The next morning, Julie took Harry back to the hotel so he could get his things and meet up with Niall to head back to the tour. It was a quiet morning. A little conversation, a lot of silence. They both knew it was coming, and neither were sure what to say or how to deal with it. They walked into Harry's room, and he slowly started packing his bags.

Julie walked around the room and looked at little things here and there.

Harry watched her while he was trying to pack. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. She had that wall right back up. Once again, they had an amazing night, but there was something wrong. He could tell, but he didn't know what. Why did she regret being with him so much? He didn't know what to do. He had to leave in less than an hour. He wanted to get her to open up, but he had a feeling it would take a lot longer than he had. He sighed and finished packing his things.

Julie glanced at Harry every once in a while. She felt somewhat relieved he was leaving. She had to get some distance to gain some clarity. When he was around, there was no clarity. She had no idea a man could make her feel that way so quickly and when they hardly knew each other. It was super frustrating to her. As much as she thought she wanted him to leave, she was also conflicted about it. She wanted him to stay. She enjoyed his humor and his wit, his cleverness and his kindness. How could someone be so confused about something? She was sure this was the end of her and Harry too. It was time for him to move on. She knew it. Part of her was ready to just deal with that fact, and part of her hoped at some point he would come back to her. Why not? She wasn't in any other kind of relationship. So why not take what she could get with him. Lord knows, it was great. The physical chemistry couldn't be any better. Why? Why did he have to come into her life? Why couldn't he have just seen her as Amanda's friend? Didn't matter now though. Would she always feel so lost? God, she hoped not.

"Guess I'm ready to go." Harry said. He looked at her. He wanted some kind of reaction from her, but as usual he got nothing.

She nodded her head. "Guess it's time to find Niall and Panda. I'm sure that's going to be quite the goodbye."

"Yeah." Unlike us he thought. He opened the door, and they walked out.

Niall wrapped his arms around Amanda. "I can't believe it's time to go already. I really want more time."

She closed her eyes. So did she. She was so frustrated, but she wanted more time to get him to want her. "What are we going to do Niall? How does this work?"

He turned her to face him. "We call, text, FaceTime. We continue to get to know each other. And as soon as we can, we see each other again. It's not goodbye, Amanda. It's a see you soon. We will work this out." He hugged her close.

"Ok. I just don't want to say goodbye." She held him tight.

"Not goodbye." He scolded.

"Ok then, I don't want to say see you later." She corrected.

"I know. I know Princess. I do." He kissed her. He really didn't want to leave, but he had too. He was hoping she understood that. He pulled back when he heard the knock at the door. He let Harry and Julie in.

Julie took one look at Amanda and was at her side giving her a hug. She hated seeing her friend sad. She held onto her and rubbed her back.

Harry watched her comfort Amanda. He wished she would show him some sort of emotion like that. He had a feeling it wouldn't happen though. At least not anytime soon. Could he handle the wall much longer? They had moments of brilliance together, but there was always something in the way. He couldn't deal with it now though. "Car's outside for us Niall. We have to go." He said.

Amanda fought back tears when Harry said it, but she wanted Niall to know she understood. She walked over to him and hugged him. "I am going to miss you, but I understand. This is who you are, and I wouldn't change you for anything." She kissed him and held him in her arms.

Niall let out a relaxing breath. Thank god, he thought. He had worried for a minute. "I am going to miss you too."

Julie watched Niall and Amanda. She looked down at the floor and bit her lip. Why was she feeling so emotional? Suck it up. You knew it was ending, and it was what it was. She looked up as Harry walked up to her. She looked up into his eyes. She fought back the tears she felt coming.

"Have a great time with the rest of the tour. I'm sure every show will be incredible. And all those people around to see you."

"Julie," He started.

"Goodbye, Harry." She cut him off. She forced a semi-smile reached up and kissed him. She closed her eyes and pulled back slightly. "Goodbye." She said again, quietly. She dropped her hand from his neck and stepped back.

"No," he said quietly. "Don't do that. Don't...." He started. But she cut him off again.

"It's ok. I'm ok," She kissed him again. "You better go."

He just stared at her. Maybe she was. Maybe he wasn't. Why couldn't she just... He shook his head. He had to go. They had to leave it like this, even though he didn't know what this was. He kissed her longer and deeper. "I will call you."

