or in which harry and y/n break up and meet a few times coincidentally over the span of 6 weeks before rekindling their relationship.
It’s been 6 weeks of hell for harry.
6 weeks since y/n packed everything and trudged out of his life because of the stupid mistake he made. He had rekindled a friendship with his ex, Kendall, even though he promised y/n he wouldn’t. Harry changed around Kendall. Not the same way he changed for the better around y/n. That night 6 weeks ago, he could unfortunately remember so vividly, almost as if it happened yesterday.
“you’re back late.” y/n murmured in the dark with the TV the only source of light in the dark living room. Harry jumped slightly, not expecting y/n to be awake at the meek hours of the night/early morning. “How was the ‘studio’?” She quipped with risen eyebrows and a smug expression. Harry had told her earlier that week that he had a late studio session for that day and that she didn’t need to wait up for him to return. The only issue that y/n soon found out was that this “studio session” never happened. “It was..good?” He hesitated slightly and he knew by the look on her face that she knew something. “Was it really, harry?” She narrowed her eyes as she spoke. “Yes it was good.. I thought I told you not to wait up for me,lovie.” He answered after a moment as he still stood in the doorframe. “Couldn’t really sleep when I go through twitter and find out that my boyfriend is at a 5 star restaurant and holding hands with a woman that isn’t me.” She challenged with crossed arms and Harry’s shoulders visibly tensed under her gaze and new confession. “It’s really not what you thi-“ he began before he was cut off by a loud scoff from y/n. “How many fake studio sessions were there harry? How many times have you lied to me?” She waited for a response but was only met with a guilty harry staring at the ground. “Twice.” He muttered softly, and y/n’s heart shattered as well as their relationship. Y/n ended up leaving that night, packing everything into a large suitcase as Harry begged her to stay. His efforts weren’t enough as she left with Harry’s heart and a few stray tears.
Over the past few weeks, harry nursed empty bottles and y/n reminisced on the good times with salty tears flowing down her cheeks. To them the phrase ‘love is a drug’ was undeniably true as they suffered the withdrawals. The bed was cold and lonely. Breakfast was filled with silence now. The tv was the only sounds filling their space. ‘Home’ was not really a home without the other, and they both knew it but no matter how hard Harry tried, y/n refused to listen or answer his calls. His voicemails were deleted automatically and text messages were visually muted. She was completely heartbroken and harry felt like he was drowning.
The first time they saw each other after the breakup was at a party neither of them wanted to be at. It was a Friday night and they were both invited to Niall’s party following his favorite football team’s success. They knew they would run into each other, it was bound to happen eventually. So, y/n and her best friend dressed in their favorite outfits and made their way to an Uber nearby.
“You know, harry will probably be there..” y/n’s friend trailed off with no intentions of sparking a new flame after it was already partly burned out. “I know, Cass.” y/n groaned softly. “look, all I’m saying is if at any point you want to leave just say the word and we’ll be gone.” her friend, Cassidy, reassured her with a comforting hand placed on her shoulder causing y/n to flash her a closed smile.
Within the first 10 minutes y/n lost Cassidy and was wandering around alone. She could feel the uninvited eyes of men undressing her mentally. When she turned into the kitchen, she locked eyes with him. He stood at the counter with a red solo cup in his hand and friends laughing. The bags under his eyes were prominent and his curls were disheveled and greasier than usual. His lips were down turned instead of his usual display of his pearly whites. Tears welled up and we’re threatening to spill over her waterline as she turned on her heel and made a B-line for the door.
“Y/N! Wait!” He rushed behind her and shoved passed people he barely recognized as he didn’t even spare them a second glance. Her face was set into a frown as she reached the porch and realized they took an Uber so she had no escape. “Y/n please.” Harry pleaded when they came to a halt. “Can I just talk to you? I’ve been calling nonstop but you always decline the call.”
She had called an Uber as she marched out. She was facing away from him but could still feel his intense gaze. She didn’t want him to see the broken pieces he caused. She didn’t want his pity. “2 minutes. That’s it.” Her voice waivered and she was mentally cursing herself for showing any sign of weakness around him. He released a breath he didn’t know he was holding yet every muscle in his body was tensed.
