Dear Iris [h.s]

chapter fifty.

Harry Styles

Harper and I walked outside together, hand in hand on our way home, only to be met with the sight of Iris sitting on the doorstep by herself. It's been an awful night for her and I wanted nothing more than to take her home with me all night, away from all these people who don't spare her a second thought.

"Iris, come with us." I Said as the door shut behind me. "Harper and I are headed home, you're more than welcome to join us, isn't she Haps?"

Harper nodded and gave Iris a smile, which I could tell she appreciated. Iris' eyes are red and she looks exhausted, emotionally and physically. My heart genuinely aches seeing her like that, knowing there's so little I can do here.

Iris stood up, straightened out her dress and took a deep breath. I'd have taken her hand, but walking away from her family home holding her hand after the night she's had isn't the wisest idea. Harper yawned at least a million times as we waited for Iris, so I decided to give her a piggy back home, it isn't too far.

I'm so glad iris is coming with us, away from them. Not that I'd ever pit her against her family, because they're family and Iris has her own idea of what that means, I'd just rather Iris was happy and I don't want her to get hurt, not by anyone.

Once we were down her drive on to the street, I held her hand and gave it a squeeze, a quiet motion of comfort. She's not exactly herself and fair enough, she's had a shit night but I hope she'll feel better shortly.

"Thomas is mean." Harper said, causing me to smile a little.

"Thomas is very mean," I agreed with her, "And you're never going to be mean, are you Haps?"

"Nope."

"Good." I smiled, looking over at Iris who had a little smile on her face too.

It wasn't long until we had reached my house, and it was a quiet walk too. Harper is exhausted and I don't suppose she's had the best night, sitting listening to people talk horribly about Iris all night, somebody that Harper genuinely looks up to. I didn't mind the quiet walk though, walking with a very tired Harper clinging to my back and holding iris' hand. It was calming, for me anyway, I think they're my two favourite people.

Someone I managed to open my front door without putting Harper down, not that she'd have let go, she was in one of those moods. I even managed to kick my shoes off without putting her down.

"Do you want to jump down and pick a book to read before bed?" I asked Harper over my shoulder, however she shook her head.

"Can Iris read with me?" She asked instead.

"If you ask her nicely."

"Iris?" Harper asked as I dropped her down onto the stairs."Please can you read me a book to go to sleep?"

Iris smiled, a genuine smile which was nice to see. "Course I can."

Harper suddenly came to life and raced up the stairs to go and get ready for bed, pick out a book and give Iris and I a couple minutes before we've got to come up and say goodnight to her. I stood up and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, holding her close into my chest and kissing her head as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

I wish I could undo her entire past and rewrite it myself. I'd write it so she'd never have felt half of what she has, or gone through any of it. She doesn't deserve it all, not when she's got one of the kindest souls in this whole town.

"I'm sorry about tonight." Iris whispered, her head reacting against my chest still, arms around my waist. "I really am sorry."

I don't even know what she's apologising for. I walked into her kitchen to see her brother looking at her furiously, a smashed glass bowl on the floor and Iris looking absolutely distraught. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Iris didn't just smash that bowl out of frustration. She has nothing to apologise for.