Remember? A Harry Styles Story

Chapter 6

Two days later, I had found myself laying in bed for over three hours now, staring at the wall, flipping through my book, looking for some sort of distraction. A restless heart is cause for a three-in-the-morning-cry-fest. 

My laptop sat by my side, playing the ever so tear-jerking My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

My cell phone buzzed as I wiped the tears from my face and cleared my throat. My sadness-stricken mind jumped at the sight of Harry calling me. 

I sniffled and answered, trying my best to sound like I had been sleeping. “Do you know what time it is, Harry?” I asked. 

"Yes, I do." He answered groggily. "3:49 in the morning. I just needed to hear your voice again." A breathy static filled my phone and we shared a silent moment. 

A sadness filled my body. Don’t lie to yourself, you’re glad he misses you. I exhaled, “Why? You said that we shouldn’t talk anymore.”

"I know, I know." He said, probably regretting that he said that. "I’ve been finding myself missing the way you would tell me your memories of us together…Can you tell me another?”

"Okay, okay." I said.

Harry exhaled and I could even hear the smile on his face. “You’re the best.” He thanked me in raspy (and sexy) voice. 

"So, it was 2015, I believe. And your fortieth time in Paris, probably."

Harry’s warm, raspy laughed sounded through the phone. It caused me to feel the unmistakable pain in my heart.

"And, um." I sniffed away any lingering tears. "I’d never been before for some reason. So you had the brilliant idea to eat the Parisian delicacies. You and I absolutely hated the frog legs and snails."

Another laugh from Harry,

"I mean, maybe the legs tasted like chicken. But the snails were disgusting, they tasted like snot." I smiled, "After that, we saw the Eiffel Tower and took many pictures which now hang in our bedroom."

Harry and I chatted, more details of Paris and a little bit about when we bought our house. I glanced at the clock and gasped to see it near 6:00.

"It’s getting late…er, early, Harry." I said, "I need to go."

"Okay." He sounded disappointed, "Um, my mum wants to know if you’d come and visit. Here in Holmes Chapel." He paused, "She wants to make you a big dinner and have Gem, Jack and Phoenix over."

"Of course," I nodded, even though Harry couldn’t actually see me. "I’d love to. It’ll be just like old times, actually. We used to head up there for a weekend sometimes."

After a moment, Harry spoke quietly. “And maybe we could work on us.” 

"That sounds like a very good thing, Harry." I smiled, hope brewing in my heart. "Now sleep good. Goodnight-morning." 

"Goodnight-morning, Lia. See you soon." 

* * * 

I was pacing around the house. I straightened the picture frames, watered the plants three or four times, I mopped and dusted and vacuumed. 

She was coming here, today. Today!

I wanted everything to be perfect for her. I want her to be happy and I want her to forgive me for leaving. I didn’t think I could tell her, but I just wanted to go back home with her. She felt like home, she made this fun even though it seemed like memory loss wasn’t so fun.

The sound of tires on gravel caused my stomach to drop. I pulled my phone out to text mum that she was here.

Sent ✓: She’s here I’m nervous what do I do please hurry home

Mum: Relax!!! Take her bags in and put them Gem’s old room.

I stepped outside with a giddy, nervous smile on my face. She stepped out of the Range Rover and smiled, “There was traffic on the way here.” She stepped towards me, “Otherwise I would’ve been here earlier.”

I shrugged, “It’s fine. Mum’s at the shop.” I opened my arms and hugged her, “Thank you for coming.” 

She wrapped her arms around me and gently rubbed my back, “Of course, Harry. Anything to help you.”

We let go of each other and I took a small step back. She wore her hair down in its naturally wavy way that I’d come to really, really love. Her jeans fit her so nicely and she wore a hoodie that I could have sworn I saw in my side of the closet back home.

"I’ll grab your bags." I smiled, walking to the car and grabbed her one massive suitcase with a (pretend) exhausted grunt.

Lia giggled and placed her hands on her hips, “I didn’t know how long I’d be staying for!” She defended.

"I’m only joking." I laughed. I shut the door and she followed me inside. "We don’t have to share a room, you know." I said as she slipped her shoes off. "Gemma’s room is free."

"Sharing a bed doesn’t matter to me." She shrugged, "I’m used to sleeping with you, anyways."

A chuckle escaped my lips before I could hold it in, “You what?”

Her cheeks flushed that adorable rosy color and she stuttered her words. “I mean, we didn’t… I mean we did, but not like-” She huffed, “Ugh, forget it, you know what I mean.”

I laughed softly as we walked into Gemma’s old room. It still had some of her posters on the wall but all that was in there was a bookcase and a bed. 

"Well, here you go." I set her bag down and hopped on the bed. "C’mon."

"Fine." Lia rolled her eyes and she plopped right next to me. "How have you been?"

I nodded, “Okay, I guess. I did some research.” I said quietly. “Part of me didn’t want to look it up but the curiosity was too much.”

"On what?"

"Amnesia." 

She only nodded, her face looked anxious, almost scared.

"Most websites said that memory recovery is very unlikely. Over ninety percent of amnesia patients continue on without their memory." I sat up and crossed my legs under me. 

Lia nodded, “That’s what your doctor in London told us.” 

I reached my hand out to hers and held it. “How are you feeling?” I asked, “Tell me everything.”

"You really want to know?" She half-smiled. Her eyes looked sad and weary.

I nodded, knowing all too well that I was falling for her. And falling fast.

She nodded and took a deep breath. “It’s hard to balance myself between wanting to give you your space because of your memory loss and wanting to just be with you every moment because I want you to remember how in love we were.” Lia pressed her lips together and quietly continued, “And I didn’t really want to tell you that because I don’t want to burden you with my own worries.”

"You don’t." I assured her, "Not one bit." I fell backwards and lay on the bed, looking up at the ceiling.

A small, relieved smile appeared on her face that lightened my spirits. “I love spending time with you and when you left, I was sad but I didn’t want you to know that.” She gently laid down next to me.

"But remember what we agreed to?" I asked. Lia turned to me and shook her head. "We said we would work on us. And as crazy as it is, even if I don’t remember our lives together, I’m drawn to you and I want to be around you and take care of you and make you happy." I smiled, realizing that I needed that off my chest. 

Lia’s eyes closed and her hands covered her eyes as she sniffled. “Thank you.” She said, her voice cracked and wavering. I reached over and pulled her into me. We cuddled, my arms around her and her head on my chest. She cried on my shoulder as I traced patterns into her back. This is it, I thought, This is what I want with her.