Gardens Of Eden (A Harry Styles Story)

23. Friday

Harry woke up at 4am, unable to lie in bed any longer. Today was the day he had been anxiously awaiting, and after a week of planning and preparing, all he could do now was follow the plan and hope for the best.

Getting dressed, Harry tried not to picture Eve, asleep in her room. She had waited up for him last night, and a part of him had been looking forward to seeing her, too. But emotions would only jeopardize the fragile situation, and he couldn't allow that to happen. He had made a quick exit, knowing the melatonin he'd taken would kick in rapidly, and he could only hope she understood.

Her door was closed when he walked by, and with a deep breath, he kept walking. Not saying goodbye meant not having to see her baby blue eyes; see the fear he was determined not to feel.

His car was waiting for him. With steady hands he opened the door and sat down.

"You ready for this, boss?" Raf turned and looked at him.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Harry replied.

And they were off.

**

Outside my window, a bird chirped, announcing the sunrise.

My eyes flew open as I sat up.

My first thought was that I had been holding my breathe, because my lungs screamed for the air I couldn't inhale fast enough. Blankets clung to my skin and my hair was a mess from tossing around on the pillows.

I had slept awfully and to make matter worse, today was Friday.

Throwing off the blanket I raced for the hallway. It was very early but I could just make out a car door slam outside.

Harry's bedroom door was open and no sounds came from downstairs. I ran to the front door, nearly tripping over my baggy pajama pants, but making it just in time to see his town car pull out of the driveway.

No!

He had left with no goodbye.

What did he have planned?

Where was he going and when would he be back?

Question after question scrolled through my brain, making me crazy with anxiety.

I paced the house for an hour before Helga turned up, nearly having a heart attack to see how shaken up I was.

She comforted me and forced breakfast on me but I could hardly eat. All I could think about was Samuel finding out I wouldn't be returning and Harry being the closest thing to take his anger out on.

He's going to kill him.

I was terrified of being right.

The day passed slowly, excruciatingly so. When Harry still hadn't returned after dinner, even Helga began looking a big worried which didn't help me at all.

"I have an idea, dear. Why don't we go outside and get some fresh air." She was hiding her concern well, but I knew better. Outside, we wandered through the orchard, smelling the fruit trees. We walked until I recognized the same patch of weedy dirt I'd seen my first day here.

"What do you say we pull some weeds? Sun will be out for another hour at least." She smiled, producing two pairs of gloves from the wheelbarrow nearby.

I didn't say a word but I took the gloves. Falling to the ground, I started pulling gently at the closest roots. The earth in my hands felt amazing after a warm day and I realized I wanted to just touch it. So, I took off the gloves and kept going, my little pile of weeds growing and the dirt on my hands grounding me.