“I just want to start by saying I’m sorry, y/n. I messed up. She said we would go somewhere private to talk about a business thing going on between our agents and management and when I tried to tell her to go somewhere else after seeing the paps she just grabbed my hand. I swea-“ He babbled on trying to find the right words to say before y/n turned on her heel furiously.
“why didn’t you just tell me it was business? you lied to me harry! You said you were going to the studio!” She exclaimed while throwing her hands up out of exasperation.
“I don’t know,” he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “I did go to the studio but she showed up and said we needed to talk about the business plan.”
“What about the other time? You said it happened twice.” she questioned with crossed arms.
“I-I did lie the first time. Told you I was going to the studio so you wouldn’t worry or anything.” He stammered out while his hand reached up to nervously scratch the back of his neck.
“Please, y/n. I know you’re upset and I know that I’m an idiot. I honestly don’t know why I lied, I promise, baby, it won’t happen again. Just please give me another chance. For Christ’s sake, y/n, I love you.” He pleaded with sad eyes.
“You should’ve thought about that before you lied to me and humiliated me all over the tabloids.” She stated before walking to her arriving Uber and leaving behind a guilty and heartbroken harry and a ride-less Cassidy.
The second time was 3 weeks after the party. They’re both coincidentally at a bar in the center of town. Harry had shown y/n this bar on their 4th date so it held some sort of value to their broken relationship. Y/n was sitting at the bar stool, sipping mindlessly on a fruity margarita and relishing in the woozy feeling of her drunkenness.
Harry had spotted her from a mile away. He saw the cute skirt and white sweater she wore and the way she fiddled with the longer sleeves. He saw the way the guy next to her would offer her drinks and she would shift uncomfortably. He noticed how he got a tad too close for her liking and tried to slip an arm around her waist. What he didn’t notice, was that his feet were carrying him directly towards the two of them.
“Oi, got a problem here mate?” Harry questioned when his feet stopped directly behind the two. “Nothing of your concern.” The unknown male grunted out in annoyance. Y/n’s eyes were trained on her drink as Harry’s voice rang through her head. He was part of the reason she was drowning her feelings with alcohol anyway.
“Seems to be my problem when I overheard this lovely lady tell you no but you continued to touch and talk to her.” Harry countered with a stern tone and arms crossed, displaying his broadened biceps and ink covered arms.
“We were just having some fun, mate, right?” the guy questioned and turned to y/n who was lost in her own world. Her eyelids were hooded and her hand swirled her straw.
“She’s plastered mate! Now leave.” Harry exclaimed loudly before the man abruptly stood and stammered away to god knows where.
“Come on, lovie, lets get you home.” Harry stated while grabbing her keys and helping her put her jacket on. Y/n was usually a fun drunk to be around and was normally full of giggles. Tonight was a different side that harry had never seen from her. Her lips were sealed shut and facing down as her eyes filled with tears threatening to fall.
“Don’t want to go home alone, want to be important just for tonight.” She mumbled and Harry’s heart shattered in ten thousand pieces. He was guilty. He made her feel this way.
“Not gonna be alone, doll, I’ll be there. As far as I’m concerned you are very important to me, you hear me?” He tried to reassure her while placing a soft hand on her shoulder. She simply nodded her head and Harry sighed a breath of relief.
On the way back to Harry’s flat, she didn’t speak one word. She stared out the window at the passing cars and streetlights while Harry stole small glances at her broken stare. The radio played the sounds of her favorite playlist that usually danced to but now only pains her further.
“I hate love songs, they’re always so happy” She hiccuped from the passenger seat and it stung harry like a kick to a hornets nest. He remembered their first date when she stated a similar phrase in his car on the way back from a coffee shop, “I love love songs, they’re always so happy!” She had smiled and sang along. But oh, how times had changed.
