“ARIA! OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW!”

Aria stared at the door, unable to fathom a reaction out of her worn-out mind. She heard the banging get louder by the minute and just lay there stupefied. When in the world had her mother woken up? Had Beatrice heard Harry? She felt a hand shake her shoulder and turned to find a confused Harry hovering above her.

“Babe, I need to go. Now!” Harry whispered, standing up quickly and searching for his ladder.

“Right!” Aria got up on her feet, and ran to open her window. Her heart raced, making her hands clumsy and clammy. The reaction was finally kicking in and every time her mother banged the door, her heart dropped in panic and fear. Beatrice would disown and throw Aria out of the house if she found Harry in the room at this time of the night. Scratch that! She would probably just scream at Aria, bury her alive, dig the grave open to shout at her some more and bury her again.

“ARIA! I SWEAR TO GOD, I’LL BREAK THIS DOOR IF YOU DO NOT OPEN IT THIS INSTANT!”

Harry spun around to find Aria’s face completely drained off of any colour. Her entire body was stiff as she stared at the door with wide, fearful eyes and chewed on her bottom lip. Harry walked up to her and pulled her towards him.

“Hey! Just relax. Okay?” He whispered, holding her in his arms as she shivered against him. “I’ll fix this. Just pick up my phone before you open the door so that I can hear what she’s saying.”

Aria nodded her head and lifted her head from his chest, gulping down the clog of fear that was making it difficult for her to breathe. Harry felt guilty when he saw the expression on her face. She was frightened, he could tell. And he knew that he was the only one to be blamed. He should’ve been more cautious and not let his libido take charge of the situation. If things got out of hand, they’d be back to square one and Harry couldn’t risk that. He grabbed the ladder and slowly lowered it down to the ground. He climbed out of her window, but stopped when he heard another round of Beatrice’s verbal ambush.

“ARIA KENDELL MORGAN! YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE! JUST YOU WATCH! OPEN THIS DOOR OR…OR...I’LL GROUND YOU FOR LIFE!”

Harry was about to step down when he heard the last part and chuckled despite the grim circumstances. Aria turned when he heard him laugh and after chewing on her lips for a second or two, she gave a nervous chuckle. She padded towards him to watch him climb down safely. He stopped to give her a small peck before whispering, “Pick up my call. Okay?”

Aria nodded, closed the window in haste and rushed to grab her phone. She checked if everything else looked alright around the room before running to the door which looked like it was about to fall off its hinges.

“Mom, hold on! I’m opening the door.”

Her voice stopped her mother and Aria’s phone began ringing, indicating that Harry had called. She quickly answered the call, threw her phone on the bed and opened the door to a very furious and very red Beatrice Morgan. Her mother was literally shaking, looking extremely intimidating with her lips gone completely white and her eyes round.

“WHERE IS HE?” Her mother’s voice boomed making her jump. She gathered her wits and quickly pretended to be confused.

“Where is who?”

“DON’T YOU DARE PLAY DUMB WITH ME! WHERE IS HE, ARIA?” Her mother pushed past her into the room, making her stumble,

“Whoa! Mom, what are you talking about?” Aria hoped her voice sounded convincing.
Her mother spun around with her mouth hanging open and her hands on her hips, looking Aria up from head to toe. “I CANT BELIEVE YOU ARE LYING TO ME ON MY FACE, ARIA! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? IS THIS HOW I RAISED YOU?”

Aria gulped, knowing that her mother was trying to get her to fess up by making her sentimental. She hoped her face hadn’t turned red in shame as she tried one more time to feign innocence. “Mom, I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“IF YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW THEN WHY DID IT TAKE YOU SO LONG TO OPEN YHE DOOR?”

“Mom, I was in the bathroom taking a shower!”

“OH, REALLY? THEN WHY DID I HEAR YOU AND THAT…..THAT GOD FORSAKEN BOY?”

Aria felt the blood drain from her face. Her mother had heard them?

“Mom, I can-“

“DON’T! I WASN’T BORN YESTERDAY, ARIA! YOU WERE MOANING LIKE A WANTON HOOKER!”

Ouch. That hurt. She knew that her mother was religious. She knew that Beatrice had wanted Aria to save herself for whoever she got married to. But calling her a hooker? That really hurt.
“Mom...” Aria gave her a wounded look, but it seemed as though Beatrice was too angry to think things through.

