Homecoming

Panic

Harry's P.O.V

I wake up to the beautiful sight of a sleeping Riley. We're both still naked and cuddled together. I play over what happened last night and I can't stop the smile from appearing on my face. I gently move a few stray hairs away from her face. She looks so peaceful. Her hand is pressed against my butterfly tattoo. When I got that tattoo I hadn't completely realized the irony of the placement. I remember one day hanging out with Riley and suddenly feeling butterflies in my stomach and thats when I realized my butterfly was in the same area. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. She really makes that butterfly come alive, every time I look at her, every time she smiles. It's scary, these feelings I have for her. I've never felt this way about a girl before.

Midway through my train of thought I feel Riley stir. I look to her face and her eyes begin to flutter. I smile and take her hand in mine, bringing it up to my mouth and placing a gentle kiss on it. "Morning gorgeous." I say smiling at her.

She smiles back up at me "Morning." She stretches a bit and then looks back at me "Your morning voice is sexy." She says. I can't help but laugh at that. I've never really heard that before.

I kiss her forehead and sit up and pull my boxers back on. I stand up and look at Riley, still snuggled under the covers but she's pouting. I chuckle "I'm gunna go make you breakfast. What would you like?" I ask her walking towards the door. I hear her mumble "you" I turn around and raise my eyebrow her face turns a light shade of red and I chuckle and shake my head. "I guess I'll surprise you then." She nods and I walk out of the room.

As I'm finishing up the French toast I hear Riley coming down the stairs. When she appears in the doorway in my blue flannel I can't help but smile. "You look better in my clothes than I do." She giggles at that and comes behind me and wraps her arms around my waist. I plate our food, turn off the burner and turn around in her grip. I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head. "Come on, let's eat before it gets cold." She nods and we take a seat at the kitchen table.

When she finishes I notice her place some pills on the table, taking each one by one. She notices me staring and swallows the last one before explaining. "These are the pills that keep me functioning. I hate them because all they do is remind me how screwed up I am but they help me not be so screwed up." she shrugs and gets up to put her plate in the sink. Just looking at her you would never think that she was so broken only because those pills hold her together. I've suddenly lost my appetite and push my plate away. Knowing what made her broken makes me more angry then I'd like her to know but right now I can't hide it.

I clench my jaw and take deep breaths. Riley notices my sudden mood change and she walks over to me, placing a hand on my cheek and making me face her. I close my eyes, avoiding her gaze. "Heyyy... Harry?" She says straddling my lap. I wrap my arms around her waist and she puts her other hand on the other side of my face. I take long breaths trying to calm myself but it isn't working.

"You wouldn't have to take those pills if it wasn't for that bastard." I say through clenched teeth.

She sighs heavily "Harry, what happened is in the past. Their isn't anything that can be done about it. I used to beat myself up about it all the time but it's not worth the stress." She says calmly playing with my hair. I can feel myself calming down just because she's here. "Look at me. Please?" She begs.

I open my eyes and meet her smokey blue gaze. She smiles and the rest of my anger dissipates as I sigh heavily. "I just hate knowing that I couldn't do anything to help you." I admit to her.

She shakes her head at me. "Stop thinking that way. The fact that you're in my life now is all that you're here now is all that matter okay?" She says leaning her forehead against mine.