Harry’s POV

That flight had killed me. Annie had fallen asleep in the back of Nick’s car, her head on my lap. I stared out the window of the passing lights of the city, as Nick chattered away mindlessly. Annies phone vibrated in her hand, and I held a mini-war in my head about whether to look at it. I silently begged the Gods above that it wouldn’t be Will. I lifted my hand over to hers and leant the screen towards me. It was her Mum. I squinted so I could make out the beginning of the message, visible on her locked screen.

Let us know when you get home. Poland is freezing. We all miss you darling...

Poland? Annie hadn’t said anything about going away, but her parents seemed to be. I placed the phone facing back down in her hand and she didn’t stir. I thought carefully. It was the 23rd of December. Was she planning on spending Christmas alone?

“Nick, don’t bother driving Annie back. She’s too tired, she can just crash at mine.” I said, interrupting him in his conversation with himself.
“Alright, boss.”

We carried on towards North London, and I was relieved to see the comfort of the streets I recognised around my home. Nick keyed in the gate code and drove in, I don’t know how we had managed it but there were no paps outside. It was late, though.

Annie didn’t stir until the second I woke her up.
“We’re at my house, Annie. There’s no point you going all the way over to the other side of the city. I’ll drive you home tomorrow."

I was surprised when she didn’t even put up a fight. She must have been exhausted because she just wrapped her cardigan around her tightly and shivered while I said goodbye to Nick. I pulled my bags, along with hers, to my front step and watched to make sure the gates closed behind Nick’s car. Annie yawned and I pushed open my door. I had Lou and some other friends take care of the place while I was away, and I was glad because I hated coming home to that musty, cold, un-lived in smell.

I almost forgot Annie was at home with me, walking through the reception room into the kitchen at ease. She eventually followed me in, looking as if she would fall asleep any moment.

“Sit,” I instructed, pulling out a chair at the bar for her. “I’ll get you something to drink. You hungry? I don’t know if I’ve er.. got any food..”
“It’s fine,” she yawned, opening that message on her phone. “Just some water is fine."

I set the glass in front of her and leaned over. “What are your plans for Christmas?” I said, holding my head up with my fist.
“Dunno,” She said, not looking at me. “Just family stuff.”
“Are your family away, Annie?"

Her eyes snapped up, all fatigue thrown aside. “How did you know?”
“I saw that message from your mum in the car. Why didn’t you tell me?"

She sighed and shrugged her shoulders, pushing her hair out of her face. “I knew you’d make a big deal out of it. I was going to spend it with Will, but obviously that’s not appropriate now because me and you are-“ She cut herself off and looked down furiously at her phone again.
“We’re…” I teased, bidding for her to finish.
“Don’t act smart, it’s just not appropriate.” She snapped.
“Alright, alright.” I came around the bar and sat on the stool next to her. “Well you should come up north with me then.”
She looked uncomfortable, like I knew she would. “We’ve only been doing this for a little while.. it’s a bit much.”
“It doesn’t have to be though, as far as mum and Gemma are concerned, we’re still friends. It’s only gonna be the four of us up there anyway, nobody is gonna interrogate you. It’s not a big family affair.” I knew it was a bit over the top. But it was either that or she stayed in London, in her house, alone until her parents got back.
“I don’t know, I’m not really ready for that-“
“Neither am I, but I can’t leave you here.”
“I could call some people, maybe I could spend it with Lou or Eleanor.” She said, trying to cover her tracks. I could tell by her face she was growing irritated, and more tired. I decided to drop it.
“Lets get you to bed, then.” I sighed, standing up and walking towards the hallway. “You pick a room, I’ll bring you something to sleep in.”

The shuffling footsteps behind me stopped, and I smirked secretly. I turned around.

“Pick a room?” She mumbled, quietly.
“Well yeah, we’re not together.. so I thought you’d want your own space.”

She shifted awkwardly from either foot.

“Please can I sleep with you?” She asked, and I could see the flush in her cheeks. I laughed and held my hand out, signalling for her to follow me.

* * *

Annie’s POV

I knew I had woken up at a strange time, because it was that weird kind of lighting outside. The type that’s daylight, but kind of blue. I turned to find my phone and saw it was 6:34 AM.

The room I was in was unfamiliar, and it took me a second to remember this was Harry’s house. Laden with white walls, a full length mirror in the corner, an en-suite attached, and walk in wardrobe. I turned to my other side and saw the cover flipped over as if he had left it. I instantly felt uneasy. I was getting to that stage, especially after spending three months with him, where I felt sick every time I didn’t know where he was.

I quickly crept out of bed, the cold hitting me because I was only in a t-shirt. I listened to see if I could hear any trace of Harry. Nothing. Just a sort of clinking of metal noise.

The hallway, more like a corridor, had several rooms going off it. The noise was coming from the next floor up. I looked uncomfortably at the set of stairs leading to what I assumed to be an attic. Carefully, I took each step. Through the crack in the door at the top, I could see Harry lifting weights. It must have been a spare bedroom-come-gym. I pushed the door open and felt a wave of relief having found him.

He was drenched in sweat as he struggled to lift the heavy weights. He threw them back in their stand and leant over, gasping for breath. He fell back onto the seat behind him, smiling at me through his heavy pants. He held an arm out, and although he was all sweaty and disgusting, I obliged and sat on his lap. I crawled into a ball, tight against his chest.

