#Zayn malik

[narrycherries]

ivy: how’s one to know..

(enemies to lovers) harry is just an ass and (Y/n) is just a stranger

masterlist // ivy series (link coming w part 2)

word count: 8.6k

warnings/tags: enemies to lovers, harry x reader, fem reader, angst

[before you start: I wrote the female character with a description (blonde, blue eyes, short, thicker build) but of course feel free to change the descriptors to whatever you prefer!]

The holiday season had wrapped up a handful of days ago and things were slowly starting to go back to normal. The sparkling strings of lights decorating neighborhoods and businesses all around the city were being taken down and shoved back in their storage boxes until the last month of the year circled around again. The weather was staying consistent, though. The gloomy overcast skies and chilly wind that whipped through the streets were enough to keep people bundled up and wishing for spring to arrive.

Most people she knew enjoyed the holidays a lot more than she did. Sure, she loved to see the colorful lights lining roofs and windows of boutiques and restaurants along the main strip. There was something so juvenile, so innocent about the giddy feeling that would fill her stomach as she saw a pile of fake presents and a decorated tree in a shop window. Somewhere deep down inside of her heart, she still had that spark that a child would have.

When she was growing up, she sought happiness during the holidays by admiring other people’s outdoor decorations or gazing in awe at the displays put up in her schools. She didn’t have what most people had that she went to school with, but she tried to be grateful, even as a young chlid, and appreciate what surrounded her.

A strong sadness was building in her chest as she slid the ceramic Santa Claus into his box to pack him away with the other Christmas decorations. She thought about the many years she questioned if Santa was real. There were so many nights when she’d squeeze her eyes shut and whisper out loud, her knees on the floor as she put her elbows into the mattress. There was so much hope in her. She believed that if she wished and prayed and dreamed enough, Santa would leave a present or two on the coffee table next to her dad’s stained coffee mug. There wasn’t a tree most of the years of her childhood, but her dad give gift her things (there was no magical Santa though). There were no twinkling lights outside of her window, hanging down from the roof with a clumsy droop. There were no ornaments to place on the branches of a fake tree, lined with a dusty skirt that would be covered with presents. There were no fresh baked cookies and steaming hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. The television never displayed joyful Christmas movies and specials. The radio on the kitchen counter never once sang a tune of a wintery song about snow and ice. No, none of that. It was just her dad, her brother, and herself for a while.

“Did you keep the box for this guy?” Emma’s curious voice snapped her from her trance.

She cleared her throat and looked up from her spot on the living room rug. Her ‘new’ roommate was holding a ceramic snowman who’s decorated style matched the Santa she just put away. She reached into the plastic storage container and grabbed the box, passing it up to Emma.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks, (Y/n).” She smiled back, noticing that there was a glimmer of disappoint on her face, but she didn’t mention it to her. “You didn’t have to put everything away so fast. I would’ve been fine with it for a few more weeks.”

Emma had just moved in before Christmas. Her things were half way unpacked throughout the small house they now shared.

“I didn’t want it to crowd you. Besides, Christmas is over.” (Y/n)’s tone was partially rough as she began to pack away the miniature houses placed across the console table that the television hung above.

“I’m so excited to actually be here, like, full time. Niall’s a bit upset.. but I told him he’d survive.” She said with a laugh as she started to collect the small figurines that went with the village.

“I’m excited, too. I’m glad you’re actually up for decorating the space and not just.. letting me do it all. My last roommate was not particularly outgoing.” (Y/n) snickered at the thought, knowing she wouldn’t be missing that person at all. The girl was nice and all, but she was quite boring.

“Oh, totally! I’ve already got some stuff I want to show you in my room. Maybe we could put it out here or something.”

“I’m fine with anything as long as it’s cute.” She shot her friend a grin.

Emma wasn’t a new friend by any means. They met early on while they were both at university. Emma was actually her first partner for a project in one of their biology classes. They met on the third day of class and became friends very quickly. Their chemistry went far beyond the confines of the science lab. Emma was joyful and adventurous and offered (Y/n) that motivating spark to actually go out and have fun. Not that (Y/n) couldn’t match Emma’s energy once her veins were filled with alcohol, she just didn’t go out as much.

“Speaking of Niall, I haven’t seen him a while. How’s he doing?”

A proud smile crept to Emma’s lips. “He’s been good. But he’s been super busy with the store.. almost never get to spend time during the actual day with him.”

“But it’s going well, the store, I mean? Like he’s having success?”

Emma nodded. “It’s been great. I told him it would do good around here, especially with the college students. And besides, people are always looking for music lessons. I’m glad he took my advice and decided to offer those through the business.”

Niall was an excellent musician, or so (Y/n) has been told. She hadn’t actually seen him play anything in person, only through recordings and videos Emma had shown her. She knew Niall was talented, though. He played the guitar and the bass, both of which seemed entirely too complicated in (Y/n)’s mind. When they started dating last year, Niall was in the midst of finalizing a business plan and opening his music store. Emma told her all about it, including her fears and anxiety about the situation - but only because she was afraid Niall would get so caught up in the store that he would abandon their relationship. Niall ended up not doing that, obviously, and was able to balance everything in his life. He and Emma would be celebrating their one year anniversary on Valentine’s Day - which (Y/n) thought was particularly sweet and romantic.

“I’m glad everything’s working out.”

The store opened back in the summer, and (Y/n) had only gone by once to see the place. It was in a part of town she didn’t frequent very often, so the opportunity to casually stroll in was rare. It wasn’t like it was Emma’s store. While she did know Niall well enough to refer to him as a friend, she wasn’t close with him. She was supportive, of course, but not overly involved.

“He’s coming by later to help me put together the dresser. Well.. he’s going to do it for me, not help me.” She snickered as she joined (Y/n) on the floor to start gently laying the mini figurines in a small cardboard box they knew as home.

“I can make dinner if you’d like. Niall likes that pasta I make, right?”

“Yeah! He actually asked me about that a few weeks ago. He said I have to get your recipe.” She grinned back, rolling her eyes at the thought of her boyfriend’s obsession with food.

“He’s only had it like twice.. but it’s flattering to know I’m such a good chef.” (Y/n) laughed under her breath. “I’ll give you the recipe.”

The rest of the afternoon was spent on putting away the last of the decorations and moving them into the hallway closet. The box fit perfectly in the bottom of the closet. Emma disappeared into her room to continue unboxing her belongings. (Y/n) was mostly occupied with dusting the wood furniture and wiping down the kitchen. She liked a neat, tidy home and she was very glad to know that Emma did as well. She checked the cabinets to make sure she had the ingredients required for the pasta she’ll be making later on.

Every now and then, she’d hear a crash of something hitting the floor come from the hallway, presumably from Emma’s room. She would just giggle to herself as Emma’s dramatic cries of curses and sighs would fill the small home. Despite being friends for a handful of years, they had never lived in the same space before. Even while at university when it was mandatory for them to live on campus, they lived in different dorm buildings. Emma was in a sorority and definitely more comfortable with herself than (Y/n) was. She kept to her small dorm with her roommate, whom she didn’t have anything in common with but she was kind to her. If she were being honest, she thought Emma would try to move in with Niall once her old lease had expired. But, Niall was comfortable where he was in his apartment and he already had a roommate. As much as Emma wanted to live with him, it was just too soon anyway. They tossed around the idea, but (Y/n) mentioned to her that perhaps she needed to wait, just in case. Niall wasn’t upset with Emma’s decision to move elsewhere, as long as she was in the city close to him. (Y/n) was also informed that Niall’s roommate wasn’t too keen on letting someone else share their space. She had never met him before, didn’t even know his name, but she couldn’t blame them. She wouldn’t want her house to be permanently crowded either. Niall let Emma stay over there a lot, though, but spending the night for the weekend or on a random weekday when it was too late to drive back home was different than staying full time. And of course, Niall was allowed over whenever he wanted and she made that clear to Emma before she signed the lease. As long as he respected their home and didn’t leave a mess behind, he was welcomed.

A gentle sigh slipped past her thick lips as she trailed back to the living room. The open concept of the front of the home meant the living room was attached to the kitchen with no barrier other than the island. She sat down on the end of the couch, the damp kitchen towel she used to wipe down the furniture sat on the side table. She picked it up, along with the framed photo that was next to the pretty gold lamp. The gold of the frame didn’t quite match the lamp, but it was still beautiful to her. The ornate metal that decorated the frame was cold as she carefully rubbed the pads of her fingers over it. She stared at the photograph locked behind the glass, the speed of her heart beating increased only slightly.

The image was of her and her mother when she was around three years old. It was Halloween, she was dressed in a pink dress that was modeled after Princess Aurora, and her hair was curled and a little makeup playfully swept over her features. Her mother was dressed in a Cinderella themed costume, her matching golden blonde hair curled, too, and pinned up. It wasn’t the last holiday they spent together, but it was one of the only ones (Y/n) remembered. She doubted herself at times about the memory - she was only three and a half, did she actually remember it or was she imagining it? Despite always doubting herself, she knew too well that the memory was burned into her brain. She can remember the smell of the burning iron as her mom curled her hair. She remembers getting tickled by the fluffy makeup brush as a bit was applied to her face just to add to the illusion. She remembers the taste of the mini chocolate bar her mom unwrapped for her in the car in between neighborhoods - the night was full of trick or treating and giggles and squeals. She even remembered the way her mom’s hand carefully adjusted her curls when they got caught in the zip of (Y/n)’s costume. It was a memory she held dear to her heart, one she prayed she’d never lose. (Y/n) had always tried her hardest to find things to fill in the void of not having her mother around. But no matter how determined she was, nothing ever seemed to be enough. She found joy in little things, like collecting whatnots and trinkets that reminded her of the ones that littered her house when her mom was alive. She enjoyed searching for squirrels and birds in the park, collecting odd looking rocks during her walks, listening to her favorite songs on repeat, and a plethora of other things. But nothing could really fill the space in her heart.. It was quite a big space, after all.

That evening, after the sun nestled below the horizon and stars littered the dark winter sky, Emma invited Niall over for dinner. It was third day of actually staying here, since she opted to spend two weeks with Niall for Christmas between her parent’s place and his. (Y/n) was working on preparing the ingridents for the pasta when Niall knocked and was let in with a grinning Emma planting a kiss to his mouth. He laughed and brushed her off, not a big fan of showing affection in front of other people, even though he knew (Y/n) wasn’t watching.

“Hey, long time no see!” Niall said with a smile as he followed Emma into the kitchen.

(Y/n)’s eyes glanced over her shoulder. “Hi, Niall. It’s been a while, yeah?”

“I think you guys haven’t seen each other since the day we moved my crap in.” Emma said with a slight unsure tone.

“Your crap that still isn’t unpacked.” Niall sighed as he leaned against the counter, his arms crossing on his chest.

(Y/n) chuckled to herself as Emma began to give him excuses for why her things weren’t put away and in their new spots yet. The list included things like being busy with work, having errands to run, and of course ‘spending all my time with you’ that made Niall smack his lips and give her a sarcastic ‘okay, sure’.

