"The shepherds' swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love."

- Christopher Marlowe, "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love"

***

When Leigh was a freshman in college, she lived in an all-women's dorm on campus. She'd gotten lucky, as a first year student, because she had been placed in one of the newer buildings, so she and two roommates shared a suite, complete with a kitchen and living area.

Each girl had her own bedroom and bathroom, and Leigh was excited because since no one had to really share much but the common area, she assumed there would be minimal fighting. This, she had thought, would be a great first year.

She had been placed in a dorm with two other international students.

Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson were also freshman; they were also from the UK; and they really had hit it off immediately.

They really had become fast friends.

Perrie introduced Jesy to Niall.

It happened during second semester. Niall had been after Perrie, Perrie had wanted his best friend, Zayn, and Jesy found out and scolded both of them -- "...'cause this is bloody real life and not some sappy romance flick" -- and Niall realized that he actually didn't like Perrie, and liked her loud, sharp-tongued roommate, instead.

At first, Jesy was apprehensive.

Because, really, the boy had just been trailing after her blonde friend like a lost puppy. He'd literally just wanted to hook up with her roommate.

And Niall didn't deny it.

So Jesy wasn't sold.

"One day he likes Pez and the next day he likes me?" She'd huffed. "No thank you."

And it was Leigh who got the two together.

"You should really talk to her," she told Niall, who, she found had been hanging around her apartment, offering to walk Jes from her classes. "Just be honest with her, Niall."

"Don't know if that'll help too much, Leigh," he'd sighed. "She really isn't goin' for me."

"That's 'cause she thinks you want Perrie."

"I don't--!"

"And I know that, you little Irishman," she'd grinned, elbowing him. "But, she doesn't. And really," she'd shrugged, "can you blame her?"

"I dunno, Leigh..." He'd shook his head. "Feel's like I'm fightin' a losin' battle, really."

"But really, Jesy's not all like that, Ni. Sure, it might seem like she doesn't want anything to do with you, but--"

He'd snorted. "There's a 'but'?"

"But," Leigh had laughed, "she really is flattered."

Niall seemed unconvinced.

"Wow her," she'd nodded. "Show her just how much you care about her," Leigh had grinned. "And I can help."

To Leigh's suggestion, Niall had met Jesy inside of her Econ class. 

He'd taken a seat beside her, right before classes began. 

Jesy had been extremely confused. "You're not in this class...?"

"Nope."

Her eyes widened. "So, what're you doing here?" 

"Came to ask you out, honestly," he'd replied, "'Cause I really like you, and--"

Jesy had rolled her eyes. "Can we stop with this? You liked Perrie. My roommate. My friend--"

"I did," he'd admitted to Jesy on a day that Leigh, Niall's friend, Liam and Liam's girlfriend, Jade, all eavesdropped on the conversation from their respective seats in the class. "I did like 'er--"

(Jesy had rolled her eyes so hard they'd hurt a little).

"But, she doesn't want me," Niall had said. "She wants Zayn, and I'm not Zayn. I'm me, Jes, and I can't make anyone like me 'cause I can't change who I am.

"And I like you," he'd blurted, blushing furiously. "I like you alot. And I like you, 'cause I think you like me, too."

(Jesy, unfortunately, couldn't deny this).

"And I mean me," he had stressed. "Me for exactly this," he'd motioned up and down towards his body. "Me for me: exactly what ya' see here."

The honesty worked.

"One date," was her reply. "We'll see how much I like you after one date."

Leigh almost regretted her advice considering how much sex the two of them proceeded to have once they finally got together -- before and after they made things officially official.

Leigh was tired of headboards banging against her walls, which were too damn thin for that, in her opinion.

Niall thanked Leigh at the wedding.

"If it weren't for you," he'd said, glass of champagne raised in a toast, "I don't know if I'd be standing here right now," he'd grinned at her as she'd attempted to hide the rosy coloring in her cheeks while sat in her bridesmaid's dress, "But, I am. And I'm with the love a' my life, and I didn't think it'd be possible for me to be this happy."

Leigh almost thought she might cry.

"You're welcome," she had mouthed, blowing the couple kisses.

"Thank you, Leigh," Niall had finished. "One day soon, I hope to see you just as happy."

__

"It's really been two days and you still haven't told her!?"

"Gem, could you--"

"Could I what?" She huffs over the line. "It's like you want Leigh to run off with someone else."

"She just broke off an engagement, Gem," Harry grits. "I couldn't take advantage of her like that."

"And I get it, and I love how you're such a gentleman, and I love you to pieces, you know I do..."

Harry sighs. "Yes..."

"But, how long are you going to keep waiting, Haz? And I really mean it. You realize you two could've probably been together by now had you just..." She pauses.

"Had I what?"

"Had you...y'know. Just done it, already."

Gemma is right.

And while Harry is more than a little frustrated by this conversation, he knows his sister is right and that's what makes everything worse.

