“What do you want, Harry?” were her first words in his ear.

“She sold her story.”

“I know. I read it. What do you want me to do about it?”

“I want to see you. I need to see you.”

She closed her eyes,”Not again, Harry.”

“What do you mean?”

“I only ever get the same calls from you; either you’re drunk and have broken up with someone, or you’re drunk and want to see me because, in your words, you “want to kiss my face off.” You’re too predictable, Harry, and I’ve decided that I can no longer be your go-to or your rebound, or whatever you want to call it.I’m done.”

“You can’t do this to me, baby. I need you,” he pleaded over the phone, knowing that he definitely had been pushing her too far as of late.

He heard her sigh.

“No, Harry. You can’t keep doing thi+s to me. I’m done with whatever it is that we have. Just go home and try to forget about it, and whilst you’re at it; forget about me too.”

“Baby, please.”

“No, Harry. Goodbye.”

He opened him mouth to reply but she had already hung up. He tried calling her back but both her mobile and house phone went to voicemail. He put his phone into his pocket. He had to see her.

Harry awoke with a start. He had subconsciously been aware that this body was tipping over. He realised he’d been sleeping upright. He blinked. His head was pounding. He realised straight off that he was not at home, nor was he anywhere else he vaguely recognised. He glanced to his left and a pain in his neck threw him. He’d obviously slept with it at an angle. He blinked again. The plant pot ahead of him, on a unit next to a door, looked familiar. He racked his brain for any recollection of the previous night. He had been drinking, of that he aware, but what had happened after he had left the bar was a complete mystery. His phone beeped in his pocket, alerting him of a text.

Her words were cold and hard, and hit him like a ton of bricks. He suddenly remembered where he was as the chill from the ground started seeping through to his jean-clad legs. He had obviously fallen asleep outside her front door but still had no idea why he was there. He had clearly gone to see her, though. He just couldn’t remember why. All he knew was that he had to see her. And what did she mean by “Goodbye”? He stood up, rising slightly on his tip toes and looked through the half-sun piece of glass at the top of her door. The place looked empty bar a few boxes. He frantically searched his brain for an answer, his eyes widening when it hit him:

Harry knocked on the door loudly, slumping against the frame. He heard some schuffling and a sigh followed by the door being unlocked and unchained. He could barely see straight.

The door opened a crack,”What are you doing here, Harry? It’s 2am. I thought I told you to go home?”

“I needed to see you.”

She sighed,”You can come in but it’s only until I book you a taxi. Then I need you to go.”

She pulled the door open and let him in. He went to hug her but she darted away. He looked back at her, confused and hurt.

“, please…”

She shook her head defiantly, still in the doorway,”Not tonight, Harry.”

He scrunched his face up, looking around at the bare walls, boxes lining the hallway.

“I don’t understand.”

She groaned,”Harry; it’s 2am. I can’t go through this with you. I have to leave early tomorrow. Now, you can either sober up and leave or book a taxi and wait out in the hall for it, but I need you gone. The choice is up to you but I am going back to bed. I can’t do this anymore.”

He just stared at her, lost for words.

She closed the door,”If you choose to stay, lock the door on the way out and slide your key through the letter box.” turned to walk away but he grabbed her hand.

“…”

She snapped her head back around to look at him fiercely,”What part of “I can’t do this anymore” do you not understand? I’m tired. Tired of you only coming to me when you have no one else. I’m tired of you telling me that you love me but leaving before I wake up so that your girlfriend doesn’t find out you slept here.”

“Baby, I…”

She shook her head in defiance,”Do not “baby” me. For once, Harry, you’re not coming first in my life. I am choosing me. I am sick and tired of you hurting me and ditching me whenever you have a girlfriend. I don’t see you for months on end and then, when I do finally get a call or a visit, you’re drunk and always pleading for me to forgive you. You tell me that you love me and want to be with me one second, then the next you’re off with another girl. Well, not this time. It’s gone on long enough. After tonight, you’re never to come near me again. Doyou understand? ,” she didn’t even give him a chance to reply as he stood looking at her in utter disbelief at what he was hearing, “You can’t be my friend when it suits you and you certainly can’t keep knocking at my door everytime you get your heart broken by some tramp. I can’t put myself through the sleepless nights worrying about you anymore, or wondering if you really do love me because you keep coming back to me. I’m not a doormat and my heart is no longer your home. I’ll get to drop off anything you’ve left here at Liam’s. Good bye, Harry,” and with that she dragged him out of the door and into the communal hallway. He just looked at the door dumbstruck. locked the door tight behind her, sliding the chain across and broke down sobbing, sliding down the wall to the right of it.

Harry looked at the door and at once started banging on it with his fists,”! Come on! Please! I’m sorry! I can change. I only want you.”

