Harley Walsh: Strained Sisters

5. From good to terrible pt2

Lauryn POV:

God she’s cute when she’s sleeping…. Her shoulder is gently touching my chest and her arms are so tight round me but I think that’s because of her attachment issues. My tired girl. Well we’re not together but I think Harley loves me and I definitely love her.

Suddenly a loud bang from outside the sensory room happens and Harley shoots up and starts screaming at everything. So I pulled her closer in my chest and stroked her head.

No ones pov

However, an hour later, Harley stirred, but without warning, the tears began to flow anew, cascading down her cheeks in silent despair.
Noticing her friend’s distress, Lauryn instinctively adjusted her position to provide comfort, her voice soft and gentle as she asked, “What’s wrong?”
With teary eyes still glistening with the remnants of slumber, Harley managed to articulate her confusion in muffled sobs, “I might see Keira at the baby shower.”
Keira was Harley's older sister, and their relationship had often been fraught with tension and emotional turmoil. The mere mention of her sister conjured a tangled web of feelings within Harley—fear, apprehension, and a longing for approval. Understanding this, Lauryn, ever the supportive and compassionate friend, furrowed her brow thoughtfully and reassured Harley, “But she might not even be there! Remember, it’s only our close friends and family.”
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows along the school grounds, Lauryn knew it was time to leave the comforting chaos of the school day behind and head toward home. She met up with her sister Katie, the two of them piling into the car with an air of tension that hung between them, thick with unspoken words and unaddressed feelings. Katie, who was also Lauryn’s teammate on the football  field, had been invited to the very same baby shower that loomed over Harley like a heavy cloud, despite the unresolved rift that still existed between Harley and Keira.
Moments later, they arrived at the house, greeted by Harley’s parents, Tracey and Peter, whose welcoming smiles could not dispel the gathering storm of anxiety that filled the atmosphere. The reality of the baby shower settled in sharply; the impending arrival of Keira’s baby threatened to overshadow the occasion, suffocating it in tension. In a moment of overwhelm, feeling hunted by familial expectations and the specter of her sister's presence, Harley bolted from the house, racing out the door with a desperate need to escape the suffocating environment. Hatred for the emotions battling within her, she dashed down the street, seeking refuge and solitude.
“Harley, wait!” Lauryn called out, her voice laced with concern, but it was too late. Harley had already disappeared into the distance, leaving a void that Lauryn felt in her own heart.
While Katie sought connection and enjoyment amidst friends and family, confident in her social abilities, for Harley, the baby shower represented a confrontation she was not ready to face. Keira had long dominated their relationship, often overshadowing Harley’s individuality and aspirations. The thought of their shared past mingled uncomfortably with visions of Keira’s new life phase, filling Harley with a persistent anxiety that gnawed at her insides.
After what felt like an eternity of small talk and awkward silence, Lauryn sensed Harley’s tension rising yet again. Determined to support her friend, Lauryn made a decision; she would not simply sit back and let this weight of emotional burden crush Harley. Taking an exit route from the gathering, she stepped outside, scanning the surroundings with a determined gaze before making her way down the familiar street toward the woods—a sanctuary where their friendship had often flourished, free from pretense and judgment.
After searching for twenty long minutes, Lauryn finally spotted Harley sitting against a sturdy oak tree, quiet tears streaming silently down her cheeks, glistening in the fading sunlight.
“Hey,” Lauryn said softly as she approached her friend, her voice barely above a whisper. “Do you want to talk?”
They settled together in the comfort of their long-standing friendship, surrounded by the soothing sounds of rustling leaves and the chirping of birds, each sound seeming to weave itself into the fabric of their shared moment. It felt significant, an important piece of the puzzle that was their young lives beginning to find clarity and resolution amidst emotional turmoil.
“It’s just… I can’t face her, Lauryn,” Harley began, her voice a mere whisper. “How do I tell her I don’t want to be part of her world anymore? It just makes me feel like a failure for not being excited about her baby.”
“I get it,” Lauryn replied, her tone understanding and empathetic. “But this isn’t about you failing her. You have every right to feel how you feel. Protecting your peace isn’t selfish; it’s necessary.”
Encouraged by Lauryn’s heartfelt response, Harley began to unearth the layers of turmoil that had long been buried beneath the surface. They delved into the intricacies of her feelings—her inadequacy, her fear of rejection, and the complicated love she felt for her sister, juxtaposed with her earnest disinterest in joyous celebration.
After a long exchange of thoughts, a moment of stillness enveloped them, and Lauryn felt her heart racing in her chest. It was time to step into the unknown, to risk vulnerability in a way that could change everything. “Harley,” she began, her voice trembling slightly, “I’ve been thinking… Do you want to be my girlfriend? I know weve only just met and all but i really like you”
A profound silence enveloped them, as if the world around them had paused to listen. Harley’s eyes widened in shock, then softened as surprise quickly washed over her, soon replaced by a glimmer of joy that illuminated her face, dispelling the sorrow that had marked their earlier conversation.
“Yes,” Harley breathed with a light tremor in her voice, a radiant smile breaking through her tears. “Yes, I’d absolutely love that.”
With this simple yet monumental affirmation, both girls felt a weight lift from their shoulders, the burdens of expectation and fear evaporating in the presence of newfound hope. In that unexpected moment, their friendship blossomed into something entirely new, filled with the fertile potential for growth and exploration. The bond they had cultivated over years of shared experiences transformed into a beautiful affection—an undercurrent that had been flowing quietly between them, now brought to the forefront in a moment of beautifully raw honesty.
As dusk settled around them, painting the world in breathtaking hues of purple and orange, Harley and Lauryn lingered in the peaceful woods, their hearts lightening with each passing second. The shadows of their past may loom faintly on the horizon, yet they stood in the presence of newfound strength and support for one another. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but together they would navigate the complexities of sisterhood and budding love, equipped with uncertain hearts but unwavering resolve.
In the end, it often takes a meltdown, a long walk away, and the courage to ask a heartfelt question for new beginnings to truly flourish. At Rochdale Park Academy the lessons learned would echo through the hallways long after the final bell rang—a testament to the beauty of friendship, the thrill of first loves, and the unapologetic acceptance of one’s own emotions.

AUTHORS NOTES-
Will Harley return to Keiras baby shower??

Wsl-stories1 chapter