Heir [Harry Styles]

Chapter 1: Goodbye, Hello

-Chapter 1-

Cam POV: 1 Day Earlier

"Pass the orange chicken." I request, stabbing the air with my chopsticks, impatiently pointing to the small paper box containing my intending choice of food. Iris glares at me, shooting me a dirty look. Everyone knows that her chicken is off limits.

"And why would I do that? You already hogged all of the rice and chow mein!" she retorts, pushing the box farther out of me reach before placing a piece of the chicken into her mouth.

"Well, hm, let me think about this. Maybe because I'm super nice, really charming, good looking. What else? Oh yeah, and I’m your brother and I bought it with the my money." I smirk as I watch her reluctantly slide over the box to me with a sigh. "You're not getting this back. Just for that sass." I tease, piling my plate high with the savory chicken. I'm about to take the last piece when a pillow comes flying through the air, intending to knock me in the head, but with my swiftness, I ducked. The pillow halts as it contacts the wall.

"I hate you, I really do." she sarcastically scolds me as she swipes the last piece from the box and stuffs it into her mouth. "That was my sacred chicken, Cam. You can't just go around eating peoples sacred food!" she waves her hands in the air, a piece of rice flying off her utensil and landing on the tip of my nose. "Well, kid sister, when you start to buy the dinner around here, then you can tell me what I can and cannot eat." I retort before wiping off the grain of rice and wink at her as she huffs, sinking back into  the couch and finishing off her dinner.

"You suck." she breathes under her breath.

"Well, if you think I suck so much," I hear her chuckle at my choice of words and my face immediately burns, "I mean- uh, if you hate me so much, there's a perfectly good duffel bag in the closet and the door is wide open for you to walk out of. And fuck you." she reaches over and smacks me on the chest and I chuckle, placing my plate of the coffee table and leaning back against the couch. I kick up my feet and fold my arms over chest, getting comfy on the worn out leather couch. I grab the remote and flip through the endless re-runs of boring television shows. Finally, I come to a stop on a news channel and turn the volume on low. I hear Iris slowly chewing her food, finishing everything on her plate. I make pig noises at her and lift up my nose for more a pig effect and am answered with a middle finger. Simple but very effective.

We sit in silence as I stare blankly at the t.v. before taking out my phone a skimming over my text messages. Looking over the top of my phone, I observe Iris swiftly stacking up the empty Chinese boxes and the plates before strolling over to the sink, an unsafe tower of glass and cardboard in tow.

“You know you don’t have to do that.” I mention as she tosses the boxes in the trash.

“I know. I’m just being a good sister. And plus you’re leaving tomorrow.” she calmly states, tucking a piece of her long brown hair behind her ear. Her hazel eyes meet mine and I smile.

“You know I something forget that you’re actually 19 and not 25.” I watch as her eyes glaze over and her gaze moves down to plates in the sink. Her hand moves to her face and she wipes away a tear. It’s almost been 2 years since she died. Since our mother died.

“You know you remind me a lot of her. Not just the way you look but what you do and say. Its almost like you talking to her sometimes.” I state, still watching her as she sweeps her long brown hair over her shoulder.

“When did you turn into such a cheese ball? And Mom will be 10 times a better person than I’ll ever be.” her voices is a whisper, barely audible over the rush of water flowing over the dirty plates. Suddenly, the water stops and Iris walks around the counter, “Good night.” she says in a hushed tone before closing her door behind her, leaving only the sweet scent of her lavender shampoo in her wake.

“Good night, I love you. I always will.” I mutter before switching off the television and striding into my room just across the hall from hers.

***

“Have you got everything packed? You’re going to be in London for awhile and I don’t want you to run out of underwear.” Iris taunts me, flinging a pair of my boxers across the room and we both watch as it lands in my suit case.

“You know I am a grown man of 21 right? I can do laundry, I don’t need a thousand pairs of underwear. And it’s only for a week.” she stifles a laugh. Saying I could do laundry was a complete lie and she knows it.

“You couldn’t do laundry to save your life! The last time you tried to do laundry, you ended up on the floor with clothes and soap all over you begging for help.” a laugh bubbles from her mouth as she falls back holding her stomach as he brilliant laugh fills up the atmosphere. Her bright teeth shimmering in the morning sunlight streaming through my open window every time she grins .

“We said we’d never speak of that again!” I launch a pair of socks at her and it hits her square in the forehead, but as soon as I start to laugh, the socks are catapulted right back at me, hitting my nose and bouncing back onto the wooden floor.

“You said that and I never agreed to it, so I can say whatever the hell I want.” she smirks, folding one of my last shirts and neatly placing it into the suit case. “I think you’re all set. I put a few t-shirts, a few long sleeves, a pair of jeans, shorts, socks, boxers,  and a jacket.”

“Iris, its not like I’m going to be gone for a month.” I look away, avoiding her eyes.

“Yeah, well. I want you to be prepared. Remember you asked for my help and I am the queen of over packing. Could you do me a favor and sit on the top so I can zip it?” I oblige to her request in plop down on the top and watch as she smoothly glides the zipper around the bag, mending the top half with the bottom.

“Alright, so your flight is in 2 hours so we should go because it will take about 20 minutes to get there and check-in time and-”

“Okay Sissy, stop freaking out.” I place my hands on her shoulders and guide her out of the room, rolling my luggage behind me. Iris locks the door after I close it  and we walk to the elevator together before sitting in my black Range Rover and driving to the airport.

***

“Be safe.” she states, a slight frown on her face.

“It’s not that long, you can have people over, just make sure you don’t go crazy, okay? I know how you are. And stop acting like you’re the 23 year old and I’m 19. I can take care of myself.” I assure her as I step into the line for my security check.

“Love you, see you soon.” I ruffle her and and give her a tight hug.

“See you later, douche bag.” a mother with a toddler glares over at Iris for using “foul language” no doubt. With one last wave I set off,  taking small steps until I reach the front of the line. I hope she’ll be okay.

Iris POV

It’s been awhile since Cam has left me to go somewhere, but I’m 19, and I don’t need my brother around to protect me. Right?

I start up the engine and begin my drive back to downtown Los Angeles, passing time by listening to overplayed songs and trying not flip off careless drivers.

***

I slide my key into the lock and turn it with out and struggle, walking in to the dark room of our apartment. Cam and I have alway been close and when we moved out here from London, we wanted to stay that way, so our father bought us a nice apartment to share in the downtown Orsini Complex in LA. We moved here after my mother died, we both couldn’t stand our mansion in London, so when we got here we both enrolled in classes at UCLA. But Cam just graduated and I just finished my first year.

I place my keys and my bag on the counter and start to my room to change into my PJ’s when there is a quiet knock on the door. Who would be at my door at this time? Cam would say how its probably the next door neighbor asking if we have any eggs but something about is giving me a weird feeling. I cautiously approach the door, ignoring the screams inside my head to turn around and hide in my room, and open it slightly, peeking out to see who has was there. And it sure as hell isn’t Coney from next door.

“Hello, Adalyn Iris. Its been awhile.” A warm smile greets me. I swing open the door as wide as possible and wrap my arms around the tall man’s neck.

“Hi, Dad. I’ve missed you so much.”