Love Me {Sequel To Last Hope}

Chapter Twenty Five-Bells

"Everyone wanted answers I wasn't ready to give." - Lucy Christopher, Stolen: A Letter to My Captor

T E L L I E

"So let me get this straight," I said thinking it over, "you want me to do this, something that I have been told to never do since I was sixteen, so you can keep having sex with my dad's ex-fiancée?" The words made my stomach churn. But Harry nodded. I could feel my stomach knotting and I wondered whether he was expecting me to say yes with no disregard. "You know dad would kill me for that?"

"I'm only asking you to talk to the kid for an hour. You know, tell him whatever it is he wants to know." Harry snapped. I had been confused when he had turned up. Dad and El were dropping Chase off at school and then getting Starbucks and doing god knows what. I wasn't invited. I had told Harry exactly that. When he said he was here to talk to me, I was confused. I didn't really talk to Harry. Not privately. My time alone with Harry had always involved him buying me Starbucks on tours or the odd Occassion he was the only one who could pick me from school.

As much as I loved Harry he was probably one of my least favourite uncles. He obviously ranked above any uncle I was actually related to. But he always ranked under everyone else. Probably because he yelled at me. Like actually yelled at me.

"Tellie, I have bought you thousands of dollars worth of Starbucks-"

"So?" I asked. "Buying me Starbucks doesn't mean I should go and talk to Eidee's kid."

"He's your brother." Harry urged.

"Why don't you get Dad to talk to him?" I asked. Harry just stared at me from the other side of the kitchen. I was drinking coffee. Black. And trying to decide what the nicest way to say no was. If he had asked me back when I was sixteen I wouldn't have hesitated to say yes. Now was different though. "You already did." I realised at his look of dismay. "Did he give you the big speech on how Caelin's not his son?"

"Yes." Harry said. "That's why I've turned to you. So will you talk to him?"

"If dad wouldn't why should I?"

"Tellie-"

"It doesn't have anything to do with me." I said bluntly. Harry was growing cross. He looked sour; I could see his eyes narrowing and his lip slightly twitching. He was trying to understand why I was saying no. "I can't." I continued. "Harry, you've heard how Dad feels about it... I'm trying not to piss him off."

"Are you telling me that you won't talk to your brother because you're scared that Louis will get mad and what? Scold you? Tellie, he doesn't even have to know."

"I'm not saying no because I'm scared of getting in trouble." I snapped. "I'm nineteen. I just... Dad doesn't want anything to do with Caelin, or anybody else having anything else to do with him... Who am I to question it?"

"Tellie, I need you to do this."

"I-"

"Tellie-"

"I can't-"

"Tellie!" He snapped. "I'm asking you to give up forty minutes of your time. I'm trying to keep my relationship going."

I scoffed. "Relationship?" I laughed and he just glared at me. "Sorry, but I got the vibe it was just sex." He just stared at me. I drunk my coffee. I had no idea what else to say. I finally looked down. "Sorry." I added. "I'm probably not one to judge..."

"Probably not." Harry added harshly. I let it slide. I considered everything in front of me. I could just do what Harry wanted. If dad found out I would never hear the end of it. He was never going to forgive me for that. "Tellie, your father doesn't have to know." He added, the cold edge replaced with plea. My stomach continued to tie in knots.