Jessi

"You awake?" Were the simple words which lit up my phone screen.

"Yeah." My fingers shook as I typed the simple reply. My stomach was doing somersaults.

"Come down to the pool?"

"What? Why?" I was confused, why was Harry in my hotel?

"To swim, duh? I can't sleep either."

"Well, to be honest I haven't tried. Just come swim with me." He added before I had a chance to reply to his last message.

"OK." I sent. I felt like this was a bad idea but I still got changed into my bikini and put the hotel dressing gown on top and snuck out to head down to the pool. My heart raced and my lady parts tingled at the thought of seeing him. Stop that! He's just a friend.

-----

"Jessi!" Mark smiled at me as he opened the door to the pool. 

"I miss you. Keep my boy safe." I flung my arms around him in a hug.

"I will." He promised and hugged me back. My knees felt wobbly as I walked through the changing area and stopped at the edge of the pool. I was as nervous as a Turkey at Thanksgiving. Harry's head burst through the surface of the water and my breath caught in my throat. He looked amazing, the beads of water glistened on his perfect face.

"Are you getting in?" He playfully splashed my feet with water.

"What's going on?" I asked, refusing to move.

"I fancied a swim." He grinned. Everything was telling me not to get in the water but I walked to the steps and took off my dressing gown, placing it down on a nearby lounger.

"Damn, you look good." Harry smirked, his eyes trailing over my body. My heart was racing. I ignored his comment and climbed into the pool. The water felt nice and warm. I swam to the other end of the pool while Harry just watched me. I swam back, stopping in front of him.

"I thought you wanted to swim?" I quirked my eyebrow at him.

"Just letting you warm up so you don't cry when I beat you." He grinned before swimming off. I caught up and overtook him so he grabbed my ankle and pulled me backwards before swimming off again. While he wasn't looking I climbed out the pool and ran to the other end, bombing into the pool in front of him. I laughed at the scared look on his face. We messed around some more and I was actually having fun. I didn't even care which one of us was winning. 

I watched as Harry swam to the side of the pool and rested his arms on the edge. I swam over beside him and leaned my elbows on the edge to hold myself up as unlike Harry, I couldn't reach the bottom here. My eyes stared at the wall ahead, wondering why this didn't feel weird or awkward. I gasped as I felt Harry's fingertips trace over my always tattoo and a shiver spread through my body as he pressed harder, his fingers grazing my breast. I turned to look at him.

"Sorry." He mumbled, removing his hand and looking away from me. I went back to staring at the wall and counted the blue tiles as I tried to distract myself from how nice that felt. I swear my heart was thumping so hard it was making ripples in the water.

I held my breath as his eyes appeared just inches from mine, those wonderful green eyes that I'd missed so much. His hands gripped onto the edge of the pool, either side of my body, trapping me exactly where I was. My mouth went dry as he pulled himself closer, the tips of our noses touched and my breasts pressed lightly against his chest. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it, my breathing had quickened and I couldn't think straight.

"You've never looked more beautiful." Harry whispered. He moved closer still, his body pressed firmly against mine. It felt so good. My eyes fell closed as he traced the outline of my breast. "Jessi, I can't be your friend."

"NO!" I shrieked and he let me go as if my skin had burned him. He had to be my friend, it was the one thing that made today so much better than the fourteen miserable days I'd spent without him.

"I wasn't gonna force you. Do you think I'm some sort of monster?" He yelled at me, the hurt was clear in his eyes but I didn't understand what he was talking about.

"Huh?" I asked, replaying what he'd said in my head and then it hit me. I couldn't believe he'd think that I'd think he'd hurt me. He was climbing out the pool so I grabbed his leg and pulled. He was stronger than me so I wrapped myself around it as tightly as I could and he fell back into the pool along with me. Once he popped back above the surface, I climbed onto his back. "Listen to me. I could never think that about you. I know you'd never do anything like that to me or anyone else for that matter. I yelled because you said you couldn't be my friend but you have to, Harry. I need you to be my friend. Please?" I begged, clinging onto him as tightly as I could. He spun me around his body so I was now facing him, my arms and legs still wrapped around him. His hands came to rest on my hips.

"Jessi, I wish I could just say yes and maybe one day we can be friends but right now it's too hard. Every time I hear your name, see a photo of you, see you I just want to hug you, kiss you, make love to you. I want you to come back and make my houses feel like homes again, I want you to come home to me at the end of the day. I want us to spend forever together. I want us to have babies. I just want you." Tears were falling down his face. I watched as one rolled down his cheek and kissed it gently as my own tears escaped my eyes.

