Partners In Crime

Chapter 20: Taken

-Styles Household, Holmes Chapel

“Welcome back!”

Harry and Lanna stepped in the house only to be flogged by numerous amounts of…colorful paper strips? No wait. It’s confetti.

“Sorry, Niall here was saying that we should try this thing—” Zayn held up a used confetti cannon in his hand. “As part of the celebration of you guys coming back!” He finished with a smile.

Harry and Lanna exchanged a look with each other. What did they expect from a bunch of boys who seems to be stuck in a 10 year olds mind?

Lanna opened her mouth as to start saying something but was cut off by Gemma’s arrival.

“Alright guys, celebration time is over!” The boys sighed and moved towards the living room. Harry and Lanna made their way towards the living room as well but was stopped by Gemma’s outstretched arm. Both of them looked up simultaneously, wondering what was going on.

“Not for both of you. You guys, are as of now, grounded for a month.”

Both their jaws fell open in shock.

What are they, 10?

“I know, you guys must think it’s childish but hey, I’m doing this for a few reasons. One; how dare both of you leave without telling me? Did you know how worried I was? How worried all of us were? Two; coming back. No, heck, you guys didn’t even come back home? Instead, I had to receive a phone call from the hospital to inform us that my brother and I quote ‘his female partner’ has been brought to the hospital due to severe injury! How could you guys be so inconsiderate? Three; no explanation. This was no small matter, Harry. A bullet! What in the world did you get yourselves into? I just wanted some peace after you’re finally accepted back in the family! I don’t even know how to explain all this to mum when she gets home…” Gemma was in hysterics by the time she finished her lecture. Needless to say, her voice was loud enough to reach down the next few blocks. Lanna bit her lip and looked down in shame while Harry just stared into space, his face showing no emotion.

“Look, can both of you please give me some time to handle all this? I’ve got to think of a way to explain this to mum without making it sound as scary as it seems…just go to your rooms. Grounded for one month I tell you. One month!” Gemma finished and stomped off towards the kitchen. Lanna hastily walked upstairs with Harry trailing behind her.

* * *

Harry’s P.O.V.

I sat down on my bed for what seemed like hours. Grounded, at the age of 22. I can’t imagine what the lads would be thinking of me when I’m done with this.

Technically, it wasn’t just me. Lanna was grounded too. I asked her not to tell Gemma and the lads of anything that happened, not even a single detail.

Thinking of Lanna reminds me of what happened that day in the hospital. I could tell she wasn’t comfortable during the kiss. It must’ve felt weird for her, to be kissed all of a sudden by a man like me. A man who isn’t worth anything from her.

I walked around in my room, bored out of my mind and suddenly, I felt something fall onto my leg.

A hamper and a white envelope fell out from under my desk.

“I got these for you”

“I don’t want them.”

Nicole.

She must have left these here after she left. Doesn’t anyone understand common English around here? I already said no and yet…

Curiosity led me to bend down and pick the envelope up. I’m going to give these back so I best not touch the hamper. The envelope, on the other hand, was already open so why not?