We got home around three o'clock and I had nothing else planned to do. Simone and I took showers and Harry decided to be the fun one and go get Chinese food even though all I had eaten was shit this week. Simone colored for about five hours and I sat on my laptop staring at houses. I still hadn't decided where I wanted to go. I liked Seattle, the rain didn't bother me. I still had San Diego in my mind, but my mom would try and take Simone away from me. She was convinced I'd fall into some deep depression trying to raise her. So far I'm good though, she just couldn't see it.
"Riley where's Harry?" She looked up from her coloring book where she sat at the coffee table.
I shut my laptop, frustrated because everything was so expensive and rubbed my eyes.
"He's in my room, why?" I leaned over and set the laptop down on the coffee table.
"Can we watch a movie together?" She asked.
"Just you two? Do you have a crush on him?" I teased her.
Like I was really one to talk though. In hindsight I shouldn't have asked that.
"No you do!" She jumped up and pointed at me.
"Me?" I dramatically pointed to myself and she nodded violently.
"Nuh uh!" I replied.
"Yes! Yes!" Simone ran over to me and grabbed my knees, jumping up and down she laughed.
"No I think you do!" I grabbed her sides and started to tickle her.
"Is everyone okay?" Harry's voice popped out from behind the wall.
I looked at him and he instantly smiled once he understood what was happening.
"Riley has a crush on you!" Simone yelled through her laugh.
"No Simone does," I laughed with her.
"Ladies, ladies, there's plenty of me to go around."
He came and stood in front of me. He grabbed Simone from behind and scooped her up away from me. She kicked and flailed her arms but Harry cradled her like a baby.
"Sweetheart, you're too young to like boys. Especially ones my age," he smiled.
Simone dropped her head back and groaned.
"No! Boys are icky!" She said.
Harry's laugh made me swoon honestly. It was so deep and his smile was so big. His dimples showed, his eyes sparkled, and everything amazing about him became even more perfect.
"Good. Keep thinking that until you're twenty," he said.
"Harry, watch a movie with us," Simone lifted her head up and looked at him.
"What movie did you have in mind?" Harry turned around then plopped down next to me on the couch. He was a little closer than I would have liked but at the same time, his warmth was so... Warm.
"I wanna watch Peter Pan, and Princess and the Frog, and the cat movie," she listed off.
Harry looked at me, probably trying to figure out what she meant by cat movie. "Aristocats," I informed him. "Kitties!" Simone yelled.
Harry set Simone down next to me and got up to put Peter Pan in the DVD player. He turned off the lights and I stopped him in his tracks.
"There's a chest behind that chair, can you get some blankets out of it?"
He grabbed three and sat down on the other side of Simone. The movie started, lighting up the dark living room. It was already eighty-thirty so I knew Simone would be asleep soon. I probably would be too. We sat silently, watching the movie. Peter Pan had actually been one of my favorites since I was little. Natalie used to go around telling everyone to call her Wendy Darling and she would be Wendy almost every year for Halloween.
One of the main reasons the two of us were so close was because of our love for Disney movies. I sat with my legs curled behind me, Simone leaned in to me and rested her head on my chest. Eventually, her deep breathing signaled me she was asleep. She had probably been asleep for a while but I was having a hard time staying awake myself so I hadn't noticed.
"She's beautiful," Harry whispered.
His voice made me look down at her and observe the features that stuck out on her tiny face. She looked like her dad when she slept.
"When she's awake she looks just like Nat. But when she sleeps, somehow she looks like her dad," I whispered back.
I hadn't noticed how close Harry was until he spoke up. His right arm was draped over the top of the couch. His hand fell limply on the other side of my shoulder. He rested his feet on the coffee table and his other hand was in Simone's lap. Her blanket was falling out of her lap, but she held on to one of Harry's big fingers as she slept.
I was glad she liked him. I didn't know how long he would need to stay with me. I didn't know anything. But Simone clearly thought there was something special about him. I think the younger the child, the better judge of personality they are. I've been convinced that Simone could tell what kind of person everyone was, and only let herself act a certain way around the good ones. Harry slowly slid his finger out of Simone's grip and she let out a deeper breath.
"I can take her to her room if you want," Harry started to move like he was about to stand up.
"No," I stroked her hair, "She never sleeps with me. I'm perfectly fine right here. You can go in my room if you want to," I said quietly.
My entire world was sleeping in my arms, no way would I let her get away this time.
"I'm perfectly fine right here," he muttered.
I stopped playing with Simone's hair and looked up at him. His eyes met mine and his mood changed from content to sorry.
"I can back off, I never meant to come on so strong with her, I just –."
"I get it. Don't apologize," I cut him off.
He smiled again and I leaned my head back, forgetting his arm was even there. I didn't care though, my eyelids were heavy and Simone's breathing was like the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Harry's fingers ran against the skin of my neck but I didn't have the energy to stress myself out over it. He pulled my ponytail off my neck and leaned over Simone's head.
"Goodnight, Riley. Thank you for today," he whispered.
I felt his lips against the top of my head and slightly opened my eyes when I felt his curls brush against my cheek. He kissed Simone's forehead and then sat back. He watched the movie that was still playing on the screen before he rested his head back too. Our heads were nearly touching but I didn't mind; partially because it really didn't bother me, and also because I was too tired to care.
I fell asleep to the beat of Simone's heart and her breathing. If this was the setting four years ago, Harry would be the one in my arms right now. I think the both of us knew that.
A/N
hey i really like this chapter, i think its really cute and nicely ties up the crazy day that the characters had. simone and harry's relationship is so much fun to develop and i love writing it, so are riley's reactions. i think about how i would feel in her situation and try to craft it to the personality i've given her. STAY TUNED, THE PLOT WILL START TO THICKEN IN UPCOMING CHAPTERS, TE AMO MUCHO MIS AMIGOS xx
title hint: keep the movie peter pan in your mind, it's something i've incorporated into this story a lot and you'll eventually see how it makes sense
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Lovely Madness // h.s. au
FanfictionI had been in love before. Unlike most girls these days, my love was real. He was everything I had ever wanted from a man. He cared for me, he could make me laugh and smile, he kissed me like each one would be our last, he never hurt me. Until the d...
