the song for this chapter is "Lady In The Wall," by Danny Knutelsky :)

*********** 

I don't know you well

But I'll stay closerI don't know you wellBut I'll stay closer

*********** 

Tate

   I ran upstairs as soon as I was done with breakfast. I was so excited to go out for a bit. It's crazy how much you crave the simple things such as going to the market once you've been deprived of them.

   I shut my bedroom door behind me and locked it, before going over to my bag and opening it, pulling out a light pink short-sleeved ribbed shirt, and fiddled around until I found my black jeans. I changed into them, and then went back over to the bag and found my cream cardigan. I know it seemed silly, changing just to go to the market, but just putting on a nicer outfit than leggings and a sweatshirt was already brightening my mood. 

    I put back on my white trainers, before going into the bathroom and putting on some of my perfume, digging around in my toiletry bag until I found the pair of small gold hoops and dainty necklace I was looking for as a final touch. 

    I smiled at myself as I looked in the mirror. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I looked like myself again. I could indulge in my recently acquired habit of playing pretend and enjoy a normal day...although with some not so normal people. 

    I was about to walk out of the bathroom when I decided to do a few extra steps. I reached into my bag and pulled out some brown mascara, my eyelash curler, some cream blush, and my tinted lip balm. I applied a light layer of mascara after I curled my lashes and then dabbed on some of the blush, finishing it all off by swiping some of the rose-tinted lip balm onto my lips.

    Suddenly, I heard a knock on my door. I flipped off the bathroom lights and walked back into the bedroom. 

    "Who is it?" I called out.

    "A psychopathic killer!" I heard Harry chime back in a high pitched voice. 

  I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore the fact that part of what he had said was true. I walked over to the door and unlocked it, pulling it open to reveal Harry standing there, with his arm above his head, lazily pressed against the doorframe. His eyes widened as he took in my appearance.

    I blushed under his gaze. I don't think I had ever blushed this much before I met Harry. It was honestly a miracle that my face didn't literally burst into flames. 

   "Wow, you look...beautiful. N-Not that you don't always look beautiful. You look beautiful all of the time, it's just that right now, you look exceptionally beautiful. I mean-" Harry sputtered out, clapping his hand on his forehead. 

   I giggled softly. I'm sure Harry wasn't used to giving people genuine compliments, and I think that he was still getting the hang of it.

   Much to his relief, I cut him off. "Thank you, Harry."

    He smiled down at me before turning around to check and see if anyone was nearby. Once he decided it was safe, he came in and shut the door behind him, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me in closer, leaning in and pressing a kiss against my forehead.

   I snuggled my head into his chest, breathing in the now-familiar scent of his cologne. 

  "Please be safe today, okay?" He mumbled into my hair.

I pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "I will, Harry. I'm going to be with Niall and Abel, you know they wouldn't let anything happen to me, not only because they like me, but because they know you'll probably kill them if I got hurt," I laughed.

   Harry smirked. "Maybe not kill them, maybe just severely injure them," he shrugged, and I rolled my eyes.

    "What are you dreading more? Not being able to check up on me every five seconds and being in control of my safety? Or having to spend alone time with Will?" I teased.

    Harry acted like he was in deep thought before answering. "Definitely not being able to be in control of your safety. Although I'm really not looking forward to this bonding time. I swear Abel and Niall did this on purpose, those sneaky bastards," he scoffed. 

     "I know you are still mad at him, and vice versa, but think about it...if you manage to kind of mend whatever is going on between you two, it would make it a lot easier for us to be...well, whatever it is we are," I shrugged. 

   He smiled. "Okay, for the benefit of us and our unknown situation, I will do my best to play nice."

    I grinned, wrapping my arms around his waist tighter. "Thank you."

       "Of course. Okay, I think Niall and Abel are ready to leave, so we better get downstairs before they get suspicious," he laughed, "Oh, but...before you go..."

   He trailed off and leaned down closer to my face, checking to see if there was any sign of doubt, before pressing his lips against mine softly. 

    I smiled against his lips as I kissed him back. It was a sweet kiss, not rushed and full of lust, it was just...caring. I think it was my favorite kiss so far. 

    He pulled away and wiped his hand across his mouth. 

      "Sorry, princess...it looks like I kissed your lip balm off," he chuckled, wiping the rosy lip color off on his black jeans.

     I laughed and grinned up at him. 

  "Seriously, Tate. Be safe, if you have any issues, tell Abel or Niall to call me. I can be there in a heartbeat if you need me to be," he spoke seriously.

    I sighed and placed my hand on his chest, lightly pushing him back towards the door.

  "I will be safe, I promise. And if anything happens, we will let you know. Don't worry, I'm in good hands," I assured him.

     He let out a huff of air, and I could tell that letting go of control was not his favorite thing to do.

  "Okay, well...have a good time, can't wait to hear about it tonight," He smiled, and then he faltered. 

