You're Still The One

I must have been standing at the door for quite some time because the harsh reaction I received from my mum. Anne and Harry laughed, whilst my Mum glared at me with embarrassment clear in her eyes. But, I couldn't seem to get over what I was looking at. Harry. He was so different than what I last remember. His luscious curls were longer and his voice a million times lighter. It took me by surprise.




“Charlotte!” Mum hissed finally having enough of my staring. “You're being rude.”




“I'm so sorry...” I apologized walking over to where everyone sat on the couch so I could greet them properly.




Anne, looking just as stunningly beautiful as I remember her, stood to give me a tight hug. Then, I was pulled in by Harry, not by choice who smelled delightful, if I might add. When we were through hugging we all just sat down and drank tea like sophisticated adults... not. My mother was too busy gushing over Harry like one of his little fans. I mean, really? It was embarrassing.




“So, how are you enjoying all the female attention?” Mum asked eagerly. Her eyes transfixed on his green orbs as if she was absorbing his words. God, she’s annoying. Harry answered the question like he would if he were on someone’s talk show, giving everyone a vague answer.





She went on to ask, “Are you single?”




I cleared my throat loudly, to politely signal my mother to shut it, before bringing my cup of tea to my mouth and gaining the attention of everyone seated in the living room.




“Don't mind me. I was just clearing my throat.”




“How has Tom been?” he asked trying to rid the room of the awkwardness I just caused.




I watched my mother’s expression turn sour right in front of my eyes. Her eyes widened before she got up and rushed into the kitchen. I haven’t heard my father’s name in months because whenever anyone mentions him, she reacts this way. Mum hasn't quite found a way to adjust to life without him yet. When he died, it was like someone took a piece of her away.



“Charlie, why don’t you take Harry to your room, to catch up?” Anne suggested. I sat there for a while, watching Anne as she went to go comfort my mother in the kitchen. Then, I showed Harry to my room.




“Nice.” I said once we were in my room and the door was shut.




“I don't even know what I did.”




“My dad died four months ago…” I said softly. Harry looked like he felt bad but who knows what goes on under that mop of curls. “Maybe if you were around you’d know that,” I added.



It was awkwardly quiet for a while neither of us cared enough to make conversation. Instead, he made himself comfortable on my bed. While I stood against the wall, like a guest in my own home he started rummaging through books that were piled on my bed until he found one of my lace bras lying under the colossal mess.




“Why haven’t you worn things like this before?” he teased, playfully. Trying to make amends for the awkward hole he just dug for himself. He wiggled his eyebrows, seductively with a stupid cocky grin on his face. And quite frankly, it pissed me off.




Who the hell does he think he is? More importantly who does he think I am?




“Don’t,” I said trying to get it back from him. He continued to play with it, putting it up to his chest as he attempted to impersonate me. He’s so childish. I finally gave up, letting him do whatever he desired with it.



“C’mon, Charlie—”




“Charlotte. My name is Charlotte.”




Harry arched his eyebrows, like I confused him or something.




“Say it with me, Char-lotte.” I directed.




“You're no fun anymore.” He commented.



I folded my arms across my chest and let out a sarcastic laugh.




“I wonder how I got like this.”




I wasn’t always so uptight. Really, I wasn’t. I used to be fun, outgoing and charismatic. I blame time and Harry for my sudden awkwardness ...and my anxiety. I honestly can’t remember the last time I laughed or had fun. With my dad gone, and having no friends, makes things especially hard for me.




“I wonder that too. You used to be so much fun.” he said sounding absolutely clueless.



“Are you being serious?!” I asked. Finally, I had enough with this kid. “Well, when you completely give yourself to someone, when you tell someone you love them and they leave…What is there left for you to do? Am I supposed to be happy that you’re back?”



Harry had the same pitied look on his face as he did when he brought up my dad to my mum. I didn't want his pity. I just wanted him to know that I was hurting and it was because of him.




“Charlie—”




“Charlotte.” I corrected him again for the second time.




We both were silent.





“Well, I’ll only be here for a few days...Then you won’t have to worry about me ever again.” He said, trying to play the role of the victim and that very well may be but I didn’t care.





“Good. The sooner you leave, the happier I’ll be.”





Which wasn’t the case at all, it would hurt just as bad when he left the first time.




Harry stood up from my messy bed and walked over to me. He was way closer to me than I would anticipate however, under the circumstances there wasn’t much I could do his tall frame practically hovered over my small one and the closer he was to me, the more I felt weak in the knees. It was like I was charmed, under his spell or something and then he licked his lips, making them glimmer.





Why did his lips look so inviting? Better question, why did I find him so irresistible all of a sudden?



“That wasn't nice, Charlie.” he said and I hated him for using his charming smile and sly words to his advantage, getting me all hot and bothered.




Even as he was being a jerk, I wanted to kiss him.





“For the last time, it's Charlotte.” I said snapping back to reality. Still, Harry was entirely too close for my liking. And out of nowhere, my bedroom door flew open. I separated myself from Harry with lightning speed. Sean was standing at the door, eyeing us suspiciously. Harry and I did look awfully guilty even though we hadn’t done anything. Who knows what would have happened if Sean hadn’t come crashing in when he did.

Notes