Grace Notes

Chapter 74

Lola's POV-

Christmas Eve.

Why didn't it feel like Christmas Eve? Despite the fact we had decorated, listened to Christmas music constantly, watched Christmas movies, and even wore Christmas sweaters it still felt off. I had to assume it was just because of the fact that the awkwardness was just overpowering the holly jollyness.

Although, I had to admit, the more time Harry and I spent together, the easier it got. Less and less was I consistently remembering the site of him fucking Evangeline, but rather what it was like when we first started spending time together.

"What does your family usually do on Christmas Eve?" Harry asked me around twilight.

I looked up from where I was sitting at the piano, scribbling down lyrics of a new song I was writing. "We usually go to a church service or Christmas pageant. Then we go back home and watch a Christmas movie and drink hot chocolate. When we were little, my parents would let us open up one present"

"That sounds nice"

"It was" I looked back down. "Wouldn't be the same now since mom's gone"

He walked over to me and pointed to my notebook. "May I look?"

"Why not?" I shrugged.

He picked it up and began to scan it.

"What did your family do?"

"We usually have special finger foods and sing Christmas carols around the piano, then go to bed before it's too late. Except now I stay up later so I can help Mum wrap presents for the kids"

"That sounds lovely"

"It is" He pressed his finger on the page, then read out my lyrics. "You said you needed space. You were five hundred miles away from me and you're still unsure. I'm starting to think that another universe apart wouldn't be enough space"

Shaking his head, he reached to take my pen from me.

"What are you doing?" I gripped my pen so he couldn't pull it away.

"It doesn't rhyme. I'm going to reword it for you."

"No" I drew it back. "It's my song. It doesn't have to rhyme..."

He opened his mouth, but closed it.

"From now on, my songs are my songs. Not yours. You already turned Lights Up into your own..."

"You're right" he set down the notebook. "I'm sorry."

I looked up at him. "You said Christmas carols?"

"Huh?" He met me eyes.

"Your family sings Christmas songs around the piano?"

He nodded.

I turned back around to the piano and put my fingers on the keys, then I started to play a simple melody.

"O Holy night" I sang quietly. "The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of the dear Savior's birth"

Looking a bit surprised Harry sat down next to me on the bench and put his fingers and octave higher from mine. Then he started his duet and joined in singing.

"Long lay the work in sin and error pining til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth. A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees. Oh, hear the angel voices. Oh might Devine. Oh night, when Christ was born. Oh night divine. Oh night divine"