    "I mean, that is, if you want me to sleep in here tonight. If you don't it's totally okay, I didn't mean to just assume that was okay, but-"

   "Harry, yes I want you to sleep in here!" I laughed, and he let out a sigh of relief. It was truly a sight to see...one of the scariest and most dangerous men in the world, blushing and stumbling over his words as he tried to express himself to me.

    "Okay, good," he smiled, "Well, I'll see you later then."

   He came closer to me to press one final kiss to my forehead, before walking out of my room and gently shutting the door behind him. 

   I ran into the bathroom and applied some more of my lip balm, before heading downstairs, clutching my cardigan in my hand.

    Abel and Niall were by the front door waiting for me.

    "You look nice, Tate!" Niall complimented, and just then I saw Harry walking through the kitchen. I stifled a laugh as he stopped walking when he heard Niall complimenting me. I sent him a warning look before replying to Niall.

   "Thank you! So, are we ready?"

  "Yep!" Abel chirped, pulling the front door open and gesturing for me to go out first. 

      I walked over to the car and got in the backseat. 

"Oh, Tate, you can sit in the front if you want," Abel spoke.

   I shook my head. "Nope! Seriously, I don't mind the back, you ride up front," I insisted. He hesitated for a minute but I gave him a look, showing him that I truly didn't mind it, and finally got in the passenger side.

    Niall started the car and drove down the long driveway, we chatted about random things for a bit before I decided to take the conversation to a more serious route. 

  "So, have you found anything helpful about my uncle?" I asked.

   Abel turned around in his seat to face me. "Yeah, we did, actually. I have been watching security footage from the street camera right outside his house from the past two months, and every Wednesday, he and your aunt are gone from around seven at night until around eleven."

   I nodded. "If I had to guess, it's probably some weekly dinner with friends. When they lived in London I remember my mom telling me about how social they were. They love to have little traditions like that," I explained. 

     "Well, thank goodness that they are creatures of habit. It makes our job a whole lot easier," Niall laughed and Abel agreed. 

      "So you're gonna head over there tomorrow?" I asked.

 "Yeah, we're going to wait in a car for about half an hour before they usually leave, just to make sure we actually see them leaving the house," Niall replied, and I felt a sense of relief and comfort at how many precautions they were all taking to ensure that my aunt and uncle wouldn't be harmed. 

    We drove a bit further before the car began to slow down, and Niall pulled into a small parking lot. We got out of the car and began to walk towards the charming little market. There were different wooden stands everywhere, each displaying a different item. There were fresh fruits and vegetables, a smoothie stand, various snack places, and finally...the flowers. 

    The aroma was wonderous. Everywhere I turned there were stands filled to the brim with beautiful flowers. Niall and Abel laughed as they took in my expression.

   "Here's some money, Tate, get yourself some," Niall smiled, slipping some cash into my hand.

   "Oh, you don't have to do that, really," I protested, but Niall put his hand up to cut me off.

    "Tate, I think it's the least we can do," he chuckled, and I guess he had a point.

  I clutched the money in my hand and gave them both a grateful smile. Abel then pulled out his phone and opened his notes app to check what they needed to get while they were here.

     "Okay, I'm going to run into the hardware store, Niall, you stay out here with Tate," he instructed. Niall nodded and Abel walked towards the small hardware store across the street. 

     I had never been alone with Niall before, and I was kind of excited to get to know him more.

   "So, Tater Tot, what kind of flowers are we getting?" He grinned, and I laughed at his nickname.

   "Tater Tot, I like it. Hmm... I like the jasmine a lot, and then these bluebells are pretty. We could get some lavender too, and then maybe some tulips and daisies," I shrugged. 

     "Okay, sergeant. I'll get the tulips and daisies, you good to handle the rest?" He asked and I nodded.

     "I'll be right over here!" He called, pointing towards one of the flower stands a few feet away. 

  I strolled past a few of the flower stands until I found the jasmine and the lavender, and then made my way over to the beautiful bluebells. I grabbed a few stems of them, adding them in with the other flowers I had already collected. 

   I turned around to head back over to Niall but instead ran right into someone's chest. 

     "Oh! I'm so sorry!" I gasped, lifting my head up to see who I had just bumped into.

 It was a man who looked to be in his late thirties. He had on a dark grey sweater, with black jeans. 

    He laughed a bit before answering. 

"It's quite alright, I should have been looking where I was going. I didn't mean to bump into a beautiful young lady like yourself, although I can't say that I'm sorry I did."

    I gave him a forced smile, feeling awkward, and wanting this conversation to be over. 

 "Well, um...have a good rest of your day," I slowly replied, giving an awkward wave before beginning to walk away.

   "You too!" He called out.

   He seemed nice enough, but my senses were on high alert given the recent events in my life. Something about him seemed off, and whether it was true or just my paranoia, I wasn't going to stick around any longer to find out. 

   I walked up to Niall, who had the tulips and the daisies cradled in one arm. 

    "What was that about?" He asked, gesturing to the man that I had bumped into, who was now walking away.

  "Just me and my klutziness," I shrugged.

    Niall laughed. "Don't worry, I'm pretty clumsy myself. I was about to come over there and see if you needed help, but clearly you have it under control," He smiled.

