The Chase (h.s. au)

Chapter 18

Harry.

I don't think I've ever disliked someone so much before. The weekend with Lauren went by way too fast and now I'm sitting at the dinner table with my father and Kathy. They invited me over, well my father did, and I didn't want to sound like a horrible person and say no.

"Harry, how's Lauren?" he asks, my eyes flickering to him.

"She's good. I miss her," I say, clearly raising Kathy's attention.

"Who's Lauren?" she asks, my father encouraging me to tell her with a slight gesture.

"My girlfriend."

"I didn't know you had a girlfriend," she smiles, trying to get me to like her. I feel like a little kid.

"She lives in California."

My abrupt comment leaves silence again, Kathy swallowing hard and my father clears his throat.

"So, how is school?"

"Long and boring. How's the shop dad?" I ask, trying to ignore the woman to my right.

"It's good. We're raking in money Harry," he says, my head nodding.

"Kathy's been offered a principal position over at her school," he says, my lips pursing.

"That's great," I smile, trying to not be a complete dick to the woman. I just can't believe he's seeing someone.

"What does Lauren do?" Kathy asks, my fingers pressing into the fork.

"She's at Stanford studying humanities. She wants to work with outreach projects," I say, her lips curving.

"That's interesting. What's she like?" she asks, my feet standing before I know what I'm doing.

"Excuse me," I say, walking out the backdoor and sitting on the steps. I press my hands to my face and attempt to rid the fact that my father is seeing someone out of my mind. No one can replace my mum.

As the thought crosses my mind, I dig my phone out of my pocket and call Lauren. It's late and I hope she answers. When I hear her voice, all my muscles relax.

"Harry, what's wrong? It's really late," she says, my hand pulling my hair.

"She's here and I can't get the thought that she's replacing my mum out of my head," I say, my eyes squeezed shut.

"Oh, Harry," she sighs, my frustration coming out.

"She's only trying to make you like her. I understand why you feel this way, but I just want you to see it from your father's side. Maybe he's found something in her that he likes and that reminds him of your mother. Maybe talk with her," she suggests, but I quickly shoot it down.

"Lauren, there's no way in hell I'm talking to that women. She's tried and I got irritated and left," I say, Lauren understanding me right now.

"Where are you right now?" I tell her I'm on the steps of the house and she sighs.

"Okay. Talk with your dad about this. That might help because he needs to hear what you think. If he disagrees with you completely, then call me and yell and scream and cry about how much it hurts because I will listen. I'm going to be in Michigan on Friday afternoon and then I'll talk with you until morning."

I smile and feel slightly better. She's a lifesaver.

........

A bright smile takes over my lips as Lauren comes running at me, dropping her bag and jumping onto me. Hugging her tightly, my arms wrap tightly around her and she holds onto me.