Finding Yourself

chapter 16

"I don't know which one to pick." Harry groaned looking at the never ending lines of cards with 'Mum' written on them.

"Just pick a pretty one" I shrugged. "She'll probably just be glad you sent her one, whatever it looks like."

Harry grabbed a pink one with some flowers on that said 'To a special mum on your birthday'.

"You're probably right." He smiled.

"I normally am." I smirked.

He shook his head and wrapped his fingers in mine before walking over to pay.

We left the shop and aimlessly walked around town for a while, browsing in a few shops as we went.

"Can we go home now?" I asked.

"My home or yours?"

"Mine. Your house has two people in it that heard us having sex this morning so I'm not ready to face them again yet." I said shaking my head.

Harry laughed and kissed my forehead before we walked back to the car.

We grabbed a starbucks on the way home, which Harry insisted on, and then headed to my house.

"Wipe your feet!" I squealed at Harry as he walked in. "You're not getting mud on my carpet!"

He smiled and took off his boots before flopping on the sofa.

I went and sat next to him and leaned my head on his chest as we watched rubbish TV.

Just as Jeremy Kyle was shouting at a woman for not knowing the father of her baby, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door and my dad was on the other side.

Shit.

Me and my dad never really have seen eye-to-eye which is the main reason I got my own place. He only ever came round when he wanted something.

"Dad, what are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too, Mel." He said stepping inside.

Double shit.

His face looked from Harry to me and back to Harry.

"Dad, this is Harry." I said as casually as possible.

Dad doesn't know me and Jack aren't dating anymore so god knows what is going through is head right now. He also thought the world of Jack, he was like the son he never had... so this could go well... obviously.

"Where's Jack?" He asked with a slightly clipped tone and his brow furrowed.

"Me and Jack broke up dad, last month."

"And you're already dating him?" My dad said shocked. "You and Jack were good together, Mel. You and him had a future! I bet you split with him too didn't you? Because he would never of hurt you."

"No dad, me and Jack wasn't good together. I stopped loving him a long time ago." I shrugged.

"Imagine how he's feeling! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Imagine how he's feeling?" I snapped. "I'm your daughter, shouldn't you be worrying about how I'm feeling?!"

"Jack loved you Mel, you've just thrown him away!"

"This is exactly why I didn't tell you! You always cared about him more than me! You have no idea do you?"

"Melanie, calm down." Harry said walking up and rubbing my back.

"I think you need to go and see Jack before you ruin it with him forever. I don't want you dating Harry, Mel. Jack is the one for you." He said, glaring at me. "No offense lad." He shrugged at Harry.

"No dad!" I said my voice raised. "Me and Harry aren't even dating! See, you were so bothered about Jacks feelings you didn't even get the whole story. I don't want to be with Jack, if I did, I wouldn't of broken up with him. I don't love him anymore. I tried to love him for a long time so he wouldn't get hurt, but I couldn't do it. It was making me unhappy. Not that you'd care. And so what if I did want to date Harry? He's nice to me and makes me feel happy and that's all that should matter, to you anyway. Don't you want me too be happy? It has nothing to do with you who my boyfriend is or who I want to date, why can't you understand that? You can't come to my house and tell me how to feel about my ex boyfriend so why don't you go round to Jacks and discuss how much of a bitch I am?!"

Harry put his hands on my shoulders. "It's okay Melanie, calm down." He whispered into my ear.

I closed my eyes and waited for my dads outburst that I knew, was sure to happen. Instead, I was wrong.

He took a deep breath and smiled. "You're right Mel." He said quietly. "You're old enough to make your own choices now. I just want to protect you, that's all, you'll always be my little girl. I guess it's because I've known Jack since he was a kid, I imagined you'd just grow old with him, I was so used to the two of you being together." He shrugged and I rolled my eyes.

The heroic, caring dad scene... nice one.

"I want you to be happy more than anything, of course I do. I just... I'm sorry. If Harry is what makes you happy than go in with all you've got." He squeezed my shoulder before heading towards the door.

It slammed behind him and I leaned into Harrys chest as his arms wrapped tightly around me.

"I'm sorry." I sighed looking up at Harry.

He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. "You don't have anything to be sorry for, It's not your fault."

"He's so frustrating, date Jack again? Who does he think he is?! He's always been like that." I growled.

"He's gone now, don't worry about it anymore." He said rocking me back and forth. "Did you mean what you said about me?"

"That you made me happy?" I said.

He nodded his head.

"Well yeah, I guess, I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true." I shrugged.

He smiled as he hugged me closer into his chest, kissing the top of my head.