"Of course." She nodded not quite sure if he really meant it. He got what he wanted. She wasn't a challenge. But again, she would take whatever she got. "you've got my number."

He nodded. "C'mon Niall."

Niall kissed Amanda again and again. He couldn't leave. There was so much he wanted to do yet. What was he going to do? He had to go. He kissed her one last time. "See you soon, babe. I will call you as soon as we land. Thanks for the best few days of my life." He walked to the door.

Amanda ran up to him and kissed him one last time. "Can't wait." She watched him leave and then broke down. Why was it so hard to let him go? She knew he had to. She hoped she'd get to see him soon.

A few days after the guys left, things were starting to get back to normal with Julie and Amanda, as far as work and schedules went. It was hard to believe everything that had happened to them. They were kind of quiet those few days after the guys left. Neither really knew what to say.

Niall and Amanda talked every chance they got. It wasn't enough as far as either was concerned, but it had to do.

Julie was relieved to get back to her scheduled chaos. It was the normalcy she craved. Not having Harry there to distract her gave her some of that clarity. He did call once, and he did text her often. It was almost a bit awkward though. She didn't quite know what to say. They never did get to know each other that well outside of the bedroom.

"Now what?" Julie heard Amanda exclaim. "I just wanted to get onto the internet and now the damn WiFi isn't working. Dammit!" Amanda slammed her lap top closed.

"What the hell, Panda." Julie asked. "What's your problem lately? You would think you would be happy with everything going on."

"Easy for you to say!" Amanda said to her.

"What does that mean? You got a great guy who calls you every night and tells you how wonderful you are." Julie admonished.

"Yeah, and it's got me frustrated. Niall wouldn't even sleep with me. And you and Harry got together more than once. If we had such a good thing, how come you got some and I wasn't able too?" Amanda cried.

"Seriously Amanda?! You're going to compare what you have to what Harry and I had? Really? Could you be any more ridiculous?!" Julie cried back.

"Ridiculous? It's ridiculous to wonder why he wouldn't even sleep with me?" Amanda asked.

"Yes! He respected you enough to want to let you know that you meant more to him than just a stop in LA. He wanted you to know that he wanted more than just sex Amanda! How can you not understand that!? Don't you think I would rather have that then to just be another notch on Harry's bed post? God, sometimes I swear you can be so stupid!" Julie said angrily.

"Stupid? You do nothing but push people away! Especially Harry! Maybe it would be more than sex if you wouldn't be so damned closed off! Talk about stupid!" Amanda said back.

"Right, I knew exactly what it was the first time we slept together. I knew it would end as soon as he left! Why? Because it happened so fast. Physical is great, but that can happen anytime! Harry and I fell into a physical relationship. Within a couple of days. We barely know anything about each other. I still can't believe you would want that over what you and Niall have. Be grateful Amanda!"

"We could have a relationship if we sleep together! You could have one too. Stop closing yourself off! Stop being so pig headed and let someone in! You always have that wall up! There are even certain things you hide from me! Trust someone once!"

"Wow Amanda, thanks so much for the advice. According to you I should be thankful Harry just wanted me in bed instead of getting to know me and starting a relationship with me! You want me to feel bad because Niall cares about you? Just because he didn't screw you yet? You are completely insane! Think about that!"

"You are nothing but impossible! It's your fault you didn't let him in!" Amanda fired back.

Julie cringed when Amanda said that to her. It hurt. She blamed herself too for letting him get to her so quickly and giving into nothing but the physical, but for Amanda to say it like that. It hurt. She didn't want to seem hurt though. Amanda needed to stop being so ridiculous. Niall wanted to be with her more than just in bed. Sex wasn't worth giving that up! "You know what Amanda? You just keep feeling sorry for yourself for having a great guy who wants to be with you. You keep having your pity party, and you keep thinking 1 or 2 nights of sex would be better than the respect and admiration of a great guy. Be jealous I had sex with Harry! Be stupid! I'm done," Julie said as she walked into her room and slammed the door. God, Amanda was so stupid. She couldn't fight it anymore, not after everything that happened with Harry and the confusion and confliction, and now the fight with Amanda. She lay on her bed and started to cry. She never cried. But she was afraid she wasn't going to be able to stop. Stupid Amanda!

