Tell Me The Truth -H.S. AU

29

Harry and I went to bed early last night. Both of us exhausted from being in the sun all day. We woke up late, ordering brunch to the room and feeding each other fruit on the balcony in our fancy robes.

Harry said I could keep it, but I told him I didn't want to get him in trouble or have to pay to replace it. He thought I wouldn't notice, but I saw him snatch it from the hook in the bathroom last second and put it in the duffel bag.

We wasted most of the afternoon driving around and listening to music. I learned that Harry prefers easy listening like Fleetwood Mac and Elton John, and while I love them too, I'm more Motley Crue and Led Zeppelin, myself.

Harry finally told me that his mom has leukemia. He just blurted it out in the middle of Tiny Dancer. Supposedly the prognosis isn't terrible, but everyone is absolutely terrified. He didn't want to talk about it for long, but I'm grateful that he felt comfortable enough to share that with me.

I can't imagine the fear of losing the person that holds your family together.

"I have to go-" Harry mumbles against my lips. "I'm gonna be late." He chuckles and pulls back from me. He has a family dinner tonight, apparently a new tradition Anne is trying to start on Sundays.

Harry holds my hands in his against his chest and smiles at me. An overwhelming sense of admiration washes over me looking at this boy who always tries to make people happy. He never wants to let anyone down.

I remember how nervous he was the other night, afraid we were going to be late to dinner and disappoint my dad. A twinge of guilt settles in my stomach that he's probably feeling that right now, and it's because I'm keeping him from his family.

"I'm sorry, I won't distract you any longer." I pull one of my hands from his and brush a stray curl back out of his face. "Thank you for this weekend, Harry. I can't even tell you how much it means to me."

A small smile dances on his lips before he leans in to kiss me again, softly. He pulls away abruptly and I look at him with my eyebrows raised, shocked by his sudden movements.

"Oh my god, I almost forgot." Harry mumbles, reaching forward to open the glovebox and retrieve a small black box. "I have a present for you."

"Harry, please, you didn't have to get me anything." I wave my hand at him, not wanting to let him give me anything else, this weekend was already way more than I could've asked for. He ignores me and grabs my hand instead, placing the box in my palm.

"Would it make a difference if I told you I made it?" He asks shyly, pushing my hand holding the box back toward me, eager to have it open.

I giggle at his impatience and remove the lid. I carefully peel back the white tissue paper inside and when my eyes land on a beautiful, dainty silver cuff bracelet, my mouth drops open.

Engraved on the front, in very familiar handwriting, it reads: You've always had the power. This quote comes from the end of Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy goes home, and it always makes me tear up. Next to the words is an etching of a tornado.

I run my thumb over the front of the bracelet and look up at Harry, who is staring at me, waiting for my reaction.

"You made this?" I ask, swallowing the lump in my throat at the thoughtfulness of this gift. I thought I hid the emotion that the end of the movie brought me, but I guess I really can't keep anything from Harry.

"Niall helped...a little." He takes the bracelet from my hands and places it on my wrist.

My heart swells at the thought of Harry asking his brother to help him make this for me. Very last minute, I assume, since he didn't even know about my birthday until the day before.