Before the Factor

Reveal

I wake up and hear yelling in the hall. I've slept through most of the day, I look up at the clock on the wall. 3:15.

Jesus.

I don't know what time I fell asleep, but I slept for a long time. Harry should already be out of school and headed here.

I turn to see that he is here. And his mother. They're in the hall arguing about something I can't hear about.

A memory flashes before my eyes and I see my mom and dad telling me that we are leaving.

Leaving England. Leaving Harry. Leaving home.

Grief slams into me, threatening tears, but I choke them back. I will not cry.

I will not.

Instead I sit up and try to hear what Harry is so upset about. They don't seem to see me.

Harry gestures towards me and his mom looks over. She smiles a bit, but it is gone as soon as it touches her lips.

Harry turns to see me sitting up in bed and makes his way towards me.

He opens the door and I see he has tears in his eyes. Threatening to make their way down his face.

"Is it true?" He asks me, his voice thick with sadness.

"Is it true you're leaving?"

I look down at my hands. What can I say to him? No? Yes, but we'll still be friends?

He walk over to he and places his hands on the side of my face.

"Please. Please tell me." He whispers

Look him straight in the eyes.

I nod.

He lets his hands fall to my lap. I feel tears on my hands.

"No, Harry. Please don't cry." I say

He looks up at me. He smiles, but it's not genuine.

"I don't want you to go." He says

"I don't want to go either. Trust me I don't."

I take his face in my hands, and place my forehead on his.

"I love you." He says

Three words. So easily said, but so hard to understand.

I never thought I would love someone. Or how love feels.

But I know one thing for sure.

"I love you too."

Our lips connect and I feel the fire again. Tingling up my spine like an electric shock.

Will I always react to his touch like this?

We separate, and he hops up on the bed, right by my cast.

My mother walks in. Looking like she didn't sleep at all.

But she smiles at me.

I don't smile back.

"Well, what a beautiful day today huh?" She brings in a duffle bag filled with clothes.

Our hands are still joined together. We don't look at her. Just at each other.

"Mia, I've brought you the clothes I knew you would wear before the move. You'll probably have to get permission from the doctor to travel. But we can work it out."

She apparently doesn't realize that Harry and I are kinda having a moment.

She turns to us finally, Harry with tears on his face and me, with anger in my eyes.

"Oh." She says backing out the door.

"I guess I'll leave you two to it."

She leaves and Harry sighs. He squeezes my hands.

"I guess we don't have long." He says

I lift my hand and run it through his hair.

"Yea. I guess."

"You'll always be my first love, Mia."

I smile, "Always."