I wake up to find the bed empty beside me. I frown and look around the room. Harry is no where to be found, so I get up and go downstairs. As I get closer I can smell bacon, and I can hear that everyone else is already up. I turn the corner and collide with Harry, who quickly wraps his arms around my waist as I lose my balance.

He chuckles and helps me stand back up. "Good morning, clumsy. I was just coming to see if you were awake."

He leans down and kisses me before taking my hand and pulling me into the kitchen. Everyone is sitting at the table, with pancakes, french toast, bacon and sausage set out. My mouth drops open when I realize how much food there is. "How many people are you guys expecting?" Harry chuckles as I sit down across from Louis. Brooke is at the head of the table and Eleanor is to Louis' right. Harry sits beside me.

"You underestimate the power of a teenage boy's stomach, Langlang," Louis says, creating yet another nickname for me. We all start eating. Conversation comes very easily between the five of us. I can't help but smile and just watch everyone talk. I'm so happy that Harry gets along with my friends. He puts a hand on my leg and I turn to see him smiling at me. I continue eating and join the conversation. Louis and Harry continue eating after the three of us are stuffed.

"You guys seriously aren't full yet?" I ask incredulously as Louis takes the last pancake. Harry picks up another piece of bacon. He shrugs.

"Don't want it to go to waste." Brooke laughs and takes her plate to the counter. I stand up and ruffle Harry's hair. "Hey!" he yells.

"Harry, your hair is an absolute mess already. I'm helping if anything." I take my plate and his to the counter. When Louis finally finishes eating everyone helps clean up. It doesn't take long. We all go into the living room. Eleanor and Louis sit on the recliner while Harry and I flop down on the couch. Brooke picks up her bags.

"I think I'm going to go home, you guys."

"What? Why?" I ask, getting up and walking over to her.

"As much as I love being a fifth wheel, I can only handle so much couple-ness." She laughs as she says it, showing that she really doesn't mind. If she did we would know, trust me.

"Are you sure?" She nods and hugs me.

"Thanks for last night Harry! It was awesome. Well, until you ruined it and kicked everyone out." She laughs again and Harry laughs as well. "I'll see you guys later."

She leaves and I wave to her as she drives off. I shut the door and go back to the couch, laying down on my back and putting my head on Harry's lap. He strokes my hair while Eleanor and I talk about Josh's date from the party.

"I've literally never seen her before," El says. "Where did she come from? I'm honestly shocked that he didn't bring Cassidy."

"I know," I agree. "It's so unlike him."

"I might have had something to do with that." We both look at Louis. "Well, he was going to bring Cass, but I told him I would personally kick his ass if he did. Then I told him that he was going to bring someone that he should talk to you about it first."

"Of course you did. I should have known Josh didn't actually care."

"No, as soon as I said it he agreed with me. Probably just didn't think of it since you two are together," he says, pointing between Harry and me.

"That makes sense," I agree.

"Let's watch a movie," Harry says, standing up. I sit up and watch as he looks through the movies.

"Okay, but I'm not watching Love Actually. Again. I could recite that entire movie." I say. Eleanor and Louis start laughing. He glares at me before holding up his choice. I start shaking my head furiously.

"You only specified what you didn't want to watch," he says, turning and putting the disc in. I throw a pillow at his head and pull my knees against my chest.

"I hate you," I say as he sits down and puts an arm around me.

"Well, that's not very nice."

"Lana, he only puts these on so that you'll snuggle up nice and close to him. What a pervert," Louis says, shaking his head. I laugh and look at Harry.

"Great, thanks Lou. Now she knows my strategy." I stop laughing when the creepy music for the move The Strangers comes out of the speakers around the living room. Harry even has surround sound, which makes watching scary movies here ten times worse. For some reason Eleanor likes these movies, so she joins with the boys in teasing me every time I scream at the tv or bury my face in Harry's side.

