Trace

Chapter 29

"For Christ's sake, Cae!!" my mother shouts, whilst raising her hands to her blonde hair.

"What?! It's not like we just met, Mum!" I cry in protest.

"So you just want to leave me here, I guess?"

I grunt in exasperation. "Don't do that!"

"Do what?" She feigns innocence.

I wave my hands at her. "Trying to make me feel bad and pity you!"

"You know I have no one but you! Cae, you're my baby girl!"

"I'm no longer a child, Mother! I am eighteen and can very well make my own decisions, thank you. I am going to live with Harry in Liverpool whether you like or not," I hiss angrily.

Mum gives me a sad look. "I just don't want you getting hurt, that is all," she admits softly.

Suddenly, I feel a wave if guilt. "I'm sorry, Mummy."

She gladly welcomes me into her arms with a warm embrace.

"I know you'll be just fine. You're a smart girl and I can trust the decisions that you make," she whispers into my hair.

**************************************

Harry and I decided to make a trip to Liverpool to check out the flat we would be sharing. The drive was just over five hours, due to traffic.

"Here we are," Harry's says, nudging my arm gently to wake me.

I open my eyes and rub them. It takes a second to adjust to the new place I am in. We are pulling into a parking space in front of a small apartment complex. Harry opens his car door and gets out, only to walk over to my side and open it.

I groan, unsatisfied as he takes my hand to bring my tired body out of the vehicle.

"Come on, love. We are almost there," he coos.  

With Harry's arm around me, we walk up to the steps to the apartment. Harry punches in a code and opens the door. A wave of air conditioning greets us and I walk into our temporary home.

"It's nice," I comment, looking around at the place.

The floors are a dark wood and there is a black rounded table next to the kitchen area. The floor to the stairs is carpeted white.

I leave Harry's side as I go to explore the kitchen. I admit, it is much bigger than it looked from the view I had at the front door. It is nice and open, with much walking space. The cabinets are a dark, polished wood, and the counter tops are white marble. There are three black stools behind one of the counters, which create a nice sitting area.

"Wow," I gush aloud. "This is probably one of the nicest kitchens I have ever seen in an apartment."

Harry smirks. "Well, my aunt had a massive renovation system; she originally had planned to use this as a renting flat for when she moved out."

I nod and walk around to the open dining area, right next to the kitchen. An oval black table sits under a small, classy chandelier. I rub my hand across the smooth surface of the table and pull out one of the chairs to sit on.

"Oooh, these are comfy!"

Harry chuckles and joins me by sitting down in the chair across from me.

"You're right, they are nice and bouncy!"

He humours me by bouncing up and down on his bum.

I push in the chair before I continue my tour of our new living space. I walk back around the kitchen to the living room.

There is a white wrap-around couch with circular black foot rests. On the other side of the couch is another, but smaller than the wrap-around. In the center is a black and white marble table with a flowerpot of colourful flowers.

"Oh my God!"

I look at the massive television screen on the wall. It is far bigger than any TV I have owned, that's for sure.

Harry comes up behind me and places his large hands in the small of my back.

"You like?"

"Like? This place is like a dream! I love it!"

Harry laughs at my response and and walks over to the TV. He runs a hand under it for some examination. Boys.

"Your auntie seems to favour the theme 'black and white', yeah?"

"I was thinking the same thing. I am actually quite impressed by what she's done to this place. It used to be this ordinary little apartment space. But now..."

"It's perfect," I breathe.

Harry kisses me on the mouth and I sigh as I rub my hands through his hair. He pulls away slowly and smiles at me.

"I love you," he whispers.

"I love you more."

"Impossible," he states, and places a quick kiss on my lips.

I walk around the white couch and to the stairs as Harry enters the white door to the bathroom next to the living room.

I am about to take a step up onto the carpet, when I think twice and remove my flip flops from my feet. I throw them aside onto the wooden floors, and then walk up the stairs.

At once, I quietly gasp as my foot makes contact with the cool, plush carpet. It is definitely the softest carpeting I have ever felt.

There are three bedrooms to the small upstairs, and two bathrooms. I walk past the first bathroom as I enter the first bedroom. A bed is caddy-cornered white a black and white striped bedding. Next to it is a white nightstand with a black lamp. On the wall opposite the bed is a white dresser.

Then next bedroom is the same as the first, but a little bigger and a different bedspread. This design is (surprise) black and white polka dots.

The third and final bedroom is the one actually going to be put to use by Harry and me. It is the master and by far the largest, of course. A king sized bed, which is much bigger than I am accustomed to, is beneath a black spread with white decorative pillows. A white love seat is in a corner of the room. A nice television is places on a dresser across from the bed. I make my way over to the bedroom's bathroom. It is a perfect size for me and Harry, with a double sink and a shower with dark tiled flooring next to the toilet.

I leave the bathroom, feeling content as well as excited with my new living space. Although we won't be staying here for a very long time, I know we will both make the most of it.

"How do you think of this place?"

I jump, startled by Harry's presence.

"I didn't hear you come in," I giggle.

He takes my hand into his and we exit the bedroom and walk down the stairs.

"And I love this place. It's absolutely perfect."

"And you won't get tired of living with me?" he asks.

I shrug. "It's only for a little while. Then you'll be back in London and I will be back at my mum's."

Harry smiles. "That's right, love. Only for a little while."