Running Through the Dark

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

*short but important*

ANNA'S POINT OF VIEW

I could feel my mom's tears sticky against my neck. She was shorter than I remembered. Until I looked over my mom's at the mirror ob the wall, I had no idea that I was crying. I wrapped my arms around my mom, rubbing my hands on her back as a sense of comfort. The room was silent except for our quiet cries. After a few minutes, My mom pulled away wiping her eyes. I kept my eyes trained on the ground, embarrassed that after all these years, this is how my mom and I reunite. She probably hates me. She's been quiet for too long. Her slender fingers then reach out to my chin and she lifts my eyes to look into hers. Her voice was gentle and swift as she spoke,

"Are you happy?"

I never really thought about it. And no one ever asked me like this, just if I was happy. I was never happy here in Florida until I met Harry.

Harry

My mom gave me enough happiness to survive here and now I'm seeing her again after years of minimal contact and she doesn't say anything about my appearance just, Are you happy?

Thinking about it now, I am happy.

"Yes," My voice was stronger than I was expecting it to be. My mom embraced me quickly as she whispered,

"I love you. So much,"

I wanted to respond but all I could do was nod into the crook of her neck before she pulled away. I hadn't even noticed that the boys had helped themselves to any food in the house and they were all having separate conversations

Except for Harry.

Harry.

He wasn't mulling around with the guys. He wasn't in the kitchen or the bathroom. Then, taking another look, I realized that Niall wasn't around. After sweeping through the bottom floor clumsily, I could guess where they were. My legs carried me to the steep stairs that led to the upstairs. The hallway had the familiar scent of burnt cookies from my mom's horrible cooking. The smell mixed with the smell of stale makeup that I hid under throughout high school. Although it sounds gross, its a scent I'd gotten used to and learned to miss. The yellow hallway beckoned me to the door that held so much of my heart in it. I knew I left it here, because I left Harry with my heart, all the way across the country. I wanted so badly to open the door into my past, but I'm stuck. Stuck in memories of pillow fights with my friends in elementary school. Before I had to grow up. I remember bringing Alice here, we talked about our first boyfriends and kisses. The time Harry slept on my floor after I told him my story.

Harry.

I finally felt the blood pulsing through my hand and I realized I wasn't frozen to the spot. I reached my hand out but the door swung open before my hand even cane close. With a guilty look on his face, Niall walked out. He opened and closed the door just quickly enough for him to escape. The door was shut again before I even got the chance to look over his shoulder. Niall bumped into me before he noticed I was standing there. His eyes met mine but the usual smile wasn't there. He shouldered past me, not rudely just guiltily. I turned around to follow him.

I placed my hand in his shoulder, "Hey, I was looking for you,"

He looked like a puppy that took the newspaper and buried it in the backyard. The guilt was clear through his eyes.

"Oh" was all he said.

"I kinda feel like you've been ignoring me. And... I miss you,"

Niall didn't respond but he was looking more and more sad. I felt like it was my job to cheer him up.

I kept speaking, "You know, I've been thinking this for awhile."

Niall looked confused as I kept speaking, "I know you've felt it too. I can't stand pretending anymore. Niall, I think that I'm in love with you," My voice was confident, but that broke when I heard Niall mumble, "No,"

I expected tears to come but they didn't. All that came was anger and embarrassment. I tried to push past him, but he grabbed my arm with a gentle but firm hold, "Let me explain,"

I couldn't look him in the eyes.

"You aren't in love with me. You only think so. We both know who you truly love even if you aren't willing to admit it..."

Harry

"... Anna I'm crazy about you, but I'll get over it, and you'll get over the idea of being with me because it can't happen and won't happen. I'm really sorry that I led you on,"

I wasn't sad. Everything made sense. I expected to have tears but all I could feel were butterflies knowing what I've been missing all these years.

Harry.

I wrapped my arms around Niall. I whispered,

"Thank you for helping me realize what I've been missing. I'm just sorry that this is what it took,"

Niall's breath tickled my neck, "Me too. But it was going to happen eventually,"

I nodded into his neck and we pulled away, Niall heading down to see the rest of the boys. But I wasn't done here. I have another boy that I need to attend to. Hopefully he'll have me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys!!!! I hope you all are happy cuz I know you have been waiting for that realization in Anna's mind. But one question remains.... Can Harry forgive Anna for loving Niall. And does Harry really still love Anna even with the edgy, punk look? Comment your thoughts and I'm sad to say that...

THERE ARE ONLY TWO CHAPTERS AND AN EPILOGUE UNTIL THE END OF THIS BOOK.

Now I wrote that in all caps cuz I don't want it to come as a surprise to anyone. I will save the sappy thanks and goodbyes for my final authors note. So please continue to comment, read, vote, follow me ad spread the word of my stories.

Also, please read the first chapter of my new Louis fanfic "Detention Girl"

Thank you and goodbye!

xx

Kailey