Callie was waiting for me at Heathrow when my flight landed, and flung her arms around me with an excited squeal.

"Thanks for picking me up," I said, pulling my collar tight around my neck and shivering as we headed out to the car park in the pouring rain, each holding a Costa coffee thanks to the cafe in Terminal 5 Arrivals.

"No problem," she smiled. "I bet this weather is a bit shitty compared to what you've been used to this past week."

"Well it wasn't hot in LA, but it was warmer than this," I said, lifting the boot of her car to throw my case in.

We jumped in the front and slammed the doors, and then giggled as we surveyed each other. We both looked like drowned rats.

"Sexy," I remarked, pulling down the sun visor in front of me to examine my reflection. My mascara had smudged down my cheeks and my hair was plastered to my head at the roots. I scooped it up into a ponytail as Callie backed out of the space and headed towards the exit.

"I need to think about getting my car fixed, or replaced, or something," I sighed, looking out the window at the rain bouncing off the pavement. "I don't know how I'm going to afford it. Christmas is only a month away and I just blew a chunk of money on my flight ticket home. And I haven't a clue what to get for Harry."

"Do you really need to sort your car out this month though?" Callie asked. "I mean, can't it wait until the new year? It's not like you drive to work, is it? You get the tube."

"I suppose," I grumbled.

"Wait until you've saved some money up," she shrugged. "Anyway, how was your holiday?"

"Amazing," I sighed, leaning my head back against my headrest and closing my eyes. "I feel like we grew even closer, spending that time together. It was just what we needed."

Callie eyed me for a moment, as we pulled up at some traffic lights. "He didn't fuck up, then?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he always fucks up one way or another doesn't he? Things go great for a couple of weeks, and then he ruins it by being a prick and hurting you."

I stared at her. "Callie! Is that honestly what you think?"

"Well I'm only going from past experience," she explained. "I've seen you at your absolute worst over him, Jess. I hate seeing you so unhappy. I just don't want you to go through that again."

"I won't," I said, confidently. "Things are different this time. I feel like there's been a shift in our relationship. I think..." I trailed off, unsure about telling Callie about our conversation at the airport.

"You think what?"

I hesitated. "I think... I think he's The One, y'know?"

Callie slammed the brakes on as we approached another set of traffic lights and we were both thrown forward in our seats.

"Fucķ - what are you doing?!" I gasped.

"You think he's The One?!" she said, gaping at me.

"Yes," I replied, clutching my hand to my chest as my heart raced. "What's wrong with that?"

"What did he say to that?" she asked.

"He said it first," I said defensively.

She turned and stared at me. "Really?"

"Yes, really!" I snapped, losing patience. "Is it so hard to believe that someone could feel that way about me?"

"No of course not," she said, softly. "It just seems... I dunno... very sudden. You haven't known him all that long, and you've been through the mill with him, haven't you?"

"Thanks for reminding me," I said sarcastically.

"No, I didn't mean... Sorry," she sighed. "I'm just looking out for you, babe. I'm not trying to be a bitch. I just don't trust him one bit, after everything he put you through."

"I'm capable of judging my own relationship, thanks," I said icily, folding my arms and glaring at the car in front.

Callie said nothing, and we remained silent for a few minutes as we drove through the morning traffic.

"So, I've got some good news," she said eventually, and I looked over at her. "Remember we talked about going away as a group? Well, we've found an amazing deal on a ski lodge in the French Alps over New Year! It's so good that we've put a deposit down on it, and more people are adding on by the day. I thought you'd be up for it so I put your name down and paid your deposit for you, but if for any reason you didn't want to come - which isn't acceptable by the way, just saying - someone else will take your place. But that won't be necessary, will it?"

I gaped at her. "Are you kidding?! Of course it won't! I'll be there with bells on! Ah balls, I definitely won't be putting any money into a car at this rate, will I? So who else is coming?"

Callie started listing names, and my excitement grew at the thought of spending a week away with my friends. I had grown apart from some of them over the last few months as my relationship with Harry had developed. Due to his megastar status I wouldn't have trusted a lot of them with the news that I was seeing him. It would have been all over the internet in seconds.

"Some lads are thinking of tagging along," Callie was saying. "Including, um, Adam. Will that be a problem?"

"No of course not," I said. "We said we would stay friends. Are people bringing their boyfriends then?"

My mind raced ahead to spending a romantic week in a ski lodge over New Year with Harry; cosying up in front of a fireplace, racing down a mountainside in the snow, drinking Irish coffees and mulled wine, and getting friendly in a hot tub, before my subconscious cleared her throat and I jumped back to the present.

"No boyfriends are coming," Callie was saying. "Just a couple of male friends. Why, did you want to invite Harry?"

"Um..," I hesitated, wondering how she would feel about this as it had originally started as a girls' holiday to cheer her up after her heartbreak over James.

"It's fine if you want to," she sighed. "I get it."

I was torn. I wanted to invite him more than anything, but I also wanted to be there for Callie, and being all loved up with Harry in front of her probably wasn't the best way to be supportive.

"Honestly," she insisted, when I didn't answer. "I don't mind."

