My Brother's Best Friend

8. The Scare of My Life

The next few days passed with an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach, and it wasn't because school was just around the corner.
After my fight with Louis in the movie theater, things had been extremely tense between us. Louis wasn't usually one to hold a grudge, except for when it came to talking about my dad. I spent most of the days after that regretting that I'd even mentioned him. It was a spur of the moment thing, and it hadn't done anyone any good. Most days Louis wouldn't even speak to me, and when he did, it was only stuff like, "Pass the remote, would you?"
I really did feel terrible. I shouldn't have even questioned him; I knew he was just trying to protect me. But there I went again, stupid Amber, always forgetting to think before I spoke. I should have just walked away. But in that moment, I couldn't. I don't know what fueled my anger and caused it to come out so fast, but it did. If I could go back, I would.
Maybe if I went back, I could have prevented my weird feelings towards Harry. I wouldn't have had to run away in tears, causing him to run after me for a reason I still wasn't clear on. He wouldn't have had to hold me in his arms until I stopped crying. He wouldn't have had to cheer me up and create this warm, tingly feeling inside of me that confused the hell out of me.
Things between Harry and I, despite whatever it was that had happened between us at the movies, returned to normal. He'd be a complete asshole one minute and then a gentleman the next, as usual, making me think he had some type of split personality disorder or something. Nevertheless, I was glad nothing had changed on that front. He carried on being an egotistical, man-whore jerk, and I carried on hating him. Just like things were supposed to be.
Yet they weren't. Because for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking of how he held me that day at the movies; like the world was crashing down on us, yet I felt so safe and protected in his arms. It took my breath away every time I thought about it. I could still smell the scent of him and feel his arms wrap around me tightly like I was the only girl in the world.
How could a guy like him ever do something like that? How could he make my heart pound just by the sound of his voice, or his laugh, or his smile? Why the hell was he affecting me like this?
Yet he carried on like things were exactly the same. Did he even know that I stayed up until three in the morning last night just thinking about that hug and trying to analyze what it meant?
This never used to happen. I never used to give a damn about him. But ever since he danced that stupid dance with me at that party, something -and I don't know what- has totally changed. I can't even explain it. I can't even describe the feeling he gives me. It was like being on a rollercoaster, and I didn't know where it would take me.
I didn't like him or anything. N-not at all. I couldn't, even if I wanted to.
At least, that's what I kept telling myself.
So Harry went on being the total asshole he was, making my head hurt from all the mixed signals he was giving me.
He'd tell me I looked cute today, making my heart flutter, and then he'd mess it all up with one slutty comment. He let me keep his hoodie, but then teased me all day for wearing it around the house. It earned him a couple shoves, and I tried not to think about the feel of my skin against his. When had all of this become so... complicated?
Why couldn't Louis had picked a different best friend? One that didn't make me want to kick him where it hurt and throw my arms around him at the same time? He was so goddamn difficult.
I think he knew how much he affected me. He knew he had some sort of advantage. I could see it in his eyes and that trademark smirk he seemed to pull off so well.
It was funny; I wanted Harry gone so bad, but I just couldn't imagine his absence. Things would be so... different. Harry practically lit up the room. Sure, he was extremely attractive, but it was more than that. His personality just made everything brighter. What would it be like without him? It would probably be boring, for sure. And I didn't like to admit it, but even when he left the room for a few seconds...
I felt...
Empty.
What was Harry Edward Styles doing to me?
....................................................................................................................................................The days seemed to fly by. Much to my dismay, school was on Monday, and on Saturday I'd rooted through my closet, and I couldn't find a single thing to wear. First days were important; you needed to make a first impression without seeming like you were trying too hard.
Hey, I'm a girl! Give me a break!
Groaning in frustration, I closed my closet, now messy from me rummaging through it, walked over to my bed, and flopped onto my mattress. It made a bounce and a creaking noise as I did so.
I decided to call Pietra. This was an emergency.
I slid my iPhone out of my pocket and tapped on her number. I bit my lip as the phone rang, twirling a strand of dark hair with my finger impatiently.
"Hello?"
