"I believe that two people are connected at the heart, and it doesn't matter what you do, or who you are or where you live; there are no boundaries or barriers if two people are destined to be together."

- Julia Roberts

***

"Are we unhappy?"

"I don't-" There's a tired sigh. "What do you mean, Leigh?"

__

Jordan is back.

Two has become three.

Harry sleeps in the guest room, now.

Leigh-Anne spends nights awake, eating cookies in the kitchen.

Christmas comes.

Christmas goes.

Harry and Leigh do not speak of their kiss.

But, two has become three.

Which changes things.

Two was nice.

Two was even.

Two was 50/50.

Two means everything is shared equally.

Three is not as nice.

Three is uneven.

Three is 33%; whatever that is.

Three means one person is left out.

Three means that the jokes Harry and Leigh share over breakfast about childhood and London and Gemma and high school and prom all go over Jordan's head. Three means that Jordan notices the shared smiles between Harry and Leigh. Three means Jordan quickly identifies this new dynamic, this new rhythm working and recently established in his house that he has to quickly find a way to work himself into.

"Haz, pass me the--"

"Pepper? Of course, Leigh."

"Harry, can you grab--"

"Silverware? Sure."

"Hey, Harry, have you seen the remote...?"

"Remote? S'on top of the tv, love."

"Jesus, are we out of milk, already?"

"There's a new one next to the juice, Hun. Bought some yesterday."

It becomes obvious to Jordan that in his absence and Harry's presence, Leigh-Anne has established a new norm.

And he's not so sure how he feels about it.

"Why don't we catch a movie tonight?" Leigh suggests over breakfast.

Harry laughs. "It's New Years Eve, love."

Jordan nods. "He's right, Leigh. You wanna catch a film on New Year's Eve?"

She shrugs, rising from the table with her empty plate. "Ah, c'mon, you two. It could be fun, yeah? We see a late show and walk out of the theater and into a crowded square and count down the new year. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

Jordan shakes his head. "Sounds like a bit much, don't you think?"

Harry shrugs, noting Leigh's fallen expression. "Sounds romantic, Leigh."

She perks. "See? Doesn't it? Wouldn't that be exciting and different?"

"What happened to just watching the programs on television like we do every year?" Jordan suggests, as Leigh takes his empty plate from the table, too. "Why don't we just stick to what we typically do?"

Leigh groans. She's sick of sticking to what they typically do. "What we always do is boring," she whines. "We wouldn't have a real tree if we stuck to what we always do, and isn't it nice?" She asks, batting her lashes and attempting to sell her idea to her fiancé.

Harry watches with amusement. A movie could be fun, but what he thinks might be more fun is watching Leigh's eyes light up beneath the firecrackers as the ball drops.

"Fine," Jordan sighs, and Leigh and Harry both smile broadly at each other, as if they're Jordan's kids, or something. He notices this exchange, just like he's noticed all the others and wonders if he's made a mistake by saying,"I say we go."

__

Three is not for Harry.

He hopes he and Leigh have only two kids, because three and 33% and whatever that 33% is is not how he wants his kids to divvy up their time and attention.

Three means there's an extra.

Three means two are fine and one is unnecessary.

Jordan, in Harry's mind, is unnecessary.

It's not like Harry doesn't notice the way Jordan kisses her good morning and good night and rests his hands low on her waist and plays in her hair. It's not like these little, affectionate gestures go unnoticed by him, because they don't.

Harry notices everything.

And to say it didn't bother him would be a flat out lie.

It's eleven fifty-six when the three enter a crowded pub in a crowded square in Hollywood.

"I'll get us a table," says Jordan, weaving through the crowds towards a table near a television, where the program from New York's Times Square is broadcasting.

"I need to pee," calls Leigh, because they'd just come from a theater and had rushed into the first place they'd found.

Jordan nods, as Harry follows behind him towards their table.