They kept up their banter for a bit while (Y/n) rinsed her hands at the sink. She had finished everything she needed to do before actually cooking the food. When she turned towards them, Niall was peering his eyes into the pot of boiling water, frowning as he saw it was empty.

“She’s making the pasta you said you like.” Emma said as she grabbed his forearm to tug him away from the oven.

“Oh, really? That stuff was so good.” Niall’s eyes shot to (Y/n)’s. “I want a whole pot of it for my birthday, please and thanks.”

She shook her head in disbelief as a laugh rolled out of her mouth. “Isn’t your birthday in September?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, just don’t want ya to forget.”

“C’mon, let's start with the dresser, Niall. Let (Y/n) cook.” Emma said after checking the time on her phone. “We’ll clean up the kitchen after dinner, okay? Don’t worry about it!”

“Alright, that’s fine. I’ll let you know when it's done.”

And just like that, she was alone in the kitchen again. It didn’t bother her to be alone, she had been for most of her life, especially her late teenage and adult years. Finding something to occupy her bored mind was not a new task for her to learn. She opted for sitting at the small dining table after setting the timer on the oven in case she forgot to check the time.

(Y/n) pulled her phone from the pocket of her sweatpants and started to maneuver through the notifications that had come through since she last checked. One was a message from a random company that was offering a sale this coming weekend, there were two texts from Niall - the first asking if he needed to bring anything, the second saying Emma told him not to and to just ignore the text - the rest were random notifications from different apps.

Her attention went to her photo app as she scrolled to a few days ago, just a day or so after the New Year began. She went for a walk in the park close by one day during lunch when she had nothing else to do. She snapped a few photos of little random things, like a wild flower that had somehow managed to survive the low temperature, a bird that was perched on top of the black metal fence that lined the park, and a snapshot of the sky with the clouds parting in such a way that made it look like heaven. After having lost so much in life, she learned and forced herself to appreciate the little things that were around. Details of daily life, like the fall of a leaf to the ground or the chirp of a bird in a tree, were almost therapeutic for her.

Dinner didn’t take too long to cook, but the dresser was seeming to take much longer than Emma had expected it to. When (Y/n) knocked on the bedroom door and stuck her head in, she grinned as she saw Niall sitting on the floor with his head thrown back and Emma pacing the room with her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. Her once neatly fixed dark hair was messily tied in a bun on the back of her head. The instruction booklet for the dresser was laid out in between Niall’s legs, along with a torn bag of hardwear.

“Food’s ready.” She said with a singsong voice that made Niall pop his head up.

“Finally.” He quickly rose to his feet and grabbed Emma’s wrist, tugging her behind him as they followed (Y/n) down the hall and towards the kitchen.

“Eat as much as you want, I made plenty.” She said as she let them make a bowl first.

“Don’t have to tell him twice.” Emma’s mouth shaped to a smile as Niall practically pushed her aside to be first.

“Guests eat first, right?” He joked as he gave them both a quick glance, a smirk on his face as he grabbed the serving utensil.

Once the three of them had fixed what they wanted and claimed a spot at the table, (Y/n) offered to grab everyone something to drink. Emma and herself chose a glass of ice water while Niall requested a Coke. Emma had just brought home a box this morning after her quick run to the grocery store. The food appeared to be a big hit as Niall scarfed it down, spitting out compliments and satisfied hums that made the girls giggle and roll their eyes jokingly at him.

“Em told me the store is doing great.”

Niall nodded as he sipped his drink. “Yeah, it’s been good, actually. I’m glad.”

“I’m glad you do the lessons. I told her that people are coming in pretty much all day long.” Emma said.

“Yeah, if it’s not someone who’s into music already or just curiously out shopping.. The sign about the lessons really brings people in. And even if they don’t go through with it, they end up looking around and finding something.” Niall told them with a pleased smile, he was relieved his business was staying crowded and people actually enjoyed coming to the store.

“Did you end up finding someone to teach the guitar lessons? I know Emma said something about you were looking for someone else, since you got so busy with your bookings.”

“Yeah, my roommate actually. He’s decent at guitar and he’s just working with the beginners. I’m sticking to the people who sorta know how to play around that just wanna get better.”

(Y/n) nodded as she took another bite. “That’s good.”

The cooking had made the kitchen a bit warmer than it was before, so she pushed her sleeves up to her elbows. The exposure of the small tattoo on the inside of (Y/n)’s elbow caught Emma’s eye.

“Oh!” She chirped suddenly, making Niall flinch. “I forgot to tell you, (Y/n), I’m getting a tattoo in a few weeks. Already got my appointment.”

“Oh, really? Where at this time?” (Y/n) asked with genuine curiosity.

“On my foot. Just a cute little flower. Niall says it's going to hurt.”

(Y/n) squinted her eyes and pursed her lips. “You don’t have any, do you?”

Niall chuckled. “No, but I’ve been told the foot is terrible.”

“I’m not a baby, Niall. It’s not my first one. Besides, Zayn said it would be fine since I’m used to the feeling.”

“Zayn is lying to you to spare your feelings and get your money. He is my friend, I think I'd know when he lies.” Niall was only teasing her, but it brought a flush to Emma’s cheeks.

“Shut up.” She mumbled through a pout.

(Y/n) was amused by their interaction, but she chose to move on with the conversation so Emma wouldn’t get too sensitive. She wasn’t over emotional or anything, but sometimes she would get embarrassed if Niall playfully taunted her in front of other people.

“Zayn.. is that the guy I met that time at the bar?” (Y/n) couldn’t remember the person’s name, but she was sort of sure that it was the same person they’re referring to.

Niall nodded to her. “Yeah. The one with all the tattoos.. I would say the one with the black hair but right now it’s platinum blonde.” The lift of Niall’s brows made her think that maybe he didn’t approve of the look, but he had no choice but to accept it.

“I thought that was the same guy. I’m pretty sure he told me he owned a shop.”

“He’s the best around.” Emma said with a laugh. “Plus.. he gives me a discount.”

“You’re welcome for that.” Niall puckered his lips and leaned her direction, demanding a kiss that he knew he wouldn’t get.

“Hush.” She pushed her fingers to his mouth and gently shoved his head back.

He laughed at her reaction. “Just saying, Em. He’s my friend.. like I said before.”

Emma ignored him and turned her eyes to (Y/n). “Anyway, Niall can’t come with me.. so I was going to see if you wanted to go.”

“I can see if I can.. just let me know the date and time.”

“Alright. I will. Niall, don’t be a pig.” She groaned as she saw he had slipped from the table and was at the stove, piling his bowl full again.

“Let him eat it. That way we won’t have to worry about leftovers.”

Emma shook her head. “He’d eat the actual house if you’d let him.”

—•—

(Y/n) was puckering her lips in the mirror of the car visor as she applied her lip balm. It was chilly outside and the weather wasn’t being kind to her skin at all. She huffed as she saw the patch of dry skin right in the middle of her forehead. She had just applied her moisturizer before they loaded in the car to drive to the tattoo shop. Emma was driving, and every now and then she’d glance (Y/n)’s way and notice she was still staring in the mirror.

“What’s the matter?” She finally asked as (Y/n) slid the cover over the mirror and flipped the visor up, her back hitting the seat as she felt defeated.

“My skin is horrible right now.” She rolled her eyes to herself, upset that it was bothering her this much. It was just a bit of dry skin and chapped lips, she shouldn’t be so affected by it.. but she was. “Even my lips are dying.”

Emma smiled. “I’m sure lots of people are struggling right now. I’ve got a dry spot on my cheek. It’s been there for a few days. Just the weather.”

“But it's annoying. Y’know my hormones are whacky sometimes.. feel like as soon as I get it under control, I break out or have something like this happen.”

“When we get home, we can look up some different products. Maybe we can find something better for seasonal dryness. My cream isn’t working either.”

(Y/n) shrugged and took out her phone to mindlessly look through one of her social media apps. “Yeah, we can do that.”

Even though the shop wasn’t too far from where they lived, Emma didn’t want to walk in the cold and she didn’t want to have to cover the tattoo with thick, tight shoes afterwards. So, (Y/n) agreed to drive back after they left, and after they grabbed some food. The shop was right around the corner, and it caught (Y/n)’s attention as they turned onto the street. It was just off the main road of the downtown area. The street was lined with different restaurants, stores, thrifting spots, boutiques, and a few law firm offices and an emergency clinic that stayed open during the weekend. She was familiar with the area, and had actually looked towards the tattoo shop’s sign plenty of times. They pulled into a spot and Emma took in a deep breath before pulling the keys out.

“Are you nervous?” (Y/n) said with an amused grin plastered over her lips as she opened the car door.

“What if Niall’s right? What if it hurts real bad?”

“You’ll be fine. You got one on your ribs and your spine. You can take it.”

Emma was still nervous as she followed (Y/n) to the door. She grabbed the handle and pulled the door open, allowing Emma to slip into the building first. It was warm in the small lobby of the tattoo shop. She was unfamiliar with the specific shop, but not the reality of one. It looked like the others she had been to and the place she got her tattoos done at. The walls were dark grey and decorated with interesting pieces of artwork and posters. There were rock band posters, most of which she recognized, on the wall behind the dark wood desk that acted as a check in counter. Nobody was at the counter, though. There was a small sleek, black leather couch pressed against the side wall, above it hung a large canvas with what appeared to be an original artwork painted on to it. She saw the signature in the lower left corner and smiled as she read over the name she had heard Niall use a few weeks ago during dinner. So this Zayn character was more than just a tattoo artist? She was intrigued by the brush work on the canvas, the beauty of the image was breathtaking. The muted colors stood out oddly bold against the stark white and midnight black areas. It was nothing like she had ever seen before. Although she didn’t partake in any form of art herself, she was an admirer. She enjoyed frequenting art galleries and museums and contributing to artists as much as she could. She once got a commissioned painting of a bouquet of flowers from an older woman in the area who was a somewhat known artist. The piece lives on the wall near the hall closet.

“Zayn?” Emma called out suddenly as she grew impatient with standing in the middle of the lobby.

(Y/n) sighed to herself as Emma disappeared through a door. It lead to the main tattoo room, with three different stations placed in it. The back room was Zayn’s private room that his clients were able to be secluded in. Emma knocked on that closed door and waited patiently. A few moments later, Zayn opened the door with a smile, happy to see her.

“Hi, Em.” He said, his accent thick as it rang through the small building.

(Y/n) heard them chatting, so she decided to peek through the door, a nervous smile on her face. Zayn’s eyes caught hers as he towered over Emma. He offered a friendly wave and gestured for her to join them. She nervously stepped over the threshold and swallowed gently.

“Zayn, do you remember (Y/n)? You guys met a while back.” Emma said with a gesture of her hand as (Y/n) approached them.

Immediately, she recognized his features - from his dark eyes to his nearly fully inked arms. His tattooed sleeves wrapped over his shoulders, around his neck, crept over each wrist and wiggled around his fingers. He was covered, to say the least. She could only presume the rest of him looked like that. Colorful tattoos mixed with jet black ones littered his skin. And she noticed, of course, that his hair was blond now like Niall had mentioned.