"I dunno," I mumbled.

"When are you seeing him over Christmas?" she asked.

"I don't know," I replied. "We haven't talked about it yet."

"What are his plans?"

"I don't know that, either," I confessed. "I assume he'll be spending it with his mum in Holmes Chapel. I'll be going to my mum and dad's."

"Your first Christmas together and you'll be spending it apart?" she said, sceptically, and I shrugged.

"I know he'll want to be with his family, especially after the year he's had," I reasoned. "I don't want to put pressure on him by asking him to miss that to spend it with me. And I wouldn't feel comfortable inviting myself to his mum's."

"It's not all about what he wants though," she pointed out. "You've had a tough year too. Don't sacrifice your own needs for his every single time."

"I'm not," I said, a little defensively again. "I'm thinking about both of us."

She nodded and then changed the subject back to the holiday again, chatting excitedly about the accommodation at the lodge, the night life and how much she was looking forward to it.

I pulled my phone out and switched it on, remembering I needed to let Harry know I had landed. Once I had texted him, I logged into my mobile banking and transferred the deposit money into Callie's account and stared miserably at my rapidly dwindling balance.

"I know Harry's been asking your advice on my Christmas present," I began, when there was a lull in the conversation.

"I'm not giving anything away," she said flatly, indicating right as she made a right turn in the direction of Belsize Park and I stared forlornly left in the direction of Hampstead Heath.

"I don't want to know what it is," I said quickly.

"Good, because I'm not telling you."

"I just need to know what kind of ballpark I should be aiming for, in terms of price range."

She gave me an exasperated look. "I'm not telling you that, either. Mainly because I haven't got a clue."

"I need to know how much to spend on him," I begged, and she raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Babe, you need to get that idea out of your head straight away. Don't try and compete with this."

"I'm not competing!" I protested. "I just don't want to get him a shirt or something lame like that, and then realise on Christmas Day that he's gone and spent hundreds on me."

Callie grinned at the road ahead. "Like I said, don't even try and compete."

"That's really not helpful," I huffed, and she chuckled.

"OK. Get him something good," she said. "I mean like, really good. Something special."

"In other words, he's splashed out on me," I translated, and was rewarded with a smirk and a shrug. "Right," I declared. "I need to get my skates on and start shopping. Are you free this weekend to come with me and help?"

"Am I free this weekend," she scoffed. "I am always free to hit Oxford Street, you know that."

I shook my head. "Something tells me this is going to require a special expedition to some of these prestige boutiques that Harry frequents," I told her. "You up for it?"

She looked down her nose at me snootily. "Of course, dahling," she said, surveying me with disdain. "Although may I suggest you dress for the occasion? The drowned rat look is so last year."

We cackled the rest of the way back to my flat, and Callie accompanied me upstairs where we fired up my laptop and she showed me the chalet they had booked in the Alps over a cup of tea and a packet of Jaffa Cakes.

"It looks incredible," I breathed. "I can't wait!"

"Me neither!" she said, rubbing her hands together with exaggerated glee. "And I meant what I said about Harry. If you want to ask him along, it's cool. I'm just really happy you're coming."

"If no other couples are going it would be a bit weird," I sighed. "And besides, I don't know how that would work with his security and being spotted together and stuff."

"I don't want to take you away from him for New Year if you're not going to be seeing him at Christmas, though," she said, frowning at me.

"Well, let me worry about that," I said firmly. "I'll bring it up with him and see how the land lies. I'll sort something out."

"I meant what I said - I really am glad you're coming," she said, after a moment. "I was worried maybe you wouldn't, as you've only just got back from the States, and I know you mentioned you wanted to go away again, just you and Harry."

"Yeah, but we haven't made any definite plans for that yet either," I said. "We can do that any time, once his One Direction commitments are over."

"If you're sure," she beamed, and then threw her arms around me when I nodded. "Thanks," she said sincerely when she finally let me go. "I know I'm a pain in the arse sometimes, but I really do appreciate you. You're an amazing friend."

"I should think so!" I quipped. "Making me go on ridiculously fantastic ski holidays, plying me with tea and Jaffa Cakes... the things I do for you!"

She grinned and drained the last of her brew as I yawned widely, feeling the beginnings of jet lag kicking in.

"I'm gonna let you unpack and get some sleep," she said, standing up. "I'll see myself out."

I walked her to the door anyway and after she'd gone I put our cups in the sink, went for a quick shower and then fell into bed. It was still only the late morning but I was shattered and needed a quick nap to tide me over until bedtime. I tried to call Harry but he didn't answer (which wasn't surprising as it was the middle of the night in Mexico) so I left a sleepy voicemail for him telling him I would speak to him later in the day, and only just managed to set my alarm before I fell asleep.

I woke up a couple of hours later to a missed call and a voicemail from Harry, and put my phone on loudspeaker to listen to the message as I made myself something to eat.

