kaitlynn rose // h.s

mornings in england

harrystyles: 🌹

When I woke up the morning following the wedding, Harry was no longer in his bed with me. Instead, a bundle of roses was laid next to me. I smile and bring one of the roses up to my nose, welcoming the beautiful scent. I glance around the room, getting a look at Harry's bedroom in the light for the first time. When we ended up coming back from the hotel, the wedding was over and everything in the house was dark. His bedroom was pretty blank, but he hasn't been here in so long that it's not all that surprising.

I eventually get around to getting out of the comfortable blankets and slip one of Harry's sweatshirts over my head. I dig some yoga pants out of my bag and put those on as well. I run my fingers through my hair in hopes to tame it as I head down the stairs of the house. I didn't know who all would be here, so I'm hoping I don't look like a complete zombie.

"So, this friend that you've brought with you," I hear Harry's mother saying as I reach the living room. "How long have you known her? Do you know her through a class?"

"Erm, yeah," Harry mumbles. "Both photography and english. And by the way mum - she's not my friend."

"Oh? You two seemed close, though?"

"Yeah," he clears his throat. "She's my girlfriend, actually. So yeah, we're pretty close."

I smile at his words as I follow the sound of their voices.

"Speaking of," Anne smiles at me as I wander into the kitchen. "Good morning, doll!"

"Morning," I smile sheepishly and wander over to Harry, who's leaning against the island of the kitchen. His arms find my waist immediately and he tugs me into him. He kisses my temple lightly as I cuddle up to him.

"Would you like some tea or coffee, Kaitlynn?" His mother offers. "I'm on the way out, but I'd be happy to make you something before I go."

Harry's chest moves as he laughs. "Mum, just go to your appointment. I can take care of her."

"Alright then," she smiles. "I'll get going. I'll be back in a few hours."

She kisses her sons cheek on her way out of the kitchen, which makes him roll his eyes as he smiles at her. "Bye, mum."

Once the sound of the door shutting echoes down the hall, I look up at Harry.

"Hi," I mumble, reaching up to kiss him. I can do that whenever I want to now. "M'hungry."

He smiles at me, pushing my hair back gently. "Well I know I said I'd take care of you, but I don't feel like cooking. How does leftover wedding cake sound?"

"Honestly, it sounds pretty fucking great."

//

"So, not to like, pry in your life decisions or anything," I mumble as I look at Harry. After eating some cake that I'm still not entirely convinced we were allowed to be eating, he'd made some coffee for us and we'd retreated to the swing on the back porch. The backyard showed little to no trace that there was even a wedding here last night. Harry was sitting straight forward, while I was sitting sideways with my legs thrown over his lap. "But you're graduating in a few months, and obviously you're not from America. Are you gonna like, move home or something?"

He stares out into the yard, not looking at me for even a second as a sigh falls from his lips. "I'm not really sure what I'm going to do. I love it in LA, but being here has made me realize how much I love it here too. I also am aware that... this..." he motions between us with his finger, "is fairly new. But I really don't want to even think about leaving you, Kait."

I fumble with the coffee mug that's in my hands. "My dad wants me to move back home," I blurt kind of suddenly.

"After graduation next year?"

"No," I frown, shaking my head lightly. "Like, right now. I've been ignoring his calls for two weeks now. He's really angry with me."

Harry looks over at me with concerned eyes. "Wait, what? Why would you move home when you're not done yet?"

"It's kind of complicated - well not really, I guess," I mumble. "He's never had to take care of my younger siblings without me or my brother there up until recently. My older brother just relocated so he's not there anymore. I think it's been hard on my dad recently and he keeps telling me he can't do it any longer. I'm honestly really glad this trip happened because I really don't have the heart to face him right now. I can't even imagine spending Thanksgiving with him right now. I never even got the chance to tell him that I was coming to England."

"I don't mean this to be rude at all, Kait... but honestly? Why should your siblings be your problem? And I'm not going to bother telling you a bunch about this right now, but you really should have told him you'd be here."

I laugh dryly, choosing to ignore the second part. "Ever since my mom died, my siblings have always been my problem."

He rubs my legs lightly as he continues to look at me with concern. "They shouldn't be. Why don't you just tell your dad the truth? How you really feel?"

"Can I be kind of a manipulative bitch for two seconds and make a deal with you?"

His concern is replaced by confusion. "That depends on the deal."

"I'll talk to my dad, if you tell your friends the truth about everything. Everything. Me, the partying, the drinking... the photography. I want them to fall in love with the real you like I have."

He bites his lip and looks down at his hands for a moment, which are rested on my legs still. "Fine. Deal. And for the record, Liam already knows everything."

I smile at him and reposition my body so I'm sitting straightforward like he is. I reach over and kiss his cheek as I wind my fingers with his. I rest my head on his shoulder and he rests his head against mine.

"Harry?" I mumble after a minute of silence.

"Hmm?"

"Will you come with me?"

"With you where?"

I raise my head to look at him. "To Texas. To see my dad."

"You want me to meet your dad?"

"Just want you to be there in general," I say quietly. "But yeah."

"Okay."

A smile comes over my lips and I reach forward to give him a quick kiss. "Really?"

"Yeah," he mumbles, squeezing my hand. "I'm not going to lie to you Kait - I never want to - but this relationship... this situation... it's all really new to me. I haven't had a proper girlfriend since I was about 15. I want to be there for you always, but you might have to guide me with how to do this. I want to be here for you when you need me to be. If going to Texas with you is going to make you happy, then I will absolutely do it."

"You don't need me to guide you," I say quietly. "Just be the guy you've been since I met you. Be the guy that's been behind closed doors with me. I don't want you to feel like you have to change all of who you are just to be with me. I just need you to change a few things, like how you are with your friends. I don't want to feel like I'm a burden to you because they don't know the truth."

"You're never, ever, going to be a burden to me. We're a team now. If you ever feel like you're a burden to me, you're wrong. You're one of the best things that has ever happened to me."