Moon Bay // Harry Styles Series #2 - Ghana

Goodbye

The room lightened as dawn approached from behind Full Moon Point. We showered in silence, then donned our now dry clothes from the night before.

"Shall we have a last visit to the beach? Catch the sunrise?" His voice was quiet as he asked. A little sad.

We were hand in hand, feet wet as we walked along the waterline, as the day broke before us. As the world turned golden yellow, we left the newly risen sun behind as we returned to my bungalow.

"When are you leaving?"

"I think Fred said by ten o'clock. We'll eat, then get our things. Will you come to breakfast with me?"

I smiled, "Of course. I have to settle the bet, don't I?"

"I'd forgotten. I hope you won't mind my guess."

"I'm sure I won't. I am curious, is it a gentleman's bet, or is there more involved than simply knowing you've won?"

"Whomever wins gets the single room the next five nights we spend in hotels. There are always two doubles and a single. Usually we rotate. Five nights in a row alone is quite a prize."

I didn't allow myself to smile at the knowledge that it would be Harry himself getting that single room.

The electricity had come back on in the night, and breakfast was, as always, ample and delicious. George and Sabir, already at the pavilion, greeted us as though nothing unusual had happened in the night. I appreciated their professionalism.

The boys, on the other hand, were all winks and knowing smiles. Niall even patted Harry on the back, until Liam swatted his hand away, murmuring something about being rude and a bloody prat. All I could do was smile at this jumble of boys, realizing that few other people in the world had ever seen them as I had. Free.

Zayn sat next to me, asking me if I would make sure the funds they raised actually helped the children they had met in Accra. I assured him I would do my very best, all the while knowing I would probably never know exactly how the money was distributed. I found myself eager to soothe his anxious soul. And possibly stare into those brown eyes forever.

Louis brought me back to myself, asking if I would settle the bet. I feigned surprise as their guesses were revealed, thanking Niall for the youth he had given me, and shaking my head no at the next three estimates. Finally, Harry spoke.

"I made my guess at the same time as the others, the day we met, and I stand by it, even now, after..." His dimples appeared, along with a smile and a slight pink flush in his cheeks. "Even after getting to know you better."

The others exchanged more sideways glances and soft chuckles. Boys.

"I think you're thirty five." He looked at the ground as he said it, as though he were afraid of my reaction.

"No, I'm not." He looked up, surprised. Evidently he had been quite sure of himself. "But you're the closest. I'm thirty four. Looks like you're on your own for a few days."

Niall blurted out, "I don't believe it. There's no way you're that... old," which gained him a swat on the head from Louis.

"You are a bloody prat. It's no wonder you get nothing but sloppy seconds!"

The artless blonde launched himself at the blue eyed smooth talker and a full blown brawl broke out, ending only with the physical intervention of both Fred and George. Wanting to avoid the confrontation, I moved to the far side of the pavilion, Harry in my wake.

"Shall we go to our rock for a minute before you leave? Say goodbye with some privacy."

We sat next to each other, silent at first, holding hands and swinging our feet slowly. I wasn't sure what I was feeling. I knew I would probably never see him again, and there was no real sadness as we parted, but I was sure he'd own a corner of my heart forever.

He spoke first. "Annie, you've been quite a surprise. First you made me feel better about what I saw and did in Accra, and then... well I think you know how you made me feel after that."

I smiled. "You were so sad when I first saw you here. So sad. I didn't expect anything beyond a simple weekend out of the city. And then you, Harry, you made it remarkable. I don't know if you can really understand what you've given me. Thank you."

I kissed him, softly, quickly, and then leaned back as I pulled the rose from my finger.

"Harry, will you take this? As a reminder of what happened here, of me?" I slid it on the ring finger of his right hand.

"But you've worn it every day, it's part of you. And won't... won't Peter ask where it's gone?"

"He'll understand. I'm sure of it."

He spun it around, his fingers running over the petals.

"Will we talk again, will you text me, call me?" He sounded so young.

"No, I don't think that's a good idea. You need to keep doing what you're doing, being who you are, moving forward. I need to be a moment in your past. Take the ring. Maybe someday I'll see you on TV or in a magazine, and you'll be wearing it, and I'll know you think of me now and then. I'd like that."

"And will you think of me?"

"Always. You've been something, someone, important to me. I can't wait to see what's ahead for you, and I will be paying attention. But you need to be a moment in my past as well. Can you understand that?"

I loved his face when he concentrated. So serious, such the perfect balance of boy and man.

"Maybe not right now, but I suppose I will, someday. I'll take very good care of your ring, Annie, I promise.

We sat, leaning against one another, shoulders, hips, thighs pressed tight. We kissed. We walked back to his bungalow where I watched him pack his bag in silence. We kissed. We joined the others and I said my goodbyes, assuring Niall that he was forgiven, having one last gaze into Zayn's sad eyes.

We waited until everyone else was in the cars before our lips met for one last time, softly, hands cupping one another's faces.

"Goodbye Harry."

"Goodbye Annie."

There were no tears, no sighs of sadness. I felt somehow complete as I watched them drive away; I had no regrets.