About (Harry Styles)

60.

Elaine's POV

It's been at least a good two hours since Harry has left and I already miss him. I've missed him more in those two hours than I did my own mother these past few days.

This past hour, I've been on a desperate search for my phone. I suddenly remembered I was talking to Chris before my phone died yesterday and totally forgot to call him.

Could I have left it back at Anne's house?

Out of nowhere, the telephone rings, interrupting the fifth attempt through my suitcase. I walk around the house for the phone, and just as I find where it is - sitting on a dresser in a hallway, there's a long beep and Harry's dad's voice echoes from the speaker.

"Hi Harry, it's Des," Des' tired voice pauses before he chuckles harshly. "Of course you know that since you're not answering my calls. I just want to say, for the last time, that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being such a git of a father. I know I've done awful things in the past. And every time I try to make up for it, I somehow make it worse. But this time, it's my turn to take responsibility. It's only fair. There's nothing that can be done. I'm going to turn myself in."

Turn himself in? For what?

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I will. I love you, Harry. Always remember that, please," Des adds emotionally before the tone drowns out his voice. I stare blankly at the phone, trying to make sense of the message.

The remaining of the day, I fail to make sense of any of Des's words. Harry's been avoiding his dad's calls? Why? Had he finally grown tired of helping his dad?

There's no way. Harry's a good person. Harry would never stop helping his family. There has to be a good explanation for all of this.

Nothing can be done? Turning himself in?

As in ... Prison?

Impossible.

If it's something that serious, Harry would have mentioned it to me. I think.

...

Harry walks through the door around 6:30pm, and as soon as he sees me, he gives me a faint smile before taking off his coat and hanging his it on the coat rack by the front door. Standing in the lounge with my arms crossed, I watch him with questioning eyes, studying him.

"What'd you do all day, Miss Woods?" He asks as he walks towards me. It doesn't take him two steps to finally realize that I'm not exactly in a cheerful mood. "You alright?"

His hands raise to caress my arms, but my feet fall back a few steps. He doesn't say anything, taken aback by my sudden rejection. My eyes challenge his for a short while before my feet carry me to the end of the hallway. Luckily, Harry doesn't argue and understands the signal to follow me.

As I turn around to face him, I play Des' message for his son to hear. Once it finishes, Harry doesn't seem the least shocked. Did he know about this all along?

"When were you going to tell me about this?" I ask, trying to sound calm. He doesn't answer, his eyes frozen on the dresser. "Harry."

"I wasn't."

For some reason, my heart suddenly sinks to my feet at hearing his reply.

He never planned to tell me any of this?

"Why not?"

"Because," he pauses, collecting his thoughts.

I take a few steps towards him, hoping to decrease the distance between us but somehow, I feel like he's more than a hundred miles away from me.