I sighed in relief. "Pietra, thank God. Listen, I have nothing to wea-"
"Hellooo? Hello?! Just kidding, it's Pietra. Look, I'm not here right now, so leave a message and I'll call ya back! Peace!" { A/N I put that as Pietra's answering machine message because lots of my friends have theirs like that and I always fall for it -.- }
I rolled my eyes, laughing as I hit the end button. Dammit, every single time!
I decided to go downstairs to get a drink, knowing Pietra would call me back later. It was weird; usually she always picked up. She must have been pretty busy not to answer my call, but whatever. If worst came to worst and she didn't call me back, I'd text her.
As I was walking down the stairs, I heard footsteps creaking on the floor downstairs.
I froze. Louis was out, and Harry actually wasn't here for once.
He always said he liked our house better because his was too quiet; his parents worked often and were never home, and his sister Gemma went to a boarding school on the other side of town.
I didn't know where he was, and I didn't care. Okay, that wasn't true. I was kind of lonely, here by myself, and now I was scared, too.
Who the fuck was downstairs?
I heard the creaking noise again. This time the footsteps seemed closer, and they were louder and more intense, almost banging on the floor. It seemed to shake the house off its hinges. I swallowed a terrified scream, my heart pounding in my chest, my eyes wide with fright.
My mind flashed back to the movie I'd seen with Harry, Louis and the others. What was it, Insidious 2? God, that movie was scary. My shaking hand gripped the railing.
What if there was a ghost in this house?
Another stomp.
I flinched. Oh shit, what if it wasn't a ghost?
What if someone had actually broken in?
"Who's there?" I called out in a shaky voice. "Harry? Louis?"
Silence.
"I know that's you, Harry. Don't play with me," I warned, walking down a couple of steps. I grabbed the first thing I saw on the steps -an old textbook Louis was returning to school- in case it wasn't Harry. God forbid.
"I've got a textbook and I'm not afraid to use it!" I cried out, slowly making my way down the last couple of steps. My heart hammered wildly against my ribcage. I was so scared, I was shaking, but I tried not to show it.
Holding my breath, I opened the door leading out to the den, and it let out a slow creak. I winced, expecting to see someone with a chainsaw standing right there, but there was no one.
Cautiously, I stepped out into the living area, keeping my eyes peeled as I looked around. The place showed no sign of anyone else here. Nothing was missing or out of place.
But it was quiet.
Eerily quiet.
Maybe too quiet.
I held the book in front of me, ready to smack it down hard in case someone tried to hack me to death.
And then the creepiest thing of all happened.
The lights flickered on and off, and then everything went pitch black.
I screamed, dropping the book to the floor with a bang. I blinked rapidly, trying to get my vision to adjust.
Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh-
"BOO!"
I whirled around, screaming at the top of my lungs, my heart nearly jumping out of my chest, and the lights flickered back on.
Standing in front of me was none other than Harry Edward Styles.
Of course.
His shoulders were shaking with laughter, he literally had to crouch down and hold his stomach, he was laughing so hard. I just gaped at him, my hand flying to my chest, unable to comprehend.
Even through his laughter, I noticed he looked really, really hot... wearing a beanie on top of his tousled curls and a grey shirt that was sort of tight, showing off his abs. When he bent down, I could see the top of his Calvin Klein boxers. Oh God, there I go again, checking him out again.
He lifted a shaky finger, pointing at me, and then burst into hysterics again.
"You... your face," he was literally gasping for air, he could barely get the words out.
My shock turned to disbelief, and then my disbelief turned to extreme anger. I glared at him, my blood boiling as I clenched my fists and tightened my jaw.
"Fuck you, Styles!" I spluttered, stomping my foot. "You scared the shit out of me!"
"Obviously, Dots," he giggled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Hey, don't give him all the credit," a voice complained. To my surprise, Louis stepped out from behind the kitchen counter, where the light switch was.
"Louis? What the hell? You were in on this too?"
"Yup," Louis said confidently, striding up to meet Harry and I. He rested his elbow on Harry's shoulder, cocking his head like a puppy. Harry did the same, with a cheerful smile on his face.
"You guys almost gave me a heart attack!"
"So?" Louis shrugged. "It was payback."
