Serenity

nine

a/n: this chapter is an emotional rollercoaster omg

I did add an audio for this part, it only somewhat goes along with the mood(s) of this chapter, but it is my favorite piano song and I couldn't help but include it. so it'd be great if you could listen to it, before or during, when you read :)

Harry and I stay quiet, as we sit in the dull and sad atmosphere of his car that is parked right outside his mother's house. He had just come back from taking his sister inside while I stayed here, not wanting to intrude on the tragic family moment. Harry is staring straight ahead, while I fidget with the hem of my dress.

I finally look over at him, "Harry, are you okay?"

He shrugs his shoulders, sighs, and then slowly shakes his head, "No, I'm not okay. But my mom is taking care of her now." He rests his forehead against the steering wheel and closes his eyes, "She shouldn't have went there."

"Harry —"

"She told my mother and I that it was a small get-together, not some fucking huge wild party."

"She probably didn't even know. You can't blame her."

"I'm not," He sighs, "I'm the one who encouraged her to go. I told her, 'Janine, you can't miss out on moments of your last few months of senior year. Senior year is supposed to be your best year of high school, so make it worthwhile.' She went because of me."

I shake my head in disapproval at his negative thoughts, "You can't blame yourself either, Harry. It's no one's fault, except for the person who did this to her."

"Cora," Harry lifts his head and finally looks at me, his expression full of confusion, "How did you know what was going to happen?"

I don't know what to say. I should think of an excuse, or a small lie, something. "Uh... I saw the party on my way to Daisy's."

He scoffs, "That's a lie. You couldn't have possibly known about what was going to happen though. If you saw where the party was, then why did you ask me for a ride there?" He shakes his head at me and all I can do is stay silent. "It's just another one of your lies."

No words seem to come out from my mouth as the feeling of hurt builds up inside of me. I feel hurt for Harry and I also feel hurt for myself. I shouldn't be upset because I have lied to Harry only to protect my familiarness of this year, but the way he threw his angry words at me makes me feel worse — guilty, even.

He narrows his eyes, "Do you really think I haven't realized that you've lied to me multiple times already?"

"Harry —"

"Cora, no. You knew I was on the soccer team, saying that you saw a team picture in the trophy case, when in fact, it's hanging in the fucking school gym." He snaps, his volume slightly raising at me. "You knew that I have a sister, when I know for sure that I haven't even mentioned my family to you."

I close my eyes as he pauses to take a breath.

"Lastly, you knew about this damned party and knew what was going to happen to Janine." His nostrils flare out of anger, "So my question here, Cora, is how the fuck do you know about all these things?"

I flinch at his tone, and I bite my bottom lip out of nervousness, "I can't tell you that." I nearly whisper.

"I don't seem to understand how you can tell me about things that are going to happen, but when it comes to a reason, you're at loss for words. I don't understand how you knew what was going to happen to my younger sister," He covers his face with his large hands and suddenly, his sobs become audible, "My little fucking sister."