“WHERE HAVE YOU HIDDEN HIM?” Her mother marched towards the bathroom and searched around frantically.

“Mom, please stop! Just listen to m-“

“I’M NOT GONNA LISTEN TO ANY OF YOUR STUPID EXCU-“

Both of them were interrupted by the shrill noise of Aria’s phone ringing, indicating that she had a new message. Aria rushed to grab her phone in case it was Harry checking up on her but her mother was faster. Beatrice snatched the phone from the bed, knowing something was up, and unlocked the phone to read the text.

“Mom, stop!”

But before Aria could go on, her mother had opened the message and she heard a strange female noise coming from her phone. She watched her mother’s jaw drop and her face get red as she stared at the screen of Aria’s phone. The phone continued to play the voice of a female and upon concentration it distinctly started sounding like moans. Aria rushed to her mother’s side to check what it was, only to regret it.

“PORN?” Her mother’s voice bellowed, making Aria jump in fear. Beatrice spun towards Aria, face redder than a beetroot as she looked from Aria to the phone and then back to Aria.

“You were watching porn?”

Aria shook her head in denial. “No, mom! You’ve got the wron-“

“That too girl on girl porn?” Her mother’s voice was a squeak, as she sat down on the bed in shock as the video kept playing at the background. Aria was too dumbfounded to say anything further. This had to be the worst day of her life! Who in the world had sent her porn?

The moans in the background began to get louder, making Aria cringe. Her mother seemed disturbed by it too as she fumbled with the phone to switch off the video. However, fate decided to show its ugly face once again as her phone chimed one more time with a message.

“Who in the world is Harry?” Her mother queried, making Aria rush to snatch her phone but her mother had opened the text to uncover another pornographic clip. Her mouth was left hanging and Aria thought that her mother would faint any minute.

“Who the hell is this Harry? Is he the same guy who had found your phone?”

“Huh?” Aria was too traumatized to comprehend what her mother was saying. What the fuck was Harry thinking sending her porn?

“Is he the same guy who had called to inform me that you had left your phone a couple months ago?”

Aria’s brain kicked in and she recalled that incident as though it had happened just yesterday.

“Umm- no! It’s someone else!”

“Does he supply you with lesbian porn?” Her mother’s voice sounded more shaky than stern as she looked at Aria as though that was the worst vice a person could do.

“Aria! Are you a….a…interested in women?” Her mother’s voice had faltered as she mentioned the last part and Aria wanted to be swallowed up by the ground.

“No! Mom, it’s not like that!”

“My daughter, a lesbian?” Aria watched as her mother dropped the phone from her shaking hands and looked at Aria with eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Mom, I-“ She couldn’t believe her mother was more worried about her daughter being a lesbian than her sleeping with some random guy. Her mother was a homophobe, Aria realized. Her thoughts suddenly shifted to Ryan, her brother, and she felt her heart sink.

“But- but- I thought you liked that boy? Louis Tomlinson!”

“Mom, I do but-“

“Call him! Tell him I want to meet him!”

“What? Mom, no!”

“Fine, I’ll do it myself!”

“Mom, stop!”

Aria had tried to snatch the phone from the bed but she had missed by a few inches.

“Mom, why are you doing this?”

“Aria, I need you to stay in your room! You’re grounded!” She marched off with Aria’s phone, leaving a distressed and frustrated daughter behind.

---

Harry parked his car in the drive way and stared at the huge sub urban house that stood in the middle of the humongous lot. He wondered, not for the first time, why someone would be stupid enough to leave all that space around a house just to grow trees. His eyes searched for a familiar silver SUV but it was nowhere to be seen. He had been sure he’d be relieved if it wasn’t there, but somehow relief wasn’t the word he’d use to describe the hollow feeling in his chest.

He got out slowly, careful not to make any noise. Padding his way across the stone drive way, he stood in front of the oak door, delaying the inevitable. Maybe they were inside and had just decided to park the car in the garage. The thought gave him no comfort.

He twisted the knob to open the door but it wouldn’t budge. He let out a sigh of relief and looked around for the pot under which the key was usually left hidden in case of emergencies like these. He found it easily and shook his head in disappointment. You’d think they’d be more original after having kept it there for so long. The entire neighborhood probably knew where they kept the keys by now.

