Italics mean it's a flashback btw

*Norah's POV*

My acceptance letter to Newcastle was hung right above the desk in my room, and my mom caught me staring at it for the fifth time when I was supposed to be packing.

"Norah Rose," she tutted, handing me another stack of clothes. "You were supposed to be packed an hour ago."

"I know mom," I laughed as I stole one last glance. "I'm just excited, but I'm doing it now. I promise."

I neatly packed the clothes into my bag and zipped it, cussing to myself as I cut my finger on a piece of plastic from new scissors my mother gave me.

"Damn," I muttered as I grabbed a towel near my bed. I tried to stop the bleeding but the cut was deeper than it looked so it only stung more as I sighed.

Once in the bathroom I searched for a band aid, but was interrupted by a loud knock at the front door.

"Would you get that, Norah?" My dad called from the hall. "I'm loading your bags into the car."

"Of course," I rolled my eyes. I jogged to the door and threw it open, only to be met with the sight of Harry Styles in a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.

"Hi," he said quietly. He wouldn't even look at me. "I um, I came to help you pack up your stuff."

"I don't need your help," I replied coldly. "Leave me alone."

I started to close the door but his hand stopped it and forced it open, his dark green eyes staring straight into me as I scowled.

"You can't lift your bags."

"I have a father."

"And his back is messed up, Norah, you know that. Just let me help you."

"Norah," my mother called from the kitchen. "Is that Harry's voice?"

"Yeah."

"Why is he here?"

I smirked and Harry's face fell. My mother had always loved him, she practically worshipped him and now she was on my side.

"I," he faltered. "I just feel really shitty about everything and I'm supposed to be packing for my own college but I'm not. I can't sleep, Norah, and I need to do something for you. Just please let me help you put your bags in the damn car."

I should have slammed the door in his face but I didn't. I couldn't. I could never tell him no.

Present time

By the time Harry and I finished our tour of the house, my feet were aching (yes it was really that big). He had a heated swimming pool, a home theater the size of my living room back home, a workout room, a ginormous dining room that had never been used, and about a million other little rooms that had varying purposes. He was really rich, apparently.

"Ready for the main event?" He grinned as we walked up a hidden staircase. "Like I said, only two pairs of eyes have ever seen this room."

"Why is that, again?"

"Because I like my privacy, that's why."

We got to the top of the staircase and stood on a small ledge for a few moments as he opened the door. The ledge looked out a window onto miles of hillside and trees, interrupted only by pillars of smoke coming from other houses in the wilderness.

"Welcome to casa de Harry," he grinned, gesturing to the open door. I turned and stepped slowly inside, my jaw dropping as the full room came into view.

Technically, it was multiple rooms but none of them had doors, just door frames to separate them. There was a main area that was a step down from the floor so it looked kind of like an arena. In the main area was a huge TV, two couches, a white grand piano, and a rug that probably cost more than the island of Madagascar.

Then there was a bedroom off to the side with a giant bed right in the middle and one whole wall made of windows. There was a walk-in closet, a room just for shoes, and an outside deck with a giant hot tub.

The only room with a door was the bathroom. It was a giant room with a beautiful claw-footed tub, a shower the size of my bedroom, and a mirror that took up half the wall.

Everything here was huge and modern and expensive, but somehow it all felt like home. There were candles scattered about, rugs on every floor, and pictures of Harry and his family that I recognized from his old house.

"What do you think?" He asked, still beaming as I walked out of the bathroom and saw him laying on his bed. "You haven't said a word since we came in here."

"Um, maybe because your 'room' is the size of a floor in my office building."

He blushed slightly and I cooed, pinching his cheeks as he tried to swat me away.

"Do not coo at me," he warned, shaking a long finger at me. "I'm not a baby."

"You're my baby," I giggled. His arms wrapped tightly around me and his hands began tickling me, which he knew drove me crazy.

"St-Stop it!" I screeched as we fell back onto his bed. "I swear to g-god, Harry, I'll-"

"You'll what, princess?"

I huffed. "I'll throw you in a lake."

"Hm, which one?"

I let out a small moan as his soft lips pressed gently to my sweet spot and his hands squeezed my butt.

"Harry," I whined quietly.

"Shower first," he proclaimed with a chuckle. "Then we can do...whatever you want."

I pecked him on the lips and quickly began peeling off my clothes and stacking them on the bathroom counter.

"I like watching you strip," he laughed, his rough hands skimming over my hips as I adjusted the water temperature. "And may I shower with you? Only to save water, of course."

