The Time Capsule (Harry Styles Fanfic)

Chapter 31

Harry's POV
20 years old

   This is the first Christmas I've ever sat at the large table in my house and felt like I didn't belong. Everyone was full of chatter and happiness around me, and I had never felt further from that.

    This was also the first year that Madden was not sitting next to me. Not even directly across from me. She was sitting across the table and 6 seats down.

   I couldn't hear what she was saying. Couldn't hear what Baker was saying to make her smile like that. Throw her head back in laughter and happiness.

   "Stop staring." RJ says from beside me.

   "Fuck Baker." Is my response.

   "He's not to blame for this."

   "He's acted like I'm the damn Antichrist since the second he heard about this. And now he's down there sitting with her and we're over here."

   "He's just protective of her, he always has been. But especially after that day with Edge. He just doesn't want to see her be hurt again and ghost us all over again. Her being gone was harder on him then he ever let on to you."

   "Why wouldn't he tell me that?" I ask.

   "Because while it was still hard on him he knew it was worse for you. I don't think you realize how fucked up you were for the first three months she was gone."

   Those first three months were a blur. All I did was smoke and drink, party and sleep. I did anything I could to distract myself from her absence.

   I look down at the table again, and watch as Baker steals a bite of mashed potatoes off Madden's plate and she swats at his hands. He grabs her wrists and pulls her into his side, causing her to laugh again.

    I fucking hate both of them right now, and cant wait for this godforsaken dinner to be over with.

   I've tried for the last week to get Madden to talk to me, but she won't. We've all gone to eat together or been at each other's houses, but she acts like I'm not even there. She smiles and waves at me and plays nice, but that's as far as it goes.

   It almost hurts worse somehow than when she was actually gone and not talking to me. At least then she wasn't ignoring me when we were only feet apart.

   "Alright everyone!" My dad says as he stands from his seat at the head of the table. "This is our 13th annual Christmas Dinner together, and I want to thank everyone for coming again."

   Everyone applauds around the table and smiles brightly. There's a lot of love between our families, and even Edge's parents had decided to come. Which shocked us all since this was their first Christmas without him here.

   They hadn't come for Thanksgiving, which wasn't really a surprise to any of us. Their relationship had taken a while to mend after Madden's departure, but Madden's parents had been pretty forgiving in my opinion and said they knew they were going through a lot, and couldn't blame them for Madden's decisions.

   "I know we are missing some from our dinner this year, and we are forever thinking of them and missing them. Madden, we sure are glad to have you back though. Thanksgiving wasn't the same without." He smiles at Madden and she smiles back sadly. "And next year," he turns his look to me. "We will have an extra head here at this table, and Harry, I know your mother and I weren't the happiest when we first found out, but were so proud of how you've stepped up as a man and can't wait to have our grandchild here with us next year."