sign {h.s.}

kapitel fyrtionio

If Harry is shocked or upset by my words, he doesn't immediately betray himself. While his face has taken on a brightening shade of peach, there is no further look of embarrassment on his features. Swiftly, he even manages to change the subject, "I brought your key," he says softly, shoving his hand in his pocket and producing the metal object that had caused me to stand precisely where I am right now. Had I not let that key out of my sight, I wouldn't have had to come home in the first place. 

"Thanks," I say, reaching out to snatch it from him. Mentally, I vow never to part with this thing again. Who knows what could happen next time? 

As I wrap my hands around the metal, I look up to notice him staring expectantly at me. Wrapping my fingers around the key, I defensively cross my arms over my chest. There is something about his gaze that tells me he has more to say. For a moment, I wait for him to continue on his own. Though, the words appear to be stuck on his tongue. "Was that all?" I ask him, hoping my words serve as the encouragement to jumpstart his tongue.

Shifting my weight from foot to foot, I continue to wait for Harry to properly find the words needed. As though he had been forcefully woken up, Harry jolts. "Oh, uh, I was thinking you would ride back ho--back to school with me," he quickly stumbles over his words, the blush on his cheeks further setting in with his small slip of the tongue.

Even though he hadn't finished his sentence, I know what he was going to say. I am not dumb. School is where his home is--should he not consider any other place in the world home. For me, home is Hingham. "No," I say slowly, cocking my head to the side as I look at him. "I'm staying here for the week." Until now, I hadn't decided this. Though, as soon as I say the words, I realize how happy they make me feel. With Thanksgiving this week, anyway, it almost just makes sense to stay here. I'll hardly be missing any class anyway. Not to mention all the time with my family; something I have been in dire need of recently. 

"Oh." 

So softly he murmurs the words. For some reason, I am under the impression that I've hurt his feelings. Awkwardly, I shift my weight again; thinking over my options. He has driven from Boston to school and then back here all to deliver a key. Clearly, he must be exhausted with the added weight of jet lag. And, that's just a long time to be in a car in the first place. It shows a dedication to me. That is something I can see clearly. But, at the same time, if I bring him in, I don't want him to get any ideas that we are something that we are not. "Harry," I form his name slowly--the name falling off of my lips like an instinct. 

Instantly, he perks up. The sound of his name off of my lips is something sweeter than sugar for him. That much, I can tell. Hope lingers in those green eyes that I love as he waits for me to continue on with my words. "Yes?" He encourages when I remain silently studying him for an additional moment.

Pursing my lips, I release a breath. "Go home."

"I know--"

"No," I insist, cutting him off. Earlier, I'd told him to fuck off. Yet, here he still stands. Clearly, he doesn't listen to me in the first place. But, still, if he is insistent that he is going to be a better man, I need to see him take steps that are bigger than what he was doing before. His life has become a sort of rut. A routine that he is familiar with. That routine consists of his life with Mila. Now, if he wants a life with me, he needs to create our routine. "Go home." 

The implication of my words is clear to me, but it takes Harry a couple of minutes to sort through the meaning behind my words. "No," he rushes out quickly, not able to speak the words fast enough. "They won't want to see me."

"That's not true."

"I don't think Gemma even lives in the States anymore."

"Then just visit your mother. You're her son. Regardless of what was said, she'll be happy to see you. Especially if you come with an apology in tow." My words are intended to soothe him--to ease his worries about reuniting with his family.