Songbird [H.S]

TWENTY-TWO

Harry was at a complete loss on what to do.

Since waking up in Marley's bed at three in the afternoon, the realisation of what he'd gotten up to last night made him feel like utter crap. Not to mention the fact his head was pounding, he felt sick and he was absolutely exhausted. The bed next to him was empty, the curtains were wide open (making the boy's pounding head worse) and there was no sign of Marley at all.

With a groan, he kicked the duvet off his warm body so he was laying in just his boxers to let the breeze flowing through the open window cool him down a little, he was having a horrible hot flush all thanks to his lovely hangover. Marley's floral perfume was still floating around her bedroom so Harry guessed it hadn't been too long since she'd actually left. Frowning, he wondered where she might've gone - they had originally planned to go shopping earlier in the morning, around ten when there weren't as many people about. Had she been waiting for him to wake up before she left?

Sighing, the boy sat up in bed, glancing over to the bedside table where he thought he'd left a cup of water. To his surprise, there was a plate of toast that had definitely grown cold and a glass of orange juice that had been left for him, along with a note and a couple of painkillers for his headache. Ignoring the piece of paper at first, the boy was quick to down the pills with the glass of juice, desperate to get rid of the horrible pounding that made it almost impossible to concentrate on anything important. He had things to do today and he couldn't let his hangover distract him.

When he eventually did read the note, he couldn't help but smile fondly at what message Marley had scribbled out for him:

Bambi,

I hope your night was lovely and worth the hell you're going to be in once you wake up.

Already went out with Mum, we got a few things. I'll show you later.

Gone out with Aliyah. Don't wait around for me to get back, we're too busy bitching about you. I made you toast, ran out of jam but I know how much you love marmite.

Enjoy your hangover,

Your Lovie xx

Marley was cute even when she was trying to be mad at him. He knew the bit about her bitching to Aliyah was definitely true and if he was honest, he didn't mind. The teenager knew that he'd annoyed her and if she needed to complain to get it out her system then it might work out in his favour. She might come back home and be in a better headspace to listen to him when he tries apologising.

A small chuckle escaped his lips at the girl's petty remark about the toast. It was a gesture that showed that even though she was mad at him, she still cared to make him breakfast. Marley knew better than anyone that Harry only liked toast when it had raspberry jam spread thickly across it - marmite was absolutely not something he liked and refused to eat it. In fact, only yesterday had he forced Marley to buy a huge jar of raspberry jam to keep in the fridge for whenever he chose to sleep over. The girl was being childish but it was her playful way of proving a point. It only made Harry love her more than he already did.

The boy knew she would forgive him if he just said he was sorry but he felt like he needed to actually do something that showed he meant it. He needed to prove to her that the night before really was a one time thing and she could trust him.

To do that, he needed to chat with his grandma - she always knew how to help.

..............

"I need some advice."

"Rough night, dear?" Josephine smirked, her frail features lighting up in amusement as she watched her grandson settle down on the sofa next to her. His skin was pale and clammy and his hair was a tangled mess, a sight she'd grown very accustomed to after he returned home from nights out. Her smile faded, however, when she noticed he wasn't smiling back like he usually would. "Talk to me, baby. What's wrong?"