The movie finally ends. I keep holding Harry, hiding my face in his chest. He laughs. "Babe, it's over." I slowly turn to see the credits rolling. They all laugh at me again. I relax but stay in my position against Harry.

"It's almost one o'clock! I think it's time for me to go home," El says, getting off Louis' lap.

"I'll drive you," Lou says, standing as well. They say their goodbyes and leave the house. When the door closes I sit up and smack Harry on the chest.

"What was that for?" he says, smiling.

"For making me watch that! Holy shit. I'm not going to sleep for a week."

"Well," he says, pushing me down on the couch and laying on top of me, "I would be happy to not sleep with you." His eyebrows pull together when he realizes he made it sound like he doesn't want to sleep with me. I raise my eyebrows. "Not what I meant and you know it." I laugh and pull his face down to mine.

I don't know how long, but we've been making out for a long time when I hear a car pull into the driveway. Harry is currently sucking and biting on my sweet spot below my ear. He clearly doesn't hear what I do, and I can feel him bulging through his sweatpants. I put my hands on this face and pull him back to look at me. We're both breathing heavy.

"Harry, I think I heard-" Suddenly the door swings open. Harry pops his head up and his eyes go wide. He groans and looks down at me.

"Not again," he says, but doesn't move. I can't see anything, but my questions are answered when the person speaks.

"Hello, darling! We're home early!" Anne says loudly. I can hear her putting down a bag. I push Harry off of me, and he sits on the couch beside me. I laugh when I realize he needs a minute before he can get up. He puts one of his feet up on the couch and covers himself with a pillow so his mother won't see something she does not want to see. He shakes his head at me and closes his eyes, slumping into the couch and breathing heavy. "Oh, hi, Lana! Good to see you, darling." She walks over and hugs me, then looks over at Harry.

"Hi mum," he says quietly. She stares at him for a minute, taking in his position. He leans his head back as his face slowly turns red. Anne slowly looks back at me and I shrug my shoulders innocently.

"I don't want to know," she says, throwing up her hands and walking to the back of the couch to kiss the top of Harry's head. Good thing we cleaned everything up last night. They weren't supposed to come home until tomorrow. "I'm going to order some pizza. Did you guys eat anything yet?"

I look at Harry, confused. He opens his eyes and picks his phone up off the table in front of him. His eyes go wide and I sit beside him to look at the screen. It's almost four! I look at him and start laughing. "No wonder you're having a hard time...calming down," I tease. "You've got like three hours of my fabulous kissing to recover from." He laughs and groans, leaning back again.

"This is so embarrassing," he says, putting a hand just under the bottom of my shirt. I suddenly remember what I'm wearing.

"Shit! No kidding, Harry! I'm still wearing your freaking underwear," I lean back beside him and he starts laughing. We literally have the worst luck ever.

"Harry? Pizza or no?" Anne yells again.

"Yea, sure, mum." He puts his arm around me and kisses the side of my head. After a minute she comes back into the living room and sits on the recliner.

"Now," she says, folding her arms, "Don't even try to tell me that you two didn't stay here together while we were gone. It's quite obvious. I know I have no control over what you do together but-"

"Mum, I'm going to stop you right now before this situation gets even more embarrassing than it already is," Harry says, holding up a hand. "Nothing happened, I promise. Well, not nothing-ow!" I smack him again. "Anyway we didn't do that. Lana's parents are kind of MIA at the moment and she didn't want to be alone."

"Oh, really? What happened?"

"My mom kicked my dad out for some reason I don't know," I lie. I do know. They were miserable. "Now my dad's at a hotel and I haven't seen or heard from my mom in a few days."

"Oh my. I'm so sorry, Lana. You're welcome to stay with us as long as they're gone. In the spare bedroom, though," she says, standing up. "Feel free to sleep in Harry's clothes, but I'm not going to be the mum that just lets you sleep in his bed." I feel my face get hot as she walks back into the kitchen. I had forgotten about my parents.

The envelope.

I get up and start looking around the room, worried it might have been tossed in the garbage in the process of cleaning up last night. "Harry, have you seen an envelope with my name on it?"

