Pressure // Charmony Spin-Off {discont.}

{ c h a p t e r t w o }

[an; double update cause our king has turned twenty-two today. above/side bar is Harmony played by Angelique Cooper😍]

{ c h a p t e r t w o }

"Dad, no! The week ends in two days!"

"Well, you better start saving, because flats aren't cheap."

He turned to walk up the stairs, but I grabbed his arm to stop him. "Dad!" He pulled out my grasp and continued his was upstairs. "Daddy, please! I'll do anything, just please don't make me leave! I don't have anywhere to go! Please!"

His nose was still flared in anger, but his gaze fell to me, finally. "One month, Harmony, that's it. If you aren't out by the first of January, you are getting kicked out. You can't find a place to stay, talk to your grandparents, but you aren't staying here."

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck, standing high on my tippy toes. "Thank you, thank you." He relaxed in my embrace and I kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much, dad. I love you and I promise, you won't have any trouble out of me."

"I know I won't, Harmony. You're a good kid, but please," he said whispering so no one can hear, "make smarter decisions. Don't do anything you're forced to do. If that boy is hurting you, or pressuring you to do anything, you tell me immediately."

"Dad, this is Cristen we're talking about. He wouldn't hurt me. You used to like him, what happened?"

"Now he's two times bigger than you, and it's been five years. Harmony, I don't want you to be those women who are afraid to stand up to a man, okay? You're strong. Very strong. And I trust you. Please, don't let me down, Harmony."

"I won't dad, promise."

{ - }

Dad went to sleep earlier than he usually would, but that made sense because he was in active duty for five years; I'm sure he's glad to be back in his bed. Cristen and I were in my room, looking up flats in London, or at least the outskirts; someplace cheap but manageable to call our own. I don't have the largest pay check and neither does he so we have to work this out step-by-step without wasting any money.

"How about this one?" He asked pointing at the screen.

"Two bedroom, two bath. No carpeting. Fireplace, a few loose pipes. 325£ a month," I read. "We're not gonna have 325£ a month, Cris. Let's be realistic. And that's a lot to pay for, basically, nothing. We're still gonna have to fix it up. Then we need to think about bills; water, cable, Internet, gas or heat, electrical. The we need furniture and the baby."

"Well, babe, I don't think they get any cheaper. We'll, just each have to take longer shifts. Do overtime."

"But what about me. I'm gonna have to go on maternity leave at some point."

"What's that?"

I face palmed. How does he have all passing grades? "When I become too pregnant to work, they make me go home."

"Oh. I didn't know they do that," he mumbled scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe we can ask your dad for a couple thousand to get started."

"No! I'm surprised he's letting me stay 'til January!"

"That's only like ten days away. Today's the twenty-second."

"I know," I said, placing my hand on my forehead. "Christmas is in three days, what am I going to do? I spent three-forths of my pay on Christmas presents."

"Let's just look somewhere else. I'm sure they have cheaper flats in Suffolk. That's not a very crowded village."

"I can't. My dads paying for university here. I can't transfer."

"Well, Harmony, what's it gonna be? A place to live, or a degree?" He said, his voice raising slightly.

"I don't - ugh, I don't know!" I dropped my face in my hands and felt Cris' arms wrap around me. I hid in his chest and suddenly wished I was sixteen again. It was easier when I didn't have to worry about light bills, and rent, and keeping jobs, or paying taxes.

"Don't put yourself under stress. I heard it's not good for babies," he murmured.

"I don't know if I can do this. I might as well start packing for Nana and Grandpa's house, cause we won't be ready. I know we won't," I said, shaking my head.

"No, we can do this. We can do it."

"I'm gonna be homeless, oh my gosh," I cried.

"Hey now," he murmured in my hair, "we can do this. We can. Tomorrow, I'll take up an extra shift, okay?"

"O-okay, but what about me?"

"You get a day off. Just stay home and relax. I'll take care of this, I promise. I love you more than anything, you know, and I'll do what every it takes to see those bright eyes and that big beautiful smile."

I felt my face heat up, shoving my face back into his broad chest. He chuckled, making me rumble in his hold.

"Can you sing to me? Like - like you used to when I got upset?" I asked. I pushed my body back up against the headboard, Cris' head falling onto my lap. My hand weaved their way through his hand and I watched as he relaxed his whole body.

"And this is how it starts," he sang, his voice was scratchy and he sounded so beautiful, "take your shoes off in the back of my van."

"This song?" I laughed. He chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah, and my shirt looks so good," he tugged on his old 5 Seconds of Summer tee that hang off me loosely and I blushed, "when it's just hangin' off you back. And she said 'use your hands and my spare time.' We got one thing in common, it's this tongue of mine, she said 'ew.'"

I giggled at his funny face and he smiled, "she's getting married anyway."

[ bc the 1975 sums up my life tbh
breanna horan x ]