COMMENT!
i don't want to put comment on the top of every chapter
but if i have to
i will.
this is just a super short filler chapter, plus there will be smut next chappie so.

chapter thirty-three

N.J.H.

When Harry and I walk into his house, we can barely stand on our tired legs. The entire morning had been spent in the hospital, waiting to speak with the police and then waiting for Louis to wake up. It barely felt like Christmas anymore, and all I want to do is sleep. Harry falls onto the couch and I follow, but land on his lap.

"I don't even think I can get up," I groan, "too tired."

"Good because I'm too tired too," Harry whines from below me, "do you want your present today or tomorrow?"

"My present?" I ask, "You got me a present?"

"What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't?"

"Oh wow," I smile as he reaches under the couch and pulls out a tiny box,

"Merry Christmas."

"Thank you," I say, taking the small box in my hands delicately. He kisses the side of my head as I pull lightly on the ribbon wrapped around it. It comes undone and falls to the floor. I take the lid off and my eyes widen at what's inside.

"Harry..."

"You like it?"

"Well I mean, it's a key."

"Yeah, to my house."

I turn the key over and see the 'H' engraved in the top of the key,

"Really?"

"Yeah," he smiles at me, "you know, it's kind of a symbol of my trust. I'm letting you into my home. You can move in with me, until you get your own place, and it would be nice because we'd spend more time together and..."

"Harry this is so sweet, I just don't know why you're trusting me with this."

"Because we've been together for at least three months now, and though it seems really rushed, I just want to make myself more open to you."

I can't even express words towards Harry's generous gift,

"So...we live together now?"

"If... if you want to." he says.

"Yeah," I say, "I guess it's my turn to start learning to trust too."

"Thank you," he says, "that means a lot."

"I just feel bad that I didn't get you a present." I sigh.

"It's okay," he laughs, "the fact that you're moving in with me is a present enough for me."

•

I moved all my clothes and other things (such as guitars) in as soon as Harry and I woke up from a well earned long nap. We stopped by Louis, but he was dead asleep with Zayn's arms wrapped around him. So we snuck in (Louis gave me a key) in order to get my stuff. Harry did the heavy lifting while I wrote Louis a quick note and left it on the counter, along with the key. I shut the door quietly and drove away with my possessions right after loading them into Harry's car.

The sneaking out started right after I moved in. The morning after the hectic night, I heard Harry leaving the house, trying to be as quiet as he could as he walked out of the door. Once he left I looked around the entire house twice, but he failed to leave a note. It was then that I knew he was hiding something, because he never leaves the house without telling me where he's going.

When he came home, we went out for dinner and he didn't say a word about where he went. He acted just the same, until I questioned him about his whereabouts.

By the third day, I was getting upset.

"Louis." I say into my phone as I make dinner for Harry and I, "have you known anything about Harry's sudden outings?"

"Uh no..." he replies, "I don't keep tabs on your man."

"No I know," I sigh, "I'm just concerned because he's been sneaking around and not telling me where he's going...do you think I'm making him do this?"

"No," he says sternly, "absolutely not. Try Zayn Ni, maybe they've been hanging out together. Z's been spacy for some good time."

"Okay, thanks." I hang up the phone and scroll all the way to Zayn's name. I click the call button and hold the phone to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Zayn, where ya at?"

"Kickboxing, what's up?"

I hear a couple shouts and wince at the sound,

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, Harry's here--"

"Wait Harry's there?!" I say, dropping my spoon and holding the phone with both hands, "What the hell is he doing?!"

"He's taking a trial class..." Zayn says, obviously confused, "you didn't know?"

"No." I say, turning off the fire and taking my sweatshirt off of the couch, "text me the address of the place."

"Okay," he answers, "I'll see you there I presume?"

"Oh hell yes."

•

When I enter the gym, the smell of rubber floods my nose and I grimace. Soon the aromas of sweat and blood come and I know I can't stay here. I search and search until I find Zayn, standing by idly and watching Harry fight with one of the trainers. He's wearing basketball shorts and fighting bare chested, two boxing gloves placed in front of his face in a sturdy guard. Zayn is dressed the same, but with wrist wraps around his knuckles.

"Zayn!" I call out. Both him and Harry look at me, and my boyfriend's eyes go wide. He cocks his head to the side and looks at me in utter horror,

"Nia--"

His head jerks to the side and I gasp as I see him fall to the floor, holding the side of his face as he stands back up,

"Never move your attention away from your fight!" the trainer scolds him loudly and I immediately jump into the ring,

"This isn't a fight, this is training!" I yell, "I need to borrow your punching bag."

I drag Harry out of the ring and off to the side, looking at him in disbelief.

"...Surprise?" he says, trying to get out of it.

"You've been sneaking out for three days, coming in at eleven at night for this?"

"Hey," he comes closer to me, holding my face in his sweaty hands, "I wasn't trying to hurt you--"

"You could've told me," I sigh, "Why are you hiding kickboxing lessons from me."

"Because of my reasons for doing it..." he confesses. It takes me awhile to comprehend what he's saying, until it finally pops up into my head.

"Protecting me."

"Bingo."

"So you hid all this from me because you want to protect me?"

"I know you don't like me obsessing over it," he continues, "but I can't help it Niall; you're my priority."

I sigh, leaning in and hugging him tightly,

"You're a fucking idiot."

"For you."

"I know; that's why you're an idiot."

I stay at the place until Harry's done with his free trial thing, but as he continues, I start to wonder if this sense of overbearing defense towards me is something that shouldn't belong, or if it's just something I've been missing in my life.

also, i'll be live streaming sometime this week. there was one yesterday, but it was really badly notified towards you guys aha, so most of you missed it. i'll notify you guys ahead of time this time.