turn me around, like we're dancing.
"Well, I have your whole reaction on my phone, so we can view it in the future and show it to our children." Harry winks, giving me a mischievous smile.
"Too far into the future, Styles."
"I like pre-planning." Harry shrugs his shoulders. "So, you're happy?"
"Yes, very." I turn around and head toward the bed.
"So, you are grateful?"
"Yes, very." I throw myself on the bed, facing the ceiling.
"So, you like me?"
"Yes, a lot."
"So, you'll come to the awards with me?"
"Yes-" I push myself up with the help of my elbows and raise an eyebrow. "Really? Smooth, I like it."
"So you'll come?" Harry's face lights up with the possibility.
"I don't know, Harry."
"Look, Bumper," Harry comes toward me and takes a seat on the floor, near my feet. I sit up and he takes my hands in his. "Whatever I've done so far, I've done it for you. It's always been in your benefit, right?" I nod my head. "I would never do something that I feel is going to harm you, or hurt you in anyway. Just like that, I'm sure you'll be fine at this award function and I'll take care of you. I'll be beside you at all times, Bump. I'm going to make sure that nobody puts you on the spot and starts asking godawful questions, or makes you uncomfortable." He looks at me pleadingly. "Please come. It'll make my night better." Sighing, I've already given up in my head. I hate that I always give in to Harry. It's not a good thing.
"Fine, I'll come." I concede. Seeing a monumental smile light up Harry's face, makes my heart flutter and brightens my spirits. I'm sure I'll be fine. He'll be beside me at all times and Harry's right; he's never done anything that will harm me. He always does what's best for me.
"Now I'm super duper happy, as well." Harry says, getting up. "Come, let's have a midnight snack." He holds his hand out toward me and I take it. "What will it be? Ice-cream or chips?"
"Hmm...ice-cream, no question there." I say, tapping my index finger against my chin.
"She said yes!" Harry announces, as soon as we step out of the hallway and into the bright lights of the lounge and kitchen. All heads turn toward us.
"Isn't it a little too early for a proposal?" Louis asks, his eyes glued to his phone's screen, looking extremely bored.
"Well...no, it actually isn't. But I know if I propose now, Bumper will say no. So, I will not propose." Harry says, looking at the floor, his face scrunched up. He seems deep in thought. "Bump said yes to coming with us to the awards." This catches Louis' attention and he looks up from his phone.
"You're taking her to the Billboard Awards? Have you lost it?" Louis says, and gets up. His face contorted with rage. "She's going to embarrass us. Make a fool out of herself and us."
"She will do no such thing!" Harry snaps. "Louis, learn to shut the fuck up! Treat Bump with respect, okay? Otherwise we'll have a problem." Louis stares at Harry. Then his gaze drifts toward me and he stares daggers at me. A shudder passes through my spine.
"You're going to regret this." Louis says, his eyes landing back on Harry. "The day she takes your money, your heart and everything that makes you a respectable man - don't come crying to me." He strides toward the front door of the apartment, and exits. The door swings shut, leaving us all in uncomfortable silence.
"I-I..." Liam stutters, and gets up. He points toward the door with his index finger and we all get the message.
"Yeah, you do that and we'll have a snack." Harry says, smiling. However, the smile doesn't reach his eyes. He's as upset about this as I am. As we all are. "Mus, you go and sit down. I'll get us some ice-cream." Yup, he's upset as hell. Harry rarely calls me Mus, even though that's what he should call me. I'll talk to him in the room.

An hour later, Harry and I enter our room, and he shuts the door behind him.
"Harry, we need to get somethings out in the open." I say, taking a seat and letting my hair loose. I pass my hand through my hair, opening the knots. Harry looks up from the floor, and sighs. He looks so tired and upset. While we were eating, Harry didn't speak, he just kept staring at his hands. Niall and I tried to initiate conversation with him, but our efforts were in vain.
"Bump, can we please not do this tonight?" Harry asks, taking a seat beside me.
"There's never a time to do this. We're always putting this off and it's clearly harming all of us." I take Harry's hand in mine. "Harry, just because Louis is insulting me, or saying something bad, doesn't mean you blow your top and yell at him. It's affecting your relationship with him, your friendship." Harry turns around, his back facing me and then he lowers himself onto my lap. Harry's curls brush my short-clad legs.
"It is, but he's wrong, Bump and Louis better learn that soon." Harry says, looking up at me. I pass my hand through his hair, through his soft curls. "I can't let him insult you like that."
"Then talk to him. Have you talked to him about me - about us - properly?" Harry shakes his head.
"No, I haven't. We never really get a chance." Harry frowns.
"That's because you never find the chance. You guys never talk about the things that need to be addressed, the important things."
"No...no, we don't."
"But you should and you have to, Harry."
"I know you're right, Bump. And I-I think I'll talk to Louis tomorrow." Suddenly, a smile lights up Harry's face. "Tomorrow's the thirteenth and day after tomorrow's your birthday." I squeal, a huge grin stretching till my ears.
"You better make it good," I say, excitement bubbling inside me.
"I'll make sure it's the best birthday you've ever had." Harry winks at me, and covers my lips with his.