Whatever Chains (Sequel to Where Your Heart is - A Harry Styles fanfiction)

Part Forty: Something good and right and real.

But that's not what's happening now. And although I am still rather confused about Harry's behavior, I am more curious than anything else.

"Are you..." Jasper opens the door as he knocks without waiting for my permission to enter. "Wow! Someone is going all the way tonight, eh?"

I give him a wink of the eye before I take a final look at myself in the mirror; the truth is that, maybe because I was trying not to think about the whole thing too much, I've actually put a lot of effort into my appearance for tonight's celebration.

I had spent a lot of time trying out different outfits and their combinations - the Everest like pile of clothes on my bed can attest to that -, and I eventually decided to go with a loose, high waisted mini skirt covered in tiny silver sequins and a black, see through crop top that is casual enough to dress the flashy skirt down just a bit.

I thought about wearing some sheer black stockings so there wouldn't be too much display of skin, but since we're in the middle of the summer and I will probably find myself ripping them out in the loo sooner rather than later, I thought it would save me some money and a hell of a lot trouble by leaving them in the drawer for another occasion.

As for the shoes, well, let's just say I am not being so practical in that department because I climbed up into the highest heels I own.

What can I say, girls will be girls. And shoes ought to be our undoing.

"Let's go before I regret it." I grab my bag, checking that everything I may need is in there, and then we're off.

Less than fifteen minutes later we were stepping out of the cab and, even though there was a really long line of people waiting to get into the club, we managed to walk past them and straight inside where Jack was already waiting for us.

The first thing he did was greeting me with a hug while he wished me a happy birthday, and after putting a gin and tonic in my hands, he guided us all the way through the crowded room to the very back where a thick, velvety curtain was falling heavily from the ceiling to the floor.

"VIP, uh? Now this is fancy!" I nudge Jasper on the side, and he smirks in my direction as he slides the dark fabric just enough for us to walk in.

The first person that comes to our encounter, jumping up and down and singing happy birthday, is Olivia.

Behind her appears the rest of the group; a few friends from school and the hotel, an Irish blond lad whose laughter resonates through the place, a Doncaster native with a wicked grin, a  guy who, despite the noticeable dark circles under his eyes, looks like the happiest, luckiest man in the world, and a fellow redhead with a plaid shirt I can barely recognize without his small guitar in his hands.

One by one they hug me. One by one they tell me how amazing it is to see me. And one by one, they remind me of the boy with those green eyes, that flawless bone structure and dimpled smile that is not here.

But then the air inside the room seems to change. And the warmth I always feel when I'm around him sneaks from behind me slowly until it surrounds me completely.

I don't move, though. I just stand there feeling how every hair of my body stands on end with expectation, but also with fear of being wrong.

"Happy birthday, love."

A/N:

Oh my god! I can't believe I finished this chapter. You have no idea how many times I wrote it and deleted it. I just wasn't happy with it... And I still have my doubts about it.

It's been a rough couple of months. My grandmother got really sick all of a sudden, and we had to say goodbye to her. Then I had to do some work at my apartment and things got really busy for me.

But I still wrote a little every day yet I hated it.

Oh well! It's done now. And I hope you liked it.

Also, this is the last chapter of this story. But there's an epilogue coming. I hope it doesn't take me this long.

Love you all and thank you for waiting.

Lucy.