    Just then Abel walked up, clutching a bag from the hardware store.

 "You guys ready?" He asked.

    "We just have to pay for the flowers, then we can go. We can call Harry once we get in the car, hopefully, he and Will haven't strangled each other yet,"  Niall chuckled, grabbing the flowers out of my hand and walking over to the cashier.

    I hoped that Harry and Will were actually talking things out, and not punching each other or something, but I guess I would just have to wait until we got back to find out.

***********

  Harry

       I waited for about half an hour after Tate and the boys left before begrudgingly going downstairs to talk to Will. 

  He was sat in the living room on the couch, typing away at his computer. He pretended not to notice me as I sat down in one of the chairs across from him, causing me to roll my eyes. This was the most childish we had been around each other in a long time, and I was ready to get everything out and hopefully put an end to it. 

   "Will," I spoke, but he continued to ignore me.

   "Will!" I spoke louder, causing his eyes to snap up to meet mine. 

 "Harry!" He mocked.

    I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "Can we talk this out?"

       He closed his laptop and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the couch.

   "Okay, talk."

      I took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to say what I wanted to say.

  "Look, I want to start out by saying I'm sorry for what happened on the plane. But I think we both know you kind of deserved it. I know you think that I have been distracted lately, but I really haven't. I've gotten every single thing asked of me done, so I don't understand why you've been such a dick lately," I breathed out. 

    Will let out a big puff of air. "Styles, I've known you for four years. You're like a brother to me. I've seen you at your highs and all of your lows, but I've never seen you like this."

   I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "Like what?"

  He scoffed at me. "Really? Harry, you know what I'm talking about. Tate has you wrapped around her little finger."

     I clenched my fists together. "Why does it bother you so much? I'm doing everything I'm supposed to be doing."

   "Because Harry. For the past six years, all you've cared about is this job, and well...the knife. You haven't had anything to lose. This is one of the biggest assignments we've ever had, and you choose now to develop feelings for someone? The person we kidnapped nonetheless!" He cried out.

   I glared at him and he let out a groan before continuing.

 "Harry, if push comes to shove, what are you going to choose? Your job? Or her?" He asked, and I felt a sense of deja vu of my conversation earlier with Tate.

   I flared my nostrils and tried to steady my breathing before answering. "I can do both."

 "But what if you can't?"

    I stood up abruptly. "I can!"

   It was Will's turn to shoot up, marching over to stand right in front of me.

  "You don't know that, Harry! And you don't even know her! You know me! You know Abel and Niall, and you know Whit. And you especially know what other people in this line of work are capable of, so you definitely don't know if you can do both! Can't you see I'm just trying to help you here?" He cried out.

   "Will. As of right now, Tate is a part of the job. Matter of fact, she is one of the key elements of the job! For the past four years, I've done nothing for myself! I've done everything for this job!  And now, you and Whit have the audacity to question my dedication?" I seethed.

   Will stepped even closer to me, his eyes blazing. "Harry, not only does this girl have you under her spell, but even Abel and Niall seem to have a soft spot for her. Three out of four members of our group have suddenly developed a weakness for someone who was supposed to be just collateral damage! What is so fucking special about one girl, Harry?"

    My eyes fell to the floor. "I don't know...she just...she is. She's special to me," I sighed.

   I heard Will take in a deep breath, before slowly letting it out. Suddenly, he placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

 I lifted my eyes back up to him.

    Will seemed to be trying to stare into my very soul, trying to figure me out. 

  "So, you think she's worth it?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

      "Yes."

"And you think that you can manage both her and the job?"

   "I do."

   Will tilted his head back and groaned in frustration, but when he brought his head back up to face me, he surprised me as I saw a small grin forming on his lips.

   "Well... okay then. Look, I'm not saying I like this, but I also don't like this weird tension between us. So, I'm willing to try and learn to live with this. As long as you can stay focused, then I will do my best to not be a dick about your feelings for the girl."

   "Her name is Tate," I spoke firmly.

    Will rolled his eyes. "Fine. I will do my best to not be a dick about your feelings for Tate."

 "Are you gonna run your mouth to Whit about this?" I questioned, and Will pursed his lips at me.

   "No, I'm not. Although I think he already has a hunch," he replied.

   "Thank you, Will," I spoke sincerely. 

  He paused, looking at me for a moment, before pulling me in for a hug, lightly clapping me on the back.

   "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever Styles, just don't make me regret this," he laughed, and I chuckled along with him.

   We were interrupted by my phone ringing. I pulled away and slipped it out of my pocket, seeing Abel's name lighting up my screen.

  Will rolled his eyes. "Answer it, loverboy," he laughed, walking back over to the couch before slumping back down onto it and opening his laptop.

    I smirked and answered the phone. Abel was calling to let me know that everything was fine and that they were all on the way back to the house now. 

    I'd have to thank Niall and Abel once they got back. Not only did they help Tate...

  They helped me as well.

AN: I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER AND I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT FEW HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! ILY ALL SM! DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT! xx