"Hi baby," (his voice sounded sleepy and husky and so incredibly sexy I literally swooned, all by myself in my kitchen.) "I just woke up and got your message, you sound so cute when you're tired. I was hoping to catch you but I guess you're still asleep, so maybe give me a ring when you wake up and hopefully I'll be able to answer. We're in meetings this morning, and then I'm heading to the gym for a workout with Niall this afternoon-"

"Hey Jess!" called a faraway Irish voice in the background.

"That's Niall, he says hi, but you probably already know that because you'll have recognised his voice... um... OK I hate talking to voicemails because I'm really conscious I talk slowly and I think it's going to cut me off before I've finished, so I'm going to go now because I'm just rambling and this is turning into a really boring message. OK, um, I love you, and... I'll talk to you later. Call me. Or I'll call you. Whatever. I love you. Bye."

I became aware I was standing by the sink just staring into space and grinning stupidly, and quickly pulled myself together. I called him back but he didn't answer, so I left him a voicemail and then began unpacking, washing my clothes, ironing my work stuff and tidying my flat. I sat down after tea to watch Eastenders, and just as the opening theme tune began my phone lit up with a call from Harry.

"Hi," I answered happily, hunting for the remote to turn the volume down.

"Hi baby," he said, equally as enthusiastically. "Is that Eastenders I can hear on the TV?"

"Yeah, it's just started," I said, recovering the remote and muting the television. "How's your day?"

"It's good," he replied. "Meetings are done, so I'm heading back to the hotel now, I'm gonna kick Niall's arse in the gym. Then we've got a press conference tomorrow, the Telehit Awards the day after that, and then I'm heading back to LA."

"Sounds exciting," I smiled.

"It is, but right this second I'd rather be cuddled up with you watching Eastenders, if I'm honest," he sighed. "I'm exhausted."

"Not long left now," I reminded him. "You'll soon be home, and then we can cuddle up as much as you want."

"I can't wait," he said softly. "I'm really missing you."

"I'm missing you too," I said, tucking my phone between my ear and my shoulder and picking up my cup of tea to warm my hands on it. "I'm freezing. I need you to come and keep me warm."

"I can think of plenty of ways to do that," he said huskily, and I grinned.

"I'm counting on it."

"Keep it clean, I'm not interested in listening to other people have phone sex!" I heard Niall protest in the background, and I laughed. "Harry, for God's sake put your dicķ away, man, I don't wanna see that!" he exclaimed in disgust, and I gasped in shock as Harry squealed (yes, squealed) in indignation and began hastily assuring me he was not exposing himself inappropriately in the back seat of the car in front of Niall.

"I should hope not," I said, after my laughter had subsided and the scuffling and muffled shouts on the other end of the phone had ceased.

"People don't realise Niall's the dirtiest one out of all of us," Harry said into the phone. "He has this church boy reputation, but behind closed doors he's pure filth."

Niall cackled appreciatively in the background, but didn't attempt to deny it.

"Will you be awake for a bit?" Harry asked. "I want to talk to you about something when we can get a minute to ourselves."

"Phone sex," came Niall's voice, very close to the speaker this time, and there was another scuffle, followed by Niall's laugh and an exasperated, "Niall, fucķ off!" from Harry.

"Yeah, probably," I said, when Harry came back on the line. "I'm tired but I'll do my best to stay awake. What did you want to talk about?"

"You'll have to wait and see," he said mysteriously. "I'll tell you later. I've got to go, we're arriving at the hotel now. I'll ring you once I've battered this knobhead in the gym."

"You wish, boyo," Niall scoffed, and Harry and I said our goodbyes and rang off.

An hour later my eyes were drooping and I was yawning every other minute. I got into bed and set my alarm for the morning, intending to text Harry to tell him I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, but the next thing I knew my alarm was going off and I had slept right through and missed his call.

He had texted me at around ten o'clock last night:

From: Harry: Guess you couldn't stay awake, Sleeping Beauty! I'll speak to you tomorrow, I love you xxx

To: Harry: Sorry Squidge :( I miss you. Call me when you can. I love you too xxx

~~~

My first day back at work flew by, and although Harry texted me a couple of times throughout the day, it was the evening by the time he finally called. I was in my usual spot on the sofa, snuggled under a blanket, watching the soaps.

"So," he began, after we had been through the usual how's-your-day-been pleasantries, "I was just wondering if you'd given any more thought to us going on holiday together?"

"Well, it's funny you should mention that," I grinned. "Because actually yes I have."

"Oh really?" he said coyly. "Well that's fortunate."

"How so?" I asked, adopting his tone, and for some reason unable to wipe the stupid grin off my face at this pathetic attempt of flirting we seemed to have going on between us.

"Because, being the amazing and handsome boyfriend I am, I have access to an exclusive, luxury yacht in the Caribbean," he said happily. "And I was wondering if maybe you would like to accompany me as my guest, along with a few of my very close friends, for a nice relaxing week in the sun?"

"Oh my God, are you serious?" I breathed. "That sounds absolutely incredible! I would love to come! When were you thinking of going?"

"I hoped you'd say that," he said, sounding relieved. "Because it's already booked - I got a bit carried away. I thought we both deserved it. So, we fly out on Boxing Day, for a week, and return on the third of January..."