Accepted. [discontinued]

Chapter Sixteen.

PREVIOUSLY ON ACCEPTED : Niall and Norah are about to have a Lazy Day when Harry comes along to drive Norah back to Chesire on Anne's orders. The car journey is packed with tension intensified by silence. Norah develops unfamiliar feelings for Harry and it frustrates her to be unable to recognize her own emotions. At home, Norah stumbles upon Harry snogging a girl and the sight reduces her to tears ; she flees into the kitchen where she tries to make sense of her feelings.

And now: Chapter Sixteen. 

"Harry Edward Styles!"

Anne's familiar voice echoes inside the kitchen and the sound of her sudden shriek startles me. The cup I hold slips from my grasp and crashes in the sink but fortunately does not shatter. The hot water I had been disposing does not spill on my skin much to my own relief yet my heart thuds considering the painful possibility.

I regain my composure in the tic of time and reach for the cup in order to check for damage. There is no sign of a single crack so I allow myself to breathe before placing the empty cup beside its brothers that are devoid of any content as well. I had decided to give up on making the tea assuming Anne's arrival would be late even though now I know that I had been wrong.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Anne asks aloud, sounding horrified.

"Mum, it's...it's-" I hear Harry stutter but he is interrupted.

"Amber, I think it's best you leave!" Anne seems to be saying the words through her teeth.

"Mum-" Harry begins to speak but once more he is not allowed to complete his sentence.

"It's OK, Harry." A voice I do not recognize joins the conversation; it sounds timid. "Your mother is right. It's best I leave."

"You don't have to go just because mum's being mental!"

"Harry!" Anne warns.

Inquisitiveness joins the jumble of emotions inside of me but as I simply cannot afford additional weight in my chest, I let myself quench my curious desires. Light footsteps lead me across the kitchen and through the door. Even though being silent had been my aim, I realize my failure at once as all three occupants of the lounge turn to look at me.

Unintentionally yet obviously, the flicker of Harry's bright green eyes is what comes to my notice initially. If possible, his face reddens even more; anger joining embarrassment, I assume gloomily. His eyebrows sink lower and closer, his frown deepning. I observe how his jaw tightens, enchancing the veins running down his neck which disappear along his defined collar bone. His bare chest heaves in a normal rhythm and the movement gravitates my attention largely for some reason.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Styles." A bashful voice whispers and my scrutinizing eyes flicker over to Harry's right side. My first thought is of perfection as I witness the strands of platinum hair that look amazing even in the state of a disarray. Her bambi eyes, the color of the gray sky outside, lingers on the floor as she thrusts her slender arms inside the sleeves of a pink cardigan that covers her evident curves.

I am certainly not one to believe in the cliché tales of blonde bimbos but even so I cannot help but loathe her. Nonetheless, the sight of her beautiful features colored with mortification satisfies me with a surprising intensity. 

"It's Cox! Miss Annabeth Cox!" Anne snaps angrily and I stray my gaze in her direction. Her arms enclosed around two bulky grocerry bags and her dishvelled hair beaded with rain drops, Anne looks just a bit pitiable to me. Even though, I decide to remain idle instead of stumbling across the room to aid her from the load she's carrying. She seems furious enough without me causing any sort of disturbance.