The first fews days consisted of Harry settling back in to his house for the break. Scooter called to organize when I had to fly back with him and Harry had started moping around complaining that I should stay longer with his family and him. This was the first time he had shown any emotion about not wanting me to leave so soon and we had gotten into a bigger fight then intended.

“Harry. Would you please stop complaining? I have spent more time with you and your family than my own over the past couple of years. I am fine living your life with the touring and traveling but Harry, I want to live a life that’s my own as well.”

Harry sat on the bed running his hands through his hair frustrated, “Why are you saying this? Did what Luke say get to you?”

“NO!” I shouted in his face, tears nearly escaping. “NOTHING he has said has influenced me in anyway Harry! I never for one second said I didn’t love you or love being a part of your life, but I can’t follow you around all the time. Sooner or later I was going to come across a job or something else that was going to cause us to be apart for a while. I don’t know why you’re getting mad anyway, you said you were happy for me! Why did you lie?”

“I didn’t lie!” Harry was standing up, shouting in my face now. “I AM happy for you Mia, but it’s all happening so suddenly and I feel like you’ve made all of these decision and plans without thinking about me!”

“Harry. Everything I have been doing since we met was for you. The traveling, leaving my friends and family, going on tour, following One Direction’s every move. Stop being so selfish, Harry. Let me live my dream. I have never complained once about you living your life.”

I felt my shoulders start shaking as I sat on the bed and I knew I was about to cry. Harry remained standing and I took in a number of sharp breaths to calm myself down.

“Maybe this a good thing. Maybe we need some time apart from each other to take a break. Let each other breathe. I think we should take a break Harry. I’m sorry, I think it’s just what we need right now.”

As I looked up my heart broke as I saw Harrys face. He looked so vulnerable that one more word could break him.

Harry never cried but when he did it was because he was in an extreme amount of pain, he’d been hurt or he was really truly upset.

I felt like I had broken him and I could see his heart shatter into pieces before me.

I was about to call Scooter when Harrys face turned hard.

“Fine. We’ll ‘take a break.’” He said in a mocking tone. “But if you see me with another girl happy, just know that you brought this on yourself.”

Ouch. That felt like I had been stabbed in the chest over and over again and Harry was the one holding the knife.

His face softened a little and I heard him whimper, “I thought you loved me Mia.”

“I do Harry. I always will, and that is why I feel this is what is best for us right now. If you loved me and you valued our relationship you would be okay with this. I’m not saying you have to be right now, but in the future. If we are meant to end up together Harry then we’ll find our way back to each other.”

“Don’t give me that ‘if you loved me’ bullshit. If you loved me you wouldn’t hurt me.”

I had nothing left to say. I knew he was hurt and I knew he had cut me off and put his walls up just like I had always done so I left him in the room alone to make a call to Scooter.

As I shut the door behind me I heard something fall and I heard sobbing.

I felt a lump in my throat and I tried to hide the tears as I walked past Anne to go to the backyard.

The tone rang and rang at the other end and just as I went to hang up a younger voice answered the phone and I realized it was Justin.

“Mia! Hey babe. What’s up? How are you?” The tears escaped from my eyes and as I spoke my voice sounded horrid from screaming and crying.

“Mia. Are you okay?” I sat down on a chair and put my head in my free hand.

“No. Harry and I just broke up. We got into a really huge fight about me leaving with you guys and he started calling me selfish and telling me that I needed to spend more time with him and his family and.. it’s all just a mess.”

“Oh Mia. I’m so sorry. Wait... are you going to stay with them until you see us or...?” I cut him off.

“Actually that’s why I was calling Scooter. I was wondering if I could stay with you in your hotel until we head back to LA.”

“Hold on, i’ll put you on speaker so you can talk to him.”

“Hey Mia. How’s everything?”

I laughed before replying sarcastically. “Great. Don’t ask why because i’ll explain when I see you but is there any chance that I could possible stay with you guys in the hotel until we leave?”

“Sure Mia. I’ll send a car down to pick you up as soon as possible. It’s quite a long drive but I don’t want you to be anywhere you don’t want to be.”

“Can I go to get her?” I heard Justin call out from somewhere in the background.

“No Justin I need you here.” I almost heard him frowning. “Please Scooter? I’ve been working really hard can I please have one day?”

