~Chapter 7~

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

"For fucks sake Harper! Get your lazy ass up right now!" I heard Zack scream through my front door. I tried and muffle the sound by shoving my head under my pillow but his shouts still penetrated through and into my helpless ears.

When I didn't respond, he pounded on my door harder. "That's it. Harper, I'm going to count to ten and if you don't open this bloody door I'll knock it down myself and spray you with the weird can of spray cheese I bought on my way over."

I knew him going to the gym regularly would bite me in the ass one day. Knowing he actually could break my door down, or at least dent it, I got up slowly and waltzed towards my front door. I really didn't want to have to call the door guy again; it was so expensive.

"Why'd you buy a can of spray cheese?" I asked as I casually opened the door to my irritated-looking older brother who seemed startled by my sudden appearance.

Zack was a tall guy, so much so that he cast a shadow over me as he stood in the doorway. I knew he'd been going to the gym more as well over the last few years because the slightly lanky figure I remembered from our teenage years was no longer in sight. In his place stood a slightly bulky, pale-blond, six foot three, grey-blue eyed, tanned idiot who I called my brother.

I hadn't seen him in person in six months and it was clear he'd been taking advantage of the home gym as well as the very temperamental British sun. Regardless of his mildly orange — he'd call it 'golden' — appearance, I still missed him a lot and the sight of him brought a smile to my face.

Composing himself quickly, he shrugged as he walked inside, his hands tucked into his jean pockets. "Dunno. I saw it on my way over and thought it looked funny."

I snorted as I shut my door and walked past him towards the kitchen for some much needed breakfast. "Only you, Zack. Only you... anyway, why the hell were you banging on my apartment door at six in the morning?"

I saw his grin from the corner of my eye as he made large strides to catch up to me. "Well my flight landed at one in the morning and I didn't want to disturb you that late but I couldn't sleep — jet lag— so I thought I'd come see you now. You should be grateful I waited until six."

"Of course I am. What an honour," I stated dryly, putting bread in the toaster. "Want a coffee?"

He nodded, slinging his backpack over one of the kitchen chairs and moving to perch on the barstool near where I was standing by my coffee maker. "At least grab the mugs you lazy shit. They're in the cabinet over there."

Groaning, he complied, stomping over the the cabinet like a child and I laughed as I grabbed the butter from the fridge. "This is slave labour I tell you, Harps. I thought I was your guest," he gasped over dramatically, handing me two mugs.

I scoffed as the toast popped up from my toaster. "You also showed up over twelve hours early. I thought I was going to meet you for dinner with your mates at seven."

He started washing the apple he had grabbed from the fruit bowl on the counter, paying close attention to make sure everything was clean so it took him a little while to respond to me. "Change of plans. They were irritating me."

"What did they do this time?" I asked amused, handing him his coffee.

He paused, tapping his fingers on the white marble island in thought. "Nothing new. Just being idiots like usual."

I eyed him suspiciously as I sat down on the black breakfast stool next to him. "Sure... anyway, you never actually told me which of your friends are coming."

"Oh right. Well it's me, Naeem, Jacob and Axel."

I forgot Axel and Zack were close. In fact, I actually forgot they were friends period. Axel was just so different from the rest of Zack's friends. He was nice, funny and not a complete douche who thought with his dick. Okay, that was harsh on the rest of his friends but they were all awful when we were in school; I knew they were better now, hopefully.

"Damien not coming?"

"Nah, busy with work. His manager is really pushing him to finish his album," he said before pausing and looking me over questioningly. "What is it, Harps? You've got that look on your face."

"What look?"

"The one where it kinda looks like you're trying to hide the fact you farted."

I sent I him a deadpan glare and he lifted up his arms in surrender.

"I'm not saying you actually farted. I'm just describing what it looks like," he defended lamely and I continued to glare at him.

"You're really not helping yourself here."

"Alright, sheesh, calm down. It's that look where you're dying to say something but not sure if it's politically correct. I'm you're brother, you're favourite one at that, just say it."

I scoffed into my coffee cup. "Favourite my ass."

Zack stood up to throw his apple in the bin. "I'm gonna ignore that comment," he said briskly, now grabbing an orange from the fruit bowl.

"How much fruit can you eat?"

He shrugged, sitting back down to peel his orange. "I haven't had breakfast yet, sue me."

"Whose fault is that?" I asked mockingly but Zack only shoved me lightly before continuing to peel his orange.

Our playful chatter continued for the rest of breakfast. Zack made stupid remarks the entire time but they never actually irritated me; it was just Zack being Zack and if I was honest I missed that. I missed my family.