“I think so, yeah. You’re the chick Niall said could outdrink me, right?” Zayn asked with a laugh.

“I don’t drink that much.. but yeah, that’s me.”

Emma gave her a nudge of her elbow. “She can out drink anyone when she actually lets loose.”

Her eyes rolled as a smile toyed on her lips, still slick from the lip balm. “Yeah yeah.”

“Let me get my chair cleaned off and you ladies can come back here.” Zayn said just as he grabbed the knob to his private room.

They heard something hit the floor and then a shuffle of shoes moving against the tile. Emma furrowed her brows and gave Zayn a curious look.

“Someone in there?”

“Yeah, I just finished a piece.”

He opened the door and went inside, shutting it behind him again. (Y/n) turned towards Emma and gave her a smile, unsure of what to do next. Emma grabbed her hand and nodded towards the open lobby door.

“We can wait in here.”

They returned to the lobby, where (Y/n) was easily distracted by the art on the walls again. There was a print of a skull near the door. It had flowers pouring over the crown of it, which then melted to puddles as they hit the imaginary ground. She thought it was interesting and quite cool. From what she could tell about Zayn’s vibe, it fit it well. The music playing from the speakers in the ceiling was loud enough to be heard but not too invasive. She could tell it was a curated playlist going, because the song that just begun seemed to be sung by the same person as the one before.

“Zayn just texted me.. he said we can come back.”

“I thought someone was-“ (Y/n) stopped speaking the second a body appeared in the doorway. “Oh.”

“Hey, Harry.” Emma said with a friendly tone as she stood up, motioning for (Y/n) to follow her.

“Hey, Emma.” The stranger replied with a quick lift of one corner of his mouth.

(Y/n) was slightly confused because it obviously appeared that the two knew each other. She had never heard Emma refer to anyone by the name of Harry, at least not that she could recall. She licked her lips and let her eyes fall down his tall, broad frame.

“What did you get?” Emma asked with her usual curious voice.

(Y/n) was listening, but she wasn’t paying that much attention. She couldn’t help but be taken aback by the appearance of the person in front of them. He was tall, much taller than Niall but probably close to Zayn’s height. He looked like a sky scraper standing in front of Emma and herself, both of which were shorter than average. His long, dark hair shaped into curls that were messily laying on his shoulders. He suddenly swept his hand through his roots the second she realized he had such long hair. The motion caused the lights above them to ricochet off the rings covering his fingers.

“This.” He said as he extended his right arm to them, well mainly to Emma.

There was a freshly inked snake curling around his forearm, each scale placed perfectly on his tanned skin. There were remenents of blood speckled across his skin, and a deep redness that hazed over the entire tattoo.

“Wow! That’s so good.” Emma beamed at the delicate work.

“Yeah, took two sessions. Zayn got a bit tired last time.” He smirked gently at the girl he knew, completely ignoring the one he didn’t.

“Well, it was cool seeing you! Are you headed home?”

He shook his head. “Gonna sit here for a while. I’ve got to be at the store in an hour to help Niall.”

She checked the time. “Yeah, he said he was the only one closing tonight.”

“Emma?” Zayn called from the back room, his head looking around the doorframe searching for her.

“Coming!” She hollered back, taking one last look at Harry’s freshly inked arm. “It was good seeing you. If you leave before I get out of here, I’ll see you later.”

(Y/n) didn’t even realize she was tracing her eyes over his body. His arms were like tree trunks, muscles taut under his skin and veins popping out, rolling around as he moved. His legs were tightly wrapped in a pair of dark jeans, she could tell through the fabric that they were toned as well. It wasn’t until he suddenly walked past her, not even sparing her a glance, that she realized she had been standing frozen.

Emma started towards the back room, (Y/n) in two as she felt an embarrassed blush cover her cheeks. She didn’t know this Harry guy, but she hoped she wasn’t staring too hard at him. It definitely wasnt polite to just stare at a stranger, especially when she was blanking out. What if she was making a face at him? Something nasty, or something rude looking? She was unsure, but chose to ignore it. He didn’t seem bothered by anything as he took a spot on the couch.

Zayn’s office was just as she expected it to be. It was a deep shade of green, the walls coated in framed prints and a few smaller canvases of what she figured was his work. There was a small accent chair placed in the corner for guests. She sat down and started darting her eyes around the room. The type of work that Zayn had pinned to a board on the back wall caught her eye. He seemed to be good at everything, but most of it was bold color work or extremely detailed realism, sort of like the snake she saw on Harry’s arm moments ago. She wondered if Zayn had given himself any of his own tattoos or if he went to someone else. Surely, not every place on his body was accessible by his own hands, but maybe some of them were done by him. She felt like an amateur compared to him. She had a few tattoos placed on her body, but nothing quite as big or detailed as what she saw on the board or on Zayn’s skin.

“(Y/n) is your new house mate, right?” Zayn asked Emma as she got comfortable on the chair.

“Yeah. I moved in before Christmas.”

“But.. you’ve known each other for a while, right? I can’t exactly remember.”

Emma nodded. “Yeah, since we were in college together.”

“Zayn.. do you mind if I look through this?” (Y/n) asked politely as she picked up the small binder off the console table next to the chair. A few figurines of characters she recognized, an hour glass with black sand, and a plant lived on the table as well.

“Of course not, that’s why it’s there.” He gave her a chuckle, but kept his response nice.

She opened the book and started to slowly flick through the pages. She saw his signature on the bottom of the designs. They were all so perfect. Some were executed with such detail and precision that she could've sworn they were fake, others were more loose drawn in a free handed style or just more whimsical in nature. She saw a sketch of a few bees on one of the pages. They were in black and grey, mostly realistic with subtle, soft shading and delicate lines. The drawing was pretty and neat. She glanced to the corner, searching for his signature, but she didn’t find it. Instead, in the corner opposite of where Zayn favored to sign his name was a small H. She hummed to herself, curious to know why Zayn had someone else���s drawing in his book. She quickly shook the thought out and reminded herself that there three other stations in the front. They were not abandoned by any means, she could tell people worked at them based on the different things displayed and the personal trinkets and objects adnoring the areas. Maybe this was one of his college’s work or maybe it was random.

For the most part, the book was filled with things Zayn did. Some of them were his own creations while others were common tattoo designs just drawn by his own hand instead of being pulled from the internet. She liked the way he had a bunch of his own things offered in styles that were more popular. He appeared to be a well versed artist with the talent to create just about anything.

As Zayn prepped Emma’s skin for her tattoo, he was talking to her about Niall’s store. He asked how it was going and if she had heard any horror stories yet of Niall messing up payroll or forgetting to stock an item. She only laughed and said she was surprised he was staying so calm and organized. Everything about the store was going more than according to plan, as at least as much as (Y/n) could tell from what she’s heard. She was still so happy for Niall. His hobby had turned into a passion and a business and he was able to share it with others, it was like a dream come true she bet.

“Alright, are y’ready?” Zayn said with a deep breath of his own as Emma grew more and more nervous in the chair.

“I think so.”

“You’ll do fine, Em.” (Y/n) encouraged from the corner, her eyes now focused on her friend.

“Just take some deep breaths. Tell me if it’s too much.” Zayn told her as he pulled the stencil paper off her foot. The flower wasn’t that big, but there were lots of tiny details that Zayn knew would probably hurt her more than anything else she’s gotten. “Just a tattoo.”

“If I cry, you can’t tell Niall. I told him I could handle this.” Emma mumbled out with a frown as she stared at her foot.

Zayn smiled and leaned back, the gun still buzzing in his hand. “Before I start, is it in the spot you want?”

“What do you think? Is it good?” She asked him, twisting her foot to a different pose.

“It’s not my foot, love.”

She groaned and looked over towards (Y/n). “Can you check?”

(Y/n) laughed a little but nodded as she stood up. Just as she was about to step towards them, Emma called for someone else to take a peek at the design.

“Harry? Are you still in there?” Her voice echoed through the room, she hoped that it spilled into the lobby so he could hear her. After a few seconds, she grunted and pulled her phone out to shoot him a text. “I’m so nervous.”

“It looks fine to me.. but it’s your decision.” Zayn told her with a gentle sigh.

(Y/n) looked down at the placement of the tattoo, her arms behind her back with her hands locked. “Yeah, it’s cute.”

She gave Emma a hopeful smile before turning around. The door opened just as she moved her body, the stranger that wasn’t a stranger to anyone but her, walked in the room, chuckling as he saw Emma fanning her face, the heat swelling her skin with sweat and her eyes with tears - she was nervous.

“You always do this.” Zayn couldn’t resist laughing as Harry walked to them.

(Y/n) was back in her seat now, her eyes fixed on her phone as she waited for Emma to decide her fate. She could hear snickers coming from Zayn and Harry as they talked about the tattoo and Emma’s apparent hesitation that always came out when she was in Zayn’s chair.

“It’s fine, Emma.” Harry said, giving her a smile before looking to Zayn. “Make sure it hurts.”

“Harry, shut up!” Emma groaned and tried to kick at him. He laughed and took a step back. “You guys are bullies.”

“You’ll be alright, Em. It’s not like it's your first.” Zayn reminded her.

She shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. “Whatever. Go ahead, then. Thanks, Harry.”

“Welcome.” He said lightly before disappearing out of the door again.

(Y/n) wondered why he didn’t stay in the room with them. Was he not interesting in hearing the painful grunts Emma would sure be letting out soon or watching Zayn draw his design perfected for Emma into her skin? Maybe he was tired of being near the tattoo gun since he spent however long getting his own. She pushed the thought aside entirely the moment she heard Emma groan, curses falling form her lips but not directly towards anyone.

Zayn leaned over her foot, his fingers pulling her skin tight as he worked the needle into it. It didn’t look like it was much fun, and (Y/n) became grateful that she had no intention of ever inking anything onto her foot.

—•—

There was a freshness in the air as she looked around Niall’s music store. It smelt like freshly picked lemons, probably because he had just sprayed down the counter before she came in following behind Emma. Niall was in one of his usual band tees and a pair of jeans as he sat on a stool with a guitar resting on his thigh. He was talking with a customer, comparing the similarities of two different guitar brands. Emma found herself busy with the items on the checkout counter - dropping loose pens back into their cup and adjusting the pile of papers Niall had pushed to the side.

(Y/n) stayed curious as she looked around the store. It was very easy to get caught up in the different items, especially since she had little to no idea what some of the accessories were for. Niall provided more than just items for guitars. She didn’t try to decipher every thing on the shelves, just simply moved her eyes across the packages, curiosity settling in her instead of blurting out questions to Niall. The girls came by to bring him some lunch before they did some grocery shopping for the week. Niall was appreciative, but he was unable to entertainment right away.

