Until We Meet Again // H.S. AU

XXXIII. Questions

(song: gold rays by vinyl pinups)

A week before Christmas, I finally move into my new apartment. I was so hyped, literally jumping around everywhere I went, exuding excitement. Finally, my own place to live! I didn't even realize how much time has passed. Everything moved so quickly, but the adrenaline and rush that came along with it made me forget how fast I was changing the things around me. I had gotten rid of my crazy parents, I found out who my biological father was, I was moving into my own place within hours, and I finally told Harry about my past. The roller coaster I had been on throughout this whole experience shocked me, and it was surprising to look back and see what I had gone through to get to where I am today. The funny part was that I still was on that roller coaster, and the only time I'll get off is when my time is over years and years ahead.

Standing in my apartment, I looked around at the movers who brought in all of my furniture. Harry came and stood beside me, smiling, mirroring my own expressions.

"It's crazy, isn't it?"

I shook my head, a smile still on my face.

"Come on," Harry took my hand and led me out of the apartment. We sat on the staircase outside of my place. We talked a little bit about how insane it was that I was living on my own now. Soon the conversation died down and I rested my head on Harry's shoulder.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"That picture in your drawer...have you ever met your birth parents?" I looked up at him, hoping it wasn't a bad time to ask. We kind of dropped the topic of our adoptions after we got back together, but I was still curious. He didn't look mad or anything, just a blank face.

"No, I never met them. I always wanted to, ever since I got the picture. But it's hard, ya know? I--I don't know how to explain it."

"Um, Harry? Did I ever tell you how I met my birth father?"

He looked down at me, his eyes a little wide, shocked that I had actually met him.

"I didn't know you met him," he said.

"Well we never really talked about any of this in depth," I softly smiled.

"Wha--how did you meet him? When?"

"Maybe a month ago, actually. Um, it's a weird story." I proceeded to tell him about meeting Steve's stepfather--my father--and the story behind putting me up for adoption. It was the first time I could think about that story without tearing up. I told him how Steve and I are technically step-siblings, and how Alex and I are on pretty good terms right now.

"Wow...wait, so Thanksgiving?"

"I told them to keep it quiet since I didn't want to tell you then. I was still working up the courage to tell you I was adopted," I shyly smiled.

"Wow...was it hard to see him? After you found out who he was?"

"Um, kind of. But at the same time, I was so happy to find out that he was a really nice guy and after a while, I realized that it was good for him to put me up for adoption. Or kind of good," I humorlessly laughed, "if he kept me he would have ended up the same as Alec, or some version of him, I assume. That would have been even more hell considering he's actually related to me."

Harry seemed to think about this. I hoped I made some type of good change in his train of thought towards his parents, because I somehow knew that he resented them.

"Tell me what you're thinking," I requested.

"I always hated my parents. I thought they felt the same way, since they dropped me off at some house, promised to come back, and left forever." Harry looked down at his hands in his lap.