The people around are all excited and coupled up and Harry wonders silently what it might feel like to just be with Leigh-Anne tonight sans interruption...AKA Jordan.

At eleven fifty-eight, Jordan wonders aloud where Leigh is.

Harry laughs, "Probably the loo, still," he grins. And then, he's got an idea. "I'll go get her."

Jordan nods. "Tell her to hurry up, would ya?"

And Harry only nods, pushing through the crowds to reach Leigh-Anne.

He comes up to the entrance to the women's bathroom and knocks.

He can hear the sound of a hand dryer and hopes it's Leigh.

"Leigh-Anne?" He calls through the door. It's nearly eleven fifty-nine, already.

"No, sorry," says a woman as she exits the restroom, and as she pushes past him, Harry gets an eyeful of an empty space and decides to just walk in.

As Leigh exits one of the stalls.

She's washing her hands when she notices him inside.

"Harry," Leigh-Anne gasps, hands wet, "what're you doing, you crazy person. We're gonna miss the ball dropping!"

"You can hear it from here, see?" He whispers, taking her waist and backing her into the stall she'd just come from.

It's eleven fifty-nine and a fifty-something seconds.

"I don't want to be in here, some random bathroom, to ring in my year," she scoffs, peering around the stall, because what the heck is going on, here?

"I do."

"You don't," Leigh growls, attempting to push him. "Now, lemme out so we can--"

"Ten...nine..."

The chanting outside grows louder.

Harry slowly unlocks the door to the stall.

He takes her hand, slowly stepping out.

"Six...five..."

"C'mon," Leigh exclaims, tugging him towards the door. "Let's go," she hisses, only to be pulled back against Harry's chest.

She lets out a whine. "Haz...!"

"Two...one..."

And there's cheering outside, and there's nothing but noise shaking the bathroom and Leigh is about to pout because she missed it by being in a freaking women's bathroom with Harry as the new year rung itself in, but she realizes that she's in Harry's arms and he has his arms around her waist and he's staring at her with the wide, hopeful eyes she never seems to get tired of.

"Happy New Year, love," he whispers, as the celebrations commence.

Leigh licks her lips. "Happy New Year, babe," she replies, as Harry's hand cradles her face, the other pulling their bodies closer as Harry ducks his head and rings in the new year the way he'd wanted to ring in the new year, with or without Jordan.

He's pressed for time, so he wastes none of it with small pecks, instead crushing his lips to hers, sucking at her bottom lip until her lips part and he's able to taste the champagne on her tongue.

"Where've you been?" Jordan exclaims as Harry tugs Leigh-Anne quickly through the crowd. He immediately sweeps Leigh into his arms, smiling down at her.

He beams before she can respond with some lie about being stuck in the bathroom.

"Happy New Year, my love," he says, before taking her face in a kiss.

And Harry watches this kiss, watching from over Jordan's shoulder his best friend, Leigh-Anne, as they disconnect and he catches her eye and lifts a brow to say, "How was it?"

And Harry watches her look away, smiling up at Jordan as she replies, "Happy New Year, Jordan," and Harry watches him say it back to her before he turns his attention to Harry.

Harry smirks, turning away.

His kiss was better.

And she knows.

"Happy New Year, mate," he says, clapping him on the back.

And Harry returns the gesture.

"Same to you--" He says before he's cut off, and Jordan's voice is both low and menacing in his ear.

Jordan speaks only seven words, but the meaning and intent behind them is very, painfully clear.

"I want you gone from my house."

The words catch Harry off guard, and for a moment, he's stunned.

He pulls back, only to see that Jordan is glaring at him in a way that has Harry realizing just how serious he is.

But, Harry smiles politely.

He simply responds, "That would be up to Leigh."

And even in the commotion, Leigh catches that.

"Is everything alright?" She asks over the raised voices and celebration.

"Just fine," Jordan replies quickly, despite Leigh's arched brow and hands upon her hips.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Just great," Harry nods, forcing a smile that doesn't meet his eyes.