Emma smiled as the customer approached the counter, the one Niall had been chatting with. She stepped aside and let Niall take over the register. He had another employee here, but he was in the back room looking for a specific thing they needed to restock on one of the shelves. (Y/n) waited near by as Niall scanned the guitar music book the customer wanted to get and told him that he’d see him when he returned for the guitar - the customer hadn’t made his decision just yet.

When it was just the three of them at the counter, a few customers were lingering around the store just browsing, Niall gave them both a warm smile before wrapping his arms around Emma for a quick hug.

“Thanks for lunch. I’ll eat it when Josh gets off his break.” He said with a sigh, folding his arms and leaning them on the counter.

“The store is so nice, Niall.” (Y/n) complimented as she glanced around.

“Thanks.”

Emma walked from behind the counter to where (Y/n) was standing. She was about to ask her something about their plans for the day when her eyes fell on the few pieces of paper taped to the front edge of the counter. One was the refund policy, one was about the instrument lessons, and the other was new since the last time she was here.

“Oh, a flyer? That’s unusual.” Emma suddenly said as she pressed her finger against the pink dyed paper. “For the show?”

“The show?’’ (Y/n) asked with a drop of her brows as she read over the words printed in bold black letters.

“Yeah, Niall’s band. They play at a bar across town every couple of weeks.” Emma told her.

(Y/n) remembered as soon as she heard it. Emma had told her before, long ago when she first started dating Niall, that he was in a cover band. It wasn’t anything serious, not trying to search for record deals or gain stardom, it was just him and his friends having a good time. They got decent money for it, including tips from audiences, and it allowed them to play the instruments each member enjoyed. She wasn’t sure who was in the band as Emma never got to that detail before.

“Oh, right.” She nodded as the memory returned to her brain. “That’s cool.”

“Can’t believe Emma’s never brought you to a show.” Niall said with a somewhat surprised expression.

“I invited her a few times but she’s usually busy with work stuff.” Emma defended herself, even though there was no issue with it.

(Y/n) smiled at her and shrugged. “I remember you asking a couple times.”

“Well, you’re more than welcome to attend if you’d like.” Niall offered as he pushed himself off the counter the moment the bell jingled above the entrance door.

He went to greet the customer, someone he actually was used to seeing come in the store, leaving the girls alone again.

“Yeah, it would be fun if you came! You could finally meet Alyssa. She’s usually just home with her and Zayn’s kid.. she doesn’t go out much anymore, but she loves the shows.” Emma exclaimed with a sparkle in her eye.

“I dunno.. when is it?” She asked, glancing at the flyer.

“Next Saturday night. It would be cool, (Y/n)! We haven’t went out since Halloween.”

The stress building up at work during the holidays definitely set her back from enjoying a lot of things, including several invitations from Emma to join her and Niall at a bar or go out for dinner with just the two of them. It truly felt like forever since she got to have fun with her friend. She thought about it for a moment, but only lifted her shoulder at the idea. The mention of meeting Zayn’s fiancé was intriguing since she had heard so much about her from Emma, but she doubted that would be enough to pull her out for the night.

“Maybe.. depends on how the week goes.”

Emma gave her a partial smile. “Okay. I really hope you can go with me.”

“Yeah, you should definitely come, (Y/n).” Niall said as he appeared next to them, the customer gone to look for the item they asked him about.

Once again, she let out a small sigh and faked a smile for them. “I said I’ll see how the week goes, but no promises.”

He gave her a fake, dramatic frown. “C’mon! Live a little!”

“I live a lot.. at work.”

Emma grabbed her elbow and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll convince you before the week ends.”

“M’sure you will, Em.”

After spending a few more minutes talking to Niall, and then waiting in the car as he and Emma disappeared into his office to say a private goodbye, (Y/n) was ready to get the grocery shopping over with. The store they frequented was near by, so the drive was short and easy. It wasn’t close to their shared house, but the prices were better than anywhere else. Emma offered to take her car, so that left (Y/n) in the passenger seat with her eyes glued to whatever passed by the window.

“Are you okay, (Y/n)?” Emma asked as they strolled through the fruit section in search for the items on their list.

She gulped gently, distracting herself by collecting a few apples for the cart. “M’fine, just tired.”

Emma watched as she walked towards the basket of lemons and grabbed two, she’d need them for a receipe she was going to try later in the week. (Y/n) was normally not this quiet. She enjoyed the task of grabbing their groceries and checking things off their combined list while Emma pushed the cart and double checked everything. Something about doing such a mundane thing made her feel content and comfortable, even if they decided randomly to try a new store they’d never been in. But today was different, Emma was growing concerned with her unusually quiet friend.

“If you’re irritated with me and Niall pushing you about the show.. I’m sorry. You don’t have to go.” Emma said with a soft frown as (Y/n) returned to the cart with a handful of bananas.

She sat them down and lifted her hesitant gaze to meet her closest friend’s. “I’m fine, Emma. Just tired.”

She shook her head gently. “No, you’re too quiet. What’s wrong?”

“You and Niall didn’t bother me, I swear. The bar thing is.. whatever. I’ll think about it, I promise. It’s just.. one of those days.”

Emma wasn’t believing it all the way. Sure, maybe (Y/n) was being truthful about the role her and Niall played in her newfound mood, or didn’t play - but something else was up. She licked her lips and decided to stay quiet as (Y/n) busied herself with grabbing the rest of the fruits before moving onto the fresh vegetables.

Although she didn’t want to press it any further, Emma couldn’t stop thinking about what could’ve happened at the music shop or on the way to the grocery store. Her worry was growing quickly and it wasn’t very long before she was asking another question.

“(Y/n), please tell me. Are you alright?”

She received a sigh as a response, a couple of tomatoes and a bag of baby carrots joined the cart. “Emma, please.. I’m fine.”

“Something is wrong with you. I don’t want to see you so down.”

(Y/n) walked towards the next section of the store, knowing that Emma would follow her with the cart no matter if they were talking or not. She held her breath as she thought about what was bothering her. She was too caught up with her racing mind to realize she was actually expressing her emotions on the outside. Emma noticed everything, so clearly she wasn't doing well at hiding it. There was no real issue, really, nothing that anyone caused by saying or doing anything. A lump slid down her throat, Emma was her friend - there was no need to keep anything from her.

Just as they turned down the aisle where the bread was, she stopped in her tracks and turned towards the cart, her hand reaching out to stop it. Emma froze, a lift of her brows offering confidence like a good friend should.

“The guy that walked through the door right before we left.. at Niall’s store..” She started with a strong voice, but it slowly faded to almost a whisper.

Emma nodded, encouraging her to continue. She looked down to the floor as the moment replayed in her memory. It wasn’t an unusual thing for her to experience, in fact it was more common than not. One little thing, one random glance from a passerby, one glimpse of someone with a similar shade of hair as her own, one note from a list of songs she knew were special..

“He reminded me of my brother. I.. I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Her response made Emma’s stomach turn to knots. She knew that the conversation was over then, and there wasn’t anything else she could try that would break (Y/n). The forbidden topic had been brought up, and quickly dropped back to the vault she kept it locked away in. Emma didn’t mention it again..

[a/n: this is a series! It’s a lot longer per part than my other stuff so I hope you enjoy! This is just the intro so it will be more interesting and exciting as it goes on! reblog, like, do all that lovely stuff!!]

taglist: (notified for all // if you want to join a taglist for this series, lmk in a comment or message and I’ll start one)

@walkingintheheartbreaksatellite @victoriasigaard @ariiscringe @harlowsgirl @lomllover @haniaaa04 @sideboobrry11 @tenaciousperfectionunknown @fangirl509east @fruity-harry @sassamanda77 @lizsogolden

[louisupdates]

One Direction recording with Band Aid in 2014 “Do They Know It’s Christmas” 🎄 [via 25_zjm_93]

[fanfics-and-shlt]

No but fr I wanna be in a poly relationship with one direction

Pretty polyam of middle school girls to have a crush on the whole boy band, if I'm being honest

[specklelouis]

pretend i’m posting this yesterday 😁

[stylesonfilms]

ink & innocence - 17

word count: 9.2k

enjoy! a bit of a long one! i did noooot spell, grammar, or plot consistency check, i wrote the ending half asleep but i wanted to post for you guys haha! whats everyones favorite chapter so far??

Aspen set the thick packet down in front of her professor with shaky hands, forcing a tight smile that she hoped masked her inner turmoil. The weight of the exam lingered heavily on her shoulders, and her stomach churned with anxiety. This was her last midterm before finals, the final hurdle before a week-long break that she desperately needed. Yet, the moment she exited the classroom, the reality of her performance crashed over her like a wave.

Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes as her feet carried her hurriedly down the hallway. She sniffled quietly, swiping at the tip of her nose with her sleeve, trying to keep herself composed until she reached the sanctuary of the single bathrooms in the academic building. The door clicked shut behind her, and she quickly turned the lock.

The tears came fast and hard, pouring down her cheeks as her back pressed against the cool tiled wall. Her breaths were shallow and uneven, punctuated by small hiccups as she let herself unravel in private. Aspen slid her tote bag off her shoulder and onto the counter, gripping the edge tightly as she tried to ground herself.

She absolutely flunked that exam. She was sure of it. The professor had granted two hours to complete it, and even with every precious second of that time, she felt unprepared and overwhelmed. Her confidence wavered as she remembered how she stared blankly at questions that felt like a foreign language. She could still see the empty spaces on the answer sheet and the scribbled guesses she made out of sheer desperation. Aspen hated guessing—it wasn't like her. She thrived on preparation, on being in control. To leave the exam room knowing she hadn't done her best shattered her.

Her hands trembled as she reached into her tote bag, rummaging until she found her phone. She fumbled to unlock it, tears blurring her vision as she scrolled through her contacts. Harry's name stood out to her, and she hesitated for only a moment before pressing the call button.

He was at work, she knew that. He was likely busy with clients or sketches, but Aspen didn't care. She didn't need advice or solutions right now—she just needed to hear his voice, to feel tethered to something solid when she felt like she was free-falling.

"Come on," she whispered shakily, her thumb anxiously tapping against the edge of her phone. "Pick up, pick up..."

The taunting rings seemed to stretch on forever, each one amplifying her desperation, until finally, the line clicked.

"Hi, baby. What's up?"

Harry's voice was a soothing balm, warm and inviting, tinged with the faintest edge of curiosity. Aspen's lips parted as a breath of relief escaped her, but the sound wavered into a broken sob as her emotions surged forward uncontrollably.

"H-Harry," she managed to choke out, his name coming out as a quiet plea.

Aspen pressed the heel of her palm to her forehead, screwing her eyes shut as more tears spilled over. Her free hand clutched at the hem of her hoodie, twisting it nervously. She felt small and overwhelmed, embarrassed that she was falling apart over a test but unable to stop herself.

The concern in Harry's voice was immediate and palpable, even through the phone. The sound of the rolling wheels on his chair could be heard. "Asp? What's wrong, love? Are you okay?"

His tone softened further, wrapping her like a comforting embrace, and Aspen felt her knees weaken at how easily he could soothe her even without being there.

