It Takes Patience III: Stripped
Chapter 17: Let Go...
*Harry’s POV*
The room went dark and I was sitting in it alone or at least I thought I was. When I turned my head I could make out a shadow that moved quickly along the walls as it made its way towards me. Fingers intertwined with mine slowly, connecting as one swift moving shadow turned into four. I looked down at the source of the contact and could see Reagan clearly even in the dark that enveloped us.
“You can’t be here.” I spoke to her as the shadows came closer, but her grip tightened around my hand out of defiance.
A door appeared and just beneath it I could see light peeking through. I stood with her and ran her towards it, but there was no handle, no way for her to escape it all.
The shadows drew closer and as they did, I could make out all of their faces except for one.
“Harry?,” I shot up as Reagan shook me awake. I know that I was having a nightmare but part of me didn’t want to wake up from this one. It was nothing like the others that I’ve ever had before. My breathing was heavy and I could feel myself shaking, I just hope that she doesn’t notice it.
“Harry we’re going to be late. It’s already nine o’ clock.”
“Fuck! Why didn’t we set a fucking alarm? You’re the queen of alarms Reagan! You should have fucking set one!” I quickly untangled myself from the sheets and stumbled over to the closet yanking a pair of jeans off of the hanger and quickly sliding them up my legs.
Reagan didn’t say anything. Instead she started to dress herself ignoring my outburst with a solemn look on her face. I pulled my boots on my feet and the closest shirt I could find before I grabbed my jacket and keys. I was fully dressed and Reagan was still dilly dallying with the buttons on one of her cardigans.
“Are you trying to be late and piss me off? Part of me thinks you’re doing this on purpose! You can button your jumper in the car!”
Reagan’s eyebrows finally furrowed letting me know I’ve finally provoked a reaction out of her. I need something to feed off of and distract me from what is actually about to take place in a few hours.
“Harry go take your pills, I’m not in the mood to deal with your attitude, not right now, not today.”
“I didn’t ask you what you were in the mood for Reagan, I’m telling you to hurry the hell up!”
Reagan yanked the handle of her luggage after she grabbed her coat out of the closet and I yanked it back out of her hand, before I picked it up to carry it down the stairs for her. Everything was in the car and Reagan was still fiddling with her shoes by the door purposely doing so at this point. When I got into the car and turned the key into the ignition to start it, it rumbled and sputtered but it didn’t actually start.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I sat back against the seat pinching my chapped bottom lip with one hand and running my hand through my hair anxiously with the other, before I tried again only to get the same result.
“Damn!” I punched the steering wheel and saw Reagan stop in her tracks as she watched me. I could see the smile in her eyes even though a serious look remained on her face.
“It won’t start?” She asked feigning concern.
I narrowed my eyes at her as I took my phone out of my pocket hoping that Liam would answer the phone.
“I could always just wait for a cab H. and get the next flight closer to-”
“You’re getting on the flight you have! You’re not staying here Reagan; don’t start that shit again, please!” The phone rang two more times before Liam answered wide awake.
“Hey, Harry what’s goin-”
“Liam are you home? Can you do me a favor please?” I cut him off not wanting to waist any more time than already has been with small talk.
“Yeah I am. Sure what’s up?”
“Can you take Reagan to the airport please? Heathrow to be exact she’s running late we only have an hour left and my car won’t start.”
“You’re going to?!” Reagan walked up behind me panicked by my words with her question sounding more like a demand.
“Harry, you’re going too?!” I nodded my head not wanting to upset her. I didn’t mean to make it sound like I wasn’t going in the first place.
I could see her relax while I was still on the phone with Liam who was assuring me that he could be here in ten minutes. I hung up relieved and grateful. Liam lives the closest to me, and I knew that he would be awake before everyone else. Liam is still the most responsible one out of the entire group. He’ll go out to parties with us and stay out just as long and drink just as heavy, but he’ll still be up the next morning ready to go with whatever he has to do the next day. I find myself grinning, slightly amazed as to how Liam manages to do it. It’s like his party trick.
“Harry what’s going on?” Reagan breaks my thought process on Liam and I lean against my car reaching a hand out for her to take.
She laces her fingers with mine, and my dream plays out briefly in my head. I let her hand go and wrap my arms around her waist and arms instead, making sure that when I let her go, she has no way to hold on to me.
I rest my chin on top of her hair before I respond, “Liam will be here in a few minutes and you’ll make your flight.”
I hear Reagan sigh deeply and I breathe in the faint smell of mango and strawberry shampoo from her shower last night before I turn to rest my cheek on her head. I’m such a sop and If I keep doing shit like this it will make it harder when she leaves. I pull my head back from off of the top of hers, but keep my arms around her while we wait.
