Ink || h.s [sequel to grapite]

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Call me back when you get this, please?" I whispered into the receiver, hanging up and listening to the empty ring of the answer phone. Placing the phone onto the table, I sat in a foreboding silence. I hated silence, it gave me a chance to think about everything. That's when everything that I'd pushed away came to the surface.

With my eyes closed, I rested my arms onto the table in a slump. I focused on the insides of my eyelids, watching as light patterns flashed across. It reminded me of my childhood, when I would sit and purposely close my eyes just to escape from everything. There was nothing to worry about back then though, I was young and carefree.

I'd take everything back in a heartbeat.

I would've never gone to LA. I would've never lied, betrayed and broken. I would've stayed in England and woken up beside Harry everyday. His green eyes and thin lips would have been the first thing I'd see every morning. Tangled duvets and restless hands would be the way I spent the day. He was my everything.

The faint flickering of the screen of my phone brought me to my senses, and I mindlessly pressed answer without checking for Caller ID. There was only really one person it could have been though. I knew before I even heard him speak.

"Sadie?" Harry asked, his voice crackled with static from the phone.

"Hi," I replied quietly, untangling my hair with my fingers. I looked around the room awkwardly, unsure of what he would say.

"What's up?"

I don't know what I'd anticipated, but I didn't imagine that Harry would be this calm. Something in me had been awaiting a violent confrontation, filled with shouting and screaming. In reality, it was the polar opposite.

"I'm sorry." I choked out. The corners of my eyes had started to brim with tears. I couldn't hold in the shameful feeling that overwhelmed me completely.

"For?" He questioned. I could hear the skepticism that dripped from his voice. He didn't believe me. He had every right not to.

"For being so stupid. For tearing you into pieces with my lies. For everything, I guess." I shrugged, forgetting that he couldn't see me.

"Meet me at mine?" His voice sounded after a few seconds of contemplating.

"Why?" I answered cautiously.

"I'd rather have this conversation face to face," He explained. I could hear shuffling and the sounds of scrabbling through the phone.

"I'll see you in a minute," I mumbled, hanging up and clutching my keys from their place on the kitchen side.

Within minutes, I was pulling up in Harry's driveway. The butterflies that had built up in my stomach started to violently take flight. I felt my legs tremble beneath me as I stepped out of my car. Each step I took was filled with uncertainty. The gravel beneath my feet scattered slightly when I became unbalanced. I knocked on the wooden door, hearing each knock echo throughout the house.

It took Harry seconds to hear the knocks and run through the house to the door. His quickened footsteps could be faintly heard as he ran down the stairs. I laughed a little, trying to ease the tension in the pit of my stomach. The door opened to reveal a slightly disheveled Harry, trying to subtly even out his breathing. 

"Hey," He said cooly, leaning against the door frame. I was slightly surprised to see him in nothing but a pair of sweat pants; I wasn't sure where to look.

"Hi." I choked, feeling lumps form in the back of my throat.

"I suppose you should probably come in then." He chuckled, standing back to let me through the door. He followed me through to the living room and we stood awkwardly for a second.

"So, how've you been?" He asked, in attempt to make small talk. Whilst I was deliberating my answer, he fiddled with the waistband of his sweats. The pants slid lower on his hips, revealing his lower abdomen. 

"I've been...better," I answered, after some hesitation. His eyes scanned my own, searching for the deceit that lay within. Something in him knew that I'd hit rock bottom, but I was too proud to admit it.

"I accept your apology." He whispered, closing the distance between us. 

"If that's all you wanted, then I best be-"

"That won't be necessary." He interrupted, placing a gentle finger to my lips. "I still love you, I've always loved you. You ripped my heart out and yet you were still all I could think about. Why do you have this hold over me?"

"You, you still love me?" I uttered in disbelief, shaking my head to try to figure everything out. It was impossible to without reaching a muddled confusion.

"How could I not?" He shrugged, letting a smile play onto his scarlet lips. "The boys in my band are pretty much fed up of hearing about you."

"Oh."

"You've done some pretty stupid things, but after all this time I still forgive you."