21 Murders | Harry Styles AU (discontinued)

XXI. Vendetta

vendetta (noun): a series of acts attacking or attempting to injure another physically or mentally

Noelle's POV

Pots and pans clank in the background while I try to focus on the ridiculously long student mark-sheet that was given to me at mid-terms this year. Grades have been long forgotten over the past few weeks and as horrible as it is to admit, I need to get back on that train of endless studying and exam prepping.

After playing endless amounts of board games earlier- which Harry tended to beat me in, go figure- he decided to make me that promised dinner and I decided to take a glance at my school books and catch up on some studying.

I'm sure that my three weeks of absence have been thoroughly noted and I plan to ask Harry if I can schedule a meeting with my Economics teacher, Professor Donovan, to ask if he can give a good word to the principle about letting me re-take the tests I've missed and study for this semester's final grade.

I flip through some more student work sheets and rub at my temples. Before this whole incident happened, I was lucky enough to have been a few assignments early. My grades had been my main focus and maybe if the principle sees how great a student I was, she'll feel compassionate for me and let me re-gain my position in the program.

The sweet smell of savory sauce floods in the air and takes my mind away from my books. I can only imagine how Harry looks cooking over the stove, for he made me promise not to come out until he was finished.

Possibly an hour and a half later, there is a knock on the door of my current room, and I yell a quick 'come in!' before a curly head pops through the gap. "Hey,'' I smile, pushing hair behind my ears and quickly hiding my bulky glasses under the covers of my bed.

"Hi,'' Harry walks in, looking at my papers in bewilderment. "What are you doing with your school work?" He raises a brow, taking a seat by my feet and lifting one of the transcripts to look at more intently.

"I wanted to talk to you about that.." I trail off slightly.

I don't know how Harry will take my question, but to be honest, it isn't really his decision to stand in the way of. Although school has been the main focus for me, it could get in the way of the case and jeopardize the absence everyone thinks I have. The press conference fooled most, but once citizens see that I am- in fact- not gone, they'll start to talk.

"Do you think I'd be able to call the student counselor and try to get back on my courses?" I question in hopes of a good response. Harry purses his lips before shrugging lightly. "This means a lot to me, Harry, and I really don't want this case to take that away from me."

"I know,'' he sighs.

"I've worked too hard to give up now and let this man take this away from me. After we catch him, I have nothing left but this,'' I pick up my Eco book and thud it back onto the bed. My legs shift under the thick cover until I'm sitting next to the lanky boy and he pinches his lip in thought.

"If it were up to me, I would say yes. But I don't have the position to say yes, yet." His words dampen my spirit lightly but I still hold onto whatever chance I have left. I know what he means by 'yet,' and sadly, he is more than right.

Convincing Des to let me remain in my courses will be a bitch and a half, but right now, that is what I really want and all be damned if I let him stand in the way of it.

"What if I talk to your father about it? Do you think he'll say yes?"

"We could give it a try,'' his shoulders shrug before he abruptly stands to his feet and holds out his hand. "Now c'mon, dinner awaits us."