No Control • hs

twenty-seven

That might be the last time I see his face.

I'm halfway down the hallway when an apartment door clicks open. "Peyton please don't do this." Harry is on the verge of tears, I can tell by his broken voice. I click the lobby button on the elevator and try my best not to break down. People stare at me as I hold back tears, walking through the lobby and parking garage. I drive to the nearest hotel, I'm still going to work at the preschool, I'm just taking a break from the stress that surrounds Harry. During the weekend, I'm going to Indiana and seeing my parents for the first time again in months. The threat of Zayn and Niall is overbearing and I want to be somewhere I know is safe. The only place that I can count on for that, is home.

***

"Room for one please." I say, setting my bag down next to me. I receive the keys and find my room on the eighth floor. I open the door up to a beautiful view of the preschool, the coffee shop, and... Harry's apartment. I can run but I guess I can't hide. The sun is setting and I decide to turn in for the night.

I wake up to my daily alarm and roll out of bed, slowly. I get one of my nicer outfits out of my bag and put it on. I didn't think of grabbing anything besides a hairbrush so I'm stuck with natural hair for the time being.

I arrive in the preschool parking lot and right across the street is Harry. His hair falls against his forehead and looks messier than usual. His shirt has rips in it along with his jeans and his boots look like they've been worn for 12 years without taking them off.

I try not to acknowledge him as I get out of my car and walk into the school.

***
( n e x t   w e e k e n d )

"Mom!" I yell, jumping into her arms after months of not seeing her.

"Dad!" My dad walks in and we share a group hug.

"Tyler?" Tyler joins in but I was confused as to why he was at the house. Nevertheless, I hug him anyway.

"I thought you would be here at 9:00!" Mom says, walking over to the dinner table.

"My flight was one-way and I went to the airport early this morning, so I got to the Indianapolis airport late afternoon, rented a car, and drove here!"

"Well I'm just glad you got home in time for dinner!" My dad says jokingly. We all gather around the dinner table for my favorite meal. "How has South Carolina been treating you?" My dad inquires, putting a breadstick on his plate.

"Very well, actually. I have been working at the preschool and it has been a blast."

"That's good to hear!" My mom says, listening intently. "How is the apartment coming along?"

"It's coming along, I don't know if I'm going to go through with all the repairs though. I'm not sure if I want to live at that place anymore." My parents looked at me in astonishment, waiting for an answer as to why.

Then my brother finally spoke up. "Why?" After the short word, he shoved a spoonful of pasta in his mouth.

"I'd rather talk about it another time."

"I don't see why this isn't a perfectly good time right now." My dad always has to prove a point. I explain every step from how my apartment flooded to how I stormed out on Harry all the way to when I arrived home. I told them everything. Everything except Niall and Zayn. That was something that no matter how hard it is, it has to stay between Harry and I. Somehow, I feel like that is the only thing we share in common anymore.

***

I sit down in my bed, it feels so good to be home, the same smell of the sheets, and the candles sitting on my bedside table. Everything is where it is when I left, not one thing has been touched since. I reach for my phone. Almost 150 notifications pop up. 75 phone calls and 75 texts. All from Harry.