All Along

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

I woke up the next morning, better. I felt like maybe things were going to be okay. I was starting to believe that.

I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Harry. His face was so close; it made me a bit nervous. I was nuzzled into his chest and he was laying on his side facing me with his left arm around my waist. He looked peaceful. His curls framed his face and for the first time I noticed how full and rosy his lips were. They were slightly parted as he slept.

As kids, before the band or any of this happened, he slept over at my house all the time. But we were young and always ended up crashing on the sofa. He’s never slept in my bed before. It was weird, waking up and finding a boy in your bed. Liam and I never got that far.

There it was again. Liam. Why did I have to tie everything back to him? As if Harry waking up in my bed had anything to do with him.

Unexpectedly, his arm tightened around me. He stirred and opened his eyes. Aware of his arm and our proximity he loosened his grip and moved over to lay on his back.

“Morning”. He said surprisingly in a raspier voice than usual.

“Morning.”

He looked at his black watch on the nightstand and yawned “Your aunt is going to be home any second. I better go before she sees me.”

“That would be smart.” I responded almost laughing. “A boy in a teenage girl’s bed, a mother’s nightmare.” I added.

Harry laughed, again in a deep, rougher voice.

‘You sound different in the morning.” I said without meaning to.

“I do?”

“Yeah.”

“That was pretty random miss. Is this you in the morning?” he asked playfully.

“No, me is grumpy in the mornings.”

“You don’t look grumpy to me. It must be because you woke up and the first thing you saw was me.” He said smirking.

“Oh shush, I’m going to be late.”

“Late where?”

I forgot to tell him last night. “School, yesterday was my first day back.”

“Oh… how was it?”

“Alright.” I lied.

“Yeah right.” He said, seeing straight through my lie.

“I hate it Harry, people keep staring at me, saying mean things.”

“What kind of mean things?”

“Just mean things.”

“I’m sorry love, I really am.” He said, moving a strand of hair away from my face.

“It’s fine, I just wish I was homeschooled. But we both know I asked my aunt that last year and it was a no.”

“It’ll get better.”

“I hope so.”

“It will, starting with breakfast prepared by your ridiculously attractive best friend.”

“You don’t have to make me breakfast Harry. I can just eat cereal.”

“Absolutely not. Go on get dressed.” He instructed, shooing me off the bed as he got up and left my room.

I sighed, got up and went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I grabbed the spare toothbrush my aunt told me to keep just in case we had guests and toothpaste, walking backing to Harry.

“Here you go Curly.” I said, handing to him.

“Curly huh? You haven’t called me that in a while.” He said smiling.

“I just can’t control myself with that mop of curls on your head.” I teased.

“Many girls love my curls, you know. I’m known for them.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t love them, I was merely stating a fact.” I said, smiling a little before returning to the bathroom.

I quickly changed into a scoop neck gray t-shirt and jeans, with of course my sneakers. I brushed out my hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. I didn’t bother with makeup or anything; I just slipped on my silver mom’s ring on my right hand as usual.

My mom passed away when I was very little. I don’t remember much of her. I just remember images and some memories. But something I always remembered was this ring. She always wore it on her right hand. It was a silver band with a little white stone in the middle. I remember it always sparkling in the light.

When she passed away, custody was given to my aunt. We really had no other family. It was just us. I don’t know where my father is or who he is. I don’t even know if he knows about me, knowing my mom had me at nineteen. And to be frank, I don’t really care. I’m fine just the way I am with my aunt and with my memories of my mom with her ring. I remember her looking happy so obviously maybe he was out of our lives for a reason.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I grabbed my school bag, placed my keys and phone inside and walked to the kitchen again. Harry was sitting at the table eating a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. In front of him was another plate which I assumed was mine.

“I was going to wait for you, but I got hungry.” He mumbled.

“It’s fine, thank you.” I sat down and began to eat.

A few minutes later my aunt came in. I looked at him anxiously and he just looked at me calm and composed.

“Harry, hello, what are you going here so early?” my aunt asked confused, when she saw him.

“Good morning Ms. Anderson, I am taking Ellie to school this morning.” He said unruffled, flashing his best innocent smile.

“Oh well that’s very sweet of you Harry. But how many times am I going to tell you to call me Rosie?” she said smiling. She always loved Harry.

“Sorry… Rosie.” He said smiling back.

“Well we should get going then if I don’t want to be late.” I said getting up and grabbing our two plates and putting them in the sink. I suddenly realized Harry was barefoot and his shoes along with his keys and phone were in my room. Great, I thought. How where we going to go get his stuff without being too obvious? Harry looked at me and then his feet, reading my mind. I didn’t know what to do and by the looks of it he didn’t either.

Then my aunt started for her room. I was about to be relieved when she walked over to Harry and gave him a kiss on the cheek before saying, “Oh don’t forget your stuff in Ellie’s room, darling.”

Harry started laughing. “Your aunt is a very intelligent woman.”

She turned to me, “Honey, the attempt was cute but there are several factors playing against you.”

“Like what? I would love to learn from this experience.” Harry said jokingly.

“Well to begin the spare toothbrush is used and next to sink, her bedroom door is open where your rather large shoes are laying next to the bed on the floor with your keys and phone on her nightstand, there are Chinese takeout boxes in the living room, your hair looks like you haven’t brushed it and just the simple fact that I’ve been there and done that.” She said laughing.

“Nothing happened!” I quickly said, a little embarrassed.

“Oh sweetie I know.” She said and then kissed my cheek leaving to her room.

“Drive safely!” she yelled from her room.

I looked at Harry and he just busted out laughing.

“What are you laughing at? What is just so hilarious?”

“You.” He answered, still unable to control his laughter.

“Me? What did I do?”

“Nothing happened!” he mimicked in a girly voice that sounded absolutely nothing like me.

“Just go get your stuff.” I said annoyed, pointing him to my room.