“Why are you so adamant on me getting this flight? There are other flights, probably one an hour even after mine leaves. We could spend more time before I go if I just-”
“If you don’t get on this flight, I won’t let you leave,” my subconscious speaks for me quietly but unwanted none the less, “I need you to go, but because I’m selfish more of me wants you to stay here. If you miss this flight I’ll make you stay regardless to what you need and that’s not fair. Now that you know why, can we not talk about it anymore? The more you bring it up, the more the idea appeals to me and I’m trying to be better than that. You’re not making it easy.”
I feel glasses nod against my chest and I tighten my arms around her when I feel her try to move her arms from in between us to wrap around me. She gives up when she realizes that I won’t budge and rests against me again.
Liam pulls up moments later and I let Reagan go nudging her towards the car. The look on her face shows panic again, but softens when she sees that the only reason that I stayed behind was to get her luggage out of the car. I put everything in his boot and get into the back seat with Reagan as Liam is introducing her to Sophia.
When Liam pulls off, Reagan tries to lace her fingers with mine again but I stop her, enclosing her hand underneath mine instead. I can see her frown slightly, before she turns her head out the window to watch scenery that she’s seen before as it passes in a blur outside the window.
Liam pulls me into conversation asking me about a party tonight and if I’m gonna go with them. The last thing on my mind right now is a goddamn party and I want to tell him to shut the fuck up! I resist the urge to do so when I remember that I haven’t taken my meds this morning because of the rush with trying to get Reagan ready to go.
“I don’t think so Liam. Not really in the mood.” Liam quirks his eyebrow in the rearview mirror taking in the downtrodden aura of the backseat before he continues in conversation with Sophia. She in turn pulls Reagan into the conversation.
“It’s a shame you’re leaving. If you were to be staying here I’m sure me, you, El, Perrie, and Laurie would have a good time. This party is supposed to be buzzin! There might even be a pub crawl afterwards.”
“Aw, it sounds like I’ll be missing a good time. Make sure you have enough fun for me too.”
Reagan gives her best fake smile as they continue on back and forth. When Liam chimes in with his question, I literally face palm and then run my hands through my hair to keep from smacking him in the back of the head.
“Why are you going home today of all days babe? Tonight should be sick and I’m sure that Harry won’t go if you don’t.”
“She’s going to visit her family Liam. She’s been here a long time without seeing them or really talking to them.”
“Ohh okay. That’s understandable, you must be terribly homesick. I hope you enjoy your break.”
Just stop talking!
Reagan nods her head slowly before she says thank you and turns back to look outside the window. I find myself wishing that the car would both speed up and slowdown at the same time as my hand tightens around Reagan’s small one.
We pull up to Heathrow at around ten thirty at the drop off area when I let Reagan’s hand go and open my door. Liam agrees to stay here until I come back and I grab her bags out of the boot before I open up the door for her. She’s thanking Liam and giving Sophia, who she’s only just met, a quick hug before she gets out of the car waving bye to them.
I hand Reagan her ticket as we walk to the entrance of the airport and she takes it slowly from my hands. We enter close to her gate and not two minutes after she gets close to airport security check lines, her flight final boarding call is made.
Our eyes meet instantly and I hide the panic in mine to reassure her as I see tears well in hers.
Two minutes. I couldn’t get two fucking minutes?
A tear falls from her eyes and I force a smile on my face before I hug her.
“Don’t cry, glasses. It won’t be as long as you think. You act like we don’t have skype, and phones with facetime, and text messages. All of that exists for a reason.”
“I don’t want to leave you here Harry.” Her voice cracks and almost breaks me in the process.I clear my throat and pull her away from me so that she can look me in the eyes.
“I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Focus on you for the both of us for now and you'll be back before you realize it. I love you.”
A flight attendant walks by letting her know if she doesn’t leave now she’ll miss the flight all together. Reagan nods and I give her a kiss on the forehead before she turns to leave. Pulling herself away from me, and making my heart feel like it’s constricted in my chest.
I watch her walk through the gates running my hand through my hair and tugging it until I can’t see her any more.
The room went dark and I was sitting in it alone or at least I thought I was. When I turned my head I could make out a shadow that moved quickly along the walls as it made its way towards me. Fingers intertwined with mine slowly, connecting as one swift moving shadow turned into four. I looked down at the source of the contact and could see Reagan clearly even in the dark that enveloped us.
“You can’t be here.” I spoke to her as the shadows came closer, but her grip tightened around my hand out of defiance.
A door appeared and just beneath it I could see light peeking through. I stood with her and ran her towards it, but there was no handle, no way for her to escape it all.