Amanda saw the hurt in JJs eyes but watched it disappear just as quick. She drove her insane sometimes. She needed to let someone in before she had no one left on her side! And what did she know anyway? Didn't matter she was right about it. She went and slammed the door to her room too. She wanted to be wanted; she wanted someone to want to touch her that way. Again, didn't matter that JJ was right and building that relationship was better. She wanted to be wanted in that way, and JJ should have supported that, damn her!

Julie woke up later that night to her phone ringing. It was late; she looked at her caller ID. It was Harry. He must've just gotten done with his show. She was surprised he was calling. She fell asleep crying earlier, so she tried to clear her throat. "Hey." She answered.

"Hello gorgeous. Did I wake you?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, no work tonight. Guess I fell asleep." She said her voice cracking as the night rushed back to her.

Harry was lying in his hotel room comfortable in his bed, but he could tell she was upset. He could almost hear the tears. He sat straight up.

"What's wrong? Are you crying?" He asked.

"I'm fine. Just....tired I guess." She tried to cover.

"Julie, don't lie to me." He said quietly. "It's not hard to tell somethings wrong. Just talk to me."

"It....it doesn't matter Harry. We can just talk about something else. How's the tour going?" She deflected.

"Please. Tell me what's wrong. You're killing me here." He begged.

She took a deep breath. "Amanda and I just had a huge fight." She tried to fight the tears, but they were rolling down her cheeks now. Her voice was full of emotion.

This sucked! He was across the country. "Sweetheart, talk to me."

"It's fine. I can't. I shouldn't." She thought back to the reason for the fight.

"You can, and you should. Please let me help." He said.

"She's being pissy. So I called her out on it tonight. And she's pissy because she's jealous. She's jealous because Niall hasn't slept with her; yet you and I have. She's mad, because he respects her enough to want to build a relationship with her and show her that, instead of just sleeping with her. She's so stupid! Why wouldn't you want a relationship instead of just sex?" She blurted out.

Well, she'd just let a lot more out in the conversation than she realized, Harry thought. "So that's why you regret sleeping with me? You think because we fell into bed so quickly, I couldn't possibly respect you enough to have a relationship?"

Crap. Julie thought. How was he so damn perceptive? She didn't mean to go there. She was angry at Amanda. She didn't realize he would pick up on that. "I didn't say that. I said..."

"I know what you said, Julie. It all makes much more sense now." Harry said. And it did. She thought he'd just used her for sex. She was something else.

"So now, you think you know everything too, huh? You ready to tell me how it's all my fault because I don't let anyone in? You ready to tell me how I'd better learn to let someone in before I have no one left too? Go ahead. I've already heard it all tonight. What's the difference?" She didn't even bother hiding her tears anymore.

"Julie." Harry said softly. He didn't want to hurt her anymore than she was hurting already. He shouldn't have said anything. This was the first time she'd opened up to him, even a little, and he made it worse.

"No Harry. I'm done. You got what you wanted from me. I'm just a closed off bitch who doesn't need anyone. You didn't think twice about getting me in bed. But it's my fault. It's my fault for not respecting myself enough to stop it. You don't have to pretend to care anymore. I don't expect anything from you. I knew what it was, and I knew when you left that it was over. It's fine. I'm a big girl. I can handle it. I make mistakes too. Good luck on the rest of the tour, the new album and everything else." She hung up the phone. Dammit! She was practically sobbing now. Son of a bitch! She threw the phone on the floor.

He dropped the phone on the bed and put his head in his hands. He hated the fact she thought he just used her. Hated it. He almost understood why she thought it. They did fall into bed very quickly, but that's not all he wanted, was it? No, he wanted more of her. The sex was great, but he wanted more. She would never believe him. Not now, anyway. He needed to give her time. He knew if he pushed her right now, she would just pull away harder. He had learned that much already. He would show her and everyone else that it was more than sex. He picked up the phone and texted her. He said: we are not done. We will work through this, bet on it.

"Hey princess" Niall said when Amanda picked up. "How are you?"

"Fine Niall, how are you?" Amanda said somberly.

