Forever (h.s.)

Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Same Mistakes

After several huge shows in Finland, we were on a plane to California and our trusty red bus was in the cargo belly of the plane. Everyone was asleep except for Perrie and I, we were absentmindedly watching a comedy on the tiny television screen.

"Twenty minutes until we land in LA, the seatbelt sign will be turned on. Thank you." After the captain finished speaking, we set about waking the rest of our group. Riley, unfortunately, was sitting across the aisle from us, and I nudged him cautiously with my foot. He shifted, opening his piercing eyes. Ever since that day in the studio, they were like ice to me, sending shivers down my spine.

"Hi," he said, his voice gravelly and low. I stared at him for a moment, then felt someone tug on my arm. Perrie had woken Harry, and he was giving Riley a hard glare. I looked away from Riley without saying a word.

"Morning angel!" I said to Harry, making him grin and wiping the iciness from his eyes. He bit his tongue, dimples showing.

"Hi," he said softly, leaning forward to kiss my cheek. I accepted it with a smile. "We almost there?" he asked. I nodded.

"Twenty minutes, he said."

Harry nuzzled up into my shoulder, closing his eyes again. "Okay."

We landed in the LA airport in late morning, everyone jet-lagged except for George, who was bouncing gleefully across the shining linoleum.

"Hurry hurry, guys," he said loudly, beckoning us towards the baggage claim. This was a different man than I'd met all those years ago. He was happier, more out-spoken, less sullen and hated me a lot less. He was family now.

I grabbed my suitcase from the conveyer belt and took Harry's hand, letting him lead me out into the parking lot. "Where's the bus?" Louis asked, looking for the familiar shiny red siding.

"There was a little trouble unloading the thing, kinda had a crash landing," George explained. We gasped, concerned for our tour home. "She'll be up and running before we leave Cali, but until then, we'll be hotel hopping."

"I love hotels, this won't be so bad," I said, sitting down on the tar and beckoning for little Lux to come into my lap. Harry joined me, spreading his long legs beside mine and gently ruffling Lux's blond fluffy hair.

"How old are you, Lux?" I asked her, taking her hands and dancing her in front of me. She fell back into my lap, leaning her head on my shoulder, then she looked up at me, grinning.

"I'm five," she said with a giggle.

"You're growing up so fast!!" I said, squeezing her. She laughed, squirming away from me.

"Let go of me Say, that tickles!" Harry caught her in his arms and lifted her as we walked to the cars. Watching her blond pigtails bob happily beside his curly head stirred something in me, the same sort of warmth in my stomach I felt when Harry promised me the rest of his life, the first time we'd ever slept together.

The hotel was beautiful, with fake flowers and white statues of angels at every corner. Our rooms, as usual, were connected, and Harry and I took the one at the end of our chain. Though it was just after noon, everyone went straight to bed to sleep off the jet-lag. By the time we reached our room I was so tired I pulled off my jeans and fell into the crisp white sheets.

I'd been sleeping for what felt like only a few minutes when I felt someone softly moving his foot up and down my shin. I rolled over to see Harry smirking at me. "Harry, go to sleep."

"Lovelyyy, I'm hungry." He rested his head on my stomach, kissing it warmly. "Wake up."

"I swear Harry, go back to sleep." My eyelids were heavy and i squirmed away from him."Come on, I'm exhausted." Unfortunately, Harry's type of exhausted was silly and ignorant while mine was cranky and stubborn.