"I—I messed up," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I messed up so bad, Harry. I couldn't—I didn't know the answers, and I couldn't finish in time..."

Harry's brows furrowed as he listened intently, his heart aching at the sound of her distress. He could picture her so vividly, her cheeks streaked with tears, her doe eyes wide with worry, and her lip trembling in that way that always made him want to scoop her up and shield her from the world.

"Hey, hey," he murmured, his voice low and gentle, "slow down, baby. It's okay. Deep breath f'me, yeah? In through your nose, out through your mouth. Jus' like that."

Aspen tried to follow his instructions, her breath hitching but eventually evening out under his guidance. Harry waited patiently, letting her take her time before speaking again.

"Now, tell me what happened," he coaxed, his voice still soft but laced with a quiet determination to make her feel better.

Aspen bit her bottom lip, the familiar comfort of his voice easing some of the weight off her chest. "I... I just feel so stupid," she admitted in a small voice. "I studied so much, but when I sat down, it all just... disappeared. I'm pretty sure I failed, Harry."

"You're not stupid," Harry said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "You're the furthest thing from stupid, Asp. You're brilliant, and hardworking, and the fact that y'even care this much says everything about the kind of person you are."

Aspen's chest tightened at his words, the lump in her throat growing larger. She sank onto the counter, her legs dangling as she held the phone close to her ear. "But what if I ruined everything? What if I can't—"

Harry interrupted her gently. "You didn't ruin anything, angel. One exam isn't going to define you, alright? And even if y'didn't do as well as you hoped, it's not the end of the world. You're allowed t'have bad days. You're allowed t'be human."

His words settled over her like a warm blanket, and Aspen sniffled again, this time out of gratitude rather than despair. Harry always knew what to say to make her feel better, to make her believe in herself even when she doubted everything.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice still shaky but steadier than before.

"Always, baby," Harry replied softly. "D'you want me to come pick you up? Take you out f'something sweet? I've got a break coming up, and I'll ditch these idiots for you in a heartbeat."

Aspen laughed lightly through her tears, the sound fragile but genuine. "No, I'm okay. I just... needed to hear your voice."

Harry smiled to himself, his chest warming at her honesty. "You can call me anytime, Asp. I mean that. I'm here, yeah?"

"Yeah," she breathed, her lips curling into a small smile despite everything.

As she ended the call, Aspen felt a sense of calm wash over her. The tears still lingered, and the ache in her chest hadn't fully subsided, but Harry's words echoed in her mind, steady and reassuring. She wasn't alone in this—she had him. And somehow, that made everything feel a little more manageable.

Harry leaned back in his chair at the shop, the soft glow of the afternoon sun spilling through the windows. The phone call with Aspen lingered in his mind, her quiet sobs and trembling voice still echoing in his ears. He rubbed a hand over his face, his heart twisting at the thought of her sitting alone, overwhelmed and upset. No amount of reassurances over the phone felt like enough. He glanced at the clock, then at the empty appointment book for the rest of the day. Decision made.

"Alright, that's it for me," Harry called out to Zayn and Niall, who were lounging near the counter with snacks in hand.

Zayn arched a brow. "Shop's not even closed yet, mate. What gives?"

Harry grabbed his jacket, slipping it on as he shot them a look. "Got somewhere I need to be."

Niall smirked knowingly, crunching into a crisp. "Let me guess. Aspen?"

Harry didn't bother denying it, his lips curling into a slight grin as he pocketed his keys. "Yeah, and if either of you tries to stop me, you're cleaning the entire shop tonight."

"Not a chance," Zayn said with a laugh, tossing a bag of crisps toward Harry. "Go be Prince Charming or whatever. Tell her we said hi."

Harry waved them off with a roll of his eyes, but his chest warmed at their teasing. He locked up the shop and headed out, his boots hitting the pavement with purpose. On his way, he made a quick stop at a frozen yogurt shop he knew Aspen loved. It didn't take him long to spot the cheesecake froyo on the menu—her favorite—and he added a handful of fresh strawberries and crushed graham crackers as toppings, just the way she liked it.

Balancing the froyo carefully, he climbed back into his car and made his way to her campus. The drive wasn't long, but it gave him time to think about how much Aspen had come to mean to him. She was a mix of strength and vulnerability, so stubbornly independent but also so willing to let him in when she needed it. He couldn't help but feel protective of her, wanting to be her safe place whenever she needed one.

Aspen, sitting in the library attempting to distract herself with her laptop, stared blankly at the screen, the words blurring together. The sound of her phone buzzing pulled her from her haze, and she swiped at the notification. Seeing Harry's name accompanied by the message, "Come outside, love. Got a surprise for you," made her heart stutter. She frowned in confusion, her fingers hovering over the screen before deciding to leave her response unread. Instead, she wiped her damp cheeks with the sleeve of her oversized hoodie, quickly gathered her bag, and made her way to the exit.

The late afternoon sunlight poured through the glass doors as she stepped outside, the cool air brushing against her flushed cheeks. Her eyes scanned the parking lot, and then she spotted him.

Harry was leaned casually against the side of his car, one ankle crossed over the other, his figure relaxed but effortlessly commanding. He wore a fitted black tee that clung perfectly to his broad shoulders and skinny jeans that accentuated his long legs. A pair of aviator sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose, hiding his expressive green eyes, but his smirk was unmistakable.

In his hands were two cups of frozen yogurt, the condensation from the chilled cups glistening in the sun. His tattooed arms flexed slightly as he adjusted his grip on them, his silver rings catching the light. The sharp line of his jaw and the faint scruff framing his chin added to the air of confidence he carried so naturally.

Aspen's breath hitched at the sight, her steps faltering as a fresh wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm her. He was such a stark contrast to the chaos she felt inside—calm, steady, and completely hers. Her heart squeezed painfully at the realization of how much she needed this, needed him.

Harry straightened slightly when he saw her, his lips pulling into a soft grin that reached even beneath the shades. He raised the froyo cups in a small salute. "Took you long enough, angel," he teased, his voice carrying over the lot as she made her way toward him.

Aspen swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to focus on the warmth his presence brought rather than the lingering doubt and self-criticism from earlier. She stopped a few feet away, her gaze flicking from his smirk to the froyo in his hands.

"You didn't have to come all the way here," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly despite her effort to sound casual.

Harry cocked his head, lowering the sunglasses down his nose just enough for her to catch the sparkle in his green eyes. "Course I did," he said simply, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You sounded like y'needed cheering up. And who better than me to do it?"

Her lips twitched into the faintest smile, the tension in her chest loosening slightly as she stepped closer. The froyo was topped with crushed graham crackers and fresh strawberries, just the way she liked it. A tiny warmth bloomed in her chest at the thoughtful gesture, even as her fingers brushed his when she took the cup, sending a spark racing through her.

"You're ridiculous," she murmured, ducking her head to hide the grateful smile tugging at her lips.

"And yet, here you are, accepting froyo from a ridiculous man," Harry shot back, his grin widening.

For the first time all day, Aspen felt a tiny flicker of lightness creep in. It wasn't much, but with Harry, it was enough.

Harry opened the car door for her, gesturing for her to get in. "Come on. Let me kidnap you for a bit. I've got no plans 'cept making sure you're smiling by the end 'f the day."

Aspen hesitated for a moment, glancing back toward the library. But then she met Harry's gaze, warm and steady, and nodded. "Okay," she said quietly, slipping into the passenger seat.

The ride back to Harry's place was calm, filled with soft music playing in the background and the occasional sound of Aspen's spoon clinking against the froyo cup. Harry stole a glance at her every now and then, watching as the tension in her shoulders gradually eased.

When they arrived, Harry unlocked the door with a flourish and held it open, leaning against the frame with an exaggerated grin. "Welcome back to Casa Harry," he announced, his tone playful as he dipped into an exaggerated bow.

Aspen couldn't help the giggle that bubbled up at his antics, despite the lingering cloud of self-doubt from earlier. Shaking her head, she stepped inside, the warmth of his space immediately making her feel more at ease. The familiar scent of cedarwood and faint traces of his cologne wrapped around her like a comforting hug.

"You're such a dork," she teased, setting her bag down near the couch.

"Maybe," he replied, following her in and plopping down onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. He patted the cushion beside him and grinned up at her. "But I'm your dork, so that makes it acceptable."

Aspen's cheeks flushed, the endearing sincerity in his words making her chest tighten in the best way. He always had this effect on her—disarming her with his humor and charm, grounding her with his presence. She hesitated only a moment before sitting beside him, curling her legs under herself and holding the now-empty froyo cup in her lap.

Her fingers fidgeted with the plastic spoon as silence settled between them for a beat. "Thank you," she said softly, the sincerity in her voice cutting through the quiet.

Harry, who had leaned back against the couch with one arm draped casually along the backrest, glanced at her with a slight tilt of his head. "F'what?"

Aspen's gaze dropped to her hands, and she twisted the spoon between her fingers. "For coming to get me. For always knowing how to make me feel better," she murmured, her words tinted with a shy vulnerability that only he seemed to coax out of her.

Harry's gaze softened, his green eyes studying her as warmth spread through his chest. The way she looked at him—with a mix of gratitude and trust—made him feel like the luckiest guy in the world. She didn't always let her guard down, but when she did, it felt like she was offering him pieces of herself she kept hidden from everyone else.

"I'll always come for you, Asp," he said, his voice low but steady, a quiet promise in the words. "Always. You're kind of my favorite person, y'know."

Aspen's heart fluttered at his confession, her cheeks burning as she ducked her head to avoid his gaze. She wasn't used to someone being so openly devoted to her, so unapologetic in their care. It was overwhelming in the best way, like discovering a part of herself she didn't know she needed.

Harry reached out, his calloused fingers brushing her cheek as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The small, tender gesture sent a shiver down her spine. His touch was always warm, grounding her even when her thoughts threatened to spiral.

"Now," he said, his tone shifting to something lighter, "how about y'tell me what else I can do t'make your day better?"

Aspen looked up at him, the hint of a genuine smile breaking through her earlier gloom. His eyes, warm and full of affection, made it impossible not to feel safe. "Honestly? Just being here is enough," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper but carrying every ounce of truth she felt.

Harry chuckled softly, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead. "Good," he murmured against her skin. "Because I don't plan on going anywhere."

The comfortable silence that followed was filled with unspoken gratitude and shared solace. Harry gave her knee a gentle squeeze, his lips quirking into a thoughtful smirk. "Y'know," he started, his tone casual but his gaze sly, "we should go out tonight."

Aspen blinked, caught off guard by the sudden suggestion. "Out? Where?"

Harry shrugged, leaning back and propping one ankle over his knee, the picture of nonchalant confidence. "Maybe Isobel's. I think being with the others might cheer you up. Could be a nice distraction."

Aspen hesitated, nibbling on her bottom lip. Social gatherings weren't exactly her forte, especially after the day she'd had. But before she could voice her reluctance, Harry added with a mischievous glint in his eye, "We could do karaoke."

