We were all sitting in the living room, dad, mum, Harry and me, Harry was standing at the fringes, not wanting to spoil the reununion but not wanting to walk out on the gathering entirely, we all held cold cups of tea, everyone too immersed in the conversation to speak. We talked about everything, from my new place to my future and mum filled me in on everything that had happened at home.
“Oh you must visit your old school!” Mum said with enthusiasm, and dad nodded enthusiastically while I gave them both an unsure look.
“They’d be delighted to see you,” she encouraged, completely enthused.
“I’ll think about it,” I said, even though I knew I wouldn’t, they would all stare at me like I was in a zoo.
“So Harry,” Dad said eventually and Harry’s head immediately shot up from his tea, like a soldier called to attention.
“Yes sir?” he stammered, I had never seen Harry so on edge before, it was sort of cute.
“What are you planning to do in the future?”
“I don’t know sir,” Harry replied, “I hope that the band re-launch will work and we will be able to start touring again.”
“I see,” my dad replied as though this had been the wrong answer, Harry bit his lip and shot a glance at me but I pretended not to see it, “what about family commitments?”
Harry’s eyes widened, “family commitments?” he asked anxiously.
“Well you’re twenty-five now, you must be thinking of starting some sort of family.” He indicated and Harry’s mouth dropped.
“Oh yes, you were married before weren’t you?” mum remembered.
“Well that was…” Harry began but my father cute him off.
“Do you always have such problems with sticking by your commitments Harry?” dad interrupted.
“Ashley was different,” he said, his voice shaky.
“But surely you loved her when you proposed?” My father pressed, “it’s not often you see a divorced twenty five year old.” He finished simply and Harry. A loud ring interrupted the awkward silence that followed, I pressed the balls of my hand into my hands. I looked up to see Harry awkwardly fumbling with the phone, attempting to reject the call.
“You can take that,” dad said shortly, “we have some family issues to discuss anyway.” Harry looked at me but I wouldn’t meet his eye as he walked out of the room.
****
I walked into the hall to see who had made a terrible moment even worse. Niall, of course.
“Well mate!” he chirped as soon as I answered the phone, “thought you weren’t gonta answer there!”
“I’m meeting the in-laws,” I explained with a sigh and Niall let off a raucous laugh.
“Not going well then?” he chuckled, I let a out a snort of derision.
“What do you think?”
“Awk sure mate, you’ll be grand!” Niall’s attempt at comfort was lost on me, “but here listen, I’m on the plane.”
“Niall why the fuck are you ringing me off a plane?” I demanded increduously.
“We’re not in the air yet, the attendants doing the pointy thing.” He brushed off in his carefree manner.
“Pointy thing?” I questioned in a dry tone and he just laughed.
“Excuse me sir,” a new, cool, female voice interrupted, “do you mind putting your phone in flight mode we’re about to take off.”
YOU ARE READING
Thunder
Fanfiction"I knew what I was doing throughout all of this, I knew what I was getting into. They may blame us, persecute us and say it was all our own fault, but do not let them weaken what we built, you are what I have been living for. I’m not afraid anymore...