Leigh stares him down. Her brows are pulled together as Jordan takes her hand. Something isn't right and she can tell by Harry's expression, alone.

She'll wait until they get home to ask.

"Shall we go?" Jordan asks. "Are we ready to go home, now?"

Leigh looks to Harry, who won't meet her gaze.

"Yeah," she says, still staring at him. "We can go."

"Actually," Harry begins quickly, "I think m'gonna stay out a bit longer," he says, and Leigh-Anne pouts instantly, shaking her head.

"I wanna come--"

"Alone," Harry adds, and Leigh is frowning deeply because why would he want to be alone when she was here?

"We drove together, Haz."

He smiles softly. "I can take a car back, Leigh."

"But--"

"He's an adult, Leigh," Jordan snaps, squeezing her hand. "He's not gonna get lost, if that's what you're worried about."

Leigh-Anne shoots him a glare. "But, he's my guest," she snaps, "and it's the new year and I don't want him out late."

"What is he, six?" Jordan exclaims. "He'll be fine," he says, turning now, to Harry, "Won't you?"

Harry's tongue is in his cheek. "Yeah," he nods, "I'll be fine."

Leigh stares at him. "What's the matter, Haz?"

Harry shakes his head. "Nothing, Leigh."

"Harry," Leigh-Anne begins, because she's getting frustrated by this whole situation, "you're lying to me."

"I'm--"

"Let him be, Leigh," Jordan exclaims, equally frustrated. "He's a fucking adult. He can do what he wants."

"Actually, he can't," replies Leigh, "because I need to know his whereabouts, always."

And Harry hides a smile that he doesn't hide too well, because Jordan catches sight of it and decides that if he doesn't leave soon, might end up going to jail for assaulting Harry Styles.

Harry notices, too.

And he's got to say, he's happy. He got his kiss. Leigh-Anne loves him - he's pretty sure - and it's the new year.

He walks towards his best friend and wraps his arms around her. "I'll be back soon, yeah?" He says, and Leigh drops Jordan's hand to wrap her arms around Harry's neck. "Don't stay up for me, okay?"

Leigh lowers her voice. "You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?"

"Of course," Harry replies, kissing her cheek and eliciting a groan from Jordan.

Harry drops his hands.

He sends her a lopsided smile.

Leigh frowns.

Jordan reaches for her.

"See you later, then," he says, turning away.

"Bye, Haz," Leigh calls as she gets dragged behind Jordan.

Harry stands and waves. "See you, Leigh," he calls.

Harry decides instantly that he wants a drink and some company.

And then, he reaches for his phone and dials his new best friend, Niall. They had certainly become very close over his break, and if there were two things Niall always had, they were drinks and company.

"Hello?"

___

Leigh lies in bed, her back to her sleeping fiancé.

She's wide awake, unable to sleep.

She's wide awake because she's thinking about how Harry isn't home yet and he said he wouldn't be out long and--Leigh halts her thought. She can't keep doing this. She can't keep sneaking around behind Jordan's back for Harry, because that just wasn't fair to him. Since two became three, it's almost felt like Jordan was the intruder and not Harry. It was almost like Leigh was counting down the days until he'd leave again so she could just be at home with her best friend.

That was crazy.

Nonsense.

It was absurd.

But, it made her think.

She hadn't been happy.

Jesy was right, she realizes, as she lies in bed and waits to hear the extra key she'd given Harry jingle in the front door. She hadn't been happy lately. She'd been lonely and brooding and sad. She and Jordan had slipped into a routine of not being together and not seeing each other and communicating only over the telephone line. She and Jordan had slipped into the Perrie and Zayn pattern. They were together because they were together, and not because they loved each other.

Or was that wrong, too?

Did Jordan love her?

Leigh couldn't answer that, because nothing had really changed between the two of them except for Harry. When she and Jordan were together, they did the things they usually did. They stayed home. They went out sometimes. They argued. They made up. Nothing deviated from their norm. Harry being here with them had only illuminated more of their problems, hadn't he? Maybe it was good. Maybe this was necessary.