Her eyes widened, a small laugh escaping her despite herself. "Karaoke? Harry, I'm not really one for singing in front of people."

"Ah, but you'd get to see me sing," he countered, his grin widening. "And 'm telling you now, baby, it's top-tier entertainment. You'll forget all 'bout that shitty exam."

Aspen couldn't help but imagine Harry up on stage, fully committing to some over-the-top performance with that cheeky charm he wielded so well. The thought alone had her lips twitching into a reluctant smile.

"Okay," she said softly, surprising even herself. "But only because seeing you make a fool of yourself sounds like the perfect distraction."

Harry laughed, his deep, rich tone filling the room like sunlight breaking through clouds. "You're in for a treat, then," he teased, his grin lopsided but brimming with affection. Beneath his playful exterior, he was already crafting a plan to lift Aspen's spirits—he wanted nothing more than to see her laugh and forget the weight of the day.

With a deliberate slowness, he reached out and took the empty froyo cups from her hands, setting them gently on the coffee table. The movement was simple, but it held the quiet intimacy that defined so much of their relationship—an unspoken understanding and care.

Sliding his hand over her knee, Harry let his fingers hook around the back of it, guiding her leg over his lap with a gentle tug. The action was natural, as if he'd done it a thousand times before, and it made Aspen's heart flutter in her chest. Harry leaned closer, his curls falling slightly into his face as he pressed a warm kiss to her forehead.

The contact was tender, grounding Aspen in the moment. She felt her shoulders relax, the tension she'd been carrying all day melting away under his touch.

"You're incredibly smart, Asp," Harry murmured, his voice low but steady, carrying a conviction that left no room for doubt. "Smart and beautiful and caring—and 'm so lucky to even know you, let alone be yours."

The weight of his words made Aspen's breath hitch, her eyes softening as they flickered up to meet his. She wasn't used to hearing such affirmations, especially not delivered with such earnestness. It made her chest swell with a warmth that was uniquely Harry.

"Don't ever forget that, okay?" he added, his hand sliding up to cradle her cheek. His thumb brushed tenderly across her smooth skin, the touch as comforting as it was electrifying.

Before Aspen could respond, Harry leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. The kiss wasn't rushed or demanding—it was soft, full of quiet devotion and reassurance. Aspen felt her heart stutter, her chest swelling with an emotion so intense it nearly brought tears to her eyes.

She sighed contentedly against his lips, leaning into his touch as if she could anchor herself to him entirely. In moments like these, it felt like all she needed was Harry. The way he made her feel—safe, cherished, adored—was unlike anything she'd ever known.

"Thank you," she mumbled shyly when they pulled apart, her voice barely above a whisper. She tucked her head against Harry's shoulder, letting his familiar scent envelop her.

Harry's lips curved into a small, satisfied grin as he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. "Of course, love," he murmured, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head.

After a beat of silence, Aspen spoke again, her voice soft and laced with vulnerability. "Can we stay like this for a bit? Before we go to Isobel's?"

Harry chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against her. "To Isobel's, huh? Not back to yours?"

Aspen lifted her head, her nose scrunching in an endearing way that made his grin widen. She rested her hand on his shoulder and propped her chin on the top of her hand, gazing up at him with an expression that made his chest tighten.

"I would say that my home is wherever you are, Har," she admitted, her words barely above a whisper but carrying a shy sincerity that hit him like a punch to the gut. A faint blush crept up her neck, and she quickly ducked her gaze, as if second-guessing her vulnerability.

Harry's heart swelled, his grin softening into something tender. "Asp," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He tilted her chin up gently with his fingers, ensuring her eyes met his. "You don't know how much tha' means t'me."

He pressed another kiss to her forehead, letting it linger as if to seal her words in his heart. "We can stay like this as long as y'want," he added, his voice a quiet promise. "You're my home, too."

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

Harry and Aspen got back to Isobel's no later than six. Harry had texted Zayn and let him know to bring Niall, Louis, and Liam with him if he was going to come to karaoke night at Isobel and Aspen's house. The man got ready at his, swapping his black tee for a blue and red plaid flannel and pushed his curls back with a Green Bay Packer's hat that he wore backwards.

When Aspen got back, she wanted to clean herself up a bit so she tasked Harry with helping Isobel clean up the living room and set out drinks and snacks. She ran upstairs and stripped from her clothes she wore to campus, already feeling more cheerful than she did. Aspen reached the consensus that worrying about her grade wouldn't change it and would just make her night spoiled. So, she took a breath and thought about being with Harry and all the heavy weight was lost.

She stood in front of her vanity upstairs, carefully laying out her outfit. The lingering heaviness from earlier in the day had lifted, replaced by the warmth of Harry’s comfort and her decision to let go of her worries for the night. Worrying about what her grade was would not change it, it would just push her into a deeper sulk. The girl decided she'd much rather spend time with her friends and Harry. 

The girl pulled on a black mini skirt that just skimmed the tops of her thighs over a pair of sheer black tights, both clinging well to her frame. Pairing it with a navy blue knitted crewneck, the soft fabric brushed against her skin and provided a cozy contrast to the slight edge of the skirt.

Sliding on a pair of frilly black socks, Aspen smiled at the reflection in her mirror. The playful combination of casual and chic suited her mood—light and free. Aspen was never one to 'sexualize' herself, but since that day at the shop with Harry, she was more keen to her figure.  

Her brown eyes skimmed over her frame, cinching at her waist and becoming more full at the hips under her crewneck. When she turned to the side, the hem of the crewneck rested above the generous curve of her ass. It wasn't like she had the best body, but it definitely made her smile a shy one to herself at the sight. She added a swipe of sheer deep red lip stain that gave her a touch of glam and brushed through her curls, now soft waves, before spritzing on her favorite perfume. With one final look, she decided she was good to go.

When she finally descended the stairs, the scent of chips and dip greeted her along with the faint clinking of bottles. Harry stood by the fridge, rummaging through its contents while Isobel poured a bag of chips into a plastic bowl.

“Is there any juice? Asp will want juice,” Harry asked, glancing over his shoulder at Isobel.

“I don’t think so,” Isobel replied, shrugging. “But I texted Zayn to grab some on his way.”

Harry hummed, closing the fridge with a small thud. He set the chilled bottles of brandy and vodka on the counter, his eyes flicking toward the sound of Aspen’s soft footsteps approaching from the hall. They never went unnoticed by him, no matter how quiet.

His gaze landed on her, and his lips curled into an easy grin. "Hi, beautiful," he murmured, holding out an arm until she stepped close enough for him to rest his hand lightly on the small of her back.

The warmth of his touch sent a pleasant shiver through Aspen, and she tilted her face up to meet his eyes. Harry’s gaze roamed over her, lingering briefly on the exposed skin of her thighs before returning to her flushed cheeks.

“You look good,” he said, his voice dipping lower with an appreciative edge.

Aspen ducked her head shyly, her lips curving into a soft smile. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

Harry pressed a lingering kiss to her temple, his breath warm against her skin. “They’re just about here. ‘M going to use the restroom, yeah?” he said softly, reluctantly pulling away.

Aspen nodded, her heart fluttering as he stepped back. The sound of the doorbell chiming echoed just as Harry disappeared down the hall, and Aspen turned toward the door, her pulse quickening with anticipation.

She opened it to see Zayn standing there, holding a bag full of juice boxes, flanked by Louis, Niall, and Liam, all grinning like they were ready for trouble.

"Hello, ladies!" Louis greeted, stepping inside with exaggerated enthusiasm. He gave Aspen a quick hug, followed by warm greetings from the rest of the group.

Isobel joined them moments later, and the room quickly filled with laughter and the hum of excited chatter. Harry emerged from the bathroom, his flannel sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and took the bag of juice boxes from Zayn with a nod of thanks.

“Alright,” Louis announced, pulling a bottle of vodka from the counter. “I propose a toast—or a shot, rather—to celebrate our newest and cutest couple!”

Harry chuckled softly as he tore into the pack of juice boxes, the plastic crinkling under his hands. He carefully pulled one out, pressing the straw through the foil with a precision that made it look almost comical. His grin spread wider as he turned, holding it out to Aspen with a flourish.

"Just for you," he said, his voice warm and teasing.

Aspen smiled shyly, reaching out to take it. Her fingers brushed against his, a small, fleeting touch that sent a familiar warmth coursing through her. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

As she took a sip, her eyes drifted to the bottle Louis had placed on the counter, its glossy label catching the kitchen light. She hesitated, her brow furrowing slightly before she glanced back up at Harry. “Are you... um, are you going to drink tonight?”

Harry tilted his head, his hazel eyes softening as he considered her question. He could sense the slight nervousness in her tone, and it made his heart ache in the best way—she cared. “I was thinking about it,” he said honestly, studying her expression. “You okay with that?”

Aspen hesitated, biting her lip as she considered her answer. She didn’t want to ruin the mood or make him feel like he couldn’t have fun, but she also couldn’t shake the small worry that lingered in the back of her mind. Finally, she nodded, meeting his gaze. “Yeah, just... not too much, okay?”

Harry smiled, his chest tightening at the vulnerability in her voice. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Promise,” he said simply, his voice low and steady.

Louis clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. “Alright, lovebirds! Time for a toast!” He reached for the vodka bottle with one hand and grabbed a set of shot glasses with the other, his grin mischievous.

The group gathered around the counter, the energy in the room buzzing with anticipation. Harry poured out the shots, his movements smooth and deliberate, while Zayn and Isobel grabbed their drinks.

“C’mon, Aspen,” Louis said with a wink, holding up his shot glass. “We can’t toast without you!”

Harry handed Aspen her juice box with a knowing smile. “She’s got her drink,” he said, nodding toward the bright yellow carton.

Aspen laughed softly, holding up the juice box, the straw sticking out at an odd angle. “It’s not exactly vodka, but it works,” she joked, her cheeks warming under the attention.

Louis leaned over, clinking his glass gently against her juice box with a laugh. “Perfect. Cheers to Aspen for being the responsible one here!”

Everyone laughed, raising their glasses—or juice box—in unison. The clinking sound echoed through the kitchen, light and cheerful. Aspen smiled, feeling a flicker of warmth in her chest at the inclusion.

As the others downed their shots, Aspen took a sip from her juice box, her lips curving into a contented smile. Harry glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his grin softening as he watched her.

He could tell she felt a little out of her element, but she was trying—she always tried. And that was one of the things he admired most about her.

With the toast done, Isobel and Zayn set about hooking up the karaoke machine, their chatter filling the air. Meanwhile, the rest of the boys plopped down on the couch, their focus shifting to Aspen as they started asking her lighthearted questions and pulling her further into the group’s dynamic.

Harry leaned against the counter, content to watch the scene unfold, his heart swelling at how seamlessly Aspen was beginning to fit in. He was beyond thrilled that the sad look in her eyes were replaced with her usual shy, happy ones.

