Secret Identity (Haylor)

Chapter 27: Sorry.

Chapter 27: Sorry.

Ed's POV

I knock on the door, fixing my messed up ginger hair, patiently waiting.

The December breeze hits my skin every time it blows hard, regretting the though of not bringing my jacket.

"Who is it?" I hear a muffled voice from inside, but I stay quiet in my absence of mind.

Feet come shuffling nearer, hearing soft slippers rub against wooden floor.

The door swiftly opens and I see her, the brunette I wanted to meet.

"Ed..." She says slowly, shocked of my presence.

"Athina, I know that it's too late, but--"

"Go in first?" She invites me, directing inside. "Yeah." I say in a breath before I go in.

Warmth now replaces the atmosphere, smelling hot cocoa and cookies, the type of winter food.

"Am I interrupting your time?" I ask before I continue my explanation. "It's fine." She smiles, making me feel welcome.

"Okay, I know I left you," I admit as I sit next to her, " and I was too much of, umm, a--"

"An unworthy idiot?" She continues for me jokingly, seeing her smile while she laughs.

"Yeah, like that. But Athina," I pause, holding her hand, "Ed, you don't have to apologize." She stops me.

"You know how much this pains to go through that you've left." She continues, "And I just don't think that this is ever possible again." She sighs, letting go of my hand.

"I hate losing my dignity, even if I do love that person so much." I sense that she's referring to me.

"I know, and that must've hurt." I whisper to her, feeling guilt rush through me.

"Ed, I love you," she looks down, "but think about it, we're just not in love." She runs her fingers through her silky hair.

"I understand." I simply say, "I understand that I've caused too much damage that I can't fix." I sigh, "And that you wouldn't let me in again. But I just want to tell you I'm sorry." I try to make eye contact, but she refuses to look.

"I'm sorry if I made decisions in the worst way possible," I laugh slightly, "I'm sorry if I keep on making mistakes that I've already done once, but did again." She now meets her eyes with mine, feeling smaller and smaller as each second passes.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you too bad, and going behind your back. Punish me or whatever, because I deserve it." I try to smile through the pain.

"I've been hurting people too much, now I'm the one whose heart's hurting. I now feel what Harry feels, that it's hard to be accepted, hard to be understood. But I guess I do it because I love someone, even if I know they won't love me back." A tear falls on my jeans, causing more to come.

"It's okay." Athina whispers, pulling me into a hug, comforting me as I tried to feel better.

"It's not." I sob, looking at my worst state. Athina rubs my back, trying to comfort me even more.

"I accept your apology, Ed." I feel her smile with a tear falling. "But as I said, I can't." She takes a pause and lets go of me. "Although at the moment, can we be just be friends? Nothing else." 

"Friends." I agree to our deal, as we sit on he couch, letting a few other tears fall.

Harry's POV

"I'm sorry." Taylor apologizes in a whisper.

We still lay on the same couch from last night. We didn't do anything else, but just sleep as she was in my arms. And even stare blankly at the empty television when one of us wakes up after awhile.

I cuddle with hr more to comfort her, wanting to tell her that she's okay, that she's safe in my arms. 

But my emotions and my words didn't come together, betraying me instead into silence.

"Harry?" She calls for my name, turning her body to face me while I was hugging her.

I had no idea on what I was doing when I just stared at her and watch her bite her lip in embarrassment. 

"Hungry?" She recovers from the little shameful moment I had caused. I nod my head in agreement.

"I'll cook." My body congratulates me as I sead my first word of the day.

She giggles like she usually does, feeling her happiness vibrate.

"I don't see why not." She smiles and I kiss her forehead, feeling warmth. By warmth, I meant ill warmth.

I put my palm on her neck; very warm. 

I release her as my arms stopped embracing her, making the both of us sitting with legs crossed on the couch.

"You don't feel well, do you?" I say in worry and she lets out a little cough.

"I'm fine, it's just too cold." She says, crossing her arms on her woolen sweater, trying to make heat.

"Taylor, go to the room. You're sick, I don't even need to ask you." I command her, but with worry staying on my voice.

"Harry, I'm fin--"

"You're not." I say, crossing my arms like I was giving her a punishment.

"Yes I--"

Before we could even continue our little arguement, I lifted her up, bridal style, taking the stubborn woman to her bedroom and laying her fragile body on the bed.

"Harry, I appreciate your concern, but--"

I silence her with a small kiss, not that I wanted to and had romantic intention, I just had to.

"Shut up." I say seriously, but then replaced it with a smile when I saw Taylor smiling as well.