Absolution ➺ H.S. AU

Chapter 7 ➺ Harry

As I pulled up to the address Niall had given to me, my stomach twisted in excitement. The house was huge. Cars lined the yard along both sides of the streets, and I could see from the side people standing around in the back.

As I stepped out of my car, I could hear music and people. The ground was shaking with from all the vibrations. The grass crunched under my feet as I walked up to the front door.

When I entered the house, the sound of music got twice as loud. There were bodies everywhere. Most were standing around talking, while others were pressed up against the wall, making out with their other half.

I found my way to the kitchen to get myself a drink. Considering the events of the past week, this probably isn't the greatest choice, but since when do I care about making good choices?

There was a fit brunette standing behind the counter handing out drinks. She looked like a total slut. But then again, all the girls here do. I'm not complaining though.

"Can I have a drink please?" I asked, smirking at her, working my dimples to my advantage.

"Sure." She giggled in response, winking at me. She quickly poured me whatever the house had and handed me the cup. "Here you go." She said cheekily.

"Thanks." I said, winking back at her. I turned around to go find my friends, bringing the cup to my lips. I felt the familiar burn down my throat as I swallowed the liquid, and the taste instantly brought me back to the night of Prom. It tasted exactly like what we were drinking then.

An unwanted rush of guilt flowed through me, as I saw the image of her body laying in the rubble of her car. I pushed the picture burning in the back of my head away with another sip of the liquid.

I walked through the back of the house and out to the backyard. There were even more people littered on the patio and around the pool than there were inside. Out here they were dancing. There was a huddle of bodies to the right of the pool. In the pool, there were people splashing and jumping into the pool.

I looked around for the group, and instantly spotted Luke's tall form. I walked over to where they were all standing, making my way into the huddle.

"Harry!" Louis shouted in a childlike manner. He was already wasted.

"Hey." Everyone in the circle excitedly greeted me, one of the guys giving me a playful slap on the back.

"You made it, Harry." Zayn said, a sparkle of something I couldn't quite decipher in his eye as he smirked at me.

"Yeah." I replied, trying to shake off his words. I hadn't seen them all week because of the accident. They all knew about it, but since I really wasn't hurt, they didn't care. I knew I had to behave for at least a little while, or my parents would have my neck, so I had declined the last couple parties. I didn't want them to think I was a wuss though, so tonight I've got to show them that none of this has affected me.

"I'm here and I'm ready to party." I said confidently, running a hand through my hair and bringing my cup up to my lips. Everyone hooped and hollared in response, and we all broke off into side conversations. Luke dragged Ava over to where everyone was dancing, and Louis told us he was going to get a round of shots for all of us.

"Aye, Harry!" Niall said, patting me on the back. "We missed the rebel side of you. Thought we were finally seeing a soft side of you." he joked.

"Oh, Horan. You underestimate me. Never." I sealed it with a smirk.

"Good." Niall said.

I grinned in response, taking in the scene before me. This was where I belonged, with all the other disapointments just like me, partying to get away from the problems in their lives. At least I admitted I had problems, I was just too much of a coward to try to solve them.