Harry’s P.O.V.
It has been a few weeks since Steph and I visited her father and she was still out of it. She never wanted to go anywhere with us and participate in our activities. No matter what we did, she didn’t budge, even if it was one of her favorites. I was starting to beat myself up because it was partially my fault. I didn’t tell her the full story and now she’s afraid of her own dad. What did I do?
We were supposed to leave for a trip to London in a few days and I had no idea how to fix this. I wanted this trip to be a getaway, a sanctuary, even a paradise for her, not something she’s going to hate me for. The only thing I needed to focus on was how to change her mood. But how and how fast?
“Hey, the boys are playing games outside. You wanna join?” I asked her, moving around the couch and towards the door.
“No, I’m fine,” she responded, not moving from her spot. She was watching some movie on TV just like she has been for the past few weeks, basically moving for food and sleep.
“Come on, Steph, you’ve been glued to that couch for a while now. Don’t you think it’s time to move on and get some fresh air?” I suggested.
And as usual, she didn’t answer. Whenever I say something like that, she doesn’t reply and acts as if she can’t hear me.
“Steph,” I urged, a little louder.
“What?” she questioned, actually looking at me this time.
“Come outside,” I firmly said.
“I don’t want to,” she mumbled, watching the screen again.
“You love the outdoors. Come on, please?” I begged.
Again, no answer. Sighing, I approached her and sat down on the couch, reaching for the remote and turning the power off.
“Hey!” she yelped, facing me.
“Are you mad at me?” I asked cautiously.
“No, why would you say that?” Steph muttered. I just raised my eyebrows. “What?”
“Steph, you know what,” I responded. She sighed and focused her attention somewhere else. “I don’t know what to do anymore. You obviously don’t want to hang with us and try to get your mind off of the situation but it’s hurting you even more. Look at you, Steph! You’re sitting on the couch like it’s your job. I don’t like seeing you like this and neither do the rest of the boys and Rachel.”
Silence.
“Stephanie, I love you to pieces, but I can’t do anything else for you if you don’t stop sulking around,” I tried.
“What do I have to live for?” she asked quietly.
“What?” I replied, confused by the question.
“What do I have to live for?” she repeated. “I’ve done what I came here to do. What else is there?”
“Stop talking like that. You have me, Rachel, the boys, Gemma, my mum, and so many other people,” I answered.
Inhaling a deep breath, she continued, “I just don’t know what to do with my life anymore. I still don’t know where I’m going to live, if I’m even going to school next year, what I even want to be if I graduate…this is what I’ve been thinking of all these weeks, Harry. I’m scared.”
Looking up at me with glassy eyes, Steph’s face showed signs of panic and I realized that I had forgotten about that issue.
“Summer is halfway over, Harry. These things take time to process,” Steph concluded.
“We will figure something out, I promise,” I assured her.
“Promises are hard to keep, especially when your life is in jeopardy,” she replied. “You’ve got so much happening with the band and everything. Are you sure you’re going to keep that promise?”
I closed my eyes as the words sounded familiar, especially coming from her mouth. My brain immediately began churning and suddenly a memory clouded my eyes. A memory from 8 years ago.
“I don’t want you to leave, Steph,” I swallowed, watching her throw her small backpack in the front seat of the car.
“I don’t want to leave either, Haz,” she responded, looking down at her feet.
“I promise I will come back for you,” I replied.
“Are you sure you’re going to keep that promise?” she asked.
“I promise, one way or another,” I answered, smiling.
And as the little 9 year old Harry Styles confirmed his promise, the now 17 year old Harry repeated the same vow.
“I promise, one way or another,” I spoke, smiling at her. Her face lit up in surprise.
“You…that…promise…you didn’t,” she said.
“I did, and I kept that one, didn’t I?” I winked. “I’m a man of my word, Steph. You should know that.”
“I do,” Stephanie whispered.
“Then why did you doubt me? I won’t let anything happen to you,” I delivered.
“I’m putting my life on your hands, just so you know,” she responded, smirking.
“Yeah, I know. Trust me, love, it’s all going to be okay,” I repeated. Suddenly, her arms snaked around me and I fell back on the couch, her body pressed on mine. She looked me straight in my eyes and leaned her head down, locking her lips with mine. I’ve been waiting for her sweet kisses for a few days now, since she hardly felt romantic earlier. Does this mean I broke her streak of sadness? Is she finished now with being a couch potato? Did I win?!
“Come on, we’ve got some games to win,” Steph smiled, picking herself off of me and heading to the door.
“What got into you all of a sudden?” I questioned, grinning too as I followed her.
“A lot of things,” she challenged, stepping onto the lawn and making me laugh. At least I got her off of the couch.