He unlocked the door and gently twisted the knob, before swinging it open. Cringing when the door creaked, Harry closed the door and began walking. Everything was the same. The walls, the floors, the furniture. He began walking down the semi-dark corridor, which was only lit by the light coming from the living room. They always left the lights on in the living room when they were out to scare away any burglars. Not that there was much to steal, Harry reflected and rolled his eyes.

Harry shuffled his way to the familiar path of the living room. As soon as he turned the corner, he felt something really firm and hard hit his head, making him fall on his butt with a groan. He was about to grasp what had happened but he got hit a second time with the same object.

“OOWWW! WHAT THE FUCK?” He howled in pain, holding his throbbing, swollen forehead.

“Harry? Is that you?” Harry heard a familiar voice and let out another groan.

“Gem? Are you trying to knock me unconscious?”

“I thought you were a burglar! Hold on!” He heard her shuffling in the darkness before the lights came on, intensifying the throbbing pain that had now consumed Harry’s entire skull.

“Harry, what are you doing here?” He finally saw his sister’s face. That too after months. Ironically enough, they lived in the same vicinity.

“I could ask you the same thing. Finally gave in, have you? And what did you do to your hair? Why is it purple?”

Gemma let out a sigh before giving Harry a sad smile and holding her hand out to lift him up. “Good to see you too, kiddo!”

“I’m serious, Gem!” Harry wasn’t sure if he was more annoyed that she was avoiding his question or that she had called him by the name she had always addressed him with as a child. He wasn’t a kid anymore, for crying out loud!

Once he was on his feet, Gemma sighed again before giving in. She began walking to the kitchen with Harry in tow. “Alright! I’ll explain things. Let’s just get you some frozen peas before your forehead swells up like a mountain.”

“What’d you hit me with anyway?” Harry asked, gently pressing the bump on his forehead to see how much it hurt before scrunching up his eyes shut in pain.

“The book!” Gemma announced, holding up a hard-covered book proudly.

“You’re kidding, right? You were planning on knocking a burglar unconscious with a book?”

“Hey!” Gemma pretended to be offended as she handed Harry the bag of frozen peas. “I didn’t have anything else around me! What should I have used? The remote?”

“How about the inexpensive china that Robin keeps in the room?”

“Harry! Don’t be such a prick. Give Robin a break. He tries to earn as much as he can without asking mom for any contribution.”

Harry shrugged his shoulder and pretended that it didn’t matter to him either way.

“So, what made you come and live with them?”

Gemma sighed knowing that it would only get difficult if she avoided the topic so she sat down on one of the tools by the counter and explained.

“They’re travelling. The middle east, this time.”

“Yeah. Figured that’d be it. And you’re house-sitting?”

“Harry, I like it here. It feels livelier than the mansion.”

“Yeah! You always had a thing for primitive things. Come to mention it, you still seein’ that…that…what’s-his-face?”

“J? Well, of course! And for your information he is absolutely wonderful to me and is in no way barbaric! Stop being such a snoot, you’re beginning to sound like Aunty Toni.”

“Just sayin’!” Harry shrugged his shoulder once more and got off the stool.

“So, what brings you to our humble abode after so long? Mom’s been calling you every day and asking you to drop by.”

“Yeah! I know!”

“So?” Gemma pushed, knowing full well that he’d avoid giving an answer.

“I had nowhere else to go.”

“What do you mean nowhere to go? What about the mansion? Isn’t Berta there?”

“Yeah, she is.” Harry whispered, looking out of the window and staring fixedly at the swings in the corner of the back yard. He heard Gemma sigh and walk up to him, making him stand stiff.

“And what about Louis’ place?”

Harry remained quiet, making Gemma sigh again.

“Please don’t tell me you guys are still on about that! Harry, you two need to stop! You know it’s gonna hurt that girl. Why would you make someone go through the same pain?”

“It’s not gonna hurt anyone, Gem.” Harry’s voice was void of any emotion as he defended his ways to the only person who he thought understood him. “They aren’t the same in high school. They get dumped, they cry and whine to be taken back and then they find another dick to ride!”

“Harry!” Gemma scolded, getting red in the face.

“It’s true and you kno-“

Harry’s voice was cut off by the shrill noise of his phone going off. He quickly took it out of his pocket and checked the ID. It was her. He excused himself away from his sister, leaving her a little stunned, and headed to the living room.

“Hey!” He greeted, picking up the phone. “You okay?”

“Hey! Yeah, I’m fine! How’d you know it was me and not Mom?” He heard her melodious voice and smiled.