Because did Leigh love Jordan?

That was the real question.

Did Leigh-Anne love Harry?

No. That wasn't the right question to ask, now.

Had she ever stopped loving Harry?

When they were five years old she fell off a swing set and scraped up her knees and Harry kissed the raw burn to make her stop crying.

She came home that day and told her mum she'd marry him.

"Okay," was her mum's answer.

It was just that.

It was okay.

When she and Harry were eleven, she had her first kiss with a little boy and it was terrible and sloppy and gross and when she'd told Harry about how awful it was he'd grabbed her face and placed a quick kiss on her lips and said, "This is your first kiss," and had turned beet red and had rushed home and didn't talk to her for days because he was too embarrassed and she was too embarrassed to bring it up.

When she and Harry were thirteen, she'd teased him about the crush he had on some girl because she was jealous -- jealous that she didn't have the straight brown hair or fair skin or green eyes that he found attractive.

When she and Harry were sixteen Leigh had started dating a boy whose name was Jason and he had muscles and a pretty smile and dimples who Harry hated because, "He's an idiot, Leigh. How can't you see that?" And his words really made Leigh-Anne question Jason's intelligence to the point she told her sister and she also told Gemma, who only snorted and laughed and said, "Harry thinks every boy you like is an idiot, Leigh. Probably always will."

When she and Harry were eighteen they had sex after prom and she almost wished they hadn't done it, because it made leaving him for America exponentially harder than it already was.

"I love you, Leigh," he'd said, eyes red although he had been trying his hardest not to cry.

For a long time, Leigh-Anne assumed that 'love' was platonic love between two children who'd grown up together.

And she said it back, "I love you too, Harry."

And she meant it.

When Leigh hears the familiar jingle of keys in the door, she rises quietly from bed and slips on some shoes and pads softly down the hall, peering over the banister at the boy sneaking quietly into the house.

"Hey, Haz."

He jumps. "Jesus, Leigh," he exclaims softly, as Leigh floats down the stairs. "Was trying not to wake you, y'know."

"I know."

He wraps his arms around her for a hug. "Niall and Jes say 'hello.'"

"Ah," she nods, "so that's where you went."

He giggles.

"Of course," she nods, "'cause where else can you get drunk for free?"

Harry snorts, rubbing the back of his head. "I--"

"Save it," she laughs. "You're here, now."

Harry stares at her through lidded eyes.

And Leigh-Anne stares back, her heart beating through her thin pajamas.

Harry slowly brings his finger to her jaw, cupping her face in his palm, and slowly, does he place a fruity kiss upon her lips.

Leigh's eyes close upon contact, and she breathes deeply, taking him in completely and savoring this moment with him.

When his hand falls away from her face, she misses the feel of his fingers and opens her eyes to his.

"I love you, Leigh," he whispers.

Leigh-Anne steps back, as he places a hand upon the banister.

"I love you too," she replies, and he grins, taking the stairs two at a time and making his way into the guest room.

Leigh watches him the whole way, before she finally takes herself into the kitchen and sits in front of a glass of wine and stares across the kitchen and wonders what she's going to do about her life and herself and her feelings and her fiancé.

It's four in the morning when Leigh pours her first glass of Merlot.

It's seven-thirty when Jordan finds her in the kitchen.

"Leigh," he exclaims, surprised to see her there in front of a wine glass with puffy, tired eyes. "How long've you been up?"

She turns slowly to stare at him. "Since Haz got in."

Jordan scowls. "And when was that?"

She downs the rest of her wine. "'Round four."

"You've been here that long?"

She hums. "Typical, right?"

"What's typical?"

"Me," she replies slowly. "Staying up all night. Thinking."

"You do that often?"

"About each night you're gone."

Jordan runs his hands over his head. "Leigh, I--"

"Are we unhappy?"

