Speechless (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

My head rested firmly in my hand as I stared across the table at my mother who was enthralled with talking to Harry. I had lost my appetite the moment Harry sat beside me at our small circular table. My mother and Harry were lost in conversation about Horace High, both of them jabbering about nonsense that I could care less about.

My mind aimlessly wandered as I tried to block out the honey like voice of Harry. I didn’t want to give him the pleasure of my attention. He may have fooled my mom in thinking that he was a kind, innocent boy but I was far from being convinced. In my book Harry styles was still a nuisance that now invaded not only my school day but also my home life. It was becoming madness.

My other hand twirled the now cooled spaghetti that was stationed completely uneaten. The red tinted noodles spun effortlessly around my four pronged fork. I wanted to escape this nightmarish dinner and go back to my room where everything had been okay, even if it was for just a short while.

Harry’s eyes seemed brighter than normal sitting in my dimly lit dining room. He seemed happier and more alive than at school. Like being away from that horrid place gave him new life in the same sense it did me. A few of his tattoos were peeking out from his black short sleeved shirt and feared what my mother would have to say about them. She was a firm believer in no ink. She thought it made people look trashy not ‘hip’ as she would say.

“Gene,” my mother’s voice echoed through my bubble of silence.

My head instantly jolted up and my fork slipped from my hand making a loud clanging sound against the ceramic plate. Both my mother and harry were thoughtlessly staring at me with wide eyes.

“Harry was just telling me you had a rough first day of school,” my mother spoke softly her voice overcome with compassion, “why didn’t you tell me.”

Instantly I sent a glare in Harry's direction. I could tell by the sheepish look splashed across his face that he was no aware of her ignorance.

Looking back at my mother I signed, "it wasn't a big deal. Just some kids being stupid."

My mom’s fork twirled continuously in her pasta but she never brought the fork to her mouth. Her eyes remained entirely locked on my face. I knew that she was searching for. She scrutinized my face in hopes of finding the smallest waver of doubt or falseness. My mother was an expert on my facial expressions. She always used to tell me that my emotions were as plain as text on my face. Broadcasting my fear, happiness, anger and love to the world as plain as speaking them aloud.

But now I had become an expert at hiding them. I couldn't show my mother that was scared or sad now, if I did she would become the erratic hair brained mother I had worked so hard to bury away. She still did everything in her power to keep me safe but I always hid the things I didn't need her worrying about. And my school troubles were one of those.

"Alright honey," my mother sighed unable to find any sense of deceit, "but in the future please let me know."

I nodded slowly and went back to aimlessly playing with the cold noodles on my plate.

"So Harry," my mother spoke trying to return conversation back to normal, "tell me about your family."   

This question peaked my interest. I never thought about Harry having a family. I mean everyone has a family but it was hard for me to see him with a mom and a dad or siblings. He seemed like the type to be a loner. Not a family man.

Harry cleared his through and swiftly pushed his hair out of face, “my father is out of the picture and my mother works at the gas station and at Mercy Diner on 7th street.”