She shook her head violently even though he couldn’t see her, the tearing streaming down her face,”It’s too late, Harry! Just go away!”

“I’m not leaving!”

“Harry, please! Just leave!”

“Not until you let me in.”

“Then you’d better make yourself comfortable because it’s going to be a long night.”

“I’d wait forever for you.”

She shook her head again, her heart breaking,”Don’t say things you don’t mean! That’s why we’re in this mess to begin with. Just go home, Harry!”

“I’m not going without you. You can’t just leave me!”

“Says the guy who I haven’t seen for almost a year!”

“I’m sorry!”

“No, you’re not! If you were, you’d have meant it the first time you’d said it after breaking up with Jenna!”

“We were 13! Give me a break!” he threw back at her.

She stood up, looking through the peephole at him, gripping onto the door for support, “Yeah, and since we were 13 you’ve been breaking my heart! I can’t do this anymore, Harry! We have this twisted relationship where we’re the best of friends and then, when some girl even looks at you, you disappear and only come back when you don’t get what you want. Then, being the idiot that I am who is hopelessly in love with you, I take you back because you declare your love for me when you’re drunk and make promises you don’t even remember when you wake up. Being your friend is toxic and I’m done.”

His world came crashing down, making it hard for him to breathe.

“But I do love you! Just let me in and we can talk about this. Just please don’t leave me.”

“It’s too late,” she spoke firmly, standing her ground.

“Then I’ll be waiting right here,” he told her as he sat down on the hard ground.

wiped her eyes and crawled towards her bedroom door, too drained to even stand up. She barely found the strength to get into bed, curling up into a ball facing the door, the tears still falling. She sniffed. She could hear Harry outside her apartment door, calling out to her.

“I’m sorry! I love you.”

She sighed. This was going to go on all night. She just had to block him out and hoped that he would leave. Knowing Harry, though, it wasn’t going to be that easy. She took her pillow and curled it around her head, trying to block out the unwanted sounds of him pining for her. Finally, at around 4:30, the voice stopped. She heard no sign of movement. He must’ve gone. She closed her eyes and prayed to get at least an hour of sleep before she had to go to work.

Harry was almost shaking when the flashback ended. She couldn’t have left. Not without him. He tried his key in the lock and was relieved when it worked. He stepped inside her apartment calling out her name. There was no answer. He took out his mobile, hitting “1” on speed dial. Even on his phone she came before anyone else, including his mother with whom he was know to be a “mummy’s boy” of sorts. He pressed his ear to his phone as it tried to connect.

“The person you are trying to reach is not available at this time.”

He groaned becoming panicked, throwing his phone onto the floor. He tore through her apartment for any clues as to where she was. He knew she didn’t have work today. Her apartment was completely bare, as if no one had ever lived there. The only evidence being a few appliances and some scattered boxes. He looked to the floor, something catching his eye. There, underneath the smallest box, was a crumpled piece of paper. He moved the box over and caught sight of ‘s familiar handwriting. He picked it up. He looked at the words. “Harry auditioning for the X Factor – 11th April 2010”. He turned it over, scanning the diluted picture. It was of the two of them hugging. He was wearing his favourite jacket. He set it down on top of the box.He walked over to the largest box. It was open. He lifted up the cardboard flaps and was shocked to discover that it contained items which he had left there on one of his many visits to her, as did the other boxes. The only thing that was missing was his old jacket. He looked around more confused than ever. He walked into the kitchen. He searched everywhere for a sign, even in the fridge. Why, he was unsure, but he was also mystified to find food he’d saved for later still in there. He closed it back over. The only clue he found was a note taped to the fridge. Tearing it off, he read the details:

. She would know where was. He ran to the hallway and picked up his abandoned phone, scrolling frantically for her mobile number. Hitting “dial”, he waited for a response. He groaned when it cut off after a few rings. He tried her home number instead which, after ringing for a while, went straight to voicemail. He decided to leave her a message.

He sighed. Her loyalties obviously lay with .

“, it’s Harry. I need to speak to . I just… I need her. She’s my everything..” he rambled on until he was cut off.

had clearly been listening,”Harry Edward Styles. If she’s your everything then why has she left? You clearly have no regard for her otherwise you wouldn’t have played her around..”

“I know but…” he tried to think of ways to convince her.

“No ‘buts’, Harry. If you really loved her, then she wouldn’t be on a train breaking her heart over every time you told her you loved her yet still proceeded to persue other girls.”

He became worried, screwing his free hand up, “Train? Where the hell is she going?”

“She’s leaving, Harry, for good. She’s not coming back and she doesn’t want anything to do with you,” she hung up on him

He starred at the wall in shock.

He tried ‘s mobile again, instead reaching a different message;

His heart broke, shattering into a million tiny pieces. She really was gone.