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Chapter 26: Her Past

While Matt drove, I focused my attention out the window.

I didn't want to talk to him especially since he dragged me into having lunch. I guess he picked up on my mood because he stayed silent the whole way.

Was it really that hard for him to just eat alone?

"We're here," Matt announced, pulling me away of my thoughts.

I averted my gaze to the façade of the restaurant. I inspected the name but couldn't tell what type of food was served.

Matt seemed to sense my confusion, "It's Greek."

"Oh, well that sounds good," I replied as we both got out of the car.

Matt opened the restaurant's door for me and I quietly thanked him.

The waitress showed us to a booth and handed us our menus before we ordered.

"So, how is work going?" Matt asked, trying to get a conversation going.

"It's pretty good. Dan has been super excited lately with the whole Adam Lambert collab. He was jamming out like crazy to his music last week."

"Really? Are you serious?" Matt looked surprised. His face was priceless. It was kind of funny actually.

I nodded, holding back a laugh,"Why do you look so shocked?"

"Dan does not look like the type of guy who would like Adam, let alone even listen to his music."

I giggled at his reasoning. He did have a point there.

You wouldn't except a man who is in his late fifties to listen to Lambert's music. But, Dan was different.

Being in the music business for song kinds forced him to like all sorts of music genres. Plus, his energy is over the roof, especially when he lets loose.

At a little staff party we had a couple months back, Dan went ham when Rihanna came on the radio. Totally wish I recorded that.

"Don't let his receeding hairline fool you, Dan has a young spirit."

Matt's laugh filled my ears, "Wow," he shook his head, still in shock.

The waitress came back and placed our food in front of us.

"How's work going for you?" I questioned back as I took a bite of my food.

"Stressful, but I should have expected that getting into it in the first place. Being on the management team, you have to make sure you book all these important events before a deadline, and hope that everything follows through. It's fun and all don't get me wrong, but with this new music video my stress has been over the roof."

I felt bad for him. I should have guessed it was a heavy weight on his shoulders considering he had black circles under his tired blue eyes.

"And on top of that," He continued after swallowing a bite, "my parents have been bitching at me for not spending time with them or anyone. It's not like its my fault work has taken over the majority of my social life. Plus, I visit them whenever I can so they should stop complaining," He shrugged in annoyance, "is it like that with your parents too?" He questioned me as if I felt the same way he did.

I cleared my throat, not expecting him to bring my parents up.

I usually try not to think of them too often because just the thought of them breaks my heart. When I was 14 my mom and I lost my dad after he had a heart attack.

He was the only person in my life who I could open up to and I loved him so much for always being there when I needed someone to talk to, someones shoulder to cry on, and someone to laugh with.

Him leaving so suddenly was probably the hardest thing I ever had to deal with. My mom was shattered when he passed away, and never did I see anyone that upset and broken.

She would cry for hours on end and just keep herself locked up in her room for days. After a while, she promised to take care and be strong for the both of us, but that didn't follow through.

When I was around 16, she became this whole new person who would drink her sorrows away. It didn't take long for her to become an alcoholic.

Along with that she found a boyfriend who I wasn't too fond of. I don't see how she could ever love anyone after dad died.

To top it all off, I soon found out that this new boyfriend did drugs, which he introduced my mother to. No matter how hard I tried to tell her to stop and to leave this stupid guy, she didn't listen.

She wasn't going to change, and I could tell it wouldn't take long for her to hit rock bottom.

Nothing else mattered to her anymore, not even her only daughter.

That was the second time in my life, I ever felt so lost and hurt since my dad's death.

I soon met Tyler after that and we started going out. He understood me and where I was coming from. I guess I fell for his stupid lies and was too broken to see he wasn't worth it in the end.

We moved in together, and soon after that I lost all connection with my mom. I tried to go visit her once a couple months after Tyler and I settled in but the landlord said she moved out.

Her phone number changed, so I had no way of reaching her. It still kills me to this day not having them in my life.

