Life in the middle-Harry Styles Fanfic AU COMPLETED

Chapter 22

I know I'm getting myself worked up and I know I have been taught how to prevent that but right now, a visit from my Mother won't help. To top that off I'm sure she'll have something to say about Harry. I go to let my Mother in while I leave Harry in the lounge room.
Okay here goes nothing, I think as I take a big breath and open the door. My Mother doesn't wait for an invitation, she saunters straight in.
"ohh Echo it's after 1pm why are you still in those ghastly clothes?" Question number one. "Had you been dressed I would have take you out for coffee, but I have no time for you to shower and fix yourself up, I know that can be a chore for you dear" question and answer number 2 and she's on a roll, that is until she walks in the lounge room and sees Harry sitting looking through one of my many folios.

My Mother looks back at me and raises her perfectly manicure eyebrows.
"So who are you young man? I am Elena, Echo's Mother, pleased to met you" she flirts flicking her salon dyed blonde locks over her shoulder.
I can't believe she's hitting on him.

"Hi, I am Harry Styles, a..a client of Echo's, she was just showing me some of her work" he drawls with his perfect English accent, that drives me crazy. He looks at me and smiles and I can't help but to return the gesture. I'll have to thank him for his quick thinking later.

Mother sits on the couch opposite Harry and folds her legs like a lady but a lady wouldn't be giving the eye to a male less then half her age. I tense up immediately because I know she'll be here for as long as it takes me to make coffee.
"Echo dear, just a short black please, no sugar I'm watching me figure" and with that she strokes her thighs. Oh my god, I could slap her.
I exit to room and make a short black quicker then humanly possible and I return to her laughter ringing around the room as she tilts her head back and it takes everything in me not to melt down.

I sit next to Harry and he gives me a knowing smile, my Mother doesn't miss this while sipping her coffee, she frowns at me before her attention goes back to Harry.
"So are you in the county for long? I could take you on a few tours, possible one of the wine country? Poor Echo hardly leaves the house you know, so she's not a good guide for you" she cackles like a witch would.
Because that's what my Mother is, an evil shallow bitch that had us growing up looking after ourselves while she cleaned, primed herself and entertained countless people.

I can't remember her ever taking an interest in my art work or even happy that I was making money out of my hobby. She thought I did this to upset her, that I could have and should have been a nice housewife by now.
I seem to have trailed off again, into my own little world where my family doesn't feel disappointed in me.

Harry has taken over the conversation and is talking about the art he commissioned. Again I have to thank him for keeping me out of the firing line.
I watch as my Mother interact with him like I'm not even it the room. And she wonders why a have depression and am just back on track after 6 months. Although my shrink worries that any extra stress will push me to have a relapse episode. My family don't care as long as they don't get their good name tarnished, because God forbid they are to blame!
I've mentally had enough when she decides to speak to me.

"Why don't you come over for dinner tonight? Perhaps Harry may like to accompany you and see how we live on the other side?" She smiles with her cruel thin perfectly painted lips.
"You know I go to group on Wednesday Mother." I state as it isn't a question.
She looks at me through beady eyes and carefully thinks out her reply.
"Oh yes your art course, I can't believe I forgot." She replies lying slyly, with a dash of venom.
I look at Harry and he gives me a smile, before stepping in.
"I can't either as I attend the same group as Echo" Bam take that Mother.
I return Harry's smile and watch my mother turn a shade of red, before she stand up.
Harry stands after her, the gentleman that he is, and I know I have lots to thank him for.
We both walk Mother to the door.
"Tell Damon to call me, please" I ask about my older brother who has moved back home with her after a relationship break down.
"I'll pass that on dear, now take care and remember I'm here for you" wow she's good.
Harry shakes her hand and with that she out the door and I'm standing behind it.

"I can't even, I mean, what you did for me is more then you will ever know" I choke on the words not wanting to cry after my Mother, I've spilt enough tears over her.
He comes closer and hugs my waist hard, pushing my chin up to meet his face, I can't help but look into his eyes that a soft with a cheeky edge to then.
"I can work out a way you could thank me" he just gets his words out before I push in for a passionate and long kiss. I know I need him right now and somehow I think he feels the same.
Intertwined around each other, we peel our clothes off one an other, he lifts my thigh and takes me right there against the front door. This I could get used to. Him I can definitely and also certainly get use to.