Hide from 'Falling' || H.S

Chapter 68 - Harry | Friendship

"Harry Styles and Ashley Scott...wow. That was very fucking surprising." He grunted, then took a sip from his glass and looked back and forth between the two of us to study us.

I glanced sideways at Ashley who had thankfully relaxed again, so the alcohol was finally working on her too. In her look I had seen that she had felt fucking caught when Niall had put one and one together, her entire body had tensed and her blue eyes filled with fear.

But Niall wouldn't tell on us, I'm pretty sure.

"This has to stay between us for now, okay?" I said to him again and he nodded. "No problem, your little secret is safe with me." he assured me with a cheeky grin and a wink.

"Thanks." now Ashley mumbled, it was the first time she said something and now Niall nodded to her too. "No worries, babe."

I gave him a dirty look but he just shrugged innocently "Chill Harry, I'm not doing anything."

"And that's how it stays," I gritted back. Niall leaned back deeper in the couch and put the glass to his lips again.

"Now that I think about it, you two really do make sense." he said, his words already slurring.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. "Well you two just, you really are...a lot alike." he replied with a nod in both of our directions. "I don't know why I didn't figure out sooner that there was something going on between you two, after all, all the signs were there."

I furrowed my brow, thinking about his words. "What signs?" now Ashely also wanted to know in surprise. She was sitting on the couch to my right, with Niall next to her on the other side.

"The way you worked together yesterday, you pretty much do the same things and react the same way. Then those certain looks you always give each other." he shared. "I don't know, it just kind of fits I guess."

I took another sip from my glass too, because now that he said it I noticed it too. Ash and I are really a lot alike. Not only in terms of working, but in many other ways as well.

"You would have thought yesterday you were undressing each other with your eyes, because that's what you looked like." Niall purred. "Apparently that's what you guys did yesterday night, after all."

Ashley suddenly snorted in response until she was laughing out loud. I looked at her, her body shaking as she laughed and I noticed Niall's gaze on me.

He grinned at me and only then did I notice how I had been smiling unnoticed while looking at Ashely. "No comment." I whispered to him and he toasted me with his drink in response.

"What is it with your initials anyway, is that some kink you two are pulling?" He asked with an arched eyebrow and a cocky smirk. "Didn't know you were into that," he said in my direction.

Ash's body immediately tensed and she visibly bit her tongue. I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable so I signaled Niall to drop the subject, which he fortunately did.

I knew he was going to ask many questions as soon as he found out what was going on between me and her, so I was prepared for that.

"How long have you been together?" he asked, and my muscles tensed. What? Together?

"We're not together." retorted Ash sharply, avoiding eye contact with me and staring directly at Niall.