“What are you doing up?” He managed to get out. “I left you to get some sleep.”
“I got scared when you weren’t there.” I admitted, feeling pathetic that I didn’t just think to say I had woken up and was no longer tired. He smiled approvingly, happy with my answer.
“Well I was only up here, babe.” He let out a small laugh. “Maybe I should leave you a note every time I go to the toilet."

I punched him playfully in the chest. We were silent as Harry finally caught up with his breath.

“It’s Christmas Eve.” I observed, finally breaking the quiet. Harry nodded.
“It’s Christmas Eve, indeed.”
“When are you driving home?” I asked, feeling small as I looked up at him.
“Probably before dinner time. Try and get home for the evening. Try and get to the pub and see some old friends.” He said. He looked down at me. “Have you decided if you want to come with me yet?"

The mood immediately shifted and I felt uncomfortable. “It’s just, well it’s something I would do a year into a relationship, and us, well.. we’re not even sure if we’re gonna be together..”
I could tell he had taken offence to that, because his back stiffened. “Firstly, you’re not sure you want to be with me, but yeah, I agree with you. But Annie in these circumstances, it’s a bit different. I’m hardly going to leave you in London for Christmas. First of all no-one can be alone on Christmas, and second of all, what if that dick comes and visits you while I’m away?"

I stood up. “I knew it. You want me up there with you so you can keep an eye on me! I’m a possession to you!” I said, indignantly. “I’ve told you I’m not going to see him, I told him I’m not going to see him. I’m not seeing anyone. I’m not bothered, it’s just Christmas. I’ve had nineteen of them, haven’t I? I’m sure I’ll see plenty more.”
“You’re being childish.” Harry said, standing up and wiping himself over with a towel. “I just don’t want you three and a half hours away, alone. You can’t even let me go upstairs on my own, if you want to talk about keeping an eye on one-another.”
I felt embarrassed as he referenced my behaviour this morning. I tried to think of a suitable retort, but it was useless.
“I’m going out, I’ve got to run some errands. Stay here so I can say goodbye to you when I get back, at least."

That wasn’t something I felt like I had a choice in, so I did as I was told. A day spent in Harry’s modern, large, house was actually very dull. The house phone rang at least fifteen times. I took a nap. I watched a movie. I played the Xbox. I was taking a shower when he came home, letting himself into the bathroom and using the toilet.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” I asked, covering myself with the shower curtain.
“I’m having a piss.” He said, looking at me like there was no problem.
“Harry, you have three bathrooms.”
“I know.” He said. “But this ones my favourite."

When I had finished and clothed myself, I crept down to the kitchen, where Harry was seated on the floor. I was still mad at him for a couple of things, but the sight of him wrapping whatever presents he had bought earlier today so awfully, I just had to give in and help him.

“Here.” I said, taking the scissors from him. “Like this."

The presents were wrapped in a matter of minutes. He had actually surprised me. A gorgeous, vintage Chanel ring for his sister, that I knew must have cost at least £500. Tom Ford cufflinks for his step father. A pair of Givenchy boots for his mother, of which I guessed were his most expensive present.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got them other stuff.” He said hurriedly, as I packed them away. “I know it doesn’t look like a lot.
“No, I think they’re amazing presents.” I said. “It’s more than enough."

Harry smiled and patted his lap, and I sat down.

“Sorry I got angry.” I said.
“Sorry I made you angry.” He said.

I laughed at us both. We were awful at being together, but when we weren’t together, we were even worse at being apart. Harry pulled the sleeve of his knitted sweater up.

“I’d better drop you home, babe.” He said, in a tone that made my heart melt. I knew he was unhappy about leaving me. When I thought about it, I was more than unhappy at him being gone. I had spent every day, for three months, with this person - my best friend. What would I do if the painful memories of Will got too much, and I woke up in the middle of the night and there was nobody to talk to?

I nodded. “How long are you going for?”
He cleared his throat, talking with his lips against my hair. “Probably a week. Well, I hope I can get a week off to stay up there. It’s so quiet, it’s like rehab. And my mummy can look after me.”
I gave a small laugh.

Harry went and packed up all of the things he would need for the trip, which for Harry, wasn’t a lot. He owned maybe two pair of jeans that he actually enjoyed wearing. He’d often buy pairs of jeans that cost £1,000, but would hate how pristine they would look - so he’d cut them up, split the knees, fray the holes. I never understood that about him.

The time came for us to leave the house and he set all the alarms. I ran to the car because it was just starting to rain as the darkness of the afternoon started to fall over the city. The drive to my house in East London would probably take maybe half an hour. We were silent for most of the journey. I had so much to think about that I couldn’t even try to pretend to want a conversation.

We eventually pulled up outside. Harry set on the brake and his hands fell into his lap. “Here, let me get out and help you.”

He carried my things to the door and I set it open. “Well,” He sighed. “I really can’t stay.. and the longer this goodbye takes the harder it will be.”

I stayed silent. He grabbed a hold of me around my shoulders and pulled me under his chin. He kissed my hair so many times and rubbed my back. When he pulled away, his smile was nothing but sad. I looked from him, to the hallway of my open house.

“Wait here.” I said. “I’ll come with you."

He stared at me weirdly. “What?"

“Just give me five minutes to get some clothes. I’ll come home to Cheshire with you.” I said, running off inside.

Notes

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww… hope nothing happens to spoil the Christmas fairytale! :)