The shadows drew closer and as they did, I could make out all of their faces except for one.
“Harry?,” I shot up as Reagan shook me awake. I know that I was having a nightmare but part of me didn’t want to wake up from this one. It was nothing like the others that I’ve ever had before. My breathing was heavy and I could feel myself shaking, I just hope that she doesn’t notice it.
“Harry we’re going to be late. It’s already nine o’ clock.”
“Fuck! Why didn’t we set a fucking alarm? You’re the queen of alarms Reagan! You should have fucking set one!” I quickly untangled myself from the sheets and stumbled over to the closet yanking a pair of jeans off of the hanger and quickly sliding them up my legs.
Reagan didn’t say anything. Instead she started to dress herself ignoring my outburst with a solemn look on her face. I pulled my boots on my feet and the closest shirt I could find before I grabbed my jacket and keys. I was fully dressed and Reagan was still dilly dallying with the buttons on one of her cardigans.
“Are you trying to be late and piss me off? Part of me thinks you’re doing this on purpose! You can button your jumper in the car!”
Reagan’s eyebrows finally furrowed letting me know I’ve finally provoked a reaction out of her. I need something to feed off of and distract me from what is actually about to take place in a few hours.
“Harry go take your pills, I’m not in the mood to deal with your attitude, not right now, not today.”
“I didn’t ask you what you were in the mood for Reagan, I’m telling you to hurry the hell up!”
Reagan yanked the handle of her luggage after she grabbed her coat out of the closet and I yanked it back out of her hand, before I picked it up to carry it down the stairs for her. Everything was in the car and Reagan was still fiddling with her shoes by the door purposely doing so at this point. When I got into the car and turned the key into the ignition to start it, it rumbled and sputtered but it didn’t actually start.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I sat back against the seat pinching my chapped bottom lip with one hand and running my hand through my hair anxiously with the other, before I tried again only to get the same result.
“Damn!” I punched the steering wheel and saw Reagan stop in her tracks as she watched me. I could see the smile in her eyes even though a serious look remained on her face.
“It won’t start?” She asked feigning concern.
I narrowed my eyes at her as I took my phone out of my pocket hoping that Liam would answer the phone.
“I could always just wait for a cab H. and get the next flight closer to-”
“You’re getting on the flight you have! You’re not staying here Reagan; don’t start that shit again, please!” The phone rang two more times before Liam answered wide awake.
“Hey, Harry what’s goin-”
“Liam are you home? Can you do me a favor please?” I cut him off not wanting to waist any more time than already has been with small talk.
“Yeah I am. Sure what’s up?”
“Can you take Reagan to the airport please? Heathrow to be exact she’s running late we only have an hour left and my car won’t start.”
“You’re going to?!” Reagan walked up behind me panicked by my words with her question sounding more like a demand.
“Harry, you’re going too?!” I nodded my head not wanting to upset her. I didn’t mean to make it sound like I wasn’t going in the first place.
I could see her relax while I was still on the phone with Liam who was assuring me that he could be here in ten minutes. I hung up relieved and grateful. Liam lives the closest to me, and I knew that he would be awake before everyone else. Liam is still the most responsible one out of the entire group. He’ll go out to parties with us and stay out just as long and drink just as heavy, but he’ll still be up the next morning ready to go with whatever he has to do the next day. I find myself grinning, slightly amazed as to how Liam manages to do it. It’s like his party trick.
“Harry what’s going on?” Reagan breaks my thought process on Liam and I lean against my car reaching a hand out for her to take.
She laces her fingers with mine, and my dream plays out briefly in my head. I let her hand go and wrap my arms around her waist and arms instead, making sure that when I let her go, she has no way to hold on to me.
I rest my chin on top of her hair before I respond, “Liam will be here in a few minutes and you’ll make your flight.”
I hear Reagan sigh deeply and I breathe in the faint smell of mango and strawberry shampoo from her shower last night before I turn to rest my cheek on her head. I’m such a sop and If I keep doing shit like this it will make it harder when she leaves. I pull my head back from off of the top of hers, but keep my arms around her while we wait.
“Why are you so adamant on me getting this flight? There are other flights, probably one an hour even after mine leaves. We could spend more time before I go if I just-”
“If you don’t get on this flight, I won’t let you leave,” my subconscious speaks for me quietly but unwanted none the less, “I need you to go, but because I’m selfish more of me wants you to stay here. If you miss this flight I’ll make you stay regardless to what you need and that’s not fair. Now that you know why, can we not talk about it anymore? The more you bring it up, the more the idea appeals to me and I’m trying to be better than that. You’re not making it easy.”
