Secret Admirers //one direction//

Chapter 9

I had informed Harry that my mother has allowed me to take up this project. Since yesterday, after returning home from Louis' place, I had been working on the first theme, examining the pictures carefully and painting. Today is Sunday and I decide to work as much as I can.

As I was about to start, I find a picture missing. I search every corner of my room but notice the fact that i lost it. I need to click the picture of the maple tree again. I call Harry multiple times but he doesn't pick up the phone.

I was walking back and forth my room when I hear the doorbell. It must be Mom, I thought. I go downstairs and open the door. A delivery man was standing with a parcel. I sign and take the parcel and return to my room.

Suddenly my phone starts to ring and I throw the parcel somewhere on the floor, rushing to pick up the call.

"Hello? Harry?"

"Perry! I saw that you had called so many times! Sorry! I was having an afternoon nap and my phone was on silent, is everything alright?"

"Harry we need to go the hill again! I lost the picture of the maple tree!"

"Now?"

"Are you busy?"

"No but it'll get dark soon! We need to hurry up then!" He cuts the call.

I open my cupboard and take out a pair of jeans along with a v-neck crop top. I throw my hair in a bun, quite messily and rush down the stairs with my bag.

Harry picks me up from the front of my house and we drive away.

"How did you lose it?" He asks.

"I don't know! But that's the most important aspect of my painting!"

"What?"

"The maple tree!" I say. The look on Harry's face changes a bit after those words left my mouth. He seems to have indulged in deep thinking. Slowly his eyes soften and he returns me a soft smile.

Soon we arrive at the hill. It's not dark yet but the sky is very cloudy. We climb up the hill as a soft cool breeze welcomes us. I have always believed in the phrase 'Hills Heal'. This natural, soothing environment brings me some peace of mind.

I notice that Harry is already clicking pictures of the maple tree. I walk up to him.

"Have you ever come here during autumn?" I ask.

"Yes." He says.

"I bet this tree looks beautiful during that time! Maple trees and autumn are made for each other!" I smile.

"Someday I'll surely bring you here during autumn." He says.

We sit under the tree and Harry shows me all the pictures he has taken from different angles of the tree. I appreciate them with wide eyes and large smiles.

"Did your friend convince your parents about the project?" He asks.

" Oh Louis! Yes he did..."

"Why don't you talk to them about it by yourself ? And what about your career?"

"There's an incident from the past. Even after that incident my parents allowed me to paint and also allowed me to take up the subject in school and college. I will forever be grateful to them for this. But they only had one condition that I wouldn't be focusing on art too much as well as not take it up as my career", I choke while speaking, feeling the tears threatening to come out at any second.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it!" Harry rests his hand on my hand and squeezes it lightly.

I give him a convincing smile. We look at each other in silence, the cold environment engulfing us.