"Yea," he says, finally able to stand up. "I brought it up to my room. It's on my desk."

I run upstairs and find it where he says it is and open it up. I realize the writing on the front is my mother's and suddenly my heart is beating a million miles a minute. I pull out the piece of paper and read what's been written on it as Harry comes and stands in front of me, watching my face.

Dear Langley,

I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I know I've hurt you. I've been a terrible mother. I haven't treated you the way I should have. That's why I think it's best for all of us if I just leave.
Ever since we came to Holmes Chapel I've been miserable. Your father's job changed him, and suddenly he wasn't the man I fell in love with anymore. I feel like I've been thrown into someone else's life. The three of us have all grown apart, and I did nothing to try and keep you close to me. I'm so sorry that we don't have the relationship I know we could.
I want you to know that I'm proud of you and that I love you more than anything in the world. But I can't stay in England, not anymore. It's not my life and it never has been. I need to go home. If you decide to come, that's up to you. I've put $50,000 in your account and your father will continue to pay for the house. You'll get your trust fund when you graduate.

Be safe. I love you.
I'm sorry.

Love, Mom.

I read the letter over and over, trying to make sense of it. Home? What does that mean? Did she go back to California? She just left me here? Suddenly I feel myself get weak and my legs go numb. I start to fall to the floor, but Harry holds me against him, bringing my gently to the ground with him. He rocks me back and forth as the tears start to fall. He takes the letter from my hands.

"She's gone," I whisper. He tosses the letter aside and continues to rock me back and forth.

Harry's POV

Gone? How could someone just up and leave their own child? What kind of selfish person would do that? Lana does not deserve this. I hold her and try to comfort her, telling everything will be alright. My mum comes up and stops in the doorway when she sees Lana and I on the floor. Lana doesn't react, she just keeps crying. I shake my head at my mum who hesitantly backs away and goes back downstairs.

After about twenty minutes Lana stops crying, but she doesn't move or say anything. I slowly pick her up and set her down on the bed, sitting beside her and pulling her back into my arms. We stay like that for a while. I start getting nervous. Why won't she speak? Maybe she's in shock. Should I say something? That might make it worse. Maybe I should make some tea or something. I wish she would speak.

I decide to try my luck. "Please say something, love." I whisper, stroking her hair. She doesn't move and I close my eyes, waiting for her to start crying again or something. I'm so dumb. I clearly just make things worse for her. I feel something against my cheek and open my eyes to see Lana looking up at me. Her palm is against my cheek.

Movement is a good thing. "Can I get you anything? What can I do?"

She stares into my eyes for a minute before responding. "You're doing it." She lays back down and I breathe a sigh of relief that she's spoken actual words. After another ten minutes she speaks again.

"I can't believe she's gone." Her voice is a whisper and I can barely hear it.

"I know. It's terrible. I wish I could make this better for you."

She sighs. "I knew she was selfish. She changed when we came here. My dad turned into a power-hungry asshole and she couldn't take it. So she turned into a self-absorbed bitch. I just got left in the dust, I guess. We were an actual family in California."

"That doesn't mean she has any right to just abandon you."

"I know. I'm just saying I know that she was miserable here. You know how much I avoided going home. We all hated being there. It was only a matter of time before it all fell apart."

"What's going to happen now? Will your dad move back in with you?"

"I have no clue. I guess so, but then why did she leave me all that money?"

"Maybe she didn't tell your dad she was leaving and wanted to make sure you had something in case he didn't come back," I whisper. I can't believe we are even talking about this. What kind of parents are these people? Lana deserves way better. She deserves my family. My mom and sister have always been there for me, even when I was a total fuck-up. Even Robin never lost faith in me and he isn't even my real father. I deserve what Lana has.

"I wish I could somehow switch places with you. I wish you could have the family you deserve." I say, kissing the top of her head.

"That's sweet, but you wouldn't be so amazing if it wasn't for your mother," she says, looking up at me again. I smile and kiss her forehead gently.

