If ever there was a reaction that I should have anticipated, it was definitely this one. I knew I was nervous to tell Harry about this date for a reason, but I don't think I really knew what to expect when I actually did end up telling him. But this, was unquestionably not it.

The second the name Niall came out of my mouth, Harry flew off the handle. He didn't hold back, while his words came out in the form of a disbelieving blast, and I couldn't understand any of what came out of his mouth, as Anne and Robin were trying to tell him to calm down, the house suddenly in an uproar. 

Although I knew, as soon as I walked into the living room to retrieve my phone, that this was going to be more than just one of our usual arguments, I had to turn to Anne at the bottom of the stairs, to see everyone following me, and tell her that it was okay. She had been trying to tell him to let me go upstairs by myself and we should talk when things calmed down, but I had to get this conversation over with now, even if it meant that I was stepping into a war zone, unsure if I could win the battle.

I know in this situation, there's no winning or losing. There's no rule set saying either of us can't go on a date with someone else, just that we can't have sex with anyone but each other. I'm not breaking a rule. And he's allowed to tell me what he thinks about it. It doesn't mean I have to do what he says, just that I have to listen to what he thinks and maybe take it into consideration.

Besides, Niall and I are just going on a friend's date. He knows that nothing is going to come of it. So really, it doesn't even matter.

When we reach my room, Harry doesn't hesitate to slam the door behind him, making it clear that he isn't anywhere near calmed down. I pull the towel tighter around me, waiting for him to explode on me again.

"Fucking Niall?" he asks loudly. "Of all the fucking people you decide to go out with, it has to be Niall? Is this like — some fucking date? Did he ask you out? What the hell, Jayde? When did this happen?"

I decide for the moment I'm not going to scream back. I'm going to try and talk this through with him calmly, despite his obvious frustration, as I watch him pace back and forth. "He asked me out the morning he walked me home, when he found us in The Clearing," I tell him. "I guess that would have been Monday?"

"So, it is a date?" he shouts. "And not once did you fucking think to tell me this little bit of information?"

"Yes, it's a date," I tell him, quietly. "But I told him we're just friends. He knows I don't like him."

"I have been friends with Niall for four years," he says, his voice still raised. "Don't go out with him."

"Why shouldn't I?" I ask. "There's nothing wrong with hanging out with a friend. He's a nice guy."

"Yeah, he's a nice guy." He flings his arms through the air in annoyance, as he bouts sarcasm my way. "Of course he's a nice guy. He wants to get in your pants. All guys are nice when they want something."

"You can't be serious?" I ask. Now I'm shouting. I'm the one with furrowed eyebrows, glaring at him, disliking what he's insinuating. 

"And to be honest, I know that someone doesn't even have to be nice to get with you," he argues. "I guess Niall didn't get that memo, since he's putting in more effort than he needs to. You were so easy, all I had to do was push you against a fucking tree and I had you."

I feel myself sink with his words. A pang in my chest making my heart want to burst. The tears prick at my eyes, but I can't let them show. I won't let his words hurt me. "Go ahead, Harry. Tell me how you really feel."

"You want to know how I really feel?" he asks. "You obviously didn't learn anything from the night he tried to hook up with Kate. It's obvious he just wants sex from you. Trust me. I've listened to him talk about you, I know that's all he wants. But you're so desperate for affection that you'll try to get it from anyone who will give it to you."

I start to rummage through my bag to find something to change into, not knowing how to reply. I'm full of anger and sad at the same time, and I hate every word he just spat at me. "I'm not desperate for affection, Harry," I finally say, not looking at him. 

"Really?" he asks. "Then why the hell would you accept to go on a date with someone who says they like you? You say that you don't want that sort of thing, but I know you do. I know that deep down you'd rather have some stupid connection with someone else than have what we have."

"It isn't," I yell, standing back up with my clothes in my hand. "But if you keep trying to hurt my feelings and yelling at me, I might change my mind." I walk passed him to the door and open it, deciding that a shower right now is the best idea. Despite the fact I'm already soaking wet, I need to wash away the animosity boiling inside of me. 

"Are you going to sleep with him?" Harry asks, making me turn to him in front of the bathroom.

"Why is everything about sex with you?" I ask loudly, throwing my clothes on the bathroom floor. "Just because I accepted a date with him, doesn't mean I'm giving him anything. What do I look like?"

He raises his eyebrows at me and I want to smack him. I can't believe how he's handling this and what he's said to me.

"Oh, right," I say, crossing my arms. "You think I'm so damn easy, that I'll sleep with whoever because that's how I get the affection I so desperately need. Give me a break, Harry. I'm not having sex with anyone. I'm not as easy as you seem to think I am."

"But you were with — "

"You were a mistake I wish I could take back," I whisper yell through gritted teeth, because I don't want his parents to hear. We look at each other in silence. I know that what I've said is a lie. I wouldn't really take it back. But in this anger filled moment, I used words to try and hurt him, like he just did to me.

