Ashes (Sequel to Windows To The Soul)

Ten.

I was looking at the screen of the computer through my glasses; I was classifying the paintings and organizing the prices.

I felt butterflies in my stomach, but the kind of butterflies that made me realize I was nervous, I took my hand to my abdomen and let out a deep breath. I turned my head and looked up to the clock that was hanging on the wall behind me, it was a quarter to five. Fifteen minutes to leave the shop and go to Mrs. Styles’, and probably, seeing Harry… That was what was making me feel nervous.

“Here.” Kyle said as he handed me the keys of a car. “The painting is in the van, please don’t fuck things up, it’s a really expensive painting and my father said that the woman is a little bit tight-fisted.”

I nodded and slipped the keys in my pocket.

The clock strikes five and it’s time for me to leave. I got in the van, started it and headed to the house. The more I pressed the accelerator, the more nervous I was and the more my heart raced.

I know I promised to myself that I wouldn’t care about what ifs, but when it comes to Harry, what ifs are impossible to ignore.

I could read a huge what if that was in up in lights inside my head: what if he was with another girl?

What would I do if another girl was there hugging him and kissing him? On the one hand, I’ve kissed Louis and I’ve liked him so I shouldn’t be feeling bad about Harry being with another girl. On the other hand…I couldn’t help being jealous, just imagining Harry with some stupid, high pitched voiced girl made me sick.

I parked the van in front of the black gates and rang the bell.

“Hello?”

“Hello. I bring the painting.” I said.

The gates opened. I got in the van again and drove through the paved path and parked the van between a beautiful fountain and a huge front door. A man in a black tuxedo opened the door and helped me carry the painting.

I was more nervous with every step I took. We left the painting against a wall and I let out a deep breath, it was so heavy.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” A voice behind me said.

I turned around to see Harry’s mom. She was wearing a long, pink housecoat made of silk, her hair was a little bit messy but she still had her make-up on.

“Y-Yes.” I mumbled.

“I think I’ve seen you before…You’re so young, who are your parents?”

I cleared my throat. “Scott and Andrea Swift.”

She widened her eyes and I flinched a little bit.

“What?! You’re Scott and Andrea’s daughter?!” She yelled and I flinched even more. “Come with me. Karen! Make tea for me and this lovely young woman”

She placed her hand on the small of my back and guided me to the living room.

We sat in a huge white couch, in front of a fireplace. This house reminded me of Louis’…

“So you are Taylor. You’re so grown up and so beautiful.” She praised. “Your parents and I used to be very close friends.”

The maid brought the tea and poured it in two beautiful porcelain cups.

“Thank you.” I said to the maid before she left.

“Look.” Mrs. Styles said.

She handed me an old photograph of my parents, a baby, and two more people.

“These are your parents, you and me and my ex.” She said as she pointed to the people she was saying.

I held the photograph closer to me and focused my eyes.

“Harold would be so happy to see you, when you were babies you used to play together all day.” She laughed and took a sip of her tea.

I frowned, Harry and I? I didn’t remember it.

“Well, Harry and I…I was his girlfriend a year ago…” I mumbled.

She put the cup down and looked at me.

“So you’re the girl he was so secretive about!” She smiled. “Wait, a year ago? You aren’t together anymore?”

I shook my head. “Things weren’t…working anymore.”

She compressed her lips, making them look like a thin line.

“What a pity, I bet you guys looked beautiful together.” She said with a monotone voice.

“It’s been a while since I haven’t heard about him, you know college, work…” I let out a polite laugh.

“Well, he’s still living in that dreadful house, he told me he works at a restaurant but that was long ago, and I’ve been told that sometimes he plays with a band at pubs.” She sighed. “I bet you were a good influence for him for a while, but the boy always screws things up.”

I pursed my mouth, she was kind of right.

She started talking about her friendship with my parents and I felt a little bit bored, I didn’t care about how they used to go to the beach on Saturdays or whatever, I just wanted to know more about Harry’s situation, but it looked like she didn’t know much about her son, how sad.

I decided I had to cut her off.

“I have to go now, it’s late.” I said as I got up of the couch.

“Wait, I have to pay the painting.” She got up of the couch and walked out of the room.

When she came back she handed me a lot of bills and I put them inside my bag, I didn’t want to lose them, my boss would kill me, or worse…fire me.

“It’s been nice to see you darling.” She smiled.

I smiled a small smile back at her and walked out of the house.

I got in the van and leaned forward to rest my head in the steering wheel, letting out a breath.

Being with her was awkward, plus I wasn’t expecting her being friends with my parents.

I felt bad for Harry, not even his mother could see a good side on him. He was good…sometimes.

I was driving but I didn’t know where I was going, I was lost in my thoughts.

London never sleeps, I saw people walking through the streets as I drove the van, I had to give it back to my boss. But before going back to the shop I had to go somewhere else.

I set my mind to go and visit Harry, if he was with a girl I’d go and never visit, think or talk about him again, but if he wasn’t I’d stay for a while and talk to him.

So I drove to his place and memories started flashing in my mind, because the streets and the places reminded me of him, I saw the streets we used to walk almost every day, and I saw him with his arm around my waist and leaning to kiss my head as we walked.

I shook my head and stopped the van. I had arrived.

A/N: Extremelly short chapter I know, and painful cliffhanger I knoowww, but the best is yet to come *evil laugh* Anyways, what do you think of the sequel? Are you guys liking it so far? I enjoy writing it and I love seeing your comments and votes, you guys are the best of the best! I love you<3