I didn't see you coming - A Harry Styles Fanfic

Chapter 1 - From the dining table

"Dinner's Ready!" Belts my mother from the bottom of the staircase.

I slump into my desk chair defeated and close my eyes taking in my last few seconds of tranquillity. Just me and the silence. Inevitably, I pull myself up off my chair letting it spin as I lug myself towards the door. Hand on the handle, I take a deep breath and open the door swiftly shutting it behind me. 

I walk across the landing pausing at the top of the staircase to mentally prepare myself. I readjust the neckline on my off the shoulder jumper so my mother doesn't burn me with her death stare again.

I don't know why they force me to join them, like it's just dinner.

 The formidable Buzz that awaits only increases as I descend the stairs. As I turn the corner, I get my first glimpse at the situation unfolding in the dim boxy dining room. I silently enter stealthily pulling out one of the overused oak chairs and taking a seat. 

Even the flowered Victorian wallpaper coils away from the noise in a desperate escape. The wooden table takes up most of the dining room despite its small nature, leaving me position directly in front of my younger brother, Benny Nixon.

At 8 years old he's everything you would expect from a younger brother. His smooth skin gleams with the light radiating from his handheld games console and the loose curls of his ebony hair flattened by his greatly disproportionate headphones. His fingers hammer across the buttons like he'd never get to play a game ever again.

 I don't know how no one in this house (except me) isn't sick of the vigorous clicking or the excessive screaming and shouting. But I do know why, it's because everyone is too concerned with their own problems to even take a second to think of someone else's.

My farther, Roger Nixon, bursts round the corner out of breath his shirt messily crumpled above his belt and his tie tightly knotted askew. Like most men his age, he was not blessed with a full head of hair which at the age of 43 was prematurely greying. 

Slumping into a chair, he dabs the glistening sweat off his forehead with one of the conveniently placed napkins. He works a 9-5 office job in financial marketing but is always working overtime in hopes to gain recognition from his boss. Unfortunately, this means that we don't get to spend much time together as a family.

Eventually, my mother, Natasha Nixon, approaches the table bending to securely place the casserole in the centre. The sickening, overpowering, sweet smell of the perfume she coats herself in impressively follows her more than her own shadow. 

She removes her apron, revealing her flowy pastel blue pin up, and hangs it up before also taking a seat at the table. Her smile wider than the amazon river tugs at the dimples in her cheeks as the corners of her fine eyes scrunch.

"well isn't this just lovely?" she asks grinning in anticipation of a response that never came as she dishes the casserole.

An awkward silence hovered at the table as we all pretend to be more interested in the, no longer piping hot, casserole to engage in small talk.

 My Brother who out of respect had lowered his headphones to rest at his neck, was doing a bad job at discreetly playing his game under the tablecloth.

"How was your day at work honey?" my mother asked getting uncomfortable with the tension.

My farther cleared his throat and proceeded to rant about work as he forcefully stabs his fork into chunks of carrot and potatoes. It was evident that my mothers mind was elsewhere despite still appearing somewhat engaged in her husband's waffle.

"well there's always tomorrow my love," she responds suddenly cutting his rant off after 10 minutes to quickly change the subject.

"So, I hear there's a carnival coming to town. That will be nice for you little kiddies to go have some fun!"

At this point Benny had scoffed down his serving. Leaving everything where It is, he returns the headphones to his ears and excuses himself trotting back up to his room. Silence remains. I do my best to politely smile at my mother with a subtle nod of my head.

"I have got to get ready for school tomorrow so I'm gonna just..." I get cut off.

"oh no worries sweetie, that's alright you run along now," my mother says as I slowly stand returning my plate to the sink leaving the two of them sitting in silence.

I scurry up to my room shutting the door behind me and collapsing on my single bed noticing a headache forming. Not recognising my conscious mind slipping, I drift unknowingly to sleep.

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Authors note: 

Sorry, this is my first time writing I promise it gets better once Mr Styles turns up.