I take the few steps into the bathroom and slam the door shut on him, locking the door behind me, not wanting the fight to continue. I don't want to hear his detrimental words, knowing that if we keep fighting, there's a good chance I will end all of this.

As I'm turning on the shower and undressing, Harry makes his way in. I turn around and roll my eyes at him, seeing him show me the key he's just used to get in the locked door. "Can't even shower in peace in this house."

"You can't go on that date with Niall," he says, as I step into the shower and pull the curtain closed.

"I'm going whether you want me to or not," I tell him. "We've already made plans, and I don't want to break them. I hate it when people do that to me."

He doesn't reply and I'm hoping he's just left the bathroom, as I soak my already wet hair under the stream. "Yeah, I see you do. He wants to take you to the Pizza Shack," he tells me. "What a cheap fucking date. Maybe he does know how easy you are."

I tear the curtain open to look at him. He's leaning against the counter with my phone in his hand, reading what I'm guessing is a text from Niall telling me his plans for this evening. "Get off my phone. Why are you being such an asshole?"

"Why are you going on a date with Niall?" he asks, making me close the curtain again and groan loudly.

I decide not to answer him, I don't want to fight anymore. I don't like this feeling inside of me that hurts. I know that the reason I agreed to go on this date with Niall is because I wanted to stay off Rachel and Chelsea's radar when it came to Harry. But I don't want to look like more of a bitch than Harry seems to think I am right now. I'm not usually this cruel of a person, am I?

I'm using Niall for my own benefits. 

I've become a horrible person. Ugh.

"What are you doing?" I ask, as he steps into the shower with me.

He doesn't answer as he pins me to the cold tiled wall. His skin resting against mine, makes my heart beat instantly start to beat the familiar rhythm only he creates as he gazes into my eyes. I watch his eyes flick back and forth between mine as we don't move, and I wonder what his plan is at the moment.

He moves the hair from my neck, making me tilt my head to the side. "Are you still going on this date with him?" he asks. His tone of low and seductive, making me close my eyes as he presses his lips to just under my ear.

"Yes," I breathe out.

He moves his lips down my neck, cupping my breast in one hand and squeezes gently. I can feel him slightly smile against my neck as I let out a small moan with his touch. "Are you still going now?"

It takes me a few moments to answer him, focusing on his lips and his hands on me, making me unable to breathe properly. "Yes," I finally say, letting out a long breath. "This isn't going to change my mind."

His lips part from my skin and his eyes are on mine once more. "I know," he says. "I just want to remind you where you belong." He leans in, brushing his lips against mine, his hand moving from my breast down to my hip. "I want you to remember the feeling I give you."

My hands find their way into his hair as he presses his lips to mine. "I like what you give me," I whisper. "I won't forget."

"Good," he says, smiling into the kiss. And as suddenly as his lips were on mine, he leans away from me, taking his hands off of me. "But if you want to play this game, remember that two can play it."

**

Going back home was weird. Although I had only been at Harry's for a couple of nights, climbing into my bedroom window made me feel like the life with Harry's family was a dream and I was coming back to my nightmare. But knowing that I still had one more night at Harry's, made coming back here easy. I was just here to wait for Niall to pick me up and I'd be gone again. And that made it alright.

Knowing Harry meant that he was going to snag a date for tonight to get back at me for my date with Niall, had me curious. Who would he ask? Would he end up at the Pizza Shack with whoever he chose? I know there's a few girls who wouldn't hesitate to go on a date with him, I just have no idea now how this night is going to pan out.

Maybe he wouldn't even get a date? Maybe he was just trying to mess with my mind. Maybe he would take this other girl to a completely different place to eat, and I'd be left to wonder where he was and who he was out with. Either way, I know this is all my fault. I can't blame any of this on anyone but myself.

As soon as Niall text me saying he was on his way to get me, I climbed out the window and down the ladder and walked to the front of my house to sit on the porch to wait for him. The sun setting cast my house a bright orange and all I could hope for, was that my parents wouldn't see me through the curtains of the front window and come outside for any reason.

My phone dings, indicating I have a text, making me look down at it to see who it is.

From: Maddy
>>OMG YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHO ASKED ME OUT ON A DATE TONIGHT!

And there's my answer. Harry asked Maddy.

Just fucking great.

From: Maddy
>>I'M GOING ON A DATE WITH HARRY!!!!!

From: Maddy  
>>CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

From: Maddy
>>I'm freaking out Jayde! He's picking me up soon to go for dinner, and then we're gonna come back here and join my party that Kate said she'd take care of while we're gone!

From: Maddy
>>This is the best night ever!

To: Maddy
>>Just be careful with him. Remember what we said.

From: Maddy
>>I don't even care what happens! I'm just happy he decided to do this with me! FINALLY!

To: Maddy
>>Well, have fun then!

