Impulse [A Harry Styles FanFiction]

Chapter 39- Back For You

POV Auden

I have spent my week reliving my trip to Charleston and crying about it. What is wrong with me?

Today the mystery customer that wants to for some reason pay $10,000 for my work is supposed to pick it up. I was up late last night perfecting it and I cried tears of joy when I finished.

I've been moping around the studio all day in sweatpants and slippers trying to appear upbeat and happy to customers that stop by. But really I'm so so stressed about this transaction.

What if they don't like it? What if they don't want to pay for it? What if my hard work was all for nothing?

On my lunch break, I order a coffee to be delivered and go up to my room and change.

I put on a black top, a white jean skirt, and black sandals. I brush out my hair and come downstairs to find a girl dressed head to toe in black leather and black eyeliner browsing the shop.

"Hi, I'm Auden, can I help you find anything?" I ask nicely.

"Yeah, actually. I saw this online, do you still sell it?"

She shows me a screenshot of a painting I did a few months ago. It's an angry painting that I forgot existed.

Splotches of bright red and black cover her screen and I show her to where it hangs on the wall. We stand in front of an abstract acrylic painting that I spun.

"Yep. That's the one." she smiles

I ring her up at the cash register and just as she leaves the shop a tall lean figure steps inside and we lock eye contact. A gasp slips from my lips and I am forced to steady myself on the counter in front of me.

"Dad?" I squeak out.

"Hi sweetheart."

I so do not have time for this. My important customer could step through the door any minute and I would like to be professional and mentally stable when that happens.

"W-What are you doing here?"

I feel like all the wind has been knocked out of me. My throat is cotton dry and I can't form any words.

Growing up, I imagined this moment so many times, but as I got older I eventually gave up on it. Now, here I am with no interest in speaking to this man.

He is nothing close to a father. He is simply a stranger who's name is printed on my birth certificate.

"You look so grown up! I've seen pictures of you, but... gosh my beautiful daughter is standing in front of me." he grins.

Pictures of me? Right. The pictures he saw of me with Harry. The pictures he then proceeded to send to magazines telling them that I was hooking up with Louis. Dad of the year wants to talk about pictures.

"This shop is amazing. I'm so proud of you! Your taking after me- a successful business owner." he continues.

"I'm nothing like you. I don't abandon my family. Now if you'll excuse me I have a customer coming in shortly making an important payment."

Suddenly, my voice is back and the words leave my lips before I can filter them. I don't regret saying them, I just surprised myself with them actually coming out of my mouth.

"You have every right to hate me, and be mad at me but I'm different now. I'm a changed man trying to make amends with my family." he tries.

I hear the bell sound signaling someone is here, but I can't divert my eyes away from my father. That doesn't even seem like the right word to use.