Now, in this moment in time, should be his golden opportunity to finally tell Leigh exactly how he feels, because, just as he'd wished and prayed and hoped for, Jordan is finally out of the picture and he can have Leigh all to himself.

Well, he could.

Maybe.

Hypothetically.

If he told her, already.

And Harry finishes his conversation with his sister and groans, throwing his phone across the bed he's sharing with Leigh in Jesy and Niall's house and placing his hands over his eyes because since when did sharing feelings have to be so difficult?

"Haz?"

He sits up, startled as Leigh plops onto the bed beside him.

She props her head in her hand and stares. "Y'alright?"

He nods, clearing his throat. "Yeah," he replies. "Fine."

"Alright," she lifts a brow. "Y'sure?"

(Of course she can tell that he is far from fine, but she doesn't pry for once, thank God.)

Harry is sitting up upon the bed now, wondering if this is it. He's wondering if this is how he'll tell her. He's wondering if this is the right moment.

Mere days after his best friend breaks up with her fiancé, this is the time?

This is the time he tells her he's in love with her?

That just felt so wrong--

"I think I'm gonna go apartment hunting."

Harry looks up, grateful for the shift in conversation, no matter how abrupt. There's a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You mean, you don't love living with Niall and Jes?"

Leigh laughs. "As much as I adore them, I think a few days is just enough for a sleepover, honestly. God..." Her laughter trails off. Her brows pinch and her teeth pull at her lip. "I have so much stuff to move..."

And Leigh-Anne shakes her head. She just can't do that to herself right now.

Thinking these overwhelming thoughts.

"Yeah, no," she says. "I have to find a place. It's done. My mind's made up...Anyway," she frowns, consumed again by another unnerving thought, "since y'know, Jordan and I aren't..."

Harry looks away.

"Since well," she sits up straighter and clears her throat, "I've got no real reason to be tied to L.A., anymore, I was thinking more and more about that job offer, and--"

Harry turns immediately. "A job offer?"

She hums. "I didn't tell you?"

He shakes his head.

She frowns, watching his hair shake about on his shoulders. "You really do need a haircut..."

"What about this job, Leigh?"

She chuckles softly to herself, leaning backwards against the pillows. "I got a job offer at the beginning of the holiday," she says. "Same firm, just with a bit of a raise..." She lifts her eyes to his, "and a relocation."

She sighs. "It was one of those things wracking my brain and keeping me up, y'know..."

But, Harry shakes his head. Los Angeles was as far from home as it seemed it could possibly be, and now she was moving again?

God, not again.

He almost doesn't want to ask, but he does because he absolutely has to.

"Where's the job, Leigh?"

"Oh," She chuckles. "I really didn't tell you?"

"Not that I can remember."

"Well," she tucks her hair behind her ear, "It's with you, actually. Closer to home, yeah? It's in London."

Harry blinks.

"What?"

Leigh nods, "Yep," her teeth clamped upon her bottom lip. "It's home."

"Leigh!" Harry kind of thinks he could cry. "Oh, God, Leigh you're coming back home?"

"I mean...That's the plan, I guess."

"Leigh!" Harry is shouting. "Leigh, that's fantastic, love!" He laughs, clapping his hands together. "You don't have to go apartment hunting, Leigh. You'll stay with me."

"Ha," she rolls her eyes. "Hilarious, Haz."

"What?" He exclaims. "We'll both be in London, so why--"

"I'm not a squatter is why," she laughs. "I don't want to hop around from one friend's flat to the next."

"But, staying with Jesy's different, Leigh."

"How?" She exclaims, shoving him lightly. "You're just saying that 'cause you and Niall get to hang out more."

Harry scoffs. "Niall's great, isn't he?"

She scoffs, too. "Don't make me answer that."

Harry laughs. Loud and hard his dimple is popping in his face and his eyes are bright and Leigh begins to smile, head cocked sideways.

Harry shakes his head, smiling at her smiling.

"I love you, Leigh," he sighs. "I do -- So much."

Leigh hums. "Oh."

Harry pulls back. "Oh?"

"I mean," she pushes from the bed. "Of course you do, right?" She chuckles. "We're best friends, aren't we?"

"Oh...I mean," Harry runs a hand through his hair, nodding. "Yes... Yes, you're right."

And Leigh smiles, seemingly satisfied. "Good then," she replies. And she motions with her curly head towards the door. "I'm gonna go look for some hotels. Wanna help me pack?"

Harry looks up, nodding. "Sure, Leigh."

"Fabulous," Leigh claps her hands. "I'll be back, 'kay?"

"Okay," Harry calls softly. 

And Leigh-Anne leaves the room, chuckling to herself.

Leigh isn't stupid.

She also did not meet Harry Styles yesterday.

She knows that Harry does things slowly. He takes his time. He waits for the right moments to act. He even talks at the pace of a snail, so if he had feelings for her, Leigh knows that mere days after a break-up would not be the times he felt were most opportune to share how he feels.