As I'm putting my phone in my purse, Niall pulls up in front of my house, waving at me from the street. And getting into the car, I feel bad that my head is not in this from the start. My thoughts are on Harry going out with Maddy and how excited she is that he asked her out not knowing it's for all the wrong intentions. Which makes me feel bad the entire time we're driving to the Pizza Shack, because this date with him was accepted with wrong intentions as well.

I'm an awful person. I hate myself for this.

Niall is making some good conversation as we sit down at a booth across from each other, beside the window. I'm trying to make it seem like I'm listening, but the thoughts in my head are overbearing.

"Did you start working at the book store yet?" he asks.

"Oh — um, no," I stutter. "Next week."

He smiles as he takes a sip of his beverage. "I knew they'd hire you."

"Yeah, thanks."

"Kate says Maddy has a date with Harry," he tells me. "Fucked up if you ask me. I know he doesn't like her."

"Yeah, she's pretty excited about it," I say, looking out the window.

He laughs, making me look back at him. "He probably knows he'll score tonight at her party if he takes her out. He's probably in serious need for it if he's asked her out, since he knows that he can't get with —"

"Hey guys," Maddy's voice interrupts Niall. My eyes widen as I look up at her and Harry standing beside our table. "As if you didn't tell me you were going out with Niall when I text you earlier! You guys should come with us to my party after this! Please say you'll come!"

"Oh, we might have other plans," Niall tells her, as he looks over at me. He winks, making me squirm in my seat. 

What the fuck does he mean by that?

Harry pats Niall on the shoulder a few times and lets out a breathy laugh. "Good luck with that, buddy."

"We'll see you guys after," Maddy says, latching onto Harry's arm as they walk away. I roll my eyes at the sight of them and watch as they take a table in the center of the restaurant not far form us.

"Yep," Niall laughs. "He's in it to score. And I don't think he'll have any trouble with it."

"Can we not talk about Harry and his sex life?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Right," he said, clearing his throat. "Sorry."

The pizza tastes great, but I'm not as hungry as I usually would be because of how much I've eaten today during Family Day at Harry's. My stomach feels like it's about to explode if I take another bite as it's not used to this much food in one day.

I can feel Harry's eyes on us more than I would like to bear, and I try to keep my attention on Niall as much as I can and not look over at them. But Maddy's laugh is loud and I can't help but glance over at them every once in a while. And Harry's eyes meet mine every single time.

This is so damn awkward. I hate it.

And their date seems to be going better than ours is.

"So, what do you want to do after this?" Niall asks.

"Oh, I'm not sure, what were you thinking?" I question, putting my fork down and wiping my face with the napkin.

"Well, I was hoping we could go back to my place," he suggests. "Ya know, have some fun like I said we would."

I'm taken by surprise. His idea of fun was hooking up?

Harry was right.

Fuck.

I need to play dumb. "Fun?" I ask. "Wouldn't we have more fun at Maddy's party? We could play pool or something."

"Not that kind of fun," he smiles. "I think you need to loosen up a little. You're so high strung these days. Always mopey."

"Mopey?"

"Yeah, I want to cheer you up," he says, winking again. "I promised we'd have fun together. I'll give you the kind of fun you deserve."

I look over at Harry with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. I don't know what to do in this situation or how to feel. There's a lump in my throat and every nerve in my body is panicking. I can't believe I was so naive in thinking Niall actually liked me and had a plan to take me out just because he wanted to.

Why would he like me?

No one likes me.

I'm an idiot.

"I think we should just go to Maddy's party," I finally tell him. "I don't know where you got the idea that I was up for that kind of fun, but I'm not."

Harry suddenly sits down next to me, and I feel the need to cling onto him and I'm hoping that he's here to save me from this bad date. I know that I can't touch him in front of Niall and Maddy, even though I want to grab his hand and not let go until we're far away from this restaurant.

Maddy sits down next to Niall and smiles at me a big smile. I try to smile back, no matter how fake the smile is. I know that she's having a great time with Harry and there's no way anything can ruin this night for her.

"So, Niall, I was thinking," Harry says, leaning over the table. "Ya know how you, Louis and Liam always play the switcheroo game?"

Niall laughs as he looks back at Harry. "Yeah, that's a fun game." Suddenly his smile disappears as he looks between me and Maddy, as if he understands why Harry is asking such a question. "No, we aren't doing that."

"Why not?" Harry asks.

"Because, we only do that when we're out with a girl we don't like," Niall retorts.

It's only then that I realize what Harry is doing, and all my insides start to erupt with happiness. He is here to save me. I'm not going to get stuck going back to Niall's house, and I will be free from this awkward situation.

"Yeah, well," Harry smiles. "I know for a fact you don't like the girl sitting across from you, and I think it's time we do a switcheroo."

"What's a switcheroo?" Maddy asks.

"Harry wants to switch dates," Niall explains.

A/N: Sorry for the little bit of a wait for this chapter. I've been extremely busy. Hope it turned out alright!

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