I heard Scooter sigh as he finally gave in. “Fine Justin. But you have to work your ass off tomorrow.”

“Thanks Scooter. SEE YOU SOON MIA!” I laughed and for the first time today I felt happy. “See you soon Justin.”

“Thank you for this Scooter. It means the world. I have to go now so I can tell Anne what’s happening but i’ll talk to you when I arrive tonight. Bye” I heard a click on the other end and took a deep breath to prepare myself for telling Anne.

As I stepped inside she was sitting on the couch sipping a cup of tea while patting her cat that she adored. I figured she had heard everything by her sad expression when she saw me.

“Anne. I...” She cut me off.

“It’s okay Mia. You’re still like a daughter to me and you will be welcomed in with open arms always. I think this will be good for you both. A good change for a while. You know what they say, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’”

“I hope so.” I sighed and looked down not wanting to tell her the next part. “Anne. I’m sorry but Scooter has arranged for a car to pick me up in 4 hours. I just feel it would be wrong for me to stay here when i’m not welcomed by everyone anymore.”

At that moment Harry walked down, eyes red, clenched fist and a hard face. His eyes pierced into me and for the first time ever I was forced to look away from him.

“I’m going to head into town for a bit. I’ll be back hopefully before Justin and the car arrive. I love you Anne. Thank you for being so understanding.” She kissed my cheek as I grabbed my camera and bag off of the table and headed outside.

The sun was beautiful on my face and the lack of wind and clouds showed a good day for photography.

Normally Harrys absence from my side would have made me sad on a day like this but I didn’t feel sad at all. I felt, free for the first time in years.

I mean I loved Harry and the time I spent with him made me so happy but it was nice to be able to wander around without being mobbed or photographed. I was the one doing the photographing for a change and it had been a while. My camera had actually gathered dust.

I walked around and sat in front of a lively playground that was situated in the middle of the park. Watching the kids laugh and play made want kids of my own one day but now the chances of that happening looked slim.

I was taking photos of the scenery when a young girls face popped up in front of my camera scaring me. The little girl bounced up and down and did a huge smile.

“Photo. Me. Please!” I smiled at her and spoke, “you want me to take a photo of you? Alright. Just because you asked so nicely.” I snapped a shot and the little girl started speaking too fast for me to understand when a boy who looked as though he could be my age popped up behind her. He had sandy blonde hair the swept across his face and head in a straight version of Harry’s hair and the most gorgeous, clear blue eyes.

He scooped her up in his arms and tickled her stomach. “Lydia. Stop bothering the pretty lady.” I smiled at his attempt to be smooth and spoke, “it’s okay. She wanted me to take a photo of her and she asked so politely that I couldn’t refuse.”

“Oh, so if I ask politely and smile cute you’ll take my photo?” He put what I assumed was his sister down and she climbed up on the seat and sat next to me.

“Maybe.” He smiled and bit his lip. “Well then. Ma’am, would you be ever so kind and take a photo of me?” He flashed a huge teethy smile our way and his sister giggled, clapping her hands. I laughed at his attempt at a Southern accent and shook my head.

“Hmm. I’m afraid a cute smile and being polite just won’t cut it i’m afraid.” His bottom lip poked out and I laughed looking around for a flower.

I finally found one and I plucked it from the ground handing it to him. “Oh yeah, that is definitely better.”

He took the flower and posed like a girl in love, one hand placed on his forehead the other holding the flower to his heart. I snapped a shot and he shouted a playful “hey!” at the unexpected photo.

“Oh, that is great. You could definitely be a model.” I showed him the photo on my camera and he sat down next to me placing his sister on his lap.

“You will definitely need to send that to me somehow.” I laughed and then scrunched up my face.

“I don’t think we’ve met properly. I’m Mia.” He held out his hand. “Beautiful name for a beautiful girl,” he winked and shook my hand. “Enchanté, i’m Conor.” He kissed my hand and winked.

I fanned myself and laughed. “You’re smooth.” He smiled, “I try.”

It was then that I fully acknowledged his accent wasn’t an English one. “You’re not from around here?”

He smiled as I picked up on the minor detail. “Nope. We’re from LA. We were here visiting family.”

He stuck his bottom lip out in a pout when his sister wouldn’t stop poking him; he then proceeded to attack her by tickling her until she screamed.

“What about you? You don’t sound English or American. What’s your story?” I smiled at him.

