Reunion [Harry OsbornxReader] ~Book 2~

Christmas Special Number 2

This is set after School Friends but before Reunion. Enjoy

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Nothing but the sound of your breathing kept you company in the dead of night. Even on Christmas Eve. Staring at your wall clock, watching the seconds tick down to Christmas.

No gifts to expect this year, not enough money to spare. But you had food and clothes and a home, and that was enough for now.

It's not that you wanted anything either. Nothing you could get here, at least. All you could wish for was that Christmas before, though it was impossible to get back.

Oh, that Christmas. The one you spent with him, decorating that little spot under the tree like it was your secret home together. How breathless he was, running back to give you that charm bracelet.

Speaking of charm bracelet, you plucked it from your bedside table, caressing each charm and replaying each story Harry told you. The one for his tenth birthday, the one for his-

Bzzt. Bzzt.

Your phone. Someone was calling you? At- Twelve in the morning?! It's Christmas! You scrambled to answer the call.

A quiet, gentle voice emanated from the tiny speakers."Hey, Merry Christmas (Y/n),"

You couldn't help the sad smile, and the flutter in your chest, when you heard him. It was nostalgic, almost. And painful. Like an old song.

"Merry Christmas Harry,"

"It's been Christmas for me for a while now, but thanks,"

That's right. The time difference. You kept forgetting that he was hours ahead of you, sleeping before you, waking before you. All that precious time you couldn't spend with him the way you used to.

But exactly what time was it for him again? You checked your clock and did the math.

"Wait- It's six in the morning for you! I keep forgetting what time it is for you, you need to go to sleep,"

"It's morning though, and I wanted to wish you Merry Christmas. If anything, you need to sleep instead,"

"Mhm, maybe,"

"(Y/n),"

"But I had to stay up so you could wish me Merry Christmas!"

You could hear the sigh of disappointment from thousands of miles away. "You still need to sleep though,"

"Yeah yeah." A realisation occurred, an epiphany of sorts.

"How do you keep track of the time so well though? Do you have alarms of what time it'd be for me? Like how you always remind me to eat dinner?"

"..."

"Harry,"

"....Well,"

"Harry!"

"...Would it be weird if I did?"

A scoff. Then a giggle. Then the bubbling in your chest couldn't be contained anymore, escaping as laughter. Harry was that concerned for you? It was a little worrying.

'He's so sweet, awwww.'

It really was flattering, and heartwarming, to know that he cared so much. It was concerning though, that he'd disrupt himself to check on you.

"I don't think it's weird,"

"You, you don't?"

"It's really sweet, actually,"

"Oh! Uh, nah. It's just cuz," the pause was tense, nail-biting, "You're my best friend, and I care about you,"

"But!"

"There it is,"

"You can't go sacrificing your well-being for me! You have so much to do, and learn, and you need to get proper sleep!"

You couldn't help it! You loved the boy (yes, you loved him wholeheartedly. He was your best friend after all, your partner in crime). And as self-destructive and carelees as he was, you had to parent-up. No one else was going to.

"Okay, okay! Calm down, I'm not overdoing it, promise!"

"...You're absolutely certain?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Don't worry,"

What did you do to deserve Harry? Someone so dorky, and kind? Must be something really, really special. You gotta find out what, so you could keep doing it.

The two of you were quiet for a few minutes, neither of you knowing what to say. You basked in the sound of each other's breathing, just barely caught by your microphones.

"Hey, Harry?"

"Yeah, (Y/n)?"

"You never told me what you wanted for Christmas. Or for your birthday coming up,"

"Cuz I don't want you to buy me anything,"

"Not this again,"

"I'm not letting you!"

You huffed, almost growled. But you couldn't retort. Because as much as you hated to admit it, you didn't have the money to buy him a good gift, not yet.

"Plus, you didn't tell me either,"

That was just plain lying. "I did tell you!"

"Wait, really? Oh no, when?"

The poor boy was panicking, in fear of having forgotten your gift and being a bad friend. He couldn't lose you over something stupid like this, especially not on your first Christmas away.

"A month or two back! For Christmas, I said I wanted to see you again,"

You could practically hear him melt back into his chair, relieved by your answer. But there was a sadness to it.

"I tried. I tried so hard, (Y/n). You know that,"

The longing was tangible, thick and heavy in your chest. You could hear it in his voice and you could feel it on your tongue as you spoke.

You didn't know you could miss someone this much. That you could want someone this much. That the silence between two people could twist your heart as much as this one did, or that one person's laugh could make you feel as good as it did. But it did.

If that's what being best friends is like, then movies downplay it way too much. Who knew platonic affection was so.. Suffocating?

You stifled a sigh, or yawn. "I know, Harry. It's okay. Maybe.. Maybe, next year, yeah?"

There was a heavy swallow on the other end. Like the pain and wishing and anger could be eaten, disintegrated by stomach acid and disposed of. As if the distance between you could be chewed up and destroyed.

"Yeah... Maybe next year,"

But the hoped for 'next year' never came.

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Merry Late Christmas!! Please forgive my slow updating.

As a gift, go check out a book by a reader of mine! They're an entertaining reader and a stunning writer. Their short story is breath-taking.

My links are being pains in the ass, but please, please check them out! It's 'not really shortshort stories', by voixxe!

Again, please drink water, eat regularly, shower every now and then, go outside, try new things, and get some sleep. Also, talk to people if you need to, even for the smallest things.

(My dms are open to those who need it, I love you all)