*Harry's POV*

"No, Harry," she answered with a very sassy roll of her light eyes. "I'd hate for you to see me naked."

"A simple yes or no would suffice," I answered just as sarcastically.

She smiled and my heart skipped a beat. "Yes, I would love for you to shower with me."

She shimmied out of her little red panties and threw her bra aside, leaving her absolutely naked in front of me. My d ick twitched and I sighed as I felt it start to harden.

"Aren't you coming in?" she bit her lip as she opened the door and steam poured around her perfect little frame.

I followed her into the shower and she shrieked as the hot water hit her, making me laugh as she ran around me and hid behind my back. She was f ucking adorable.

"Make it colder," she pouted, her head resting against my back. "Please."

I adjusted it and she reached her hand around me, then kissed my shoulder in approval and came to stand in front of me.

"Do you want more wine?" I asked quietly, brushing a strand of hair out of her perfect face. "You saw the cellar, didn't you?"

She rolled her eyes again. "Yes, I saw the cellar. And more wine sounds perfect."

"Red or white?"

"Red, always red," she giggled. "I don't like white."

"Everyone at my office drinks white," I grinned as I hit the button right outside my shower. A small red light came on and then my chef's voice sounded through the room.

"Mr. Styles, what would you like?"

"A bottle of red please."

"What year, sir?"

"Surprise me."

"Yes sir."

It clicked off and Norah gaped at me, her beautiful lips hanging open as I stood in front of her again.

"What?"

"You live like a king!"

"I am a king baby," I chuckled, resting my hands on her smooth hips. "But only if you're my queen."

Her face fell and her eyes shifted to the floor as her hand traced mindless patterns on my chest.

"I can't be your queen, Harry," she whispered softly.

"Why not?"

She rinsed the shampoo out of her hair and I put my hands on my hips.

"Because you have a life here," she frowned. "You have this house and a chef and a wine cellar, for Christ's sake."

"So?"

The towel was wrapped around her body and she was halfway out of my bathroom before I realized that I needed to follow her.

I jumped out and found her putting on clothes, my clothes, and I wondered why this girl made it so damn hard to love her. Why didn't she want me to love her?

"So I live in England, Harry!" she yelled as she pulled the shirt over her head. "For crying out loud, why did you even want me here?"

"Because I'm in f ucking love with you!" I shouted, clenching my hands into fists. "Shit, Norah, this isn't how I wanted to tell you!"

"You think you're in love with me!" She returned angrily. Her face was flushed from the wine and from yelling, but mine was probably just the same. "You said it yourself, you've been alone all this time and you needed someone! I just came along at the right time, isn't that right?"

"You're wrong," I sighed, lowering my voice for the sake of maturity. "Norah, you are so wrong."

"How? How am I wrong when the words came out of your own stupid mouth!"

"I wasn't alone because I didn't have anyone, I was alone because I didn't have you!"

Her mouth snapped shut and her hands dropped to her sides, her face falling in surrender as I yanked a hand through my knotted curls.

"I waited for you," I mumbled as I shifted my gaze to the floor. "I didn't even try to date because I wanted you. Whatever it took, I knew it would always be you."

"Oh, Harry," she sighed. "I didn't- I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I snapped. "Just, please get out. I have work in the morning, I need to sleep."

Her eyebrows pulled together in hurt and she bit her lip. But I wasn't breaking. She did this, not me. It wasn't my fault that she overreacted and said something mean.

"Yeah, of course," she murmured, wrapping her arms around her small body. "Um, goodnight then."

I didn't say anything and she left quietly, her small footsteps fading as I sat down on my bed and let out a deep breath.

She had always been like this, I don't know why I thought it would be different this time. Norah was just a hard girl to love- simple as that. She was moody and clingy, but she also had this thing where she pushed you away if you said something that was a little too true. She wouldn't let anyone get close to her because she was convinced she could be independent. And now that I wanted to love her and give her everything, she didn't know what to do.

I tried to sleep that night but it was no use; I wanted her next to me. Now that she finally less than 100 feet away, there was no way in hell I was sleeping without her.

"Sir, your wine," a quiet voice said from outside my door.

I smiled. "Thank you."

"Of course, sir. And Victoria wishes to speak to you sir, she said she tried your cell but it was off."

"It's dead," I nodded.

"She's on line one, sir."

I nodded again and picked up the phone, already planning what I was going to say to Norah to fix what I had just broken.

"Hey Victoria, what's up?"