The boys sprawled out on the couch in various positions, the atmosphere lively but easygoing. Aspen found herself seated in one of the armchairs, her hands clasping the juice box Harry had handed her earlier. She twirled the straw absently, her eyes flitting between the faces of Harry’s friends as they all looked at her with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“So, Aspen,” Louis began, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. His mischievous grin was impossible to ignore. “What’s it like putting up with our Harry over here? I imagine he’s quite the handful.”

Aspen laughed softly, the sound light and genuine. She felt her cheeks heat up under their attentive gazes, but she managed to hold her own. “He’s not so bad,” she said, glancing at Harry. “Most of the time.”

The group erupted into laughter, and Harry, who had just returned from the kitchen with a beer in one hand and another juice box in the other, shook his head with a mock look of betrayal. “Ouch, love,” he teased, moving to perch himself on the arm of the chair next to her.

The proximity made Aspen’s heart skip a beat, but it also felt grounding. As he settled beside her, his arm brushed lightly against her shoulder, and she found herself subconsciously leaning a little closer to him.

“Careful what you say,” Harry warned with a grin, holding out the second juice box to her. “Or I might just keep this for myself.”

Aspen took it with a soft laugh, her fingers brushing his as she did. “Thanks,” she murmured, tucking it beside her for later.

“Alright, alright, next question!” Niall interjected, his blue eyes sparkling with interest. “Aspen, what do you study? Harry mentioned something about you being a genius, but he’s never given us the full story.”

Aspen’s cheeks flushed deeper, and she glanced down at her lap, fiddling with the hem of her sweater. “I’m a psychology major,” she said quietly, her voice steady despite her shyness. “With a focus on child development.”

“That’s incredible,” Liam said, his tone warm and sincere. “And Harry’s not wrong—you must be brilliant to tackle something like that.”

Aspen offered a small smile, her fingers fidgeting with the juice box straw again. “Thank you,” she replied softly.

Louis wasn’t done, though, his grin growing wider as he leaned back against the couch. “So, what’s the verdict on our boy Harry here? Is he a good boyfriend, or do we need to have a chat with him?”

Aspen blinked, caught off guard by the directness of the question. Her eyes darted to Harry, who was watching her with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. She hesitated, but when she spoke, her words came from the heart.

“He’s... he’s amazing,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s patient and kind and always knows how to make me feel better, even when I don’t say anything.”

The room fell quiet for a moment, her words hanging in the air. Harry’s expression softened, his lips curving into a gentle smile. He reached out, brushing his fingers lightly over hers.

“She’s too good for me, really,” Harry said, breaking the silence with a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Damn right she is,” Zayn quipped, earning a round of laughter from everyone.

Aspen felt herself relax as the boys continued to ask her questions—what her favorite book was, what hobbies she enjoyed, and even a playful interrogation about whether or not Harry was good at sharing his food (to which she answered with a laugh and a resounding “No, absolutely not”).

To her surprise, the more they talked, the more comfortable she became. The boys’ teasing was lighthearted and friendly, and their genuine interest in getting to know her warmed her heart. She realized she wasn’t as shy or reserved as she’d feared she would be, and she chalked that up to Harry’s reassuring presence at her side.

At one point, she leaned closer to him without even realizing it, her shoulder pressing lightly against his leg as he rested his arm along the back of her chair. Harry noticed the small movement, his grin widening as he glanced down at her.

“You’re doing great, love,” he murmured quietly, just for her to hear.

Aspen looked up at him, her lips curving into a shy but genuine smile. “Thanks,” she whispered back, her chest swelling with a quiet confidence she hadn’t felt in a while.

The lively atmosphere buzzed as Niall clapped his hands together, his grin as wide as ever. “Alright, lads, I think it’s time for another shot! Who’s in?”

A chorus of playful groans and cheers filled the room. Aspen sipped her juice quietly, watching as Niall got to his feet and made his way to the kitchen to gather glasses. Harry glanced down at her, his hand resting casually on her shoulder now, giving a gentle squeeze.

“You’re sticking with the juice, yeah?” he asked, his voice low and warm.

Aspen nodded with a small smile. “I think I’ll leave the hard stuff to you guys.”

He chuckled, reaching for his beer and taking a slow sip. “Smart move, love.”

As Niall returned with a tray of glasses and the bottle of vodka, Louis leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms behind his head. “While we’re waiting, I might as well fill you in on what I’ve been up to, yeah?” he said, his tone light but tinged with a hint of pride.

“Go on, Lou,” Harry encouraged, tipping his beer bottle in Louis’ direction. “Tell ’em all about it.”

Louis smirked, shifting forward in his seat. “Well, the music’s going great. I’ve been working on some new tracks, collaborating with a few cool artists. It’s been a dream, really,” he said, his grin softening. “But, I’ll admit, there are days I miss being at the shop. You know, working with my hands, the banter with clients—it’s not the same.”

Aspen tilted her head, intrigued. “What kind of music do you make?”

Louis’ grin widened. “A bit of everything, really—some indie rock, a bit of folk. I like experimenting with sounds. It’s been a journey figuring out what feels most ‘me,’ but I think I’m getting there.”

“That’s so cool,” Aspen said earnestly, her eyes lighting up with genuine interest. “I’d love to hear your stuff sometime.”

“I’ll send you a playlist,” Louis promised with a wink. Then, as if he couldn’t resist, he added, “You know, Harry’s the one who got me into music in the first place.”

Aspen’s brows lifted in surprise, her gaze shifting to Harry. “Really?”

Harry shrugged, the corner of his mouth quirking into a sheepish smile. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s the talented one.”

“Don’t be modest, mate,” Liam cut in, leaning forward with a grin. “Aspen, you should hear him sing. He’s got this voice—deep, soulful—makes you stop in your tracks.”

Louis nodded in agreement, his expression earnest now. “He’s not just a singer, either. Harry writes, plays guitar, even dabbles in piano. The man’s a bloody genius when it comes to music. He just pretends not to be.”

Aspen’s cheeks flushed, and she turned to Harry, her curiosity piqued. “You never told me that,” she said softly, her tone more amazed than accusatory.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck, his green eyes glinting with a mix of humility and embarrassment. “Didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

“It is,” Aspen insisted, her voice gentle but firm. “I want to hear you sing sometime.”

Harry chuckled, leaning a little closer to her. “Maybe tonight, if you’re lucky,” he teased, his grin playful but his eyes warm.

Aspen’s stomach fluttered, and she bit her lip to hide her growing smile. The idea of seeing Harry sing—of hearing the passion in his voice that his friends were so adamant about—sent a thrill of excitement through her.

Niall returned just then, setting the tray of glasses on the coffee table and filling them up with precise care. “Alright, everyone, grab a glass! And Aspen, you can clink with your juice box. No one’s getting left out.”

Aspen laughed softly as the group cheered and reached for their drinks, Harry passing her juice box back into her hands. She held it up alongside the others, her gaze meeting Harry’s as their glasses and juice clinked together.

“To good music and good friends!” Louis toasted, his voice carrying a playful sincerity that made everyone laugh and cheer again.

As they downed their shots and Aspen took another sip of her juice, she couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of belonging. These boys, with their easy banter and genuine warmth, were becoming more than just Harry’s friends—they were quickly becoming her friends too.

Isobel wandered over, her movements a little less steady than usual, her cheeks flushed pink from the secret shot she’d taken with Zayn in the kitchen. She grinned lazily and plopped herself right into Aspen’s lap without so much as a warning.

“Isobel!” Aspen exclaimed, laughing as she instinctively steadied her friend by holding onto her waist. “You’re such a lightweight, you know that?”

Isobel shrugged, leaning her head against Aspen’s shoulder. “Maybe,” she said, her words slightly slurred but still coherent. “But it’s a party, and I’m having so much fun.”

Aspen chuckled, her earlier anxiety melting away in the warmth of Isobel’s cheerful demeanor. “I can tell. How many shots have you had?”

Isobel smirked, her finger pressing to her lips in a mock ‘shh’ motion. “Just... two? Maybe three. But don’t tell Harry; he’ll get all big brother-y on me.”

Aspen shook her head with a soft laugh. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

They sat there for a moment, Isobel twirling a strand of Aspen’s hair absentmindedly before asking, “How was your day? I mean, before this fun chaos?”

Aspen’s smile faltered for a moment as she thought about her exam. “It was okay, I guess. My midterm was rough. I think I really messed it up.”

Isobel sat up a little straighter, her expression growing more serious despite her tipsiness. “Hey, hey. None of that,” she said, poking Aspen’s nose lightly. “You’re the smartest person I know, Asp. And even if it didn’t go perfectly, one test doesn’t define you, okay?”

Aspen nodded, her throat tightening slightly at her friend’s earnestness. “I’m trying to keep that in mind. I just... I hate feeling like I didn’t do my best.”

Isobel’s eyes softened, and she cupped Aspen’s cheeks dramatically, her hands cool against Aspen’s warm skin. “You’re amazing, Aspen. Brilliant, kind, gorgeous—and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. Got it?”

Aspen couldn’t help but laugh, her spirits lifting. “Got it.”

“Good,” Isobel declared before leaning in and planting a quick, playful kiss on Aspen’s cheek. Then, without another word, she bounced up and rushed over to Zayn, who was already fiddling with the karaoke machine.

Aspen shook her head, smiling to herself as Harry leaned closer, his elbow resting on the arm of the chair. “She’s something else,” he said, his voice low and full of affection for the whirlwind that was Isobel.

“She really is,” Aspen agreed, her voice soft, as she sipped from her juice box again.

Harry straightened up and nudged her knee gently with his hand. “Come on. Let’s go raid the kitchen for some chips before she comes back and steals your lap again.”

Aspen laughed, setting her juice box down and taking Harry’s outstretched hand. His fingers curled around hers warmly, and he gave her a small squeeze as he led her toward the kitchen.

The noise of Zayn and Isobel arguing over song selections grew louder behind them, but Aspen felt herself relax as she stepped into the quieter space of the kitchen with Harry. The soft lighting contrasted with the vibrant energy of the living room, and for a moment, it was just the two of them.

Harry released her hand to open a cabinet, pulling down a couple of bags of chips. “What’re you in the mood for? Classic or something cheesy?”

Aspen leaned against the counter, watching him with a fond smile. “Cheesy, definitely.”

“Good choice,” Harry said with a grin as he grabbed the nacho-flavored chips. Then, without missing a beat, he turned back to her, his expression softening. “You holding up okay?”

Aspen nodded, her heart swelling at the quiet concern in his voice. “Yeah. I think I needed this. It’s been a good distraction.”

Harry stepped closer, setting the chips on the counter beside her. “I’m glad,” he said, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You deserve a good night, Asp.”

She smiled up at him, feeling the familiar warmth his presence always seemed to bring. “Thanks for being here.”

“Always,” he murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. His lips trailed down to her temple, then cheek, and finally a small kiss to her lips. "I really like your outfit tonight. Really 's doing you wonders," Harry cheekily grinned. To that, she tilted her head.

Taking another sip of his beer and pulling a chip out, he shrugged. "Forgive me for my mouth, but your ass looks..." He puffed out a dramatic sound of air, eyes widening playfully before he fell into a chuckle at how the red rose up to her cheeks. "Phenomenal is the word I'd use. Feel's like it too," he smirked, taking another swig of his beer.