"Do you want to stay here? With us? We have that extra bedroom anyway," I ask. My mum would be okay with that. Most likely.

She sits up and turns on the bed, facing me and crossing her legs. "Are you serious?" she asks. I nod. "Harry, we've been together for like a day and-"

"Four days."

"Whatever. You're saying you would be okay with me living with you?" She shakes her head. "Babe, that's really sweet of you, but I don't think it's a good idea. I'd rather live by myself just across the street than risk messing this up. Besides, like I said, it's just across the street. I can just come here or call you if I'm feeling lonely."

I smile at her. "Of course." After a moment of silence a thought occurs to me. "Maybe you should call your father." I didn't like him or the way he treated people, but it would be better than Lana living completely alone in that big house.

She contemplates this for a minute. "I don't know...."

"You don't have to. I just thought maybe if he knew your mom left then he would move back in so you wouldn't be alone."

"Maybe. I don't know. Can we just lay here for a while?" I nod and open my arms. She lays her head on my chest and puts one of her legs over mine. I pull her tight against me. I wish I could protect her from this, but I can't. I have no way of keeping her from being hurt by the people that are supposed to love her the most.

As we lay there I play with her hair in one hand while I lace our fingers together on my stomach. My feelings for Lana scare the hell out of me. I've never felt like this. Ever. I've never had a girlfriend, never even went on dates. Suddenly I found myself wanted to be everything for her. Lana means more to me than anything in the world and I can't imagine a life without her. When I think about the short amount of time we've known each other, it doesn't seem real. I feel like I've know her my whole life.

The best part is, I finally feel like me. I never did in Bradford. I was given a reputation for being friends with people in a gang. Eventually I just started being the person everyone thought I was. It was easier. Then I joined the gang and started living the way they did, selling drugs, partying, sleeping around, getting in fights. I was miserable and alone. Laying here with this amazing girl makes me feel so...peaceful. I know I can be myself with her, that she won't judge me or try to change me. Lana likes me for who I am, not who she expects me to be. I love that about her.

I take my hand out of hers and bring it to her face, putting my finger under her chin and tilting her head up to face me. I kiss her lips softly for a moment. She smiles at me.

"What was that for?" she asks.

I smile at her and tuck some hair behind her ear. "Just because." She lays back down and after a few minutes I realize she's fallen asleep. I get up and gently pull the covers from under her body and lay them over her. I turn off the lights and go out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind me. I go downstairs and find my mum in the kitchen. Robin must be asleep already.

My mum is putting some cups in the dishwasher. Doesn't look like she heard me come in. I lean against the counter. She closes the dishwasher door and turns around, jumping back when she sees me. I laugh at her reaction. She puts her hand on her heart and shakes her head at me.

"Are you trying to kill your own mother?" she asks, laughing. "Is Lana alright?"

"I think so. She fell asleep. Her mum wrote her this letter..." I trail, shaking my head. I feel myself getting angry. "She's gone. She left."

"What? What do you mean?"

I throw my hands up and start pacing in front of the fridge. "She left! She moved out I guess. She just deserted Lana and went back to California without even saying goodbye. Just wrote a fucking letter."

"Language, Harry."

"Can you believe that? What kind of person does that, mum? Lana doesn't deserve that. She deserves a million times better." I stop pacing and lean against the counter again, shaking. My mum comes over and rubs my arm, trying to calm me.

"I can't believe she would do that. I know Lana's home situation was tense but.."

"Her dad moved out. Lana stayed here because she didn't want to be at home. I guess her mother decided it was a good time to run off."

"So she's alone?"

I nod and breath deeply a few times, calming myself down. "I'm hoping she calls her dad so at least he'll be living there again. I don't want her to be alone."

"Oh, darling, she won't be. If both of her parents abandon her she can move in with us. She can't live alone."

"I already suggested that. She thinks it would complicate things for us so she doesn't want to."