"I never thought we'd end up here. Neither one of us able to give the other one what they need." My heart was hurting again.

"Change your mind. Please?" He pleaded.

"Danny told me that one day everything keeping us apart won't seem so big and I should find you and ask for another chance." I said, letting him go.

"We could just save ourselves some time and you could realise that now?" He pulled me back towards him.

"I don't think it works like that Harry." I sighed.

"It was worth a shot. Kiss me before you go." His hands gripped my waist, holding me close to him and I didn't even hesitate. I pressed my lips to his and enjoyed the feeling of butterflies fluttering in my stomach as our lips moved in unison. I forced myself to pull away from him. I swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out, put on my dressing gown and headed for the door. I turned back around to look at him, his eyes were watching me intently.

"Be happy, Harry." I yelled and then turned back and walked out.

"Bye Mark." I said on my way past.

-----

I quietly opened the hotel room door and tiptoed to my room.

"Where have you been?" Zayn said, scaring me to death.

"Jesus, why are you sitting in the dark?" I said.

"I was worried about you. I came to apologise for yelling at you and you weren't there." He glared at me.

"I - uhm - I went to see Harry." I confessed. I wasn't sure how he'd take it.

"And how did that work out for you?" He asked.

"Badly. He said we can't be friends, he said it's too hard, so now we're nothing." My knees felt like they weren't strong enough to hold me upright. We were nothing. I wouldn't get to see him, I couldn't talk to him. He wouldn't be part of my life anymore. My body was shaking.

"Jessi, calm down. Fuck, what the hell do I do? Please stop shaking like that." Zayn scooped me up and carried me to my bedroom. He sat me down in my bed and pulled me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me. "It'll be okay." He stroked my hair and pulled the covers around me. "I'll be here for as long as you need me Jess, you can get through this." He held me tight, I was still shaking. I was afraid, truly afraid of life without Harry.

-----

Zayn

Jess had finally fallen asleep. It didn't look like it was a pleasant sleep; she kept whimpering and muttering but any sleep was better than no sleep so I left her. I picked up my phone and called Niall.

"Dude, do you know what time it is?" He complained, I could hear Lori in the background.

"Harry? Where is he?" I snapped.

"His apartment as far as I know. Why? Is everything okay?" Niall said.

"It will be." I muttered. I wanted to smack him in the mouth. I headed downstairs and got on Jessi's bike. I'd been using it while I stayed in New York. I sped towards their old apartment, getting angrier by the second, how dare he do that to her? I thought I would have to take her to the hospital at one point. I parked her bike in the garage and headed in the front door. The doorman just waved at me and I headed to the lift and up to their floor.

I hammered on the door. No response. So I hammered louder.

"Alright, I'm fucking coming." His words were slurred and the smell of alcohol overwhelmed me as he swung the door open.

"ZAYN!" He smiled and tried to hug me, I shrugged him off and he stumbled backwards.

"What the fuck?" He whined as I pushed him inside and he fell to the floor. I jumped as I heard a girl scream. I turned to see her standing in what used to be his and Jessi's bedroom doorway, in nothing but her underwear.

"GET OUT!" I yelled at her. She picked up her clothes and ran out the room. "YOU FUCKING SHIT!" I yelled at Harry. I really wanted to smack him.

"What's your problem?" He growled at me.

"Are you serious?" I grabbed his shoulder and hauled him up off the floor. "I've just spent three hours holding my best friend while she shook, sobbed and breathed uncontrollably because of YOU! I thought I'd have to take her to hospital and all the time you've been here fucking some girl in her bed! You don't deserve her!" I paced back and forwards, my hands clenched into fists. I gasped as Harry lunged at me his hand tightening around my throat.

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" He yelled. I shook him off and pushed him and he fell backwards.

"You're pathetic." I spat, as he sat on the floor.

"She doesn't want me." He mumbled, I could see tears in his eyes.

"No Harry, I can assure you she wants nothing more in this world but she's scared that if she stays with you the media will destroy her. You should've seen her earlier when you told her you wanted to be friends, she genuinely smiled for the first time in weeks and then you lured her out just to take that away from her too? Why did you tell her you could be friends?" I'd stopped pacing.

