The following morning, all eyes were averted to me as I stepped into the common room. Among others, Mckenzie, Harry and Louis were sitting in the corner and instantly stared at me as if they'd been waiting for me, probably each for a different reason.

"Jess!" Mckenzie was the first to call out, followed by Louis who did the same. Of course Harry kept quiet, I wondered if he was still stressing about last night considering I hadn't told him the outcome. I needed to have three very different conversations with each of them, so I wasn't sure how this was going to work.

Mckenzie was about six days behind; the last she knew Harry and I had squabbled over a trip to KFC and then I hadn't seen her since for whatever reason. I was still feeling a bit off that she hadn't even spoken to me in the five days I was having a tough time, I knew she wasn't aware of what'd happened, but either way she hadn't attempted to contact me when I hadn't shown up in the sixth form building for days on end. That was something I needed to talk to her about. Louis was only one day behind, he knew everything up until what happened when I went and spoke to Harry after our chat. Harry was only around twelve hours out of the loop, probably dying to know what my brother had said after he'd caught us in Harry's car.

"Hi," I greeted the group as I squeezed into a space between Harry and another girl, the common room was always busy on Tuesday mornings and you were lucky if you got a seat. "Are you ever not here? You are definitely going to get chucked out one day," I said to Louis, laughing nervously.

"I already told you, they'll never get rid of me!" he replied confidently with a grin. He was so funny, and I loved that no one else in the sixth form or even the school questioned what he was doing here. I think they were scared to, in all honesty.

Louis continued telling some story to Harry, and once they'd both managed to zone out despite wanting to bombard me with questions, Mckenzie leaned across Louis' lap and I leaned down to listen to what she had to say to me.

"This is the first time in like a week I've seen you or Harry in school, does that mean things are sorted between you two?" she whispered.

"Uh, yeah, sort of. I've got a lot to talk to you about, actually."

She nodded, probably buzzing to be in the know, and sat back up slyly.

"So Jess, Harry's actually here, so I guess that means you whipped him back into shape and you two made up?" Louis said bluntly, and both Mckenzie and I scoffed, rolled our eyes and complained to him about how casually he'd brought that up after we'd just been whispering secretively about it.

"You don't just say that out loud like it's a normal topic of conversation!" Mckenzie scolded him, "What do you think we were just whispering about?"

Louis raised his hands in surrender and laughed. "Sorry, sorry. But I'm right, aren't I?"

"I— Err..." I glanced to Harry for the first time since walking in and he was just looking neutral as always, like he had no opinion or comment to put into the discussion, "Yeah, I suppose we have."

"Nice one. Glad to see you—" he paused to make the most embarrassing sound similar to a whip cracking and even did an arm movement to go with it, "—put him in his place." Harry was scowling at his friend now, clearly displeased with him implying he was whipped by me.

"So, what? Are you two together now?" Mckenzie asked curiously, and instantly my eyes snapped to Harry again and I stuttered anxiously at the question. I detected a slight look of panic on Harry's face as well.

"I— We— Urmm..."

"No," Harry answered for me, his voice was flat but he sounded very sure of himself. I still didn't know what we were, but I didn't like the way he was quick to say we weren't together.

"Right..." Mckenzie said, her eyes shifting from side to side in a gesture that said 'I see this is a very sensitive topic'. "I get it, it's complicated," she empathised, and I nodded. How Harry managed to keep so calm in uncomfortable situations like this, I would never know.

"So it's bonfire night tonight, you know... firework night, Guy Fawkes, that British celebration that usually results in fire damage, whatever you want to call it. Why don't we go and watch the fireworks and that at the meadow?" Mckenzie suggested.

Both of the boys scoffed at the idea. "Isn't that a bit... I don't know, fuckíng lame?" Louis said sarcastically, and Harry snickered.

"So? It's something to do, isn't it. All holidays are stupid, but you might as well take advantage of them and use it as an excuse to do something a bit sappy, do you know what I mean?"

"I know what you mean," I backed her up. "I'd love to go with you, Mckenzie."

"Great, thank you, Jessica," she quipped, and we both grinned. "Are you two coming or what?"

"Isn't it like... two pounds or something stupid just to get into the field?" Louis grumbled.

"Oh no! You're right! How will you ever afford two whole pounds?" Mckenzie said dramatically, taking the píss out of Louis before rolling her eyes and backhanding his arm.

"We can just sneak in, climb the fence or slip in through a bush or something," Harry avouched unceremoniously.

After that comment, the bell rang and everyone started getting up out of their seats and disappearing to their first lesson of the day. Mckenzie sauntered off and Louis remained sprawled out in his seat — probably planning on spending the whole day there even if we had classes to attend, but Harry hung back and grabbed my hand as I went to leave.