"Harry," she laughed lightly. "I was making sure you remembered the conference call with Japan at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

"I didn't, thank you for reminding me. And Victoria?"

"Yes sir?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow at one in the afternoon to spend some time with Norah. Just make sure everyone knows I won't be in my office."

"Of course, sir. Goodnight."

"Night."

Well that was weird. It was nearly midnight, and Victoria had never called past seven. Must be the hormones, I guess.

I trekked down all the stairs and through the hallways to find Norah, although it did take me awhile to remember which room I put her in. But when I expected to find her in bed or getting ready for bed, I actually didn't find her in her room at all. You can imagine my surprise at seeing the bed still made and her unpacked bags sitting atop it with no sign of her around.

I looked through the entire house and even in the wine cellar but still no sign of her. What if she left? My heart dropped and I sank to the ground, my head falling into my hands as I felt my eyes water. Goddammit, get yourself together Harry. This was just a girl, right?

Wrong. This was Norah. And this wasn't just any girl, this was my girl.

*Norah's POV*

After our little spat, I tried to find my room again but it was impossible. So finally, after passing the door to the pool a hundred times, I just went outside and was amazed by how clear the stars were. I was sitting outside by the pool in a pool chair when Harry came busting out.

"Norah," he grinned, letting out a huge breath. "Damn, I thought you left me."

His arms enveloped me in warmth and his smell, and I couldn't help but hug him back tightly. I didn't want to fight with him.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," he said as his thumb skimmed my cheek. "It wasn't fair."

I shook my head. "That whole thing was my fault, Harry. I'm so sorry for starting it."

He pulled back and kissed me, really kissed me, the kind that has your heart racing and your head pounding by the time you pull away. It felt so good to kiss him, I never wanted to stop.

"Let's go to bed, baby," he laughed as I yawned into his warm chest. "You shouldn't be out here anyway, it's freezing."

"Actually it's below freezing," I smiled sweetly. He rolled his eyes.

"Smartass."

We walked back to his room after stopping along the way so I could get some pajamas, much to Harry's protest.

Once back in the room the size of Manhattan, I was brushing my teeth and about to change when Harry stopped me.

"Wait," he frowned, his fingers grazing my arm. "Lift up your shirt."

Thinking he wanted something else, I peeled my shirt off and draped my arms around his neck, my lips pressing all over his stubbly skin as his hands ran all over my stomach.

I yelped when he came to a bruise, then another right beside it and pressed gently. This wasn't sexy.

"What the hell are these bruises from, Norah?" He fumed. "How did I not see these before?"

"You were drunk before," I mumbled as I picked up my shirt and held it in my hands. "And they're nothing, don't worry about them."

He snatched the shirt out of my hand and balled it up in one fist, his face growing angrier by the second.

"I'm going to ask you one more time," he said slowly. "And if you lie to me again, I will spank you until you cry. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," I answered meekly.

"How did you get these bruises?"

"Derrick."

His jaw tightened. "Derrick who?"

"Derrick Peterson." (wtf I suck at names lol)

"The famous basketball player?"

"Yes."

"He did these to you?"

"Harry, please-"

"Answer me."

I looked at the ground. "Yes."

"I'll be right back," he said calmly. Too calmly actually. "Lay down, princess, I'll just be a minute."

"Wait," I called after him. "I need my shirt."

He looked at his fist then at me, then smirked.

"I think I'll hold onto it for a little bit."

I huffed and figured that I might as well sleep in my underwear and nothing else, I had no need for shorts if I didn't have a shirt. So I climbed under the sheets and realized that they were just heavenly. They felt like the stitching was made of Jesus' tears, and the material probably cost an arm and a leg, although Harry didn't appear to be missing any.

"Oh," Harry raised his eyebrows when he came back in and saw me getting under the sheets. "I like your choice of sleepwear."

"Shut up," I groaned. "You took my shirt."

He grinned. "Best decision I ever made."

"What did you do, Harry?"

"What do you mean?"

He crawled under the covers with me and his arm went around my shoulders as I nestled into his warm torso. "I mean, what did you just do?"

"Called that prick."

"Derrick?"

"Yep."

"How do you know him?"

"I know everyone, sweetheart. And I'm done talking about this, I'm getting angry again."

I closed my eyes. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize, princess," he smiled. "That son of a bitch is going to pay for what he did, okay?"

"Thank you," I sighed. "For everything. You're amazing, Harry."

omg so much happened in this chapter I had to end it

what do you guys think happened between her and Derrick??!!

smut first thing in the next chapter ;;-))