Salute » Harry Styles

Chapter 27

∞ Chapter 27 ∞

Everything stands still. The only sound going through the room is mine and Harry's heavy breathing. I scramble back onto my feet, Harry standing up as well. This is not awkward at all...

Gemma just stands there, staring back and forth between Harry and I and trying to figure out how we ended up together.

She gives me a cold hard death stare before saying, "I fucking can't believe you." She shakes her head at me.

"Gemma, let me expl-"

"No! You don't get to fucking explain, Jade! I walked in here and found you two practically having each other down your throats! Well I'm sorry that I stopped you two from fucking each other!"

I cannot help but get angry by her hurtful words. "We were not 'fucking', Gemma. If you would let me explain-"

"I told you, Jade, I don't want to hear your fucking explanation!" Gemma retorts, her small fists shaking at her sides.

"Gemma, this would all make sense if you would just listen to-"

"No, I don't want to fucking listen to you!"

At this point, we are both just screaming at each other. We move closer and closer and I am sure that if we move even closer, she will punch me.

"Enough!" Harry says, stepping in between both Gemma and I. He tells Gemma, "Come into the other room. I'm explaining what you saw whether you like it or not."

And like that, he takes her wrist and walks out the room.

I stare blankly at the wall, no emotions coursing through my head. I twiddle my thumbs, gnawing at my bottom lip in anticipation. Will Gemma react positively or negatively? Will she hate me forever? Will she never want to see me again?

I slide my back down against the wall, raising my knees up to my chest and placing my head on my knees. Too much is at stake now, just too much. I close my eyes and wait for Harry and Gemma to return.

After what feels like forever, two solid knocks come through the door. Gemma pops her head into the room.

"Can I come in?"

I nod once. Gemma steps into the room, sitting beside me.

"I can't believe it," she murmurs.

"Can't believe what?"

"The fact that I thought my little brother was a Bitch for all these years when he was actually the good guy," she says with a sigh. "I just feel guilty because I'm supposed to be his older sister, be there for him. But I didn't do shit."

"Gemma, he didn't tell you -he didn't tell anyone -because he wanted and still wants to protect you and everyone else. It doesn't make you a bad person. We all just saw him as someone he's not and judged him for no good fucking reason," I say and she nods along.

"So... you and Harry, huh?" Gemma says and I do not have to look at her to know that she is smirking.

"Jesus Christ..."

"Oh come on! Tell me! How long have you been together? Do you love each other? Did you two fuck?" she asks nonchalantly.

"Gemma!" I say with a gasp, swatting her arm.

"Oops, sorry I meant did you two make love?" she corrects herself and does a facepalm.

"Gemma."

"Yeah?"

"Fuck off." We just look at each other and just start cracking up for no apparent reason. I clutch my stomach to stop the loud rumbling of laughter. Gemma wipes the corner of my eye.