Ignite to the Shattered Pieces (Tom Holland fanfic)

Chapter 7

"I get it. Her parents are psychotic." Back at the hotel, Harrison sips on his tea while Tom lays lazily on the couch, carelessly flipping through the channels on the TV, explaining his entire encounter with Mrs. Brimdale.

"So this is it. I'm never going to see or speak to her ever again." Tom stuffs his face on the pillow, all annoyed.

"It's for the bet mate." Harrison points out. "I mean, if you actually did continue talking to her without telling the truth, and start dating her again while pretending nothing ever happened, it still wouldn't work."

"Why wouldn't it?" Tom now acting crazy, almost convinced of that idea.

"You're drunk up to this point aren't you?" Harrison chuckles.

"I'm not drunk." Tom rolls his eyes, rubbing them together with his index finger and thumb.

"Okay," Harrison nudges his head all sarcastic like. "Well it wouldn't because one, she wouldn't be able to handle your crazy schedule and lifestyle especially with the type of people you surround yourself with, two, she needs to be recovering and you won't have time to provide her the proper care she needs. That includes physical AND mental needs. Meaning physical comfort, emotional support, and even just a simple text of assurance."

Tom shrugs, "I mean can do that. I can try to help her improve with me by her side at the same time balancing work! I'll make it work! Fathers do it all the time! They get busy and try to make time for their wives-"

"But not all fathers are famous actors." Harrison points out. "Meaning, you're...not normal. So you can't give her what a regular loving guy would give her."

"I need another beer." Tom shakes his head, convinced that his best friend was correct.

"That's enough for the night." Harrison pulls Tom back to the couch. "You need to rest and get your shit together because we've got a flight to France this weekend and your interviews tomorrow."

"Couldn't I just at least say goodbye to her?" Tom's voice cracks again, feeling the heaviness in his chest comeback.

Harrison scratches his head. "Just... do what you got to do, mate."

"You know this isn't easy for me!" Tom exclaims.

"I never said it wasn't going to be." Harrison shrugs.

"How am I supposed to say goodbye to her when, she'll be confused to why I sound so distraught about it." Tom now confuses himself.

"I don't know, you'll figure it out after you get some rest, okay?" Harrison begins to exit out of Tom's hotel room. "Look mate, I'm pretty devastated at what's happened as well. But, there's really nothing more you or I or anyone else could do at this point. I mean, she's controlled by her parents, and we have no control of them."

Tom wipes a few tears off his face again and looks away.

"I'll see you in the morning." Harrison nods and leaves.

As soon as Tom awakes at the crack of dawn, he decides to write a goodbye letter.

'Dalena,

I need you to understand that-'

"No." Tom scribbles the words and crumples the paper.

'Dalena,

This may not make sense to you right now. But it's okay, just know that I...tried my best. And that I'll always love you-

"No!" Tom scibbles again and crumples the paper.