Everything Has Changed (On Hold)

CHAPTER 12: SHE'S SO MEAN

CHAPTER 12: SHE’S SO MEAN

Harry and I maintained an unspoken truce between us. No one spoke to the other. It was a thin barrier between us. I for one recognised the fact that too many strong movements will send the wall crashing down, but it seem that Harry is too concerned with his little boy band to worry about other’s feelings. He makes snide remarks, insults are shouted, he slams doors, and sighs audibly every time I walk into a room.

I’m fine with that. Doesn’t faze me the slightest, but sadly anne is struggling. I think she had this fantasy planned out in her head. I tell my son, he comes home, I tell my daughter, she comes home, then they become best friends and we become some sort of happy family. Let me make it clear, right now; happy family we are not.

To come clear, I am not innocent in this ordeal. I fight back; I rebut comments, I slam doors harder, and immediately leave every time he walks into a room. I have my room which is perfect and is currently my sanctuary. It’s Harry and everything to do with him free. He has his room and I haven’t even glimpsed it. I’m giving him space, I’m not all bad.

*****

Today is the jolly happy bid day. Sense some sarcasm? Brownie points for you. I get dressed and try to lift my spirits. Anne has planned a little picnic for us. Little may be an understatement as she has had it planned since before I got here which was little over a month ago. She has grandparents, cousins, close family friends and practically strangers (to me at least) all coming from parts of England. According to Tess, its some sort of annual tradition but this year it has been amped up because of my arrival.

We have a three hour drive it has beautiful scenery but I didn’t bring anything to draw with. Shame. I should have learnt better. That is the only thing I miss about my Australian home, my studio. My room has a view but it’s of the neighbours’ roof. That doesn’t really lift my creative spirits.

No part of the trip was fun, I mean I love Tess and Anne already but they wanted to talk to Harry and I simply wanted to be as far away from him as possible.

Try doing that in a car.

*****

“That’s Grandma and her latest boyfriend, Jack or James something I think. That’s grandpa and his dog, Julia. That’s Nanna and Poppa, with their foster child, Holly, she’s 16 I think and she’s totally rebel. She does drugs and apparently is a prostitute in secret. Nanna and Poppa are our dad’s parents. They are really sweet. Mum has 2 sisters, Frances and Kelly. Frances has two sons, Jonah and Oliver. Kelly has an adoptive daughter, Diane, with her partner Mia.” Tess says pointing everyone out. “That’s Dad’s younger brother, Roger, he is 10 years younger than our dad. Apparently he’s a bit of a player so he hasn’t got a serious girlfriend yet.”

“Clearly, he’s a player, he’s got 5 girls talking to him, and he doesn’t seem to care that they’re related, what a flirt.” I laugh.

“Yes, he's always been like that. He will just say he’s being friendly if you ask him about it though.”

“So who’s that again?” I ask pointing to someone else in the room.

“That’s Grandma! How about I introduce you to everyone then you can simply forget their names til next year.”

“Sounds like a plan, Tessy.”

*****

After introducing myself to everyone, including Roger the flirt, I make my way over to Tess, who is talking to someone with their back to me. The figure turns around and it’s Harry. Blasted boy, cant he just go away.

“Harry.” I say monotone.

“Grace, how lovely to see you.”

“Shame, I can’t say the same. May I ask why you are telling people I’m jealous of your popularity? I am not!” I growl at Harry.

“Well, would you prefer me to tell the truth about how you were jealous that I wasn’t giving you attention and dating other girls. That might be weird because we are family now.”

“Harry, I never liked you. Ever. And to be honest, I don’t think I ever will.

*****

I wake up with a headache, if I had drunken anything I would think I have a hangover, but I didn’t touch a drop of alcohol. Strange. I think I may have fallen over and bumped my head at one point but I can’t quite remember anything that happened.

I hop out of bed in my nightie, and pad down stairs to the kitchen to find Harry’s band all sitting there eating pancakes and ogling me in my short dress. Sighing, I spin around and head back to my room to get changed. Baggiest and most covering clothes in my wardrobe would have to be my grey tracksuit pants and a baggy old gym shirt.

I walk back downstairs again and harry snorts. I turn to see that all the other boys have sad faces. “Better luck next time boys,”

I wish I knew their names so I could tease them personally but whatever next time.

I sit with them at the table and I realise that this has been the first time I’ve sat in a room peacefully with Harry.

I look up and Harry is staring at me. Not like the other boys were, this is more like he’s trying to read me. He noticed that I realised that we are in a room together and it seems like he’s trying to figure out whether I’m going to stay or go.

To be honest, I’m trying to figure out, whether I should stay or go too.

“So what’s all yous names boys?” I ask with pancake in my mouth.

They all look at me like I have two heads, except for Harry, he looks at me like I have millions.

“I’m Louis,” the brunette sitting next to Harry said.

“I’m Liam,” The other brunette said.

“I’m Zayn,” The mysterious looking boy said.

“What background is that name?” I ask.

“Pakistani,” Zayn replies.

“I’m Niall,” says the small blonde boy. “It’s ir-“

“it’s irish, I know. My cousin dating an irish boy whose called Niall.”

“Harry you didn’t say you had a cousin whose dating an irish boy-“

“That’s because I don’t.” Harry growls.

“Oh right, sorry for the confusion, its my like proper family, like the one in Australia.”

“Your non-biological family?”

“Yes.”

“Oh,” Everyone says at once.

“Well, thanks for the pancakes, I have to go now bye.” I say and run up the stairs.

an. sorry about the  wait. the next chapter should be up on tuesday! no promises tho