"As soon as I sent that text I knew it was a mistake but then I thought if I could just see her then I could convince her to get back together. And then I saw her, and she looked amazing and for a brief moment it was like nothing had happened. That was all I wanted, I can't be her friend. It would hurt too much to see her and her not be mine, it would hurt too much to pretend I didn't feel everything I feel for her. And then she was gone again, and I was all alone. Nobody's here staying with me, making sure I'm alright. I'm just here by my fucking self, surrounded by all these memories of her. I fucking hate it!" Tears were running down his face.

"And bringing home girls from bars is going to help, is it? You know you don't have to be here or be on your own. I know Lori asked if you wanted to stay with her and Niall or you could stay with Louis or Liam. You have options, bro!" I felt bad. I'd been so busy taking care of Jess I hadn't really checked how Harry was.

"Nothing happened with that girl." He looked at the floor. "Please don't tell Jessi."

"Do I look like I want to destroy her?" I said.

"I'm an arse." He mumbled.

"Can't argue with that. Go to bed Harry." I sighed and watched in confusion as he climbed onto the sofa and pulled a blanket over himself.

"I can't sleep in there." He mumbled, pointing towards their bedroom. I called Lori, and she agreed to come over. I stayed until she arrived and then I headed back to Jessi. I really wished these two idiots would just sort everything out. They were made for each other and not being together was tearing them both apart.

----------

Jessi

"Happy Birthday! x" I sent the text quickly before I changed my mind.

"Thanks. You coming to dinner? Mum said she asked you x" Harry replied instantly.

"Can't. In a different country x" I lied. My flight had landed in London about an hour ago. I was here for work, I was photographing a show tomorrow night.

"Oh. OK. I'll let Mum know." My heart ached a little at the missing kiss but I shook my head. I shouldn't be sending him kisses, anyway. He's not mine. I grabbed my coat and headed out to check out the venue for tomorrow.

-----

Harry

"What did you wish for?" Nick nudged my side once I'd blew out the candles on my cake, or cakes, since it was a bunch of cupcakes.

"Nothing. I'm not a child. Mum? Is this blueberry?" I asked pointing to the only blue cupcake. She nodded, and I immediately scooped it up. It was Jessi's favourite. I also picked up a red velvet one. My favourite. Of course I had made a wish, I wished Jessi was here. I thought maybe she'd come if I got my Mum to ask her.

"Do you want another drink, Harry?" Robin pulled me out my head. I nodded, and he gave the waiter my usual order. "Wait!" I yelled. "Can I have something with Rum in it?"

"Mai Tai? Daiquiri? Mojito? Rum and coke?"

"I'll have a Mojito please." Of course it wasn't really the one I wanted but it would do. I smiled as my phone rang, it was Niall. If Jess was at home, then there's a good chance she was with Niall and Lori, maybe I could get my wish after all.

-----

Jessi

I closed the door behind me. I forgot how hectic London can be, I'd just spent twenty minutes boiling while stuck in a tunnel on the tube. I needed a drink. I walked over to the minibar and pulled open the door, my hand reached for the rum before my eyes landed on the bottle of Casamigos. I pulled it out and sat it down on the coffee table beside the sofa. I ordered ice and something to eat before heading to the wardrobe and hanging up my coat. My phone fell from the pocket and as I picked it up, I found myself staring at the picture Nick had posted again. Harry looked happy, and the sunglasses perched on his head made me laugh. Who needs sunglasses at night, in the middle of winter in London? I kicked off my boots and plodded back to the sofa, my body falling into the soft cushions.

Maybe, I could just pop by the restaurant and say hi? I mean I hadn't seen Anne or Robin since Christmas. No! Stop it! I flicked on the TV and scrolled through the channels until I came across Love Actually. This was one of mine and Harry's favourites. I quickly pressed pause as I heard the door. Yay! I was excited for food. I hurried across the floor and pulled open the door. I felt my mouth fall open and quickly closed it.

"You lied!" Harry smiled. What the hell was he doing here? How did he find me?

"Sorry."

"I brought you a present." He pulled a square white box from behind his back.

"That's not how birthday's work. Did your Mum give you the present I sent her?" I smiled.

"It also seems pretty rude to leave somebody standing in the hallway on their Birthday. And yes. Thank you." He smirked, holding up his wrist which displayed the leather bracelet I'd bought for him.

"Shouldn't you be at your party?" I stood aside so he could enter the room.

"Dinner." He corrected. "Plus, it's finished." He walked towards the sofa and sat down. "Do you have another one of those?" He pointed to the Tequila sitting on the table.

"Harry?" I questioned. He couldn't just march over here and invite himself in.

"What?" He stared back at me. "A blueberry cupcake for a drink, sounds like a fair swap?" He nodded towards the box he'd sat on the table.