They were both silent the rest of the way to her apartment and harry hated himself for causing her so much pain. Y/n never drank, and when she did, it was usually something lite. He’s only ever seen her this plastered a year after they met when it was their last year of uni and they were at a New Years party. She was the goofiest drunk he had ever seen, but now she can’t even bring herself to smile.
Harry took her back to his house as he had no idea where she had been staying since she left 3 weeks prior. His heart felt as if it was centimeters from plunging out from the amount of guilt he felt.
He wanted her to be comfortable for tonight; for her to escape the reality of her heartbreak.. atleast until she woke up sober and hungover tomorrow. So, he led her clumsy body up to his bedroom and asked for her to lay in his bed as he made his makeshift bed out of extra blankets on the floor.
She hadn’t spoken a word since the car ride back to Harry’s and to say he was worried and drowning in his own sorrowful thoughts was an understatement. Y/n was laying in his bed and although she was drunk, the sweet smell of Harry’s cologne made her even more intoxicated.
“I’ll be right back, okay?” Harry said softly as he stood from the ground and tried to maintain eye contact, which was difficult since her eyes hadn’t shifted from their photo still sitting on his dresser.
Harry quickly made his way down the stairs and into his kitchen to grab 2 water bottles, a bottle of ibuprofen, the fiber granola bars he knew y/n loved, and he knustled an extra pillow under his arm. He rushed his way back upstairs and found y/n in the same position as when he left, only she had shifted further back from the edge of the bed and towards the headboard.
“Here you go, drink some water and take a few bites of this.. it’s the pretzel and chocolate kind you like.” He whispered while sitting beside her with his hands outstretched with the granola bar and water bottle offered.
For the first time y/n’s eyes met his and he felt his heart plummet a little further in his chest. Her usual eyes were sparkly and he always stated how the world could be seen in them, they crinkled at the ends when she smiled or laughed, and it was definitely his favorite trait about her. But now, with all the damage that he had caused her, her eyes were dark and the sparkle was gone, and there were no crinkles as they were replaced by purplish bags that represented her restlessness.
“What did I do wrong?” Her broken voice whispered into the silence.
“What do you mean, doll?” Harry questioned as his own eyes studied her broken state.
“D-Did I do something? For you not to love me anymore?” She hiccuped, her intoxicated state showing through her words and her eyes.
Harry couldn’t even look at her or his own eyes might start to tear up and he didn’t want her to see him cry. He shifted to sit closer to her on the bed and sighed softly. “Y/n, you didn’t do anything wrong. You did all the right things and more and I was so stupid to lie to you, and I will forever hold that against myself. And, God, don’t say I don’t love you anymore because I do. I love you more than anything else on this world and if I could take back everything I would, y/n.” He poured while his thumbs twiddled and his eyes met hers again.
“I l-love you too..” She hiccuped before shifting to lay down his bed that she missed so much. She still hasn’t grown used to sleeping on Cassidy’s lumpy old couch that made her back ache and left her restless; not like she could sleep with Harry clouding her thoughts anyway.
Her head lay upon his pillow and harry pulled the covers up to tuck her in before standing up and planting a quick kiss on her forehead. “I know you might not remember this tomorrow, but I just need to tell you that I love you and I miss you.” He whispered before flickering off the lamp and laying on his makeshift bed on the hard, cold floor.
“I love you too..” she whispered into the darkness before her breathing evened out and harry knew she was sleeping.
Needless to say, harry didn’t sleep much that night. He listened to her soft breaths and stared at the ceiling while her words and empty eyes ran through his head.
When y/n began to stir awake the next morning, she swore her mind was playing games on her.. there was absolutely no way she was smelling Harry’s distinct scent. When one of her eyes finally peeled open her first instinct wasn’t to rub her pounding head; it was to swallow the large lump in her throat as her eyes widened at Harry’s sleeping figure on the floor.
The only thing she remembered about last night was third wheeling with her friends—who were madly in love—and ubering to a bar instead of Cassidy’s. Did she drunk call harry? How the hell did she get back to Harry’s house and into his bed?