Rachel’s P.O.V.
“Come on, Liam, you can do better than that,” I yelled, watching Liam’s throw fly over my head.
“It’s not that easy, Rach,” he responded, chucking it again and missing the ladder again. We were playing Ladder Ball with Zayn and Niall and Liam wasn’t aiming too well.
“It’s also not that hard,” I challenged. I picked up the string with the 2 golf balls attached and it landed on the 2nd rung. “Ooohh!”
“You’re just too good at this game,” Zayn muttered.
Suddenly, the door of the cottage opened up and Stephanie walked out, followed by Harry. Wait, Stephanie was finally outside…not on the couch…not even inside the cottage…points to you, Harry.
“Took you long enough,” I snapped at her. Her head whipped around and her expression was confused and hurt: exactly how I’ve been feeling the past couple of weeks considering first of all, I didn’t even hear the story of what happened at her dad’s, and second, she hasn’t talked to me at all since the incident, and I’m her best friend.
“I don’t feel like playing anymore. Sorry guys,” I mumbled, heading to the main house for some water.
“Hey, you okay?” Niall asked, coming up beside me.
“Yeah, I just need some water,” I answered.
“Oh…do you want me to come with you?”
“If you want to,” I replied.
“Okay. I will,” he responded cheekily.
We walked into the house and I went straight for the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with water. As I took a sip, I watched the scene outside from the window, Stephanie finally having a good time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so glad she’s out, but she hasn’t said anything to me in weeks. And now, watching her have fun, it angers me even more because if she’s finally alright, why can’t she talk to me?
“Babe, you okay?” Niall questioned, looking at me with a concerned face. I felt something on my chest and I glanced down to realize I spilled my water on myself. Figures that would happen to me. I grabbed the nearest towel and dabbed on my shirt.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Why are you apologizing?” Niall asked.
“I don’t know,” I responded.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” he urged.
Sighing, I looked him in the eyes and said, “Isn’t it irritating when your best friend doesn't talk to you for weeks and you know it’s not because of you?”
“Oh, this is about Stephanie,” he nodded.
“Nobody’s even told me what went down at her dad’s house. I’m her best friend, for crying out loud! Shouldn’t I be the first person who knows?” I explained.
“She’s been having a rough time,” Niall started.
“I know she has! I’m her best friend, though!”
“Go talk to her,” Niall suggested.
“Do you think she’ll listen? Will she actually talk to me?” I asked.
“Only one way to find out,” Niall responded.
I watched them on the lawn for a few more moments before setting down my cup and marching out of the house.

Stephanie’s P.O.V.
Harry was right. It was all going to be okay. Movies weren’t helping to get my dad off of my mind, but playing games outside on the lawn with my friends was. Well, except for one important person in my life, who apparently stormed into the house the minute she saw me come outside. What is up with her?
That’s when I noticed her making her way down towards us, towards me. Well, I’m about to find out.
“What is up with you?” Rachel asked, and I could see the fierce in her eyes.
“What’s up with you?” I asked back, wondering why she ran off before.
“I just needed water. Your turn,” she spat.
“Um, well, I…” I stuttered, not exactly wanting to repeat the story since I finally got away from it.
“You’re not going to tell me. I knew it,” she remarked, shaking her head.
“No, I do, it’s just—”
“Just what? You don’t want to tell me? I’m not good enough for you anymore?” she demanded.
“No! Just stop!” I screamed. “You don’t know what it’s been like for me!”
“Why didn’t you tell me?! I’m your best friend and you haven’t talked to me for weeks! How do you think that’s been for me?!” she screeched.
“I didn’t mean to,” I whispered, tears clouding my vision. I didn’t want this to happen. I wasn’t even expecting this to happen. I didn’t want to hurt her.
“You were too selfish with your own thoughts that you didn’t even think of me. You know you can tell me anything, but I guess you found someone else, considering that’s the reason we’re on this trip.”
“No! It’s not all about Harry!” I defended.
“I don’t even know why I’m here, Steph! Yeah, I’ve reconnected with Niall and that’s been great, but I’m here for you! And finally, when the time comes for you to reconnect with your family, you don’t even tell me how it goes! And considering you’ve been moping for the past few weeks, something went wrong and you still don’t tell me!” she cried.
“I’m sorry,” I breathed, not being able to say it without the tears crawling down my face. I can’t even look at her anymore; she’s very pissed at me.
“Sorry’s not going to fix this,” she finished, turning on her heel and walking away.

All of the boys were scattered across the lawn, watching our fight. I looked at Harry before I began bawling and I ran as fast as I could, away from the house, away from my friends, away from the drama, away from everything.

Notes

I am soooo sorry for the very late update! It's hard trying to find time in college to write my fanfics! Now that I've gotten used to college, I'm going to try and figure this all out with writing so you won't have to wait as long!

Rachel and Stephanie :)