Between Us [Spaces Sequel]

t w e n t y - e i g h t

It was the next day we arrived in Holmes Chapel. Harry barely slept the night before, he couldn't stop crying, which made me cry aswell. All in all, neither of us got enough sleep that night. The passing of Robin hit both of us like a bullet to the heart and I hadn't even known him. I was just so absolutely heartbroken for Harry, who looked like his life was falling apart. The one thing making me feel even more miserable was the fact that I probably wouldn't cry over my father. I never knew what it was like having a supportive family, or a good dad. My entire family failed so brutally that it hurt. I was alone. It almost felt like I didn't have a family and I didn't really want to mention them. Every time somebody asked about my family, I considered lying. Saying they were dead would just be easier. Knowing that I had thoughts like this, made me feel worse and somehow guilty. Harry had lost his beloved father, while I had wished for mine to vanish forever.
The entire car ride was pretty tired. Harry had hired a driver to drop us off at his home. This was also the first time I was going to meet his family and that made me quite nervous. It felt like invading their privacy, since I hadn't known Robin. The only reason I went was Harry. I knew exactly that he needed me in this very moment. He needed everything right now, especially his family.
Quietly, I watched him stare out the window, while he nervously tapped his knee with his right hand. I could tell he was fighting back tears without even taking a single look at him. My heart ached for him, for the boy I loved. Instinctivly, I put my hand on his, making him know that I was here. He turned his head to look at me, forcing himself to give me a weak smile, but I knew that he had been crying.
"You'll be okay," I whispered, flashing him a quick smile.
"We're here," the driver suddenly said, making Harry and I gaze out of the window.
"Thank you, George," Harry said, patting his shoulder. "I appreciate it."
"Anytime," George replied, as I opened the door to get out of the car. The house was big, the lower half built of red colored stone, the upper half was painted white. I totally liked this type of house, hoping that one day I could move into one of those with Harry.
We got our luggage out of the trunk, before the black car drove off.
"I know this probably isn't the right time to say it, but I'm nervous," I said, as Harry took my free hand.
"They'll love you," Harry reassured, giving me a little smile.
"I hope so," I mumbled.
"I love you and they'll love you, too."
His words made me smile. It was insane how three little words from him could mean so much. He grabbed my hand, before leading me up the stairs to the door. My heart skipped when he rang the doorbell. I was scared that his family wouldn't like me, even though they had other things in mind currently.
After a few moments, the door opened, revealing a beautiful black-haired woman. She was taller than me, she reached up to Harry's shoulders.
"Harry!" She exclaimed, a smile spreading on her face, even though I could tell she wasn't in the mood to smile. She hugged her son tightly, not letting him go for what seemed like an eternity. I wondered when she got to see him last. I just stood there, not sure what to say or do, since I had never been in a situation like this one.
She pulled out of the hug, smiling at her son lovingly, before her eyes wandered over to me. "You must be Scarlett! I'm Anne."
"Yes, it's so nice to meet you," I greeted her, giving her a warm smile. She immediately pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly. It took me only seconds to hug her back, not used to having people give me so much love.
"I just wish the circumstances would be different," I stated, as she pulled out of the hug giving me a sad smile.
"Me too," she replied, hoping not to show that she was currently in pieces. "Come on in."
As we entered the house, we were surrounded by a decent smell. A smell of home and love and comfort.
Harry was holding my hand again, giving me reassurance since I was still nervous to get to know his mom.
"Why don't you bring your suitcases upstairs while I make tea for us? Gemma will be here in about an hour."
"Alright, Mum." Harry smiled at his mother lovingly, before picking up his suitcase. He then let go of my hand to grab my suitcase aswell.
"Harry, you don't have to. I can carry it," I chuckled.
"I know you can, but I don't want you to," he said, while giving me a tiny wink, making me roll my eyes. He carried our suitcases up the stairs as I followed him, curious as to what his room would look like. As we reached the top of the stairs, we stood in a little hallway with 3 doors. He walked down the hallway, passing a door with the name Gemma on it, before we reached what seemed to be his door.
He put down the suitcases, turning around to look at me.
"It might be messy. Haven't been home in ages," he shrugged, making me laugh.
"I don't care how messy it is," I told him, before he opened the door.
"Welcome to my world," he said dramatically, before picking up the suitcases to carry them inside. I stepped into the room, which was smaller than I expected. The walls were painted white, pictures decorating them. His bed stood in the middle of the room, a desk on the left side of the room, a bookshelf in the corner.
"So this is where you grew up," I stated, as he plopped down on the bed. I walked over to sit down next to him.
"Yep," he said, linking his hand with mine. "I sat here when we first texted."
"Really?"
He nodded, giving me a quick peck on the lips. "It seems like an eternity ago."
"It really does," I replied, smiling warmly.
It felt unreal sitting in his room. The room where the boy I loved grew up. The room where he was when we first texted.
"Maybe we should go downstairs," I suggested.
"Yeah, my Mum probably doesn't want to be alone," he said, getting up from the bed, before grabbing my hand to pull me with him. We walked down the wooden stairs and entered the living room, where Harry's Mom was sat on the sofa. She smiled warmly as we came through the door.
"Come on over," she invited us to the sofa. "When I was looking for pictures for the funeral I found this old album. Scarlett, darling, you're gonna love these baby pictures of Harry. Do you want to see them?"
"You won't have to ask me twice," I said, letting go of Harry's hand to walk over to the sofa. I sat down next to her, as she opened the huge brown book on her lap.
"No embarrassing pictures," Harry warned, before joining us.
"Oh, look!" Anne exclaimed with a smile, as she pointed at a picture of Harry. He was wearing a yellow sweater, winking cheekily into the camera.
"That's adorable!" I exclaimed.
She turned the page, exposing a picture of Harry as a child, wearing a white bra over his shirt. Immediately, Anne and I burst out into laughter.
"That's my favourite," Anne exclaimed.
"I said no embarrassing ones," Harry whined, covering the picture.
It felt so familiar, sitting there with Anne like I'd known her forever. Somehow everybody in this family made me feel loved and it felt as thought they were my family.
This time, it was Harry who turned the page, revealing a baby picture of him. His entire mouth was covered with tomato sauce, while his tiny hand was reaching out to the camera, his big green eyes widened.
Just as we looked at the picture, we heard the doorbell ring.
"That must be Gemma," Harry exclaimed, running off to get the door.
"I'm really happy to finally meet you," Anne told me, putting her arm around me.
"Me too," I replied. "I wish I could've met Robin, too."
Her expression turned into a sad one, I could see her eyes watering.
"He would've really liked you," she assured me. "I do."
"Mum!" A female voice suddenly exclaimed, making Anne turn her head. A brown-haired woman stood next to the door. It was truly remarkable, how much she resembled her brother.
"Gemma!"
Anne stood up from the sofa, embracing her daughter tightly. I got up from the sofa, waiting for my turn to say hello.
As the two pulled out of their hug, Gemma turned to me smiling.
"Hey!" She said, giving me a hug. "I'm Gemma."
"Scarlett," I introduced myself, before pulling out of the hug.