Look at Me - H.S.

~ Chapter 13 ~

Waking up with a smile on my face is not something that happens very often nowadays. Today however, is the exception. Imagine being woken up by the glorious smell of breakfast drifting through the room and the sweet sounds of Mr Harry Styles himself singing one of your favourite songs of all time. And no, I'm not dreaming, this is happening, right now. Although I do pinch myself just to be absolutely sure. I stretch out my arms and legs with a loud yawn and take a deep breath before heaving myself off the sofa and padding slowly into the kitchen. As I make it to the door, I can see Harry standing at the stove with his back to me, stirring what I assume is eggs, in a pan, a tea towel slung over his left shoulder while singing "But I see your true colours shining through, I see your true colours and that's why I love you" – the way it sounds spilling from his mouth is so effortlessly beautiful, I cant help but just stand and admire for a moment. I lean against the door frame with my arms crossed over my chest and close my eyes. There's a warm feeling in my chest and a smile on my face. I don't have an explanation for the tears that work their way out of my eyes, but I do nothing to try and get rid of them either.
Is this what Happy feels like?

"Good morning, Lady Drunkington" – I jump slightly, snapping out of the blissful daze I seemed to be in and snap open my eyes. Harrys cocky smirk is quickly replaced with a look of concern as he makes his way towards me and immediately engulfs me in a tight hug. "CJ, what's up? Are you ok?" he asks, nothing but genuine concern laced his voice as he rests his chin on my head and rubs my back soothingly. I giggle, slightly embarrassed and pull away from him. "I'm good H, I'm really good" I nod, giving him a reassuring smile. "Sorry" I apologise "that song is one of my favourites and you just sounded so beautiful, these aren't sad tears, I promise. I don't really know what they are, I'm just being an idiot, sorry."
His hands rub up and down the tops of my arms while he bends his knees so that he's eye level with me, I can see him scanning my entire face, checking my sincerity. I raise my eyebrows and give the biggest, cheesiest grin I can muster, making him release a small, breathy laugh. With a swift kiss to my forehead, he turns on his heels and heads back over to whatever he was originally doing. I follow behind him and take a seat on one of the stools at the island.

He plates up some scrambled eggs on toast for the both of us before joining me. "how's the hangover?" he asks, wincing slightly. "don't have one" I shrug. "what? How don't you have a hangover? You were all over the place. I mean, look at my fucking nails!" he holds a hand out in front of me and I can't help but laugh, flinging my head back and squeezing my eyes shut. They do look pretty horrendous, I must admit. "Just don't get them" I shrug again, feeling smug. I'm not sure whether he's pissed off or just genuinely shocked at my revelation but whatever it is makes me laugh again. Harry huffs dramatically and mumbles something under his breath about it not being fair as he shakes his head and tucks back into his breakfast. Once we've both finished, I take our plates to the sink to rinse off before loading the dishwasher while Harry makes me a cup of tea and himself a coffee, using his fancy machine that has far too many buttons for something that simply makes a hot drink.

I check the time on my phone noticing that it's 9.30am and excuse myself for a moment to head back into the living room to call my Mum and check on the girls. The phone rings twice before I'm greeted with the unwelcoming voice of my mother, "Where the hell are you?" she snaps. Rolling my eyes, being thankful she can't see me I sigh quietly, "I'm at Harrys." She doesn't need anymore information than that, I'm a grown woman for God's sake. "And you think that's appropriate, do you? Spending the night at a strange man's house while your poor husband had to spend the night all alone, wondering where you are? I will not have any daughter of mine acting like some jezebel, Cassandra." I can't help but giggle at her choice of words, seriously who even uses that word anymore? "Mum, he's just my friend. Mark was out with his friends last night and I was with mine, that's all. There's no need to worry about Mark, he's fine, trust me" I assure her. It didn't take me long to work out that Mark has already spoken to my Mum this morning, making sure she's aware that I wasn't home, even though I text him to let him know where I was and what I was doing, like I always do, not that he even bothered to respond. Nothing new there. He must've left that small detail out when he spoke to her though. "That's not the point Cassandra, the poor man has had to get up and make his own breakfast this morning." I can feel the energy being sucked from my soul with every word she speaks so I try to cut the conversation short. "Ok, Mum. I'll make sure I apologise when I get home."
"Be sure that you do. I don't know how that poor man puts up with you, I really don't" she huffs. I ignore her comment and cut to the reason why I phoned in the first place. "Are the girls ok? What time are they coming home?" "Yes, they're perfectly fine Cassandra, I'm more than capable of looking after my granddaughters you know, I don't know why you insist on checking up on me. I will bring them home at 4pm, just as I always do once they've had their roast dinner. God knows they could do with a decent meal" and just like that, any trace of a good mood I had this morning is ripped from me, all before 10am. "Ok Mum, Thank you. I'll see you later" I don't even get a verbal response, just another huff before the line goes dead.