Heartbreaker [h.s.]

Chapter Twenty*

The tour bus rattled beneath me as it flew down the highway on our way to North Carolina. The view from the windows was a blur of passing trees and sun-kissed fields that reminded me a little of Mississippi. It was a comforting feeling. I'll always be grateful that Eva and I escaped, but there was still a small part of me that missed home. I haven't been back in so long, I should probably call my mom soon... It's been a while since we've talked and that wasn't necessarily out of character for us but what I witnessed with Harry and his own mother had me thinking about mine more than usual.

We had a fine relationship, no serious issues or anything, I just wanted more out of life. She was hell bent on marrying me off and living the exact life she did and I rebelled against it. Seeing how shattered Harry was when his mom showed up had me appreciating mine a little bit more. I know last night was tough for him, but I can say I'm so proud of him. I never would have expected him to open up the way he did, let alone with me. The last 24 hours have given me a very different view of him and why he is the way he is. I feel like we're finally moving in the right direction and I prayed that the civility continued.

I had just settled in on the couch at the back of the bus, completely engrossed in Embracing Lilith by Mark H. Williams. I'd been reading it off and on since we left New York when I had some downtime, so I steal as much quiet time as I can to catch up. I was lost in the words on the page when the pocket door flew open. Harry's tall figure squeezes through the small door frame, dark aviators perched on his nose as he looks me over. Just as I'm flipping to the next chapter, my book is snatched from my hands. "Harry!" I yell.

Harry plops down right next to me-practically sitting on my thigh, pulls his sunglasses off and begins flipping through my book. "Hey! You lost my page!" I reach for it but Harry's too fast. Holding my book far away from my reach, a mischievous smile formed on his lips. "What cha reading, Red?"

"Can I have my book back please?"

"Nope." Harry flips the book in his hands and reads the cover, brows furrowed. "Embracing Lilith, huh?" He reads aloud, his voice dripping with mockery. "What is this? A feminist manifesto disguised as a novel?"

I rolled my eyes. "If you think reclaiming power, seeing Lilith as a powerful female archetype, and the concept of duality in womanhood as a feminist manifesto, then sure that's exactly what it is. But I don't expect you to get it."

Harry scrunched his nose and tossed my book back into my lap. "Yeah, no I don't get it."

"Why because you can't read?"

Harry's face becomes animated with faux offense. "Excuse me!?!"

"Well? Never seen you read a book."

"You've known me for like 2 months, Red. You don't know everything about me."

"And what is it that you enjoy reading then?" I pressed him, wanting to know more about the mysterious Harry Styles who showed me a different side to him last night. There's clearly more to him than meets the eye and my curiosity consumed me. Harry shook his head, "I don't think so."