Giving Harper Hope

Chapter Seven- Harper

Over 100 reads!!!! I'm so unbelievably surprised that this story has become so popular so quickly! Thank you for reading, and let's get on with the chapter before I start ranting...
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"We need to talk."
   Harper stared at Liam. "...About what?" She asked even if she knew the answer already. "You've been avoiding me, Harper." He crossed his arms. She winced and averted her gaze. His annoyed look shifted into confusion and he lowered his arms so that they hung by his sides. "Are you okay? I've been worried about you." The words almost made her drop to her knees, they felt so genuine compared to her father's usual 'you'll be fine' and 'get over yourself, Harper.' "Why?" Her voice was small and weak-sounding as she spoke. "I want to help you, Harper. You can't keep on going through this alone." Liam took a step towards her, and for once, she didn't flinch. She just met his eyes and bit her lip. "Are you sure about that, Liam? I'm as broken as they come. There's no helping me." Harper didn't mention that she wasn't worth helping, either. "I'm sure, and you are worth helping, Harper. You don't have to go like your mother. Nobody deserves to die like that." His voice was soft and soothing. She bunched up her eyebrows as she scanned his face for a sign that he was lying, but she found none. "Please don't treat me like that. It's disheartening." Harper willed her features to relax. "Okay, if it's makes you feel better. You doing anything today?" He tilted his head to the side slightly. She nodded. "My father is visiting." He raised an eyebrow but sighed when he realised that she wasn't lying. "You know you can come over if you need anything, right?" He asked, and she nodded again. "I'll see you later, Harper." Liam offered her a small smile before turning and walking away.
She didn't close the door until he was out of her sight. The phone ringing was distant, but she willed herself to close the door with difficulty and answered it.
"Hello?" The number that flashed across the screen was unfamiliar to her. "Is this Derek Lucas?" The woman's voice was slurred.
"No.. this is his daughter. Why are you asking for him?"
The woman scoffed. "Tell your daddy that I'm pregnant."
The line went dead, and Harper was left there, gaping and staring blankly at the wall.
What did he do since the last time I saw him? She thought, her attention drifting back to the closed door behind her. It wouldn't be long before her father would be walking through it. He had a lot of explaining to do.
Harper set the phone on the table gently, as if it would ring again if she was any rougher while putting it down. Who was that woman? And why did she have to tell Harper's father that she was pregnant? It couldn't be that he had gotten her pregnant. He was still with that other woman that he'd run off with, as far as she knew. He wouldn't cheat on her after all of that. The person he wanted to introduce to her about couldn't be related to her. It wasn't related to Harper turning 20, either. He never contacted her or did anything for her on her other birthdays. Not even a text saying 'Happy Birthday, Harper!' She was never given such things from him. When she was young, she had to grow up quickly, or else she wouldn't get anything done. Her mother was caught up in her own problems. Her father had always been out drinking with his friends. Nobody deserves to grow up like that, but she did. And her parents didn't notice when she excelled in every class and was becoming an excellent artist and writer. No. They just kept on like they didn't care. It wasn't any different now. He was probably drunk when he called her, and wasn't coming. The thought made her heart clench painfully. Harper didn't have time to realise that she felt an emotion before there was a loud knock on the door. She whirled, hurrying to open the door and peeking out of it.
   Unfortunately, it wasn't Liam again. It was her father. With a burly man standing beside him that looked to be about her age. She froze when she saw her father's eyes widening at the sight of her. He hadn't seen her in 7 years, she realised, slipping out of her frozen state and opening the door wider. "Father." She said in greeting, not noticing the pained look that he gave her. "Harper... you've grown quite a lot since I last saw you." He gave her a small smile, but she didn't return the gesture. He sighed and nodded towards the man that stood beside him, who, she now realised, was wearing a dark blue suit and had black hair that seemed to be all over the place. He offered his hand for her to shake, and she placed her hand in his, shaking it briefly before letting go. "I'm Phillip Anderson." Phillip introduced himself, a smile slowly spreading across his face. His eyes were a brilliant blue, contrasting with the golden-tan of his skin. "Oh! Come in." Harper gestured to the living room behind her. Her father walked in first, Phillip trailing closely behind him. She could tell both of them were surprised by the bookshelves lining the walls, and how all of them were almost filled with books. There were sticky notes on the spines saying 'Read' on all of the books that she had finished. All of them had one except a few of the newer ones she hadn't had the time to read. She sat down on one of the couches, crossing her legs under her.
"So... why did you want to introduce me to Mr. Anderson, Father?" Her voice shattered the silence that had settled over the room.
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Hope you liked this chapter! I'll be updating this story randomly, so the schedule that I had set up is void now. Well, I'll see you in the next chapter, byeeee!!