Equal Ice // Harry Styles AU

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Harry’s POV

“Harry you really should go tomorrow, you’ve been skipping all the other times you were supposed to be going,” Gabrielle told me through the phone.

She had been trying for the past few minutes to convince me to go to the buffet. She hadn’t realized that I had been skipping it every time so I could hang out with her. I knew I probably should be going more then I have been, but I just don’t want too.

Not everyone is there every time that I go, then again I’ve only gone twice out of the I don’t know five times I think I was supposed to go. I made the mistake of slipping something out about the whole team foundation buffet meet ups or whatever coach is calling it.

“But you’re more fun to hang out with,” I whined back at her.

“Too bad, I’m canceling,” she told me.

“I’ll show up at your house anyway,” I said back.

“I won’t answer,”

“I’ll find a way to get in,” I said.

“Good luck,” she laughed which caused me to smile.

Ever since she told me about her mom, I’ve been really careful around her, making sure that I don’t ever upset her. Seeing her tell me everything about her mom in her room that day was the first time I’d ever seen her cry or be so upset, and I never want to see it again.

When I saw her again the next day I was being too careful around her and I think she was starting to take notice because she made a point to make sure I know that she doesn’t want me to feel any pity over her and to just try and not think about what she told me the other night.

It’s hard to not think about it though because I know what she has gone through and how much it’s affected her more than she cares to admit. She’s never had a mom to even out her family, instead she just has a dad who works too much and is focused too much on making sure Gabrielle is the best skater.

She’s never had a mom to give her advice on growing up and dating and all that girly shit. Instead she just has a dad who is going to start out hating every guy she goes out with because she doesn’t have a mom to tell him that his little girl is growing up and she’ll be fine, he has to accept it on her own. It must’ve been hard for her to only have a dad to help her with preteen struggles, makeup, and god forbid the girls monthly visitor.

“I should probably go, my dad will be home any minute and I don’t need constant questions about who I’m talking to in his attempts to get me to hang up anyway,” Gabrielle told me, and I couldn’t help but think about what I just was. Her dad wanting her to hang up so he could talk to her because he really has no one else, and wanting to make sure he knows everything about his daughters life. “Okay,” I said,

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I cheekily added.

“No you won’t,” she laughed and with that hung up.

I smiled as I brought the phone away from my ear and set it face down on the kitchen counter I was sitting at.

A few minutes later I was about to get up and go to the living room, but stopped once I saw my aunt walking into the kitchen.

“What are you all dressed up for?” I asked, looking the dress that I’ve never seen her wear before, I’ve never seen her in a dress period.

“I…have a date tonight,” she told me as she grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

“Really?” I asked, raising my eyebrow at her, the topic now grabbing my attention. “Yes really now just leave it at that,” she said.

“Who’s the lucky man?” I asked.