Trace

Chapter 17

I awoke in an unfamiliar place. It was very dark and I could not tell if it was morning or night, due to the thick black curtains. It was then that I realised where I was. In Harry's mum's home. The very place where he was raised. I found this thought surprisingly comforting for some odd reason. Harry was not in bed with me, and my nose sniffed a strong, delicious odor of breakfast, so I rose. Stretching, I lifted my arms above my head and turned on the light to look at my reflection. My dark hair was surely a mess so I flipped over to tie it up in a messy bun.

  "It'll have to do," I said.

I slowly opened the door, letting it creak, and was about to walk down the steps when I overheard Harry and Anne talking to one another. Feeling curious and nosy of what they were discussing, I cued it.

  "Watch it, Harry! You'll burn the pancakes!" Anne cried, and I could sense the exasperation on Harry's face.

   "It's okay, Mum. I've got this," he chuckled momentarily.

"So...El. You like her, yeah?"

 My heart skipped a beat at the mention of my name.

Harry hesitated before I heard his voice answer. "Yeah, but it's not just that."

   My heart stopped. Oh. no.

"I think...I really do believe I'm falling in love with her."

 Relief flooded over me. My heart fluttered inside my chest and butterflies were released in my stomach. Is this real? I thought to myself. Is this what love really feels like? I knew that I, too, could not help myself but to fall for Harry a little more each day.

   "Ohh. Is that so?" Anne responded.

"Yeah. Does it seem strange? She's unlike any other girl I have ever met. She's sweet, yet independent, shyly bold yet innocent. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen. When I'm around her, it's seriously the most amazing feeling in the whole entire world. Like I would do anything, anything at all, to make her happy, and to make her stay with me. I know I would give my life up for her in a heartbeat."

   I froze, tears forming in my eyes. Was Harry really saying this? I had not heard someone talk about me like this before. Am I in love? I wondered to myself. Sure, I loved Harry, in a close way. He was my boyfriend! But love, a burning passionate love? I was aware that yes, that love was indeed beginning to form between the two of us. Never had I told a boy that I loved him before.

    "I'm happy for you, Harry. El seems like a brilliant girl and I'm grateful you aren't hanging with those tramps anymore," Anne chuckled.

  I took a step forward and began my descent down the stairs. I didn't want it to be obvious that I had been eavesdropping, so I squint my eyes, acting as if they haven't yet adjusted to the light and yawn. 

    "Good morning, baby!" Harry's face lit up.

"Good morning," I responded, wanting to sound a bit groggy.

   "Breakfast is almost finished. Me and Mum are cooking up a tasty meal for ya."

"Good morning, Anne," I gave her a warm smile and she returned one.

   "How'd you sleep?" she asked me.

"Oh, it was very comfortable, thank you!"

   Harry walked out of the kitchen and came over to me, kissing me full on the lips.

"You snore," I tell him.

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   "Look, we were drunk. She was dancing on me and making me feel good, so I took her upstairs. Things got out of hand. Truthfully, neither of us knew exactly what was happening."

   Toby's face is full of guilt. Harry and I have long left Anne's and now we were at Toby's talking with Ayla and him.

   "Slut, whore, tramp- go on say it. I've heard it all! I never never intended on sleeping with Anne's boyfriend! She's my best friend! You saw me last night, Cae! You saw how shitfaced I was!" Ayla was raising her voice now, and had an accusing tone.

   "That's no excuse!" I shot back. "It's YOUR fault you let yourself get drunk and totally vulnerable."

Ayla was in tears now.

  "I know what we did last night was completely idiotic and immature and dishonorable. Just please...don't tell Anne just yet. I want to wait until the right time. Please." Toby begins to beg.

I cross my arms. " 'Wait until the right time'?? Toby, she's your girlfriend! Look at what you've done! Look at the mess you and Ayla created!" I was in a fury now, and Harry put a comforting hand on my back.

   "What you two did was a massive mistake. Anne will be crushed to hear the news. You can't hide it from her, Toby," Harry stated firmly.

   Toby looked and down and I can see tears welling in his eyes.

 He mumbled sorrowfully and his voice was barely audible. "Oh what have I done?"

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"I'm glad we talked with them," Harry says to me.

We just pulled up into the driveway of my house.

   "Me too," I respond quietly.

Harry looks drained and I feel the same way. It has really been a long day. Harry begins to get out of the car to help me in the house, but I stop him.

  "That's okay, I can get in myself," I give him a small smile.

I open up the door, but Harry's voice stops me.

  "El..."

"Yeah?" I answer, turning around.

Harry looks me in the eyes and they are full of...of what? Fear? Confusion? Passion? By his expression, I know he's about to say something important. I think back to the conversation he had had with Anne this morning. My heart pumps loudly in my chest.

  "I'll be seeing you," he says finally.

I try to mask my disappointment with a weary smile. I know he had to say something else. His eyes gave him away, but I couldn't exactly read what he was feeling inside.

   "Oh, my love, I'll sure be seeing you." I reply softly and close the door after me.

And that's it. Once Harry makes sure I enter into my house safely, he pulls away, disappering from sight. And two weeks go by without a word from him.