Collide (Impact Book 2) | h.s. | complete

29. First Day of My Life

A/N: Hey guys, this is a really really big chapter for the story and I worked SO hard on it. I have some ideas to go on, but I'm not sure whether I really want to or not. Writing a story, as many of you probably know, takes a ton of work and it often feels like no one is really reading. So please, if you want to see more of this story, vote and comment. As of right now, it doesn't feel worth it to put so much effort, emotion and work into furthering the story. Thanks guys <3

~Harry~

We drove up to a massive mansion and parked right out front. I leapt from the car, my heart pounding harder than ever before. Liam stepped in front of me and shook a hand in my face.

"You wanted to be here, have you changed your mind?" He asked, his expression expectant. I hadn't realized but I had stopped walking, frozen at the bottom of the steps leading to the large wooden front doors.

"No, of course not I just..." I didn't know what was holding me back. Was it the fear of what was behind the doors? Would Tori have changed? Did she hate me? Is that why she had left, she couldn't bare to be with someone like me? Someone who brought so much pain and destruction to her life? Would she be happy to see me? Finally ready to come home and to be mine again? Would it be as if nothing had changed, as if no time had passed at all? Of course it wouldn't, so much time had passed, two years and I was still the same sad, destructive person I'd been when she left. I hadn't even realized how long it had been since I had walked into her room to find it empty the day she left, how long it had been since the last time I saw her face, how long it had been since I hadn't gotten the chance to say goodbye to the person that I loved most in the world. Yea, I was angry, but that was only a tiny part of my brain that was constantly telling me that I should be mad when all I truly felt was a burning, painful yearning for the woman I loved. "I'm fine." I said, following Niall and Liam up the stairs. Liam pushed the door open.

"Tori?" Liam shouted standing at the bottom of a massive winding staircase.

"I'm just...just a second." She said, sounding exasperated. Once again I hadn't realized but I was frozen in place, holding my breath.

"Dude, breath." Niall whispered, nudging my arm. As I exhaled I watched a pair of pale, thin legs descend the stairs, bouncing slightly.

"I didn't expect you until later tonight." She said, wiping under her eyes with the sleeve of her long sleeved white Henley. My long sleeved white Henley. "Oh my god," She breathed from the third step, her face instantly falling as she burst into tears. She flew down the last few steps straight into my arms, her body folding effortlessly into my own. "It's you, you're really here."

'It's me," I breathed, holding her tightly against my body, her small frame feeling much thinner that usual, basically just skin and bones. "Where have you been," I whispered over and over, the beginnings of tears in my eyes.

"I'm so sorry." She said, sobs racking her body. "You'll never forgive me." She said and I felt her lips against my chest, her tears staining my white shirt.

"Of course I will, I already have." I laughed, kissing the top of her head. My eyes met Niall's as he pressed his lips together, trying his best not to cry.

"You don't know," She sobbed, unable to get her words out.

"I don't know what, baby, what's happened?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her shoulders to hold her head closer to me.

"Why don't we go into the kitchen and we can talk." Liam offered, his expression grave. I felt Tori nod against my chest and she backed away from me, her eyes meeting mine.

"What's wrong?" I asked, anxiety taking over.

"Let's go to the kitchen," Liam repeated, more forcefully this time. It became clear to me that he was running the show and that he was calling all the shots which, rightfully so, made me slightly resentful. He led the way into a massive, beautiful kitchen and we stood awkwardly as Tori bustled around pulling a tea pot down off a shelf.