"Well, I'm good, but apparently you're not. What's wrong?" He asked.

"JJ and I had a fight. A huge fight. She even called me Amanda, like three times. She never calls me Amanda." She said trying to remain calm.

"Why are the two of you fighting?" He asked.

"We...I....I don't think...probably shouldn't tell you." How could she tell him, she thought. How could she let him know she was mad at JJ for sleeping with Harry before she got to sleep with him?

"C'mon you know I'm here for you." He stated.

"I guess I've been a little grumpy lately. She called me out on it tonight and didn't like my answer." She started.

"Why have you been grumpy?" He asked.

"Niall, I'm not sure this is a good conversation to have." She said.

"Why?" Niall asked.

She sighed. "I told her I was mad because she slept with Harry."

Niall was confused. "Why would you be mad at her for that?"

"Maybe mad isn't the right word. Jealous, maybe." She said.

"Oh." He didn't know what to say. "You wanted to sleep with Harry, too?" He tried to joke, even though it wasn't the best timing probably.

"No, you idiot, I wanted to sleep with you!" She practically screamed at him. "And I was so frustrated you wouldn't. And she got mad and called me ridiculous for not understanding about building a relationship first. Said I should want that instead of meaningless sex. Then I told her she was cold, and she wouldn't have anyone if she didn't start letting people in."

"Ouch, Amanda. That was a little harsh don't you think? And I'm truly sorry you were hurt. I wish you would understand it's not because I don't want to, but it's because I want more." He said.

"So you think she's right? That Harry only wanted her for sex? I may be mad at her, but I may have a few choice words for him if that's the case." Amanda said.

"No, I didn't say that. But you can't compare us with them. We need to do our own thing. Competing with them, especially when it comes to that, makes no sense. We have to find what's best for us. I don't know what's going on with them, but they have to figure it out. I know where I want to be with you, and that's more than just sleeping together when I'm in town." Niall said to her.

She felt a little silly for questioning him. "I know. I know it may not be rational, but I can't help the way I feel."

"It's ok to feel that way. But please, put some faith in how I feel. I won't let you go." He said.

"I should've known talking to you would make me feel better." She said.

"You gonna go make up with JJ now?" he asked.

"No, I'm going to stay mad awhile longer."

"Oh princess, don't pick up her stubbornness," he laughed slightly.

Not long after Niall hung up with Amanda, Harry knocked on his door. Niall let him in, and he sat down on the couch. "You talk to Amanda, tonight?" He asked.

Niall nodded. "Yeah, take it you talked to JJ?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. So you heard about the fight?"

"Yep." Niall nodded again. "She's mad at everyone because I didn't sleep with her, but you slept with her friend. Thanks, man."

"Yeah, well thanks for being so noble, because now Julie thinks I have no respect for her since we have slept together. She thinks I used her to get her into bed." Harry sighed.

"Why are women so complicated?" Niall asked. "And why do we want to deal with it?"

"Not sure man. But I gotta figure a way out of this. Gotta prove to her that her stubborn ass is wrong." Harry said.

"Good luck with that. And I have to prove to Amanda that I do want her despite not sleeping with her." Niall sighed too. "Wow."

"Julie told me she didn't expect anything, and she knew it was over when I left and that she was done. Beat that." Harry said.

"Nope you win. She's your handful. I will take Amanda, thanks." Niall laughed. Poor Harry, he thought. How was he going to get out of that?

"Thing is I don't think I'd want it any other way. Crazy, huh?" Harry asked.

"No Harry, just accepting and caring. Only you will know if she's worth it."

Harry just nodded slowly. Only he would know. He knew right? Was she worth it? She was completely different than anyone else he'd dated. But those others always ended, so that probably was a good thing. Right now, it's what he wanted. He wasn't ready to give up yet. Would she even let him date her was the question. What caused her to be so guarded? So cautious. What was she afraid of?

"Thanks Nialler. No more depressing talk. See you tomorrow." He got up and went back to his room to bed. He checked his phone, hoping there would be some sort of response from Julie, but there wasn't. Damn it, he thought. He put the phone on the charger and went to bed.

*if you are enjoying the story please vote/comment/share. I would love to be able to respond.

*the story is complete fan fiction