Matt should be happy his parents are upset that he isn't spending time with them because it shows they actually care. Instead, he is here complaining about it to someone who isn't as fortunate to have parents who love them, but I wasn't about to tell him that.

It's not like he would care at all. The only two people I ever told this to were Harry and Tyler. I don't need anymore people, especially a stranger like Matt, to start feeling sorry for me.

"Yeah, it's like that with me too," I lied and faked a smile.

I poked at my food. My appetite was gone as my mind was replaced with sad thoughts.

Matt kept rambling on about work and life, but I wasn't paying attention at this point. I tried to suppress my heartbreaking thoughts of the past with happier things like memories of my dad.

"Why are you smiling?" Matt asked.

I looked up meeting his eyes, "I was just thinking about what we said earlier about Dan," I lied once more.

"Oh," Matt smiled before he rambled on.

Again, I zoned him out and thought of my dad.

Occasionally I dropped a "mhm" "wow" and "interesting" so Matt thought I was actually listening to him while my mind was elsewhere.

It's crazy because the way Harry is, reminds me of a lot of how my dad was. I can feel how much Harry cares about and loves me when I'm with him. He listens to me when I have a problem and helps me get over it. My dad put me the biggest smile on my face when I was upset and I can't remember a time in the past couple of years where I felt that happy.

But, Harry changed that. He brought the smile and joy I lost back into my life, and I now feel like I have someone who really cares about me for who I am.

"Emma?" Matt looked puzzled.

"Hm?" I stared back at him.

"I asked if you were finished," Matt said while looking at me and then down at my plate.

"Yeah, sorry."

Matt paid for our meal and we headed back to his car,
"Thank you for lunch. It was delicious," I said as we got in.

"My pleasure. I'm glad you liked it."

He drove me back to the studio, and I thanked him again before I got out and went back to continue my shift.

Dan was out by the time I had come back. Thankfully, that would buy me time to think about what I could say Matt and I discussed over our 'business' lunch.

After a couple more hours, I finished work and headed back home. God, it felt so good to finally get out of my damn heels.

I changed into some pajama shorts and a spaghetti strap top before I sat down on the living room couch. I grabbed my phone and decided to call Harry.

After two rings he picked up,
"Hey love!" His beautiful voice greeted me.

I missed it so much.

"Hey Harry, how are you? Are you busy, I can call at anoth-"

"No baby, I'm not busy. Lou was just getting us ready for the show in a bit. How's my girl doing?"

"I'm doing okay. I really miss you," I pouted.

"I miss you so much too Em. I can't wait to be back with you so I can hold you in my arms again, and feel you go weak at the lightest of my touch. I can't wait to get your heart racing while I kiss your beautiful lips," he paused, and I could just feel him smirking, "and I'm not just talking about the lips on your face baby girl," he added in a low husky voice.

"Harry!" I shouted, my cheeks grew warm, "someone might hear you."

He chuckled on the other end, "Don't worry, no one besides Zayn is in here and he's not even paying attention to me. He has his headphones in."

"You're so cheeky."

"I know," Harry said proudly.

If he wasn't smiling before, he had a huge ear to ear grin across his face now.

We talked on the phone a bit more about our day, but I didn't bother mentioning too much about Matt.

I don't want Harry to think that I like him and consider lunch as a date because it definitely wasn't that at all.

"Sweetheart I have to go now, I will call you as soon as the show is over," Harry interrupted.

"Alrighty, have a great show! I love you." I responded.

"Thank you, and I love you too Emma, never forget that. Bye for now love," Harry replied.

"Goodbye," I said before hanging up.

I turned the tv on and flipped through random channels. I stopped once I landed on a rerun of Pretty Little Liars, which happened to be my favorite show at the moment.

Once that was done I glanced at the time: 9 pm.

It was still early, but for some reason I felt tired. Like a sloth, I slowly made my way up to the bedroom and crawled into bed.

After only closing my eyes for a few minutes, sleep was creeping up on me.

I fell asleep rather quickly, ready to take on whatever tomorrow had in, ready to take on whatever tomorrow had in store for me.