“Well. I was born in Australia, but I moved to London when I was 4. When I was 16 I meet my boyfriend Harry and my Mum passed away from cancer so I went and lived with my Aunty who was visiting briefly. Harry became famous in a band which everyone knows as One Direction and I travelled around with him. So i’m Australian born and bred but my heart lives here in the UK.” He stared at me as if he was listening very carefully to every single word I said and it made me smile.

“I would tell you more but it’s very complicated and I don’t think it would be appropriate to dump all of my problems on you. Let’s just say Harry and I broke up, this morning actually and i’m heading up to LA on Thursday to start on a secret project.”

“Oh. Secret project, i’m intrigued. What kind of project?” I winked at him and put my face close to his.

“I’ll make you a deal. If we stay in touch while we’re in LA i’ll tell you what i’m doing.”

He sighed dramatically, “Fine. I think staying in touch might require a number exchange.”

I laughed. “I think you might be right.” We both laughed and swapped phones and entered our numbers.

“Here you go.” I handed my phone back to him and he held my hand a little bit longer than normal and as he let go I felt my face grow hot. Crap! I hope he wouldn’t see me blushing.

I had expected him to get up and leave but he stayed on the bench and he put his sister down letting her run off.

“So, you and Harry? Are you still together or...?”

I looked down at my hands and a tear fell onto my thumb. I didn’t look at him, I simply shook my head and a tiny “no” escaped my lips.

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry.” I looked up at him biting my lip to stop the tears and I placed my hand softly on his.

“It’s fine. I’m just this emotional because we broke up this morning. Please don’t feel bad. You didn’t know.”

“Well, he’s missing out on a great girl.” I smiled at him and his arm went around my shoulder to comfort me and I leaned into him slightly.

I had a weird feeling in my stomach, but it was a good weird. Like butterflies. I liked this boy already even if we were just strangers, but we were perfect strangers. I was glad that I would be able to keep in touch with him when we were both in LA and I looked forward to his company.

We sat on the bench for what felt like an hour longer and I cussed quietly as I looked at my watch.

“Oh crap. Hey Conor. I’m really sorry I have to go. I’m being picked up to head up to London in half an hour and I need to get my stuff packed.” I ran off after he hugged me and his little sister hugged my leg.

I turned and called out to him, “Call me when you’re back in LA. Bye!” I waved at him and his little sister waved back showing a smile that had two front teeth missing.

---

I sprinted in through the door as the car pulled up and as I flew through the front door I nearly tripped over my bags that had been placed carefully by the door.

Anne was in the kitchen making dinner and I ran up to her hugging her waist.

“Anne. I just want to thank you so much for being there for me through everything and for welcoming me into your family with such kindness. You are the best second Mum I could have ever asked for and I am so grateful to have you in my life. I hope what has happened between Harry and I doesn’t change the relationship we have and I really hope to catch up with you when I come back here.”

We stood there in an embrace for ages while Justin and the driver helped pack my stuff into the car. Anne was crying as she spoke. “Mia. I love you like a daughter. You are welcome here anytime you are back and I hope it will be soon. If you need anything you can always call me and talk if you want. I am so glad I met you. You changed Harry for the better and I am so grateful for you.”

I walked out the door and Harry was walking up to it as I headed to the car. I didn’t see him soon enough and I bumped into his chest. I nearly broke down into tears at the thought of leaving him i such horrible terms. I never wanted it to end like this but it would work out for the better. I still hoped we would end up together though. This just wasn’t the right time for us to get this serious.

My voice was small as I spoke. “Goodbye Harry.”

His voice had lost all of it’s hardness and all I could hear was hurt and sadness in his voice, “Goodbye Mia. I love you.”

My heart skipped a beat as I hadn’t expected to hear those last three words from his lips.

“I love you too. I’m so sorry.” He let go of my hand and when the car door shut behind me I completely lost it.

Justin sat in the back seat with me and he let me bury my face into his chest as he hugged me.

I kept apologizing for the amount of mascara I had left on his shirt and he laughed replying with “I have more white shirts. It’s okay.”

I fell asleep on his shoulder before we reached the hotel and I replayed the whole morning over and over in my head.

Breaking up with Harry, meeting Conor. Flying to LA. Everything was flying at me so fast and I hoped I didn’t have too much on my plate to handle but I was determined to find a way to make it all work.