I bit my lip. He had a point there. I'd been a bitch to him a couple of days ago, and now we were even. Sure, he'd been an asshole too, but he couldn't help that. He was just wired that way.
I smiled at him, and he raised an eyebrow, but then smiled back. And there we were, brother and sister again.
I looked over at Harry.
Harry. Now Harry was a different story. All these years I'd thought he'd just been a full-bred asshole, but that was before. Now, I realized that he could actually act like the sweetest guy in the world... when he wanted to. Which meant that he had the choice to whether or not he wanted to act like that to me.
"Whose idea was this?" I asked.
They both pointed towards each other. "Harry," Louis said at the same time, while Harry said, "Louis."
"Liar!" Louis cried. "It was you!"
"Nuh-uh!" Harry crossed his arms over his chest and glared jokingly at Louis, tapping his foot like a cartoon character. "It was all your brother. I had nothing to do with this!"
"Way to lie, Hazza," Louis retorted, putting his hands on his hips. "It was totally him, I swear."
Harry turned to me. "So who do you believe?" he asked. His eyes were so green I almost forgot what color they were. I blinked, suddenly dazed. He smirked, as if he knew what was happening.
Asshole. He probably did.
"I....," I was at a loss for words, and I wanted to kick myself for that. "I don't know...,"
"Harry," Louis coughed into his fist.
"Louis," Harry coughed even louder.
I smirked. "I think I'm going to have to go with Styles on this one."
"YES!!" Louis jumped up in the air, pumping his fist.
"It wasn't me!" Harry whined.
"Sure," Louis scoffed. He turned on his heel, heading for the kitchen. "Hey, I'm going to get a drink, do you all want anything?"
"I'm cool," Harry replied.
"Sure, get me some water, please," I called after him. Then I turned to Harry.
"I bet it was your idea, wasn't it?" I demanded. He just chuckled.
"A magician never reveals his secrets," he said mysteriously.
"That doesn't even make any sense!" I cried, stomping my foot.
"You're right, it doesn't." Harry said as he frowned, stroking his nonexistent beard thoughtfully. "I should really think up better comebacks quicker. I have to admit, that was pretty bad," he said, laughing.
I couldn't help it; I had to laugh too. "It really was," I teased, and he smacked me playfully.
The joking moment was broken, however, when we finally stopped laughing. Suddenly the silence seemed to stretch on, and his eyes got greener and more intense by the minute. Strangely, I found my cheeks flushing again, and I looked down at the floor to try to hide it.
He just continued to stare at me. I could feel his penetrating gaze study me silently, and I squirmed a little. My head snapped up and I saw him smirking at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said thoughtfully. "I'm just trying to figure you out."
"What the hell does that mean?" I asked, throwing my hands up in the air. "You've known me practically my whole life."
"Yeah, but I've never really gotten to know you," he corrected, his smirk deepening. I couldn't tell if he was making fun of me or what.
"Well, what do you want to know?" I asked, not sure where he was going with this.
His eyes roamed up and down my body hungrily, making a weird tingling sensation spread throughout me. I drew in a breath, trying not to let it show he was affecting me this much.
He stepped a little bit closer to me, and I could smell the aftershave lingering on his incredibly fit body. He brushed against me slightly, and whispered the words in my ear.
"Everything."
To my surprise, I fought back a sudden moan of pleasure, the feeling of his lips on my ear lingering and haunting me long after they'd left. I didn't know why the hell I was feeling this way, why he was affecting me this much, and it scared me. Why did this always have to happen? What was it about him that made him so hypnotising?
He stepped back and smirked just as Louis walked back in with my drink. I gulped it down, suddenly feeling quite hot.
"Damn, Dots. Thirsty much?" Harry teased, winking at me.
"Damn you, Styles." I retorted, glaring at him before turning on my heel and walking away.
To my dismay, Harry's face stayed in my mind, haunting me long after I'd turned around.
Damn you, Styles.
Damn you.
I don't like him. I don't like him. I don't...
{A/N Hmm.. I'm thinking of putting my friend Hannah in the story. Hehehe. Idk as who though..? Louis' new girlfriend maybe? ;) }