Afterwards: An "After" Fanfiction

Chapter 20: Change Your Ticket

"Your girlfriend?" It took a moment for Tessa to close her mouth and wipe the spilled food from her clothing. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not long ago, Hardin was the guy who 'didn't date.' Now he wanted her to be his girlfriend?

He hadn't planned for this. Not long ago, he was resolute in the fact that he wanted to remain single as long as possible. Was asking Tessa to be his girlfriend as a distraction the wrong move? Hardin was desperate. He didn't want to lose Tessa, and he didn't want to lose One Direction. From his perspective, this was the best move. "I mean it." And part of him did. A small piece of him, no matter how hard he tried to bury it, was elated that he finally had a chance at happiness with the girl he had grown to love. The other part whispered that his happiness, as it always tended to be, would be short-lived.

Their eyes were locked together, unable to be pulled apart by the silent crowd of restaurant patrons watching their every move. Finally, Tessa nodded, her enthusiastic "yes" causing everyone to applaud. "I'd like that."

Encouraged by the crowd, Hardin picked Tessa up and kissed her gently to the sound of claps and cheers. He held her close on the Uber ride home. Her breathing was as soft as the snow that began to fall outside as she settled against his shoulder. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, innocently finding joy in the way the corner of her lips slipped unknowingly into a smile beneath rosy cheeks. A sickly feeling slowly shrouded his joy as he realized his time with this angel would be short. As with everything he loved, she would soon realize she was better off without him.

It snowed twice as hard after the two had landed in England on Christmas Eve.

"My baby!" Trish ran towards her son and placed a large, wet kiss on his temple. If Tessa hadn't seen pictures of Hardin's mother beforehand, she would have thought the woman was his sister. With flowing blonde locks and youthful blue eyes, Trish resembled someone in her prime—not someone with an adult son.

Hardin tried to hide his grin as he wiped his mother's bright red lipstick from his face. "Mum, stop it. I'm grown now."

"But you'll always be my baby." Trish pinched his cheeks, marveling at the length of his hair. Finally, she turned to Tessa, letting out a gasp before embracing the girl in a warm embrace. "What a gorgeous girl you are! Way too good for my Hardin, I'm sure."

Tessa flushed, lowering her eyes as Trish piled on the compliments. "Thanks Ms. Daniels, nice to meet you."

"Please! Call me Trish." The older woman took Tessa's gloved hand in hers, pulling her towards the parking lot. "Get our bags, darling!" She called to Hardin as she whisked his girlfriend away. "Now tell me all about yourself. Hardin's already told me so many good things."

Trailing behind the women, Hardin was confused by his mother's reaction to Tessa. Of course, everyone who met Tessa was bound to love her. But Tessa hadn't even had the chance to say two words to his mother before she welcomed her in with open arms. She was trying hard to please him, to make everything seem okay. Hardin knew his mom well enough to know that she was hiding something. He just didn't know what.

Back at the house, Tessa and Trish were getting along better than two childhood friends. Trish had made both of her guests a cup of Bourbon hot chocolates, and the drink caused Tessa to release her inhibitions and throw her shyness out the window.

Already, the visit to London was worlds away from their visit to California. Trish had set them up in Hardin's old room, chuckling when Tessa offered to sleep on the couch. "Oh don't worry love. I was a young woman in love once upon a time, too." The mother had sung with a wink. The three had stayed up late into the night playing board games, drinking hot chocolate, and laughing—something that would have seemed impossible with Carol.

When at last it was time to turn in, Trish had left both of her guests with a tray of dessert, a big hug, and a kiss on the head.

After a quick shower, Hardin padded into his old room to see his new girlfriend exploring his childhood belongings. She ran her fingers over silly participation trophies his mother had saved, smiling to herself as she came across photographs and keepsakes. "Having fun?"

Tessa jumped, startled slightly by Hardin's sudden entrance. She smiled softly then, holding up one of his blue ribbons. "Probably not as much as you had when you won 'best hair' in the third grade."

He adjusted the small white towel on his waist, holding the edge with one hand while swiping the other through his wet strands. "I still got it."

"I know you do." Placing the ribbon on the dresser, Tessa took her boyfriend's hand instead. She ran her thumb over the inside of his palm. "I really love your mom. Is she this nice to all of your girlfriends?"

Hardin shook his head. "I haven't brought any home before you. But from what she did see of Molly at least, she didn't like." He never doubted that Trish and Tessa would get along, but the lengths his mother went to in order to make everything so perfect was suspicious. Perhaps it was just his anxiety again, forcing him to think that good things don't last. "She or anyone else would be mad not to like you."

Tessa tilted her head back as Hardin's lips found her neck. "Won't your mom be upset?" She whispered as he hoisted her up onto the dresser.

"Are you kidding?" He smirked against her skin. "She was thrilled when I told her I changed my ticket so you could come. Said she'd make up my old room straight away. Last thing Trish's worried about is us fucking."

"Mmm...still, I don't want to make a bad impression." Her words urged him to pull away but her fingers pulled him closer.

"You couldn't make a bad impression if you tried. You're too good."

She took his bottom lip into her mouth, sucking lightly. "We'll see about that."

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After a night of reminiscing with his mother and making love to his girlfriend, Hardin was in good spirits. He woke late the next morning with Tessa in his arms, smiling in her sleep and dressed in one of his t-shirts.

Hardin lifted an arm only to stroke her sleeping face softly. Everything so far had gone so well, that his anxiety hadn't had a chance to convince him that his happiness was fleeting.

His touch was enough to wake her, and she leaned up towards his ear. "Ready for round two already?" Tessa murmured.

With a low chuckle he gave her a few slaps on her exposed ass. "We'll get to that in a bit. For now we should get up, it's Christmas."

"Our first Christmas together." Tessa's eyes glistened as she leaned in for a kiss. "Merry Christmas, Hardin."

"Merry Christmas, love."

"Hopefully the first of many together."

They both got up reluctantly, dressing in the dressy clothes they packed. Trish was clamoring around in the kitchen, up much earlier than usual. Hand in hand with his girl, he prepared to make some snarky comment about his mother waking up early to save appearances for Tessa. But when the two rounded the corner into the kitchen, Hardin was met with a rather unwelcome surprise.

There at the table, was Christian Vance.

Tessa's smile slipped swiftly into an expression of deep confusion. What was her boss doing at Trish's house? She felt Hardin's hand clench into a trembling fist.

"Oh! Good morning sweetheart." Trish's usually cheery face was stern and as white as a sheet. Gesturing towards the surprise guest, she vocalized a haphazard apology. "I meant to tell you sooner. But I thought it best...that we spend Christmas with your father." 

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update y'all! I moved house and it took longer than anticipated to get settled. Might be a double update in the near future :D Comment below and let me know if you've seen AWC yet, and if you liked it or not. Don't forget to comment and let me know what you think of the story so far as well. ^_^