TWO GHOSTS

Chapter Twenty Three / She Was Right.

The rain poured down below. The heat waves ended, and what seemed unusual to other countries, it often rained in the U.K. during summer. The window sill from inside Ruth's apartment was accompanied by her elder cat. The cat's green eyes slowly closed,  ready to sleep to the rain. You were admiring the cat, waiting for Ruth to return from the kitchen. You asked softly, "What's her name again?"

"Stitches. She was a street cat, which explains the scar on her upper lip." Ruth replied to you, handing you hot tea. As you grabbed the mug, you examined the light scar that stretched from her upper lip and ended on her nose. You softly brushed your hand along her black and white fur, almost waking her up. You finally left her alone, sitting alongside by Ruth who was staring at you.

You looked at her, "What?"

"Can I ask something personal?"

"Sure."

"What's up with you and the Styles twins? Is there like some kind of polygamy thing going on?" She quickly added in, "I'm not judging--"

"No, it's nothing like that." You almost chuckled. You hesitated but said, "They both...love me. And they want me to choose between them." 

Ruth scoffed, "Harry. Easy choice."

You shrugged, "That's what everyone says." After a short moment of silence, you set your tea down on the coffee table. You turned to her, "Tyler makes me feel safe, he makes me come out of my comfort zone without any hesitation. He's protective and he doesn't hesitate to tell me when I'm making a mistake. Tyler will chuck me into a car when it's raining, hell, he even fought someone because he doesn't like to see me in pain."

"Then choose Tyler--"

"But then Harry makes me feel like I'm always home. He cares so much that he takes time to help me study, and even after I fail, he doesn't take it to heart because all he wants to do is make sure I'm okay." You added in, "Harry makes me feel comfortable, he doesn't pressure me to do anything, and even when he's jealous, he'll make me make my own choices."

Ruth looked at you, "You're listing off things you love about them. Tell me things you don't."

"...things...I don't like about them?" You broke eye contact, staring off into the distance, "Tyler's temper is an issue but he's working on it--"

"Don't soften the blow. Rip off the band-aid and tell me what makes you second guess about both."

You took in a soft sigh. You shut your eyes, visualizing the moments were you angry, crying, or even felt like you wanted space between both. You mumbled, "Tyler's temper and jealously are overwhelming. He's always trying to push me out of my comfort zone but once it involves another guy, he manages to pull me back in." You added, "Harry is too comforting, I don't want to feel like I need to be around him all the time just to feel like I'm okay. I feel like Harry is barely around, Tyler is always there to take his place."

Ruth's voice said, "What's something you don't like about them both? Something they have in common."

"They...they're mean to each other."

You opened your eyes, looking over to Ruth, "Be real with me. Who would you choose?"

Ruth shook her head, "Not my decision."

"Please." You whined.

Ruth looked at you before rolling her eyes, "Don't let my decision affect yours, okay?"

You nodded.

Ruth sighed before setting her tea down beside yours, "Tyler's jealously and temper isn't a problem, especially if he's willing to change. You just have to show him who's boss when it comes to making your own choices. And Harry, you need to adjust to him leaving. He loves you, but music is the next big thing to him. So he'll do anything to have it as a career."