Partners In Crime

Chapter 12: Finally Meet

-Holmes Chapel, London

Finally home.

Harry stepped out of the airport and took in a deep breath. Nothing feels better than coming back here. He looked to the side and guess who he met.

Nicole.

She didn’t even spare him a glance before stepping into a black limo and left the scene. Until now, he has no idea what was the reason she would be here. Heck, a bunch of weird people are coming into his home and he already felt infiltrated. Who was he? He didn’t own the place, but this was once his home that he loved so much…

He got himself a cab and left the airport. Looking around, he realizes that he has known this place longer than he has ever been. He finds it weird to call this place his home because basically, a home is where a person’s sanctuary is, whereas this place only gives him horrible memories. It hurt to walk down every single road, look into every shop, to see his memories with Nicole.

The only reason why he never left this place was because…

He hoped that she would come back.

He knew that it’s foolish to hope so, when he was the one who pushed him away. But he never gave up hope; he was a stubborn one when it came to accomplishing something.

He had no choice but to leave his family, though. Maybe if Nicole stopped by the Styles household, they would still be nice enough to tell her where he lives now. He still remembers the case of his murder back then…

He was sentenced to jail for 3 years, charged for murder because they couldn’t find any motive to him killing the man, but his fingerprints were anywhere and there were no other suspects except for him. He did cover it up well.

After his time spent in prison, he tried contacting Gemma, but she never picked up. He had no choice but to walk back home, and yet was greeted by horrible greetings.

FLASHBACK

Harry stood at in front of his doorstep, his luggage on the ground by his side. He took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing Gemma.

She stood there while he looked into her eyes. Shock and disbelief flashed through her eyes. Her face slowly turning into a frown.

“What are you doing here?”

Harry actually expected it to hurt but it didn’t. He knew she would hate him for what he did.

“Gemma, I…”

“You broke your promise, Harry.”

Promise?

“Yes, your promise. I can’t believe you even forgot about that.” Harry didn’t realize that he said that aloud until she replied. “Remember when you said you would come back for me? For us? Well, you didn’t, ass. Do you know how long I waited for you to turn up and visit mum? You never did! I had to pick up the pieces alone! How dare you murder someone! After your jail sentence, did you know what I had to do? I had to lie! I was ashamed of you, Harry. So, so unbelievably ashamed. Mum and dad never raised you up to be like this. At first I refused to believe that my baby brother would do such a thing but when the neighbors were gossiping about us I just…” She paused for a few seconds before continuing. “When mum got out of the hospital, it had already been a week. I did what a daughter would have done. I did what I should have done.”

Harry didn’t want to know.

“I convinced her that you were dead and gone.”