“I don’t think she’ll call me anytime soon after seeing what I sent you.”

He heard her giggle and his smile widened. He could literally visualize her laugh.
“How’d you even think of that? I mean how’d you know it’d work?”

“I didn’t, actually. When I heard her say that she heard you moan, I racked my brain on how you could cover up for that and it just clicked my mind. Sooo, I sent you the clips that were on my phone.”

“Whoa! Hold on there, bud! You keep lesbian porn on your phone?” She condemned making Harry chuckle again.

“Don’t you?” He queried, knowing full well what her reaction would be.

“No!” She replied in outrage. Harry could tell she had gone red.

“I thought she would take away your phone.” Harry decided it best not to talk about the porn any further.

“She did! But only to call Louis!”

The smile on Harry’s face slipped and a frown marred his forehead.

“Louis? Why him?”

“Well…Umm…” Harry could tell she was hesitating to say it so he waited patiently despite his growing need to know.

“Well what, babe?” Harry asked her gently.

“Umm…Mom kinda knew that Louis and I were dating…”

“Oh.” It was the only thing he could think of replying.

“But she called him only cause she thought I was becoming a lesbian.” She rushed to explain, hoping Harry wouldn’t get angry. “He’s talking to her in the living room right now and I’m su-“

“He’s what?” Harry’s voice came out louder than he expected. Aria sighed and spoke up.

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you when you came. I met Louis today when I was getting out of the café.”

“Oh. What did he want?” Harry asked calmly, balling up his hand by his side.

“He wanted to fix things. Explain why he disappeared, I guess.”

“And?”

“And nothing, Harry.” Her voice was now defensive and Harry knew she wouldn’t explain any further. “I’ll take care of it. Okay?”

“Hmm.” He wasn’t sure how she’d take care of it. If Louis made a move now, it’d all would’ve been for nothing.

“Look, I’m gonna go down and hear what they’re talking about. I’ll keep you updated. Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“I miss you, you know.”

Harry stiffened when he heard her, unable to come up with a suitable reply. What do you reply to something like that without sounding like you’re promising a ‘forever’?

“You wanted to ask me something before your mom interrupted us.” Harry decided that distraction was the best tactic. “What did you wanna ask?”

“Oh, yeah!” Harry mentally high-fived himself, having distracted her successfully. She really was naïve. “You keep tracing out these invisible tattoo-like doodles against my skin whenever we’re together. Why do you do that?”

“I don’t know.” Harry replied, giving it a thought. “I guess, I just like the feel of your skin against my fingers. Your skin….it’s smooth and soft when I touch you.”

He heard her go quite and knew that she was blushing, probably biting down on her plump lips.

“This is the most we’ve ever spoken to each other.” She whispered breathily, making Harry smile despite his previous mood. “I’m gonna go now.”

“Okay.” Harry was about to hang up but stopped when he heard her speak again,

“Harry?”

“Yeah?”

“I like the way you trace those invisible doodles on my skin."

He felt a small fluttering in his stomach and put the phone back in his pocket when she hung up. Harry walked back to the kitchen where Gemma was busy cooking something but she turned when he came in.

“My my! Haven’t seen that smile for a while now. She must be a special one!”

Harry stiffened instantly and blanked his face off of any emotion.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” His voice was grim and it was clear he didn’t wanna speak about it.

“Harry, you can’t keep pushing everyone away from you. Especially someone who clearly makes you happy! She isn’t Maya, Harr-“

“Stop it!” His hands were balled up by his sides and Gemma could see the tension in his shoulders.

“Fine!” She sighed and continued. “I won’t take her name. I just want you to be happy again, Harry.”

He remained quiet and looked out of the window, as memories began flooding in.

“So, when will you introduce me to this girl?” Gemma tried to enhance his mood by going back to her cheery self.

“Never!”
“Oh come on, Harry! Don’t be such a grouch. I know! We haven’t thrown a party in the mansion for a while now! Let’s throw a pre-Christmas party and you can invite her as your plus one!”

Gemma clapped her hands giddily, having made up the self-proclaimed best plan.

“No!” Harry warned, and began walking away. He knew it would be a stupid idea coming here.

“Fine! If you won’t do it, I will!” Gemma announced as a last resort as she watched her grump of a brother walk away.

---

Notes

Guys, Nam's pet bunny just passed away. So, this is a rushed update. She's really upset. He was just 3 months old. We're sorry about the disappointing chapter.