"I don't-" Jordan's jaw clenches. He sighs tiredly, the question catching him off guard. "What do you mean, Leigh?"

"I mean exactly what I've asked, Jordan," she replies. "When we're together, we argue. When we're apart, we don't -- we barely even speak. I mean," she exclaims, "you tell me you love me, but do you even love me?"

"Of course I do, Leigh-Anne. I've never lied to you."

She shakes her head. "I won't be mad, Jordan. Really. I just want to know."

He steps towards her, hands upon her shoulders. "I love you, Leigh."

And she grins sadly, resting her cheek against his hand. "I believe you," she nods.

He smiles softly, running his thumb upon her cheek.

"...but, are you in love with me?"

He falters. "I've just said I was."

"No," Leigh-Anne shakes her head against him. "You said you loved me. Are you, Jordan, in love with me?"

His brow pinches, eyes falling to the floor. "I-"

"Because in college, we were in love. In college, I'd do anything to be with you. In college, we fought but we made up because we wanted to make things work. In college, we weren't two people together, we were a couple. Right now," she says, "can you say the same?"

"Leigh-"

"Or have we fallen out of love?"

And suddenly, he scowls. "Where's this coming from, Leigh-Anne? Why all this talk now before the wedding?"

"Because I don't want either of us to go through with something we regret!"

His nostrils flare. "You regret us?"

She steps back, his hands falling from her shoulders. "I would regret marrying a man I didn't love!"

And the air seems to seep from Jordan's lungs. "This is about Harry," he grits, "isn't it?"

Leigh steps back, folding her arms. "Are you in love with me, Jordan?"

"...because all of this 'love' talk was nowhere to be found before he decided to come visit."

"Never mind Harry!" Leigh snaps, and Jordan turns, jaw clenched. "This isn't about him!"

"Oh, it isn't, huh? I come home to find you two cozied up together, living like he's your boyfriend, instead and this isn't about him!?"

Leigh-Anne rolls her eyes. "You always want to-"

"To what?" He exclaims. "To what? To blame him? Why might I want to do that, Leigh? Hmm? Why would I want to blame Harry for our problems?" He snaps, "Have you realized that when I'm away, I call you? When's the last time you've picked up the phone to call me on the road, hmm? When's the last time I wasn't the only one reaching out--?"

"You're not the only one reaching out, Jordan; that's ridiculous you'd even say such a thing."

"Is it, Leigh? 'Cause when I'm home you're still always talking to Harry, and it's been that way since I met you in college!"

Leigh scoffs. "That's not true."

"Oh please, Leigh-Anne!" He grunts, rolling his head about on his neck. "Spare me the lies! You talk to him, on average, twice a day. When you're not calling, you're texting. I met you and thought he was your boyfriend, that's how much you two were in contact. Lately, after invitations went out I'd figured things had shaped up, y'know? I thought maybe, just maybe you'd cut back with all of the Harry for me, but then I find out that he's fuckin' come out here to stay with you!"

Leigh is shocked. "I didn't know you felt that way..."

"'Cause he's your bloody best friend," Jordan sniffs bitterly. "Why would I be the dick boyfriend who came between someone you've known your entire life!?"

He pauses, taking a breath. "Y'know," he sighs, "I've always known the two of you were close, but lately, with him being here..." He shakes his head, "I feel like a fucking third wheel...in my own home! I feel like an idiot -- the butt of a joke between my fiancée and her best friend!"

Leigh-Anne frowns. "I'm sorry. I had no idea--"

"Because you don't care, Leigh. You ask me if I'm in love with you, but I should be asking you the same."

"Me?"

"Yes, you," he replies, a bite to his tone that Leigh doesn't exactly appreciate. "Because, we've been through too much for me to not want to make this work, and the first problem that needs to be addressed is your relationship with your best friend."

"Oh, so now my best friend is a problem?" She snaps.

