Remember? A Harry Styles Story

Chapter 7

Lia’s small frame hardly dented the bed as she joined me. The sun shone through the window of my old bedroom. I also felt a strange feeling in me, some kind of confusion having Lia sitting on my bed while being in my old bedroom. Maybe what was so strange was that I remembered much of my bedroom, but not much of Lia.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, her chocolate hair falling over her eyes.

I nodded, “I feel good,” I said, scratching my jaw in search of something else to say. “I googled some memory loss stuff.” 

"Hm." She nodded. "What kinds of things did you find?"

I took a deep breath, “Mostly bad information Same things as last time.” I placed my hands on my knees, looking at the small dove tattoo on the inside of my right wrist. Lia’s left hand gently covered mine. As I glanced at our hands together, I saw the same one on her wrist, next to a solid red heart.

"Did we get these together?" I asked, running my thumb over her tattoo.

She nodded and gave a thoughtful smile. “It was a night when we so bored and had just had dinner. We were trying to think of something to pass the time when you tugged on my arm and led me into a tattoo parlor.” She quietly laughed, “You decided on doves and I decided on the wrist.”

For the first time in a long time, I genuinely smiled. “That sounds like something I would do.” 

"We have other matching ones, but I think we’ll save those stories for another day." She patted my knee and smirked. Talking to her was easy. I can already see why I love her. Or, why I used to love her. 

"I’m going to help your mum with dinner. Gemma, Jack and Phoenix are on their way over as well. Gem said Nix misses you loads." Lia smiled, leaving the room. "We could take him to the park later if you’d like." She leaned against the door frame. "We used to do that a lot."

I nodded, “Yeah, sure,” smiling as she turned to leave.

I pulled my iPhone out and clicked through the things I’d put on there before the accident. The more I flicked through pictures of my old life on my iPhone, the more I felt a nostalgic ache in me. 

After dinner, Lia asked Phoenix if he wanted to go the park and he got so excited that he knocked over his sippy cup. I followed the two of them outside, where Phoenix grabbed on to Lia’s hand and said, “Will you skip wiff me?”

I heard Lia laugh and she skipped along with him, singing a song. I jogged to join them and grabbed Nix’s other hand, skipping with them.

"Skip to my loo my darling!" We sang, swinging our hands and skipping around like idiots. But I wasn’t embarrassed, I was so happy. I felt something strange while watching Lia push Phoenix on the swingset. It was as though so many emotions rushed through me and Lia jus gave me such a rush. I know our past. Lia and I were about to get engaged. But who says that whatever is between us couldn’t possibly happen again?

"Harry! Harry!" I heard Phoenix shout. "Un’ca Harry!"

"What is it?" I ran over, looking at what he held in his hands.

I knelt down next to Lia, smiling at her and looking at Nix. He smiled and opened his hands, “I caught a fwoggy.” He beamed with pride. “I wanna show grammy.” 

I laughed, “Not sure mummy or daddy or grammy will like this froggy very much, buddy.” 

"But you like it right un’ca Harry?" He looked from me to Lia, "And Lia?"

She nodded, “I love froggies.” She ran her finger along the frog’s back, “I think it’s cool that they’re all slimy. But mum and grammy don’t like slimy. Why don’t we put the froggy back in the pond?”

I patted Phoenix’s back, “Froggies like ponds because that’s their home.”

"Well, he needs to go home to see his babies, right?" Phoenix asked.

Lia and I glanced at each other and giggled, “Yes, he probably misses them.” I picked him up and held him, “Let’s find a good spot to put your froggy.”

"I name him George. Like the baby brotha from Peppa Pig." Phoenix said, looking down at his new little friend, "I will miss you, George fwoggy."

We stood at the edge of the water, Lia and I crouched down to be at Phoenix’s height. ”It’s time for George froggy to see his family, so put him here on the ground.” I said, “And we will say bye-bye to our new friend.”

Phoenix sat on his knees, “Bye George!” He pushed his hands out, throwing the frog in the water and we laughed.

"Back to the playground?" Lia asked us. "Or home, Phoenix? Grammy’s got some desserts for us to have. What would you like to do?"

I picked him up, placing him on my shoulders, “Wow I’m tall!” He laughed, “I would like desserts, pwease. Grammy makes good ones.” 

We walked back home, Phoenix on my shoulders and Lia beside me. I looked over to see her, hands in the pockets of her jeans and looking at each house we passed. She was so content, happy with doing whatever I wanted to. 

"Psst." I said, waiting for her to look my way. 

She turned towards me and smiled, “What?” 

“Thank you for coming here, to my mum’s.” I waited for her to say something but she just smiled and nodded. I bumped her hip with mine, “I may not be able to remember things but you’re helping me.”

Lia looked at me, giving me her little flirtatious smile, “You’re welcome. We’ll talk more about this later.” She wrapped her hand around my waist and I placed mine around her shoulders.

We walked back home like that, holding each other, and I decided that I’d like nothing more than to have this as a permanent thing. 

Me and Lia. Lia and I. Us.