"I see. Wait are you two..."

"Together? Yea."

She smiles and hugs me. I laugh at her enthusiasm. "I'm so happy for you, Harry. She's so perfect for you. We'll all be here for her, don't worry about that. Just make sure she knows that if she ever needs anything she can come to us." I nod and wait, knowing she has more to say. She sighs. "I have to say, Harry, I'm impressed with you. You've really grown since we came here. I have a feeling Lana is a big part of that."

Lana is the only reason for that. I respond quietly. "Mum, I've never..."

"What, darling?" She asks, putting a hand on my arm.

"I've never felt this way before." I look at her and she's got the biggest smile on her face.

"I know, love. I can see that. I'm really happy for you." I look at the ground. "Is something wrong, Harry?"

"No...it's just...I don't know. This is all new to me. I just don't want to mess it up like I always mess everything up."

She sighs and stands in front of me, putting her hands on either side of my shoulders. "I don't know where you got the idea you're a failure, darling, but you aren't. Believe that. You deserve this, okay?" She hugs me and says goodnight before going upstairs. I decide to make some tea for myself and for Lana, just in case she wakes up. I make my way back upstairs with the mugs and smile when I see the light is on.

"What are you doing, love? I thought you were asleep?" I say, setting the mugs on the bedside table.

"I woke up," she says, shrugging. She's so cute.

"Obviously," I chuckle and she rolls her eyes.

"I got cold after you left and I woke up."

"Well I guess I'll just have to fix that, then." I crawl back under the covers and lay half on top of her, tucking her head under my chin. She giggles and wraps her arms around me.

"What, no jokes about how fat I am?" I ask, pulling back a little and looking down at her. She shakes her head.

"I like how fat you are," she says, smiling. I shake my head and she giggles, reaching up to poke my cheeks. "Your cheeks are so adorable."

"So are yours." She pulls her eyebrows together in confusion.

"I was talking about your dimples. I don't have dimples."

"I wasn't talking about those cheeks," I say, winking. She laughs and rolls her eyes.

"How old are you again?" I laugh and pull her back to me. After a few minutes she speaks. "I should probably go to the other bedroom."

I shake my head and hold her tighter. "I told my mum you already fell asleep. She won't mind just for tonight." She doesn't argue, but she pulls away and lays on her back. I prop my head up on my elbow and lay on my side, resting my hand on her stomach and tracing circles around her bellybutton. "What are you thinking about?"

She takes my hand in both of hers, fiddling with my fingers. "Nothing."

"Liar," I say, smirking down at her. She looks up at me and tries not to smile.

She sighs and looks at our hands. "I don't know what I would do without you," she says quietly. My heart flutters at her words. It's nice to know she needs me as much as I need her.

"You'll always have me," I say, kissing her forehead. "You have incredible friends, Lana. You won't ever be alone."

"Brooke, Eleanor and Louis are amazing aren't they. My real family fell apart when I came here. They became like...my surrogate family. They've always been there for me."

"I can tell. Louis told me you're like his little sister."

She smiles at me. "He said that to you?" I nod and can't help but smile. "I'm glad you two get along so well. And the girls. You fit in with us perfectly. When Zayn told you that you're a misfit I wanted to punch him in the face. You belong here."

Her words catch me off guard. I'm not sure what to say. No one's ever told me something like that before. I feel a lump in my throat. I don't really want to cry in front of her, so I lean down and kiss her for a few minutes. I pull back and return to my position beside her. "Thank you."

She smiles and turns onto her side. I lay my head down on the pillow and we stare into each other's eyes for a few minutes. I can see her eyelids are getting heavy.

I wrap my arms around her an pull her close to me. "Go to sleep, love." She sighs against my chest. I fall asleep quickly, totally and completely content.

Notes

this chapter just feels super cute :) hope you like it. i smiled a lot when reading it back as lame as that is :P
thanks for all the comments and subscriptions!

keep commenting :) i'd love to know what everyone thinks :)
thank you so much
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