Our Winter Love (Harry AU)

Chapter 32: Our Winter Heartbreak

A cool wind blows over my shivering body, as I pull my legs closer to my chest, curled up in a ball in the middle of the small treehouse.

The ache of my heart has drained out of my body and been taken up by an emptiness I can't describe.

It's early the next morning now. Small rays of sunlight sneak through the cracks of the wooden walls around me as I listen to the sound of the leaves blowing high in the trees around me.

It's so tranquil to lay here with nothing to think or care about, nothing to give me a reason to move and leave this place. If Harry dare comes here I might just push him back down the trap door.

Hours pass as I stare at the engraved initials of the previous lovers or friends or whatever they were. I wonder wether they went through hurt and heartbreak yet the best times of their lives while they spent their winters or summers here.

I'd like to think they were a perfect couple. One who didn't hurt each other or lie to each other, but rather two people that loved each other more than life itself. That they wouldn't even think of doing anything to cause hurt towards their partner.

I'd like to think that somewhere out in the world they are together, married with 2 children and a little blue house with a perfect front lawn where they have barbecues every Saturday with their group of childhood friends.

But there is no such thing as a perfect couple. People lie, they hurt the ones they love, they grow apart and don't end up with the person they truly did love, living a perfect life.

But I still like to think that this couple is a happy one, even with reality.

I hear movement under the treehouse, as if someone is using the ladder to climb up. I would sit up and try hide or scream at whoever it is to leave me alone but I have no energy to even lift a finger.

I close my eyes and after a few seconds the trap door beside me opens up slowly.

"Oh my gosh Izzy!" I open my eyes to see Megan frantically climbing into the treehouse.

She sits beside me and pulls my body into her arms. Hugging me silently.

"I was going to run after you but I thought you needed some alone time. But when you weren't back by this morning I started worrying. Harry told me you'd be here."

I wince at the mention of his name as I lean against Megan to sit up slowly.

"You're freezing. Come on, let's take you to get a warm shower and cleaned up."

I shake my head and lean against the wall of the treehouse.

"Izzy, please. We won't go to the party tonight or anything. We will have a girls night in our tent alright?"

I reluctantly nod silently as Megan opens the trap door and climbs down onto the ladder, leading the way.

I slowly follow her down to the bottom of the tree where Megan places her arm around my waist as she walks me slowly back to the campsite.

She avoids walking past the lake house in case the others are there, which I am extremely thankful for. I wouldn't be able to handle seeing any of them without thinking of Harry or Zayn.

Soon I am standing in the shower, letting the hot water hit my back and run down my body. I wash my hair and scrub down my body before stepping out and getting dry and then dressing into the most comfortable clothes Megan could find in my bag.

We make our way back to the tent where my dad is now standing.

"What happened?" My dad asks with a threatening tone.

"What?" I act ignorant.

He gets a bit more tensed now, "I heard Josh say that he saw you running into the woods crying. Is it because of that Harry fella?"

"No dad. Everything's fine. I'm just not feeling too great."

"That's a lie. I know it was because of Harry. Which is the reason I am now putting my foot down. I gave that boy a chance and now he's proven to me that I can't trust him."

"Dad-"

"No Isabella! I gave him and you a chance just like Josh and your mother wanted me too!"

Josh and my mom? Why would they give Harry a chance. I mean I guess my mom would've seen how much I really liked Harry.

But Josh? I decide to let it go, I can't handle taking anymore drama.

"Okay dad, we are going to relax in our tent." I reply as my dad nods and then storms off.

I have no energy to fight anymore. There's no point anyways.

I climb into the tent and plop down onto my stretcher bed as Megan follows behind.

"You ready for a girls night?" Megan smiles next to me.

I nod my head slowly as Megan squeals in excitement.

For the rest of the night Megan gives me a manicure, we listen to music and speak about the latest celebrity gossip and Megan tells me all about her and Eddy, how he's planning to move to our town pretty soon to study. She really loves him and he clearly really loves her.

"So are you going to forgive Harry?" She asks softly.

"What? Meg you can't be serious?"

"But Izzy you can't hate him forever."

"He used me! He made me believe he loved me. He made me fall for him when it was all just a game. How can I forgive him?"

"Izzy, but you heard what Eddy said. How Harry was different this time. How he usually tells the guys every detail about his relationship with a girl if he's playing games with her. But with you he refused to tell them anything he only told Eddy he loves that you're different, that you care."

"When did he say this?" I'm so confused.

"When you started crying and then when he tried to explain more you stopped him and ran off."

"I must've not heard that part because I was so upset..."

"That's why I was hoping you were running to Harry to listen to his side of the story. But when we saw him later on he told us you left, you needed time to be alone because you were really upset. He told me if you didn't come back you'd be in some treehouse deeper in the woods."

I shake my head, "Did he say anything else?"

"He was crying, Eddy tried to talk to him but he said he just needed to be alone."

My heart sinks at her words and it's kind of hard to imagine Harry being that upset.

"Izzy, you really need to talk to him. He could have a reasonable explanation. I'm not saying you let him get off that easily, but find out what the truth from his side is."

I nod and consider what she said, but emotionally I'm not ready to confront Harry right now and find out the truth. I just need some sleep.

"Is it okay if I quickly go say goodnight to Eddy?" Megan asks shyly.

I smile and nod as she hugs me and then quickly climbs out the tent.

In no time, with an empty mind I fall asleep, hoping not to dream.

A/n Sorry for making you guys wait so long for an update! Going to try do more double updates! We wrote an epilogue today and absolutely love it!

Yours in styles
N&S