I would go back home so I could spend more time with them but London just wasn't my home anymore. I couldn't stay there. I couldn't live there but I could visit more. Maybe that'd be enough.

It'd give me the chance to see the rest of my siblings and family again.

I'd just have to pick a time when mother wasn't home. That wouldn't be difficult; she didn't care enough to stay for more than two weeks at a time anyway.

~*~*~

"We love to drink with Harper 'cause Harper is our mate and when we drink with Harper she gets it down in: eight, seven, six, five, four, th—"

Slamming my fourth shot glass down, I raised my arms in victory, smiling into the air.

"Nice," Naeem said, giving me a high five. He was one of Zack's friends that I actually liked and I'd known him since we were five. He'd never made weird comments about me and almost treated me like a sister.

He was a great guy and also a hit with the ladies, standing at around five foot nine with short black hair and almost black eyes. He was of Indian descent so had lovely chocolate skin and I didn't think I could even think of a time when he'd had any acne — lucky bastard, I tell you.

Jacob, on the other hand, was loud, boisterous and made crude comments all the time. I'd never liked him much and always found him a bit slimy if I was honest. I had found him sifting through my underwear drawer once and I'd caught him trying to look up my skirt countless times and had since decided to always wear jeans when he was around. I didn't know why Zack was friends with him but he always dismissed me when I asked. However, he did punch Jacob square in the jaw when I told him what he did and he kicked him in the balls, hard, so I forgave him, mostly.

Then, of course, there was Axel. Who was currently looking at me with an amused glint in his eyes as he slowly sipped his drink. The guy didn't want to have a drinking race with me, probably because he knew he wouldn't be able to keep up.

Zack stood up to order another round but I was finally starting to feel the effects of how much I'd drank so I told him to miss me out. He nodded, looking concerned but I waved off his worry and told him I was fine. He hesitantly left but not before whispering something into Axel's ear.

Suddenly needing to go to the toilet, I slipped out of the booth we were sitting at but I immediately felt the blood rush to my head, causing me to stumble and have to sit back down so I didn't fall.

I huffed in annoyance, shaking me leg because I was getting desperate. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Axel turn to face me, still looking amused. "What's up?"

"I really need to pee but when I get up I feel really dizzy like I'm about to fall."

Axel chuckled from beside me so I nudged him in the ribs. "It's not funny," I insisted, pouting like a child.

He quirked a brow at me. "It kinda is and I'll help you make it to the loo in one piece if you admit it."

I shook my head defiantly. "Never."

"Then I guess you're on your own..." he said, shrugging as he has another sip of his drink, turning himself around to continue his conversation with Naeem and Jacob.

Sighing, I tried to get up again. Feeling much less dizzy than before. I started walking to the toilets but didn't make it very far before my head started spinning again and this time I actually fell over.

"Ouch," I muttered under my breath as I started getting to my feet again. Note to self, never have a drink-off against Zack. Just as I managed to stand up, I tripped over my heels and started tumbling again but this time I didn't hit the floor. Instead, large arms wrapped around my waist, keeping me upright.

"Can't stay out of trouble for two minutes, can you?" A very familiar voice chuckled, helping me stand up straight.

Shrugging myself out of the very comfortable arms, I turned around to face Axel, eyeing him suspiciously. "I thought you weren't going to help me."

He scratched the back of his neck, grinning cheekily. "Well, you looked like you could use a hand and what type of knight would I be if I didn't aid my fair maiden in her quest to pee."

Not able to stop myself, I snorted in rather unladylike fashion but Axel didn't seem to mind. In fact, his eyes seemed to brighten at the sound but that could've just been the alcohol melting my brain. Who knows? "Well then Axel, my knight, lead the way," I said with a grin, playing along as I gripped his hand tightly so I didn't fall again.

He bowed, holding onto my hand just as tightly as we weaved through the crowds of people in search of the girl's bathroom. "Alas, fair maiden, my time has come to bid you adieu."

"Axel, my knight — oh wait, I just got that, 'cause you're Axel Knight — anyway, Axel, my knight, I do hope this isn't goodbye," I giggled as I opened the door, becoming more desperate by the second.

Seriously, this wasn't healthy. I didn't know how I'd lasted this long. Magic bladder, I tell you. It was the only logical explanation.

He laughed softly as we separated but I just about managed to hear him say one last thing before the door shut behind me. "Oh Harper, I could never say goodbye to you."

~*~*~

Zack is honestly everything and I seriously love Axel and Harper together. Anyways, how did you find the chapter? Please let me know what you thought.

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See you next week, bye x