I spun back round and turned to him and he looked at me expectantly before reminding me, "You never told me what happened with Niall."

"Oh, yeah. Harry, I don't really have time right now, I'm going to be late can we—"

"No we can not talk about it later. You can definitely spare five minutes to tell me whether my mate is going to rip my balls off or not!"

I rolled my eyes at him, not being able to prevent the amused smile from creeping onto my face. "Don't be so dramatic, he's not going to 'rip your balls off'. At first he was really angry and actually kind of hurt by it all, but I explained some stuff and now I think he's okay with it. Well, he's okay with me and he's okay with you, but it's going to take him a while to get to grips with..." I trailed off awkwardly, not knowing how to word what I was about to say.

"Us?"

"Uhm... yeah." I was half expecting him to blow up and tell me 'there is no us', but instead he just nodded rather sheepishly.

————————

After school I walked home and watched some TV to pass the time. Niall was home but he didn't say anything to me, in fact I think he was avoiding me altogether, but I kind of understood why — he just needed time to adjust, I guess. When it started to get dark out, I put on my black parka coat and stuffed some gloves into my pocket before leaving the house. Louis had decided now that his car was fixed he'd pick all three of us up in turn and drive us there, so I waited at the end of my street and hopped in when he roared to a halt at the side of the road.

Mckenzie had somehow managed to call shotgun over Harry (I don't even want to know the extent of the tantrum he must've had when that happened), so he ended up cramped into the backseat with me — his legs bent and crushed by Louis' seat. Apart from a quick hello when I got in, none of us really said anything on the very quick drive through town — even if we had, we wouldn't have been able to hear each other over Louis' drum and bass music that blared through the sound system and flooded the car. At least he didn't have the windows wide open for once so my hair stayed in tact.

After speeding into a parking space in a car park that I was almost certain was going to be locked up for the night by the time we left tonight, we strolled around the roads and Harry led us through a small woodland area at the back of the meadow that the fireworks night was being held at. Eventually we reached various bushes that were hiding a six foot high wooden fence that didn't look all that sturdy.

"You're not honestly suggesting we climb that, are you?" I asked him as we came to a stop. I already knew the answer, and I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it again despite asking.

"I'll help you over. Lou, you jump over first and I'll give the girls a boost," Harry instructed.

Effortlessly, Louis weaved through the spiky bush and found the fence. He bent his knees and leapt upwards, grabbing the rickety wood and hauling himself up to the top. After balancing momentarily to make sure he was steady, he swung his legs over and I heard a thud as he landed on his feet on the other side.

"It's all clear, send 'em over, Haz!" he called from beyond the fence, and I gulped shakily at the thought of me attempting the moves he just pulled.

"Mckenzie can go first," I insisted hastily, hoping that she would do it slightly less skilfully so I could get an idea of how I was going to try it.

Harry kneeled down next to the fence and made a sort of step with his hands, Mckenzie proceeded to carefully put her foot onto his locked fingers and held onto the fence for support. Harry counted to three, and on the final number he pushed her up so she was standing up tall and could reach the top. Her hands grabbed the ledge and Harry continued to hold her by her feet until she was able to swing her legs over and drop down on the other side.

My mouth was hanging open at how even she made it look easy, and now it was my turn and I was more than likely about to embarrass myself or maybe even hurt myself. Harry brushed his hands off on his black jeans and turned, gesturing for me to go over to him. He held one hand out and cleared me a path through the bush with the other, I took his fingers shakily and he pulled me through to the fence.

"I'm going to die," I said, and he gave me an unimpressed look.

"You are not going to die."

"I'm definitely going to die. I can't do this, Harry! I'm going to break my neck!"

"If you don't stop blubbering I'm not going to boost you over, I'm going to chuck you over. Just do what you saw Mckenzie do."

Because I didn't want to annoy him, I nodded as if I was willing. He got down onto his knee again and made me the step with his hands, I looked down at him and place my foot onto his palm and he prepared himself to lift me.

"You ready?"

"No."

"Alright, here we go. One... Two... Three."

On three, I squealed. I bent my knees and moved with the flow as he pushed me up, one of my hands instinctively grabbed his head so I didn't fall and the other reached up to grab the top of the fence.

"Got it?" he questioned from below me, and I called back something that definitely wasn't English in response. My hand left his head and now both hands were gripping the fence. "Pull yourself up with your arms," he shouted.

"No, do it with your ears, that'd be more impressive!" Louis joked from the ground, and Harry yelled back telling him to shut up.

