certain things

5.

"See you for Christmas dinner?" Liam asked and I nodded, hopping out of his car.

"Bye, Li." I smiled and he waved, driving across the street to his house.

I walked up the stone walkway, dragging my suitcase behind me, and took a deep breath. I rang the doorbell and clutched the suitcase handle in my hands. I don't know why I'm so nervous. It's my family. The door swung open to reveal a smiling green eyed, curly haired boy.

"Sammy!" He exclaimed, tugging me into a hug.

"Hey, Haz." I smiled, pulling out of our embrace.

"My mum and Gemma are put shopping so it's just you and me." Harry said and I nodded, walking inside.

The house seemed different but I couldn't put my finger on it. Harry followed me up to my old room and I set my suitcase down, flopping down on the bed. Harry laughed and sat in my desk chair, spinning around to look at me.

"God, I miss my bed." I groaned and Harry laughed, propping his feet up on the edge. "What's been going on around here?"

"Not much." He shrugged. "What have you been up to in the wonderful world of uni?"

"Work, class." I answered.

"How've you been, Sam?" Harry asked, seriously, after a minute.

"I'm alright." I kept it vague, not really wanting to get into this. "Can I tell you something, Haz?"

"You can tell me anything, you know that." He sighed and I smiled a little, looking up at the ceiling.

"I think I like Liam." I uttered and Harry loudly gasped. "Don't make a big deal about it."

"I fucking knew it!" Harry exclaimed. "Does he know?"

"Well, no. And he can't. It will ruin everything." I said, sitting up to look at my step brother. "We kissed a couple weeks ago." I blurted out and Harry's eyes widened.

"You what?" He yelled, a smile breaking out on his face.

"We were at a party playing truth or dare and I got dared to kiss him. And it just happened. Then he ran away. I just, I don't know what to do, Haz." I fell back and threw an arm over my eyes.

"We're back!" I sat up, squealing and running out of the room, down the stairs.

"Gemma." I squealed, tackling her into a hug and Gem laughed, squeezing me tight.

"Ah, I missed you so much." We rocked back and forth and I hugged her tight, happy to see her. "We have so much to talk about tonight."

"Sam!" Anne smiled, pulling me into a hug. "How are you?"

"Fine, I've missed you guys." I smiled as we all sat down in the living room.

"How are your classes going?" Anne asked me and I crossed one leg over the other, leaning against the back of the love seat.

"Good, I got a job at the photography studio by my flat. God, creative writing is kicking my arse, though." I groaned and Gemma laughed.

"I hated that class. I'm sure Harry would love it if he actually went to uni." Gemma said sarcastically and Harry let out a 'hey.'

"I quite like my job at the bakery." He stated, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Only because that Emily girl works there with you." Anne teased, making me laugh.

"Wait, Emily with blue eyes and blonde hair?" I asked and Harry nodded, furrowing his eyebrows.

"How do you know her?" He cocked his head to the side.

"She was in my classes in high school and now she goes to uni with me but comes home on the weekends to work." I explained and a blush rose to his cheeks.

This was mostly how our night went. At dinner, we all joked and laughed, making me feel ten times better. When my mom left, my dad was devastated. But, then a while later, he met Anne. I immediately liked her. They got married after only a year of dating and I became best friends with Harry and Gemma. I never had any siblings until them and they are literally the best.

Last year, after my dad passed away, I expected them to never talk to me again. Since we weren't technically related or a real family, I thought the worst. I thought completely wrong. It is as if nothing has changed and I still come home for Christmas and sometimes during the summer. Anne is the closest thing I have to a mum, other than Karen, and she is one of the greatest people I have ever met.

Harry and I are a lot alike. Both of us like the same kind of music and movies with a shared love of stupid jokes and dry sarcasm. Him and Liam are really close too, which I am beyond grateful for. I can literally go to Harry with anything. Same thing with Gemma. When our parents first got married, she wasn't around much, but when she was, I loved hanging out. We have gotten progressively closer over the years and it makes me happy to know that I have a family like them.

"I am totally gonna kick your ass at snowman building this year." Harry threw at candy at me from across the living room and I scoffed, taking a small bite of my ice cream.

"In your dreams, Styles." I challenged and he cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, unlike you guys, I have to work tomorrow. See you all in the morning." Anne got up from the couch and bid us goodnight, going up the stairs.

"So, what's up with you and Liam?" Gemma blurted out as soon as we heard a bedroom door shut. I felt my cheeks flush and her and Harry laughed.

"Oh, I gotta go." Harry stated, awkwardly standing up after checking his phone.

"Have fun with Emily." I giggled and he just muttered that he hated us and scrambled out the door.

"You can't avoid the question, Sam." Gemma laughed, chucking a pillow at me and I smiled, setting my empty bowl on the coffee table.

"I honestly don't know." I answered, truthfully. "I like him, though."

"Didn't you guys lose your virginity to each other?" My eyes widened and I spit the coffee I was drinking back into the mug.

"How did you know that?" I coughed and Gemma smirked.

"Ruth told me." She smiled. "But, I'm not judging. It's cute that you guys are still so close."

"Yeah, we just figured that we would get it over with together." I shrugged and Gemma nodded.

"How old were you?" My neck heated up at the question and I gulped.

"Fifteen." I muttered and she squealed, tackling me on the couch.

"You should not be having sex at fifteen, Sammy." I laughed along with her and shoved her off of me, laying back on the couch. "Oh my god, your sixteen and pregnant story would be great. I can see it now. Liam Payne knocks up childhood best friend. His mum would have died." I giggled along with her insane story and just shook my head, happy to be home.