Speed ➢ harry styles

Ch. 2 ~ Home Sweet Home

I watched the rain pelt the dashboard of my car as I ventured down the familiar road that led to a home adorned with brick with pots of hydrangeas sitting atop its windowsills. It was my childhood home and it remained just as I had left it when I had last visited on Christmas Eve, except there wasn't an inflatable Frosty the Snowman that towered over you as you made your way over to the front door. The bare branched sycamore tree, that was as old as my granddad, cast a large and strange shadow upon the window of the den. I parked my car and stepped forward to hug my mum, who was waiting near the front door. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" she said, briefly ruffling my hair.

"I wouldn't say that," I began. "I came in December for Christmas," I say grinning slightly as I recalled all the festivities, the eggnog,  and the hilarious moment when one of my cousins had gotten so drunk that he nearly knocked over the ten foot Christmas tree along with all the expensive and fragile ornaments that my grandma had given us. 

She scrunched her nose, "That was over a week ago, but I don't know why it feels like more. I know how busy my son's been," She sighed. My overly busy schedule didn't work too well with her. Little did she know, that I had some very good news to share.  

"Hey mum, want to hear a joke?" I asked her in an attempt to lighten the mood.

She raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms across her chest, "Okay, let's hear it then." 

"Okay so, what did the fish say when he ran into the wall?" I asked stifling my laughter.

"I dunno, what did the fish say?" she questioned monotonously.

"Dam! Get it cause you know like a dam in the water and..." I explained as she stared at me blankly.

"Yes I get it son, haven't you told that one already?" She said smiling.

"Hmm...I did? Oh well then I've got another one. You've gotta hear it!" I started but she interrupted to tell me she was starting dinner in an half hour.

"Come set the table, I made Manchester tarts. Also, the Delaneys are coming over for dinner," she grinned. 

"Alright." I agreed trying to conceal my elation, because the Delaneys have a daughter named Anella and my mum and my sister Gemma are thoroughly aware of the fact I've crushed on her since I was a year four student. They'd always tease me about it, but it was okay because my young and foolish self gave them all the more reason to do so. One thing I'd do was accompany my mum every time she went to town to run an errand because we'd pass by the Delaney house and there was a great chance I'd see her. She seemed to be a pretty outdoorsy person because she'd almost always be outside, either reading a book on the veranda, helping her grandmother garden, or swinging on her very own tire swing. Everything she did was just so lovely. 

It didn't take long for my mum to became incredulous regarding why her nine year old son was so zealous about going with her to places like the bank or the post office when he could be staying home annoying his sister or playing video games like any other young boy. Soon Gemma found out and she told me that what I was doing was just plain creepy and I should try talking to her. This was easier said than done because Anella went to an all girls school. It wasn't until she was in Year 9, when she transferred to my school, Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, did I get the chance to talk to her and also ever so often see her at lunch.

It was still difficult to talk to her though. The problem wasn't that I couldn't talk to girls, it was just I couldn't talk to her. She was older and even more beautiful with her long dark brown hair cascading over her shoulders and don't get me started on those alluring hazel eyes of hers.

It wasn't until her mum decided to invite our family over to their home for dinner, that I finally got the chance to have an actual conversation with her. She was so sweet, understanding, and I adored the way her eyes lit up when she was talking about something she was passionate about. I don't know what it was about her but she could read me a nuclear medicine lab report and I'd still listen attentively. 

Maybe it was the voice or maybe, as Gemma had told me, it was infatuation. I didn't know what this word meant at the time so after she said this I looked it up in the dictionary. I was awestruck at the accuracy of it's definition and also relieved that there was a word for what I was feeling because I could rest assured that this feeling wasn't just exclusive to me, other people felt it too. It made the whole situation far more normal for me as it felt odd to find someone so alluring without even knowing much about them. Nonetheless, there was one part of the definition that I didn't really agree with. It was the whole 'short-lived' bit and I guess I just couldn't see myself getting over her easily.

"Harry?" my sister Gemma called. "Where's your mind at?" she inquired, snapping her fingers in my face.

"Oh nowhere." I said slipping out of my daze. "How's my favorite sister?" I asked as we hugged each other.  

"I love you but you were supposed to set the table like five minutes ago. Please don't tell me you've been standing around this whole time," she said raising her eyebrows at me. 

"Okay, I won't tell you I've been standing around this whole time." I stuck out my tongue. She let out a sigh of exasperation and walked away. I knew she wasn't genuinely annoyed though because the only thing I was sure that actually annoyed her, were my jokes. She didn't really think they were that funny. It was alright though, I can take criticism.

As I set out my mum's good china I smiled in spite of myself. I hadn't seen Anella since my schooldays. What if she had a boyfriend? I didn't know why this concerned me still but the question bugged me like an itchy Christmas sweater. After all this time and as beautiful as she is, it would be no surprise to me if she did happen to bring a guy over, but I don't know how I'd feel about that. My jealousy would be conspicuous and Gemma would probably tease me about it later. 

Ding Dong. "I'll get it!" Gemma announced and my heart dropped in anticipation.