I feel glasses nod against my chest and I tighten my arms around her when I feel her try to move her arms from in between us to wrap around me. She gives up when she realizes that I won’t budge and rests against me again.
Liam pulls up moments later and I let Reagan go nudging her towards the car. The look on her face shows panic again, but softens when she sees that the only reason that I stayed behind was to get her luggage out of the car. I put everything in his boot and get into the back seat with Reagan as Liam is introducing her to Sophia.
When Liam pulls off, Reagan tries to lace her fingers with mine again but I stop her, enclosing her hand underneath mine instead. I can see her frown slightly, before she turns her head out the window to watch scenery that she’s seen before as it passes in a blur outside the window.
Liam pulls me into conversation asking me about a party tonight and if I’m gonna go with them. The last thing on my mind right now is a goddamn party and I want to tell him to shut the fuck up! I resist the urge to do so when I remember that I haven’t taken my meds this morning because of the rush with trying to get Reagan ready to go.
“I don’t think so Liam. Not really in the mood.” Liam quirks his eyebrow in the rearview mirror taking in the downtrodden aura of the backseat before he continues in conversation with Sophia. She in turn pulls Reagan into the conversation.
“It’s a shame you’re leaving. If you were to be staying here I’m sure me, you, El, Perrie, and Laurie would have a good time. This party is supposed to be buzzin! There might even be a pub crawl afterwards.”
“Aw, it sounds like I’ll be missing a good time. Make sure you have enough fun for me too.”
Reagan gives her best fake smile as they continue on back and forth. When Liam chimes in with his question, I literally face palm and then run my hands through my hair to keep from smacking him in the back of the head.
“Why are you going home today of all days babe? Tonight should be sick and I’m sure that Harry won’t go if you don’t.”
“She’s going to visit her family Liam. She’s been here a long time without seeing them or really talking to them.”
“Ohh okay. That’s understandable, you must be terribly homesick. I hope you enjoy your break.”
Just stop talking!
Reagan nods her head slowly before she says thank you and turns back to look outside the window. I find myself wishing that the car would both speed up and slowdown at the same time as my hand tightens around Reagan’s small one.
We pull up to Heathrow at around ten thirty at the drop off area when I let Reagan’s hand go and open my door. Liam agrees to stay here until I come back and I grab her bags out of the boot before I open up the door for her. She’s thanking Liam and giving Sophia, who she’s only just met, a quick hug before she gets out of the car waving bye to them.
I hand Reagan her ticket as we walk to the entrance of the airport and she takes it slowly from my hands. We enter close to her gate and not two minutes after she gets close to airport security check lines, her flight final boarding call is made.
Our eyes meet instantly and I hide the panic in mine to reassure her as I see tears well in hers.
Two minutes. I couldn’t get two fucking minutes?
A tear falls from her eyes and I force a smile on my face before I hug her.
“Don’t cry, glasses. It won’t be as long as you think. You act like we don’t have skype, and phones with facetime, and text messages. All of that exists for a reason.”
“I don’t want to leave you here Harry.” Her voice cracks and almost breaks me in the process.I clear my throat and pull her away from me so that she can look me in the eyes.
“I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Focus on you for the both of us for now and you'll be back before you realize it. I love you.”
A flight attendant walks by letting her know if she doesn’t leave now she’ll miss the flight all together. Reagan nods and I give her a kiss on the forehead before she turns to leave. Pulling herself away from me, and making my heart feel like it’s constricted in my chest.
I watch her walk through the gates running my hand through my hair and tugging it until I can’t see her any more.
Notes
(This picture was like PERFECT and I had to use it!)
HI LOVES! Beautiful New and Faithful Subscribers!!! Thank you so much for the votes and subs on the other two ITP I've notice them making a climb! ITP 1 is at 77 and just over 77 thousand viewsss! ITP 2 is at 74 and just over 43 thousand! That is so sick!!!How are you all today and what did you think of this Chapter? I legit got emotional writing it because I hate saying bye to people at the airport and then in Reagan and Harry's case its just, ughh! :"( It took me for ever to post this. It was done for like at least an hour and a half and the stupid site kept deleting it! But, I got it up for you guys so please load me with comments with your thought on the chapter, the story over all, how you feel in general?? Lol I LOVE YOU ALL FOR READING!!! Please continue to vote subscribe and comment if you're enjoying and if you haven't done so already, it brings me such joy!! Xx
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Hi there lovely, I am a big fan of your books and you don't know how happy I am to see you back here. I LOVE THIS TRIOLOGY so dam much......so let me get this straight....you are not updating this story anymore on here? You are only going to continue this story on wattpad?? .....despite what decision you make I will be waiting for you because I want to know what will HAPPEN ....sorry I am weird xxx
8/22/15