Author's Note: Two chapters for the price of one! You deserved it for your patience :) x
“Harry!” Gemma cried happily as she opened the door and held out her arms to her younger brother. She hadn’t changed much since the summer, Harry noticed – although her sleek brown hair was shorter, just below her shoulders, and her eyebrows looked freshly waxed. Other than that she was every inch the Gemma he had always known and loved, right down to her favourite sweet perfume.
“Hey Iced Gem,” Harry greeted fondly, stepping into her hug. It still amused him to find himself stooping a little to her height after growing up in her shadow.
“Have you gotten taller?” She accused, her voice a bit watery as they pulled back a few moments later. Gemma’s arms dropped to her sides a little reluctantly making it clear that she really had missed him, even if she didn’t say it aloud.
“You always say that,” Harry chuckled, ruffling her hair, “are you sure you aren’t just shrinking?”
Gemma smacked his arm and then smiled wider as Alex stepped up behind her. He was tall like Harry, slim built with dark hair and designer glasses. He was little reserved and serious – a tad too much on the quiet side for Harry to find easy to spend long amounts of time with – but essentially a decent enough bloke.
“Hi,” Harry greeted him cheerfully, holding out a hand, which Alex clasped in return, “great to see you again mate.”
“You too,” Alex nodded, smiling back genuinely. Harry wouldn’t exactly call them good friends, they were pretty different with their likes and dislikes, but they’d had enough nights out in the past to be at ease with calling themselves mates. They could certainly keep up a manly conversation while the ladies got gossiping at family dinners – just don’t expect them to ever go on a lads’ holiday together and come back bouncing off the ceiling.
Alex had a good heart though and was a great match for Gemma – and in the end that’s all that mattered to Harry, his sister’s happiness.
A quiet shifting sound behind him reminded Harry of his manners. He smiled, perhaps a little too broadly to be platonically convincing, as he stepped to the side to gesture at Louis, who was hovering a few steps back, “Gem, you remember Lou, right?”
“Of course I do!” Gemma chirped, pulling a slightly startled Louis into a hug. “How could I forget the man who managed to get red wine out of my favourite summer dress? I will forever be in his debt!” She giggled at her own ridiculously overdramatic statement as she released the blushing teacher from her hold. “Hi Louis,” she greeted him properly, and with a softer, more genuine tone. “How are you doing love? Harry told me you haven’t been too well recently?”
“A touch of pneumonia,” Louis replied, with a small smile, “but I’m definitely on the mend now, thanks to him. How have you been?”
“Oh doing away alright as usual,” she replied lightly – the tone used by those with concerns but who know it isn’t quite the time to air them. “Although I’m kind of jealous that you still have some of your summer tan left – mine was gone within three weeks of returning to Manchester.” She smiled and shook his head. “This is my boyfriend, Alex, by the way,” she turned to gesture, “Alex, this is Louis - the only person in Devon willing to take pity on my brother and befriend him.”
“Hey!” Harry protested, but smiled when Louis’ eyes crinkled up in amusement as he protested verbally in his defence too.
Alex just laughed and extended his hand, “Hi Louis, nice to meet you.”
~*~
Harry thought it was inexplicably cute that Louis was shy in the presence of his sister or, at least, he had been shy to begin with. By the time they’d reached the restaurant, Louis seemed a lot more comfortable as he chattered away to her, although there was a slightly bashful duck to his head as he answered her questions. That was the wonderful thing about Gemma though; she didn’t really let anyone feel too shy for long.
