Summer Of Secrets Revealed

Bike Rides

He never hung up. He stayed with me the entire night.

I woke up to Harry calling my name, his voice soft as he whispers through the phone. I sit up, still feeling groggy. I pick up the phone, grunting in response and smiling when he laughs.

Mornings were never really my favourite, but I always found it comforting how quiet it was. How we could wake up and be in complete peace with ourselves and the world, even if it's only for a few minutes, seconds even. So I sit quietly, soaking in the moment, hearing Harry's calm breaths through the receiver.

"How can I be better?" He whispers.

"What do you mean, Harry?" I laugh, feeling a little nervous about his question.

"I don't want us to keep doing this. I don't want you to be unhappy. So tell me what I can do better, Autumn."

"I want you to be you, Harry."

We continue with our morning silence and our loud thoughts, not sharing with each other, just keeping the other person company. Being this calm always scared me, made me think something bad would happen soon enough. But I had Harry, and he would get me through it, I knew he would.

"Can I pick you up?" He asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Of course you can."

"I love you."

I love you too. Which is really what I should have answered. But I didn't.

"I know." I hang up and get out of bed, stretching and letting the calmness leave my body, because the best days are never the calm ones.

I quickly take a shower, making sure to take my time straightening my hair and applying my make-up. I looked at myself in the mirror when I was done, studying myself from different angles, looking at the length of my hair. Maybe I should cut it, get a fresh start.

I push the thought aside for another time and put my clothes on, carefully putting on the long dress. I put my sandals on, zipping them up just as Harry rings the doorbell. I grab my lipstick, tainting my lips with the bright red, making sure it was perfect before going downstairs to greet Harry.

I open the door, smiling at a surprised Harry. "You're early." I tell him, letting him in.

"I thought we could go and have breakfast together. You look beautiful, like always." He finishes, kissing my cheek and grabbing my hand.

I wince and pull back, hissing at the pain spreading through my bruised hand. I turn and examine my hand, seeing that it was worse than last night. I should have covered it up with something, Harry would be worried and suspicious, and he would definitely freak out if he found that my own mother had done this to me.

"I'm sorry, what did I do?" He panics, coming closer and hovering over my shoulder to see my hand.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it." I smile at him, intertwining our hands so he wouldn't notice the bruising.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, can we just go?" Harry nods at my question, getting my bag and pulling me out of the door.

He grabs the spare key, locking the front door. He opens the car door for me, waiting for me to get in before closing it and running to the drivers seat. He holds my hand, and I am relieved when the closest one is not the one that is blue and purple. We drive in silence to a little cafe called Vitamin Caffeine, my favourite one in town.

Harry gets out and comes to open my door for me, helping me get out and holding my hand as we go inside. People watch us as we sit at a table, but I don't pay them any attention. Because I was with Harry, and he made me feel better. He made me feel special and wanted, and like I was one of the most important people in his life.