Magnolia in May [H.S]

Part eight

Harry

— -

Restless, I laid awake. Gawking at my ceiling, the fan spun at a medium pace. Adding a chill to the already tepid breeze. The day replaying over in my mind, Magnolia's absent-minded expression and then me forcing her to break into a laugh. The way her hair was sloppily tied up in a ponytail, dripping off the downpour and 1979 bumping through her tiny bean of a vehicle.

       I groaned at myself, fighting the urge to smile at the accounts of the day. Forget it Styles, she was just being courteous. I gave my phone the side-eye, it called out for me. 'Just page her you foul' except no because it was three in the morning and I'm supposed to be an uninterested jerk. And besides, what would I even say, I already thanked her, there's not much to converse about.

       The night dragged out, with me picking my phone up every half hour, writing a message then eventually deleting it and repeating the cycle over again. As soon as I knew it the sun had risen into my room, glistening like a spotlight through my window. The trees outside shadowing in its light, dancing with solace. I winced at its forward brightness, the bags so large on my eyes I could feel it without apparition. A smog over my tiresome head, aching with exhaustion.

       Instead of shooting her a text, I dedicated myself to keeping my intentions unclear, getting up, and going to the rink in hopes I'd run into her.

Damn I sound pathetic, don't I?

       My slight inconvenience transferred into a limp, one that was awfully hard to hide considering my life is stationed around a strenuous sport, working out and being reckless. I didn't have the time for an achy shin, I needed to get better and come out on top of all this.

This wasn't like last time

       Someone pounds on my front door, it echoes through the halls, bouncing off the walls. I groan at their persistence, getting up off the bed and wincing at the thought of staying awake.

"Dude chill!" I shout.

"Harry!" they pound harder, forcing me to rush down the stairs towards the door. My hazy brain fails to register the person at the door.

"What." I snark opening the door, he greets me with blue eyes and a shiny smile. My demeanor changes in an instant with the distant familiar face.

"What a way to address your best mate," he smirks, I forcefully roll my eyes, taking him in for a hug. With it, memories push into my mind.

"Niall, long time no see." I smile, my attitude fades with the fleeting moments.

"Too long, what do you say we hit the slopes for old times sake, huh?" As he stays in the hug he pats my back, my face drops with his request. He doesn't know, does he?

"Urm, yeah... well, actually- Why don't you come inside." I stumble over my words, hiding the unsettlement in my voice. I lead him inside, we sit at my kitchen booth. 

"So.. to what do I owe the pleasure of my old pal?" I gush, putting the kettle on.

"Well... you see that's a long story..."

"Hm, sounds ominous... what's up? How was England? Still as rainy as I remember?"

"Yep," He chuckles "Still shit weather... Anyway, I decided to move back here for a while."

"What? Really?" I boom, grinning. I can feel the old nostalgia crowd the aesthetic of the room. Old memories waiting in line to rush right in.

"Uh-huh, just thought I'd get away from one place with shit weather and come to another." He grins

"Sorry I didn't call you beforehand, I just- thought it was better to tell you in person."

"Don't mention it, honestly. I'm just glad to see you back... For a second there I thought this day might never come... Especially with Tinsely in the mix... how's she doin'? Moving here with you?" With my words I can visibly see his expression drop, I recount on them wondering what I said wrong.

"No actually, we decided to go our separate ways.." I gaze at the sudden discomfort on his face, regretting my decision to bring her up.

"Shit mate, I'm sorry." I deadpan.

"No, you're right she was the only thing holding me there... I love my family. It's just they understand I have to go off and live my life... She didn't." He keeps his eyes to the floor, continuing to speak.

"I'm just glad to be rid of that kind of control..... I finally feel...free." He scratches his head, pushing back his brown-blonde hair.

"That's amazing, I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." He gives me a shy smile, pulling the dysphoria that was so visible to the naked eye and tossing it aside.

       The silence drowns in, and the kettle starts whistling. I rush over to the stovetop swiftly taking it off the gas and putting it aside. Pouring the sizzling boiled water into the two glasses with tea bags, placing his cup right in front of him, and gathering the cream and sugar.

"Don't suppose you have an extra room?" He bits his lip, then breaks out into a shit-eating grin.

"You prick.... course I do." I throwback, chuckling at the cheeky smugness on his face.

"Looks like the bands back together." Niall smiles intently, narrowing his eyes. The smirk on my cheeks brightens, even louder than before.

"Oh certainly.. at last." I joke.

                                          
— -