Angel (H.S AU)

Chapter Thirteen

"Alexa, would you come downstairs? Your father and I want to talk to you." My mother says from my doorway as I'm getting ready for work. I pack my bag and give my room a quick tidy before heading downstairs to see what my parents could possibly want. Last time they wanted to talk to me about working at the clinic, it didn't go well. I mean, it ended up being pretty great, but that was just luck.

When I get downstairs my parents are sitting at the table with a fullly set table of food waiting. Talk about déjà vu... "Well, what did you want to talk about?" I ask them, standing by the table. "Sit, have breakfast." My mum says, pulling out a chair for me. I shake my head, "No, it's fine. Can we make this quick? I'm going to be late for work." I say, hoping to get out of here. 

"Alright, I'll just say it then. We want you to quit work at the clinic and go back to modelling." My father blurts out. My jaw drops, and I'm wondering if I actually just heard him right. These are my parents right? These are the parents who hated me having a modelling career, right? "Uhm, why?" I ask.

"Sweety, we think the clinic is having.. negative effects on you. You're constantly in your room, you don't talk to us much... we're worried about you." My mother says, in her sympathetic mother voice. She comes over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "No." I say, pushing her hand of me. "I won't quit, not till I'm ready."

"Alexa-" 

"No, dad. You're not in control of me! I happen to love my job." I pick up my bag and grab my car keys and head out. I'm not going to listen to my parents about this any further. They honestly think I will just do what they say in an instant, but it's not going to happen. 

I won't just quit my job and go back to modelling. It's not happening, at least not yet. I can't leave the clinic. I can't leave Harry. Not yet. 

-

 When I arrive at work and walk in, I see a sigh that makes me heart drop. Harry and his parents are sitting in the foyer with Stacie. Please don't tell me they're planning to take Harry out again. Please no. He's not ready to leave. I'm not ready for him to leave. He can't leave. I approach them, with a fake smile plastered on my face. 

"Morning, Harry, Mr and Mrs Styles. How are you both?" I ask. His mother stands up and unexpectedly pulls me into a hug. "Alexa, it's lovely to see you again." She says. I wish my mother were as nice as Harry's. 

"Alexa, why don't you join us?" Stacie says, motioning for me to sit next to Harry. I sit down and place my bag next to me. Harry avoids looking at me, and I get the feeling that this doesn't have anything to do with Harry leaving, but instead something to do with me. 

"We are concerned, Alexa." Stacie starts of. "Concerned about what?" I ask. 

"You." 

I knew it. 

"A few of us are worried that you working here is having negative effects on you."

"You spoke to my parents, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry, Alexa."

"Look, I'm fine. And if you don't mind me asking, why are Harry and his parents here?"

I look at Harry, searching for an answer. I feel so in the dark right now. What is with this sudden concern about me? I honestly feel fine. Maybe I am stressed and that is having a slightly bad effect on me, but my general health is perfect. 

"We're thinking of moving Harry to another clinic. We think it's for the best." Harry's mother says, kindly. Her gentle voice almost makes me not feel so upset, but I am upset. I don't want Harry to leave. I know this is more than me just worrying about his well being. I know this is about me having feelings for Harry. I know that. I know I need to accept that. But something is stopping me. 

"No! This is a good clinic for Harry. Don't make him leave because I'm a little stressed." I raise my voice slightly, and out of no where Harry's hand holds mine. He looks at me for the first time since I came in this room and I see sympathy in his eyes. Sympathy and guilt. DId Harry say something to Stacie about me?

"Can I please talk to Harry? Alone?" I ask Stacie and Harry's parents. They all nod and head to Stacies office. I take a deep breath, wondering what I'm about to do and say. And wondering if I'm going to regret this. Although I need to do something because if I don't, I'm going to lose Harry. 

"You can't leave." I whisper.

"Alexa-"

"No, I can tell that you said something to Stacie. Why, Harry? What did I ever do to you?" I feel a tear fall down my cheek, and slowly down to my neck. 

"Yes, I said something to Stacie because I can't bear the thought that I am ruining you. When I met you, you were full of life, you were happy and now you're not. Now you're constantly worried, worried about me and yourself and the only person to blame for that is me. I can't deny that I have feelings for you, Alexa, strong feelings, and I never though I would feel like this about anyone, but I can't act on it. I can't act on it because one day I will hurt you, I will hurt you so terribly and you won't be able to look me in the face. That's why I'm doing this, Alexa. I'm just trying to minimize the casualties."

"I don't care if you hurt me, Harry." 

"Look, either I go to another clinic or you return to modelling."

"I'm done being a model, Harry."

"No!" Harry sighs in frustration, "You're not. You're so consumed with me and this clinic, that you don't realise where you belong. You're a wonderful model, you love being a model."

I don't want to agree with Harry. I don't, but I have to. He's right, or at least I'm convincing myself that he is. Maybe I'll go and model for a little while to prove to everyone that I'm fine, then I can come back. Then I can show Harry that I am still the same girl he met all those months ago. 

"Okay. I'll go back to modelling."

"Really?" He asks.

I nod, and wipe a tear from my cheek. "But that doesn't mean I'm done with you, Harry."

He smiles slightly, and looks me in the eyes. Seconds later, his lips are connected to mine. I shouldn't be kissing him, I know, but this feels so right. I am making things so much worse, I am encouraging feelings that cannot be acted on, at least not now.

I pull away from Harry, "I can't, Harry."

"Sorry." He says, looking away from me.

"I'll go and tell Stacie." I grab my bag and kiss Harry on the cheek, before heading to Stacies office to tell her and Harry's parents that I will be leaving.