My arms were probably a lot weaker than he could imagine, but I tried my best to push my upper body up. With a bit of help from Harry shoving me upwards, I eventually made it so that my body was hanging over the fence. I very slowly and very shakily lifted one leg over, followed by the other, so that I had changed direction, and I counted down before falling to the ground on the other side. No one attempted to catch me, and my knees buckled so I fell on my bum with a thump.

Louis and Mckenzie laughed at me and did help me up in the end, and just as I got to my feet Harry was landing next to me. We'd done it — we'd snuck into a field and avoided paying two pounds for entry to a bonfire night event.

The set up was really nice. There were a few fairground-type rides that were lit up with colourful neon lights, and food trucks which smelt amazing were scattered around the edge of the meadow. In the very centre, there was a massive, flaming bonfire that was crackling and spitting, and I could feel the warmth radiating from it the closer we got.

"Shall we get a burger? I'm starving!" Louis announced, rubbing his belly.

"So you'll pay for a burger but you won't pay to get in?" Mckenzie huffed, walking beside him with her hand hooked around his arm.

"Paying for food is justified!"

We strolled up to the van and ordered four burgers, we then moved over to the side and sat down on the slightly dewy grass to eat said burgers. One thing I noticed as I people watched whilst eating, was that this was the perfect location and the perfect season for couples to be all lovey out in public and get away with it. I imagined myself walking around on Harry's arm, knowing he wouldn't be into the whole PDA thing.

I had to admit, I did love Autumn though. It was practically winter by now, being that it was November, but tonight especially made me love the sweater weather season. It was cosy being wrapped up in a big coat and wearing waterproof walking boots, sitting next to a huge fire and eating a burger with rosy cheeks and a red nose. I liked the way you felt so warm but could still see your breath creating a mist in front of your face. It was safe to say I was actually excited for the fireworks.

When we were done eating, we plodded around the field and had a look at some of the stalls and rides. It was only a small event for people in our little town, but it was really well put together and I was enjoying myself. We ultimately convinced the guys to go on the miniature carousel that looked so endearing with all the yellow lights and cute music, and I found great pleasure in laughing hysterically at Harry and Louis sitting on the horses and looking miserable in the process.

People started gathering on the open space of the field ten minutes before the fireworks were due to start, so we went to the back of the crowd and waited too. We were no longer near the bonfire so I got my gloves out of my pocket and slipped them on to keep warm. I stood beside Harry and watched as Mckenzie and Louis stood just in front of us in their own little world, her leaning into his side and giggling.

I felt my stomach tingle in excitement as the countdown began over the music, and finally the main attraction started as fireworks shot up into the sky and exploded in colourful patterns. I looked up in awe at something so simple, and I was certain I caught a glimpse of Harry watching my delighted reaction from beside me.

I was surprised when I felt an arm sneak across my back and a hand rest gently on my hip, I took my eyes away from the night sky and let them fall on Harry's face to the side of me, smiling fondly at him at his bold gesture. It was only a small action, but I knew it wasn't typical of him, which made it all the more special. There was a hint of a smile on his features as he looked down at me, and I wrapped my right arm across my stomach and entwined my glove-covered fingers with his and rested my head against his shoulder as I went back to watching the fireworks. 

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This chapter is brought to you by soft Pringles. 

Let's just pretend bonfire night is near the end of November because this is a cute chapter, okay? Okay. I'm actually really excited for Autumn after writing this omg. Round of applause for me for cracking out a quality chapter in just a few hours only two days after the last update, by the way. AND THANKS FOR 20K READS AND 2K VOTES I LOVE YOU ALL!

Q: all3gra: do you have a twitter?

A: Indeed I do, it's @eiliex and if you want to follow me and you make it known that you're a reader then I'll probably follow you back :)

Q: @deathbyamber (now you're the problematic one that isn't tag-able!): what's something you're really looking forward to in the future?

A: Hmm, well I think I may've secured myself more One Direction tickets for London so I'm buzzing for that ;) But on a more serious note, I think I'm just looking forward to what the future may bring in general! I'm excited to finish Sixth Form and go off to Uni, I'm even excited for where this book will go! 

Q: @lexistylesbae (Wattpad is so annoying, I can't tag you either, sorry): Have you heard about the new cemetery? Everyone is 'dying' to get in!!! That was lame- do you like real Harry's sense of humour? 

A: Haha, that was actually quite good!!! But omg YES I love that Harry tries so hard to be funny but he's just corny as hell and it's adorable.

Highlight w a q! I love getting questions.

My question for you guys: What's your favourite time of year? Despite this chapter making me super ready for Autumn, I think mine's Spring because it's not too hot and not too cold, and it's just pretty and nice.