If he even feels the way she thinks he feels.

Leigh-Anne's conversation with Jesy made her come to terms with the fact that yeah, she might be able to see a future with her best friend, but it also unearthed a number of memories all revolving around said best friend and his inability to tell her how he felt about her.

Leigh couldn't keep waiting like this.

She couldn't keep playing these games.

Leigh-Anne had to know, and she had to know, now, especially when she had time to kill and a holiday to enjoy since work wouldn't start for her for a few days.

Leigh needed answers and she knew the only way to get them was to work for them. She'd have to tease this knowledge out of Harry because she knew her best friend wasn't just going to flat-out admit any of it himself.

He kissed her and told her he loved her while she was engaged. Now, she was single.

So, what did any of all that mean?

Leigh was gonna find out, dammit.

___

The other ones were much easier. 

The girls, that is. 

Telling them that he'd had feelings for them, well...for some reason, expressing those feelings was a much easier task for Harry, because now?

Now, he was a wreck. 

So, all of the other young women in Harry's life must have all been preparation for this -- this moment with the one girl who really knew everything about him. And that had to be why this was so hard, Harry thinks. Because this -- Leigh -- was more important than anything else, and this --Leigh's -- rejection might actually kill him.

"Your sister's right. You really should tell her."

"Wow," Harry hisses, turning abruptly to make sure he and Niall were, in fact, the only two in the kitchen. "Tell the world, why don't ya?"

Niall shrugs, pulling out two beers as the midday sun streams through the blinds of the Horan's kitchen. "Ah, please, Hazza. No one's in here but the two'f us."

"You don't know that, Ni!"

Niall laughs aloud, situating himself at the island in the center of the kitchen, the amusement evident in his eyes as Harry sits across from him and grabs at the bottle. "Would it matter how Leigh found out? As long as she knew, it'd be fine, yeah?"

"No," Harry groans. "Not 'yeah.' I've been waiting ages to tell her the right way, and--"

"Honestly, Harry," Niall grins, "there is no 'right' way," he takes a swig of his drink. "Never gonna be. All the shit you've planned is gonna go right out your head when she's standing in front of ya," he shrugs. "So you might as well get it over with, Haz. Rip off the BandAid."

"You make it sound so easy, Ni."

Harry receives a rather rough pat on the back.

"Really, Haz, that's 'cause it is."

___

"Ya' don't have to go, y'know."

Leigh grins, the statement genuinely warming her as Niall picks his way towards her on the couch, remote in hand. 

"You really are too good to me, Niall."

He turns on the television, smiling at her. 

He pats her thigh. "Nah, Leigh. You're not a burden like the two'f ya' seem to think," he replies, flipping now to an Arsenal game. "You're my friends, y'know, and Jesy feels the same, I can tell ya' that much."

Leigh is melting a bit. "Niall, you really are too much, yeah?"

"What?" He laughs, as Leigh's grin widens. "What's so funny?"

She shrugs, truly blessed by these people who have become her family so far from home. 

And the thought saddens her a bit, actually. Thinking how now, she'll be leaving one family to see another -- that is, if she takes the job opportunity in London. 

Because Jesy and Niall and Jade and Liam and even Jordan had all grown with her through college and helped her become the young woman she was now. 

And it wasn't so bad, she realizes, being where she is now. Like, so what her engagement's been broken off. She hasn't even made it to twenty-five, yet. She's young. She's fairly successful, and she's surrounded by people who love her... 

What's there to complain about? 

Leigh is thinking that it might not be terrible to stay. 

To stay here with her friends. 

Leigh is having second thoughts. 

___

"So, I've been thinking..."

Harry looks up as Niall slips behind the wheel of his Range Rover. "Yeah?"

"And I'm gonna help you," he nods. "I've decided to help ya' tell Leigh how you feel."

"Ugh, Niall," Harry groans. "This isn't primary school, mate."

"And somehow, you're still too chicken to tell Leigh you love her."

Harry doesn't reply. He had him there. 

"Exactly," Niall nods as he pulls from the curb and heads towards that Thai place Jesy'd ordered from for dinner. He chuckles to himself. "Listen to me, Harry..."

"This isn't The Lion King, Niall," Harry snorts. "And anyway," he shakes his head, "why? Why're you doing this?"

He turns, "Doin' what?"

 Harry laughs. "Helping me like this," he grins, "You're more helpful than my sister, Ni."

"Well..." Niall shrugs, "Honestly, Leigh's like a sister t'me. I love 'er, Haz," he nods, and Harry blinks. "She's been there for me when I needed her, and all I want," he turns, "honestly, Haz, all I want for her is t'see her as happy as she's been the past few days," he pauses, stopping at a light, "this holiday. With you." 

Harry grins. "Alright, then," he nods. "It's got to be good."

___

'Bout time for an update hehe. :)