And Jordan nods, to her surprise. "It's either me or him, Leigh, because if we're together I want you. I don't want to have to compete with someone else's attention. I'd like to come home and know that my wife isn't splitting her time between me and some other man."

She can't believe this. "And you're making me choose...?"

He nods. "It's me or its him, Leigh."

"...because you're insecure and jealous...?"

He scowls. "Because I don't want my wife to-"

"To what? To have friends? Newsflash," she seethes, "I've known him longer than you. Whether or not I'm with you, Jordan, I'm going to want to check in on the one person who has had my back since I was born."

"See? Do you see how this always becomes a completion?"

"A competition? A competition, for what?"

Jordan grits his teeth, "I. Don't. Want. To. Compete. With. Harry. Styles. For. Your. Love."

"Well...Should I go?"

And both Leigh-Anne and Jordan turn, Leigh's eyes going wide as Jordan's narrow upon Harry's entrance into the kitchen.

"Harry!" She gasps.

"Heard arguing, so..." He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. "Didn't exactly expect to find that it was about me."

Jordan glares at him. "When isn't everything about you?"

"Jordan!"

"What, Leigh? It's the truth, isn't it?"

"Don't talk to him that way! None of this is his fault!"

"Y'know, really," Harry says. "It's fine. I'm not here to ruin anyone's holiday," and he turns to Jordan, "or step on anyone's toes. You've both been gracious hosts, and I can tell when I've overstayed my welcome."

"Harry," Leigh pinches the bridge of her nose, "please don't say that."

He smiles. "It's fine, Leigh. I'll still be in LA, but I can find a hotel. Matter of fact, I could probably stay with Jesy and Niall, y'know," he chuckles, "and bother them for a bit."

Jordan sniffs disdainfully. "That'd be great. Thanks, mate."

"Not a problem-"

"Actually, it is a problem," Leigh says at once, "because I want him to stay."

"Leigh, you don't have to-"

"I said, Harry," she snaps at him, "I wanted you to stay."

Harry holds up his hands, officially removing himself from the conversation.

Angry Leigh was not what he wanted to go up against this morning.

Jordan grits his teeth. "Have you not heard a word I've said to you, Leigh-Anne?"

Leigh lifts a brow. "I will not ask him to leave, Jordan. I'm not going to kick him out."

Jordan's nostrils flare. "Then, make your decision, Leigh-Anne."

She scoffs. "And decide what, Jordan?"

"It's him or it's me," he sticks out his chest, and Leigh does not believe her ears.

"Either I cut off my best friend," she gasps, "or you're breaking up with me?"

"Either he goes or I do, and," he pauses, "I don't fucking care, Leigh, but," he shakes his head, "I can't do this. I can't compete...I'm not coming back."
__

Harry rings the Horan's doorbell at exactly 1:48 PM.

He's standing upon the stoop, large luggage in hand as he complains about the cold.

He rings the doorbell again.

"What're they doing? Having sex?"

Harry rings the doorbell again.

"Holiday sex is the best sex."

And again.

"Disgusting."

And again.

And Niall flips on the light in the foyer and curses so loudly that Harry can hear outside because he's stepped on a toy Jesy's niece left at the bottom of the stairs.

"Bloody fuckin' hell-!"

And so when Niall yanks open the door and takes in smiles and laughter and soft waves and   a, "So, there's this thing called AirBnB..." and more laughter, he almost doesn't believe his eyes.

"What're ya doing here?" He exclaims.

And before he can receive an answer, Jesy's shuffled from bed to peer over the railing of the stairs to call down to her husband, "Who the hell is it, Ni?"

He steps out of the doorway for her to see. "Have a look, Jes."

And Jesy smiles.

And Jesy laughs.

"How about a sleepover?" He asks. "'Cause as you can see, I kinda need a place to stay."

- * -

But how fast am I updating though? 

Hehe. That's the power of winter break. 

I LOVE YOUR REACTIONS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS LIKE THIS STORY BC IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ONE SHOT.