"One drink?" I sighed as I grabbed another Casamigos from the minibar.

"While we watch the film? Please? It's my Birthday. Is Severus here? I miss him." He pouted before excitedly looking around the room.

"No. I left him with Danny. I'm only here for four days. He misses you too." We both did. Snuggling wearing one of Harry's shirts while we sat in Harry's armchair was our nightly routine. "I have pictures of him though." I smiled as I pulled up my gallery on my phone.

"Aww. He's grown so much." Harry sighed as he scrolled through the pictures.

"Yeah. The Vet said he's almost fully grown."

"You look good too." He smiled as he stopped on a photo of me in a bikini. Lorena had taken it when we visited the beach a week ago. My cheeks blushed as I mumbled a thank you. Great! Even when we're not together, he still makes me blush like a schoolgirl.

-----

Harry

Jessi's shoulder rubbed against my arm as she laughed at Natalie continuing to swear in front of the Prime Minister. It was one of her favourite parts and something I could totally imagine her doing. "I love her." She smiled. My hands were placed awkwardly on my lap, I wanted to wrap my arm around her but I didn't think she'd allow that. I noticed Jess had her hands clasped together in her lap and I couldn't recall ever seeing her sit like that before, it looked just as awkward as I felt.

"Come here." I sighed and flung my arm around her, pulling her up against my body.

"Harry!" She squirmed.

"Oh shut up, it's only a hug. I felt like I was going to die of awkwardness before." I sighed, and she stopped wriggling.

"That's not a thing." She scoffed, her fingers resting lightly on my thigh.

"It is if I say it is." I chuckled, trying to ignore the searing heat that was radiating from her touch.

"You're such a dork." 

"Yeah, but you -" I paused mid-sentence unable to complete my usual response to that statement. I hoped she still loved me.

"Yes." She said so softly I wasn't sure she'd said anything so I looked down at her to find her staring up at me, my nose bumped hers as my eyes drifted to her lips. If I moved just a tiny bit more, then my lips would touch hers. My heart was thumping in my chest. "Shit!" She exclaimed as my phone started ringing.

"Hello?" I answered without checking the I.D. I just wanted them gone as soon as possible.

"Harold? Where'd you go?" Nick answered.

"Home. Not in the mood for partying." I replied.

"Do you want another drink?" Jess whispered.

"You're not at home. We came to find you and was that a girl? Are you with a girl?" He yelled.

"Just go home, Nick."

"No way. It's your birthday. Come party rather than fuck with some cheap girl."

"Hey!" I snapped.

"So... not a cheap girl. Who are you with, Harold?"

"Bye, Nicholas!" I sighed and hung up the phone.

"You should go. Have fun!" Jessi said as she handed me my drink.

"Do you want me to go?" I asked as she took a huge gulp of the drink. I don't know why she was drinking Tequila anyway, she hardly ever drank that.

"No, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't." She said quietly while she refused to look at me.

"Please, don't make me go. I just want to watch the film with you. No funny business, I promise." I begged. I really didn't want to leave. She didn't say anything but I couldn't stop grinning as she wrapped my arm around her and burrowed her body into my side. It seems that birthday wishes really do come true.

-----

Jessi

I woke up on the sofa of my hotel room, all alone. I was beginning to think I'd dreamt the whole thing when I spotted the two glasses sat on the coffee table, along with four empty, miniature bottles of Tequila. So it really happened. Harry was here.

My phone buzzed on the table. Lori was calling me.

"Morning!" I answered, feeling better than I had in ages.

"Morning Jess!" I could tell by the tone of her voice something was up.

"You okay?"

"Were you with Harry last night?" She rushed the question at me.

"Who told you that?" I tried to keep my voice calm.

"Nick called Justin, said Harry bailed on them for a girl and you are there. And Harry knew you were there, Niall told him." She exclaimed. I knew I'd regret setting Nick up with Justin.

"We watched a film."

"Did you guys talk? He misses you, you know?" I could feel the excitement in her voice.

"Not really, we just watched a movie. We spoke about Severus. But Lori there's nothing to talk about. Nothing has changed." I reminded her.

"But you love him and he loves you. Just make it work." She begged.

"I wish it was that easy." I sighed.

"OK." She sighed. "Well, I have to go. Call me when you get home, yeah?"

"I will. Tell Niall I said, Hi." I hung up the phone and started clearing away all the reminders of my late night visitor. I can't deny that having him here felt nice but now the evidence only served to remind me that he was no longer here. We were no longer together.