It wasn't like he was lying. No where near that. She did look great, she always did. The leggings she had wore the other day at the shop really proved it to him, too. But what could he say? He was a man after all. Harry loved every part of her,  he was sure of it. And god, it drove him crazy to have felt her ass in his hands; how soft it was, how his hands weren't big enough to even begin to cover it. 

Aspen swatted his chest and shushed him, looking back to check no one heard but she giggled nonetheless. "Harry!" He only shrugged his shoulders, setting his beer down to reach over and steal her juice box. "What's so good 'bout these, hm?" 

The man wrapped his lips around the straw, and Aspen looked a longer than she would admit. He hummed in approval, nodding his head. "Definitely tastes better than vodka, I'll tell you that," he laughed. 

Aspen rolled her eyes, though her smile betrayed her amusement. “Alright, alright. Give it back.,” she said, reaching for her juice box, but Harry held it just out of her reach with a mischievous grin.

“Oh? Or what?” he teased, leaning slightly against the counter as he took another exaggerated sip.

Aspen stepped closer, crossing her arms and giving him a mock glare. “It was mine first. Give it."

Harry chuckled, lowering the juice box but holding it out of reach again just as she made a grab for it. “Only if you say, ‘Harry, you’re the best boyfriend ever.’”

Aspen let out an exasperated laugh, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously great,” he corrected, winking at her.

“Fine,” Aspen said, rolling her eyes again. “Harry, you’re the best boyfriend ever. Happy?”

Harry’s grin widened as he finally handed her the juice box. “Ecstatic,” he said, leaning down to press a quick kiss to her forehead. Though, he ended up reaching behind him to get a box of his own. He'd rather babysit a juice box than a beer.

Aspen took a sip, watching him over the rim of the box as he picked up his juice again and leaned back against the counter, casual and self-assured. The soft glow of the kitchen lights caught in his curls beneath the backward cap, and the way he cradled the box in one hand with his other shoved into the pocket of his flannel made him look effortlessly cool.

She tilted her head slightly, taking in the scene, and an idea popped into her head. Her fingers itched for her phone, and she couldn’t help but smirk at the thought.

“Stay just like that,” she said suddenly, pulling her phone from her pocket.

Harry raised a brow, his lips curving into a curious smile. “Why? You gonna take a picture of your handsome boyfriend?”

Aspen nodded, biting her lip to suppress her own grin. “Exactly. You look too good right now not to document it.”

Harry chuckled, adjusting his stance slightly, clearly playing it up for her. “Alright, snap away, love. I’m ready for my close-up.”

She rolled her eyes at his theatrics but couldn’t help the soft laugh that escaped her as she angled her phone. The camera captured the way his hat framed his face, his relaxed yet confident posture, and the mischievous glint in his eyes.

After snapping a few shots, Aspen glanced at her screen, satisfied with how the photo turned out. “Perfect,” she said softly, almost to herself.

“Lemme see,” Harry said, leaning closer to peek at the screen.

Aspen turned it toward him, and he let out a low whistle. “Not bad. You’ve got a good eye, Asp.”

She smiled, a small blush creeping onto her cheeks. “I might post it,” she admitted shyly.

Harry’s grin grew. “Oh, you’re posting me to the ‘Gram now? That’s big, Asp. I feel honored.”

Aspen giggled, shrugging. “I just... I like this side of you. It’s nice to share.”

Harry set his juice down and pulled her gently into his side, his arm draping over her shoulders. “Well, I’m glad you want to. Just make sure you tag me so I can brag about my gorgeous girlfriend.” He kept his eyes on her fiddling thumbs on the screen. Aspen laughed, leaning into him as she fiddled with her phone, already drafting a caption in her head.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

It was Harry's turn on the microphone now. He stood with Zayn, both of which near stumbled up to grab the mics and choose a song. 

"This goes out to our lovely ladies, and I guess Aspen and Isobel, too." Zayn laughed out, pointing at each person in the "crowd". The sultry melody of 'Careless Whisper' began to play through the speakers, and Aspen sat up in excitement. She was so ready to hear Harry sing and she was kind of shocked, not taking him as someone who listened to this kind of music. He lifted the beer in his hand and started off, dramatically closing his eyes and tilting his body up.

Aspen giggled softly, looking over at Isobel who was already making fun of them. Zayn soon chimed in to the next verse, and they swapped before Harry came to begin the catchy chorus himself. His voice was kept low, dripping with his accent but he carried the words out so thick and heavenly that Aspen swore would make her whip her head around if she wasn't already watching.

"Tonight the music seems so loud, I wish that we could lose this crowd," Harry sang out, his finger lifting off the neck of the beer bottle to point at Aspen with his lopsided grin and a wink before he continued. Her face flushed and she rolled her eyes, tucking the pillow in her lap further against her while she took in the show in front of her.

He really was a good singer and performer, she thought. There was absolutely nothing Harry was bad at. The man seemed to take phenomenal photos, had an angelic voice, and brought life behind the microphone and tattoo gun with ease. That was her Harry.

The uproar of clapping and laughter filled the room when they closed out their song and bowed dramatically. Zayn blew kisses to the crowd and pretended to catch flowers before they both stumbled back to their partners. Harry took his seat next to Aspen now, Isobel having scurried off to Zayn. 

The girl grinned as she looked up at her very tipsy boyfriend, her hand coming up to brush his cheek lightly. "That was incredible, H. Who would've thought?"

Harry only chuckled, taking her hand on his face into his after leaning into her touch a few moments. He pressed a series of kisses over her knuckles. His eyes were slightly red, noticeably droopy but also slightly puffy. "Thank you, my darling dearest." He poshed his accent up which only drew giggles from the both of them. Harry took a look around the occupied room, everyone deep in their own conversations four shots in. His eyes slowly met Aspen's again, and his hand gently dropped to rest on her knee. His thumb worked small patterns over the sheer material which sent a shiver down Aspen's spine. 

"Come sit in m'lap," Harry's voice drew low in her ear. She looked around shyly, nodding but still raising the question. "My skirt, H..." She blushed, fiddling with the end of it. The only reason she needed the pillow in her lap in the first place was due to its revealing length when she sat down. It wasn't drastic, but it wasn't anything she was used to.

"It's okay, I'll cover you. Please?" Harry muttered his plea against her ear, his nose brushing through her soft hair. His lips turned into a smile once she gave in and he sat further back, taking her hand to guide her carefully onto his thigh. Harry hummed in approval, pulling the pillow back to sit up against the back of Aspen, in case her skirt rose. He set another small pillow in her lap and secured his arm around her, making sure it was okay. When she nodded, he pressed a lazy kiss to her shoulder and thanked her softly, just enough for her to hear. 

Harry's other hand curled around the back of the pillow and rested on her hip, securing the pillow to her frame. He gently tapped his fingers and ran his fingers along the hem of her skirt where it met her sheer tight-covered thighs. Harry gently lifted the material only for it to snap back into place. The small motion was definitely not noticeable but it still made Aspen blush intensely. 

Her arm came to wrap around his firm and broad shoulders, and Harry responded by leaning into her with ease. The comfort she brought him, especially while being intoxicated, was the best kind of overwhelming feeling. The man took his lip ring between his teeth while his chipped-nail polish fingers tapped along her thigh while they tuned in and participated in multiple conversations through the night.

Somewhere along the end of the night, Aspen had offered their home to the far drunk men, and Isobel. Zayn would obviously bunk with Isobel and Harry with Aspen, so that left plenty of room for the other three to crash. She kissed Harry's cheek softly before bidding him a temporary goodbye to grab blankets for the crew. 

It only took about twenty minutes to tidy up their night-- toss the cups and bottles, put away the machine, and fix up the snacks. Harry trailed behind her, more sober than the rest but still tipsy, and offered helping hands which definitely brought Aspen relief. She in no way intended to wake up to deal with hangovers and a messy apartment. The girl set a bottle of Advil on the kitchen counter along with a note saying there was water in the fridge while everyone began to groan and slug around to find comfortable spots. 

When Aspen and Harry got up to her room and she slipped out of her skirt, her crewneck still covering her, he scattered her face in kisses. She giggled and held his wrists, taking in each of his wet and sloppy kisses to her face and mouth. 

"Alright, alright! Get in bed. I just have to change and I'll come snuggle." She ruffled Harrys curls after placing his hat neatly on the stand and handed him a pair of sweatpants she pulled from Isobel's clump of clothes in her room. 

"These are Zayns, I'm pretty sure. Isobel has a bad habit of keeping all her junk in my room."

Harry sat up, taking the sweats with his droopy eyes on Aspen still. "You know," he started, slightly slurred but not the annoying kind, "you don't need pants. Jus' come lay down. I promise I'll behave," Harry flashed his lopsided grin. In his defense, she never slept well with pants on anyways. So who was he to stop her routine to feel comfortable?

Aspen debated, but it only took two seconds as she was bound to remove any pants she slipped into anyways. She nodded, picking up one of the oversized shirts she had and made her way to the bathroom to change into that and remove her makeup.

When the girl came back out, Harry was cuddled up with her pillow, his jeans discarded on the floor and the sweats clung low on his hips, which made her smile softly. The girl shut off the light in the bedroom and closed her bedroom door, making her way back into her bed. Finally. All she needed today was her bed and Harry, and now she had both.

Harry wasted no time and wrapped an arm around the girls waist to immediately pull her against his chest. She rolled and giggled softly, snuggling into him nonetheless. "You turn into a big baby when you drink, you know?" 

The man peeped one eye open to look down at her and closed them again with a grumble, snuggling into her and burying his nose into the sweet scent of her hair. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever, baby." Aspen hummed, the harsh thump sound of his heartbeat filling her ears before it gradually slowed and his breathing became more shallow.

Harry was long gone and fast asleep, and Aspen followed quickly behind. 

---

fun fact, 'darling dearest' is the name of a fanfiction i wanted to write about italy!harry :p

[wtfx1d]

[stairstothe7th]

Guys I wish I was a teen during peak one direction

Like when I was younger I couldn’t care less about boybads and when I did start liking them in middle school they had just Broke up 🥲😔

[keepingupwithzaynmalik]

firstwefeast: You voted… and our ultimate SAUCE CONNOISSEUR of 2024 is… @zayn ❤️‍🔥 He really BYOHS and for that we are GRATEFUL 🌶️

[justmissingliampayne]

my reason

[iconszayns]

merry Christmas luvs !! x ha

like! :)x

[xomalik]

baby zayn!! ｡°(°.◜ᯅ◝°)°｡♡

[zaynmalikgallery]

[todayisdeadinside]

GUYS LOOK WHAT I GOT FOR CRISIS

IM SCREAMINGGGGGG

[kaiablogprincess]

Today i heard a harry song on the car radio, i think its a sign.

[leodette]

When it suddenly crashes on you that it is real and not just a nightmare, and the dam of tears breaks 💔