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and tiptoed her way out the room before silently closing the door, not wanting to awake harry. Y/n made her way into the bathroom, she looked into the mirror and took in her physical state. Her hair was a mess and her mascara had rubbed underneath her eyes. She sighed and flicked the light switch before opening the door and bumping into Harry’s broad chest. A gasp left both of their lips as Harry’s hands reached out instinctively to steady her. When y/n was steady, she looked down and took in Harry’s broad hands touching her arms. She took a step back causing his hands to fall back to his sides and their eyes met.
“Good morning.” Harry stated nervously as a hand reached up to scratch at the back of his neck.
“H-how did I get here?” She questioned, trying to avoid contact at all cost and her arms wrapped around herself.
“We were both at the same bar, uh- Davies bar that’s downtown, some guy was being touchy and you clearly didn’t like it so I intervened. I noticed you were way too drunk and I wanted you to get home safe but I didn’t know where you were staying so I-I brought you here.” Harry explained as his hand still scratched his neck and he shifted on his feet.
A moment of silence passed as she wracked her brain to try to remember the slightest detail.
“You didn’t have to rescue me.” She whispered, this whole situation was making her head ache even worse.
“I know I didn’t have to... but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t.”
The silence in the air was thick. The sound of the heater throwing warm air was the only sound that was heard through the hallway.
“would you like some breakfast? I have some Advil if your head is hurting.” Harry offered after a few moments.
“I- uh I should probably go, Harry.”
“yea,yea, I understand.” He nodded his head and stared at the floor.
She shuffled passed him and back into his bedroom to put on her shoes. Harry watched from the door and his heart ached once again. He didn’t want for her to get away again.
When she stood up to leave, Harry closed the door and leaned his broad back against the wood. She looked up at him with her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Can we just talk? Please?” Harry sighed for what felt like the 50th time within the last 24 hours.
“I know you don’t want to but please, I’m begging you just give me a few minutes” he pleaded desperately.
“Just a few minutes..” she agreed quietly while taking a seat on the edge of the unmade bed.
“I hurt you, y/n. I’m so stupid and if I could go back I would tell you everything. Hell, I wouldn’t have even layed eyes on her. I’m an idiot and I hurt you and it’s all I think about anymore.” The raspiness in his voice still prominent as he had woken up only a few minutes ago.
“You have no idea what you’ve done to me, harry” y/n whispered, truth be told she was tired. Tired of arguing and frankly she didn’t care if she appeared weak or broken.
“I know. I would kick my own arse if I could. But I can’t let you slip through my fingers again. I can’t let you walk back out the door, y/n. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.” He spoke passionately while making his way over to the bed and sitting beside her.
A single tear dropped from her eye and slid down her cheek. Harry restrained from reaching his hand up and swiping it away with his thumb.
He always hated when his girl cried.
“God, harry, I cant even sleep anymore. I’m staying on Cassidy’s raggedy couch and my back hurts. And you don’t love me anymore and—“ she sobbed out before Harry’s hand gripped the side of her cheek.
“Don’t ever say I don’t love you. My entire heart is made up of love for you. I love you more than anything else on this earth.” He spoke sternly while wiping her fastly flowing tears.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into the crook of where his neck met his shoulder. His large hands rubbed gentle circles on her shaking back.
When her sobs ceased and were replaced by small sniffles, he pulled her body back and placed a soft peck on her wet cheek.
“Give me another chance, lovie. I can’t live without you.” He whispered while his thumb caressed the side of her cheek.
a small nod of her head and a small “Okay” fell from her lips.
“I love you” he whispered into her ear.
“I love you too.” She stated before harry placed another kiss on her cheek and moved until their noses touched. His hot breath fanned against her cherry lips. He tilted his head down and their lips connected in a passionate kiss that they’ve both craved for a painful 6 weeks.
“I’ve missed you so much. I’m so sorry” Harry sighed as he moved his head down to rest on her shoulder.
They were back to being drunk on love and their withdrawals from love had been ceased. Their hearts were finally whole again.
