Fading.

If I knew bringing Harry back to Cheshire would put a smile back on his face, I would have done that a long time ago. How I didn’t think of that before, I hadn’t a clue. It was pleasing to see him being himself again and the Harry that I fell in love with were right in front of my eyes as he tried to help his mother to cook his favourite food for dinner.

Anne had been trying to stop him from making a mess in the kitchen but he didn’t budge, he found the liking in teasing his mother, instead. That was one of the many things that I loved so much about him – the relationship that he had with his mother. Most guys his age wouldn’t find the fun in helping their mother in the kitchen. But then again, Harry was not most guys.

The sound of my phone ringing brought me back to reality. I didn’t realize I had been staring at Harry until he cocked one of his eyebrows at me – an indication to say that he knew what I had been doing all along. I smiled and turned around before I picked up the call.

“Have you forgotten about technology?” That was the first thing that Daisy said to me and frankly I wasn’t surprised either. I had been so wrapped up in my and Harry’s bubbles that I nearly forgot everyone around us was actually trying to get through us. Nearly.

“I’m sorry,” I began to explain to her why I had not been returning her calls and texts when she cut me off to tell me that she had a good news. From her tone, I could tell that she really was happy. And I was happy for her, I really was.

“He’s amazing, Sky. He picks me up from my office almost every day; he even brings coffee to me during lunch. And he is taking me to his vacation house this weekend. Everything about him is perfect.” She paused, and it was the kind of pause where she would confess something to me afterwards. “Sky, I think I’m in love.”

I wanted to tell her not to rush things with this guy she was seeing but I knew she was aware of that. After all, she was two months older than me.

“I’m really happy for you, Daisy. It’s about time someone treats you like that.” Turning around, I saw that Harry was already looking at me. He had a questioning look written all over his face then he mouthed to me ‘who was it?’ so I mouthed back ‘Daisy’ to him, which in return he smiled as if he was relieved that I was only talking to Daisy.

Daisy sighed happily. “How are you and Harry?” She asked, her tone immediately shifted to an authoritative tone. The last time we talked about Harry, we weren’t really in a good term.

I looked back at Harry and saw that he was washing his hands at the sink with his back facing me. “We’re good.”

There was a short pause before Daisy replied, “I’m glad. I really don’t like seeing you sad, Sky.”

“Me too,” was the only reply that I could come up with.

We talked for another two minutes before Daisy excused herself to get ready for her date and ended the call. I wasn’t given a chance to slip my phone back to my pocket when I felt a pair of arms wrapped around my waist. I didn’t turn around immediately as Harry pressed his nose behind my ear. “You were staring,” he whispered that caused me to shiver.

“That’s because I happen to have a thing for a guy that helps his mother in the kitchen.”

Harry smiled as he kissed my forehead. I loved it when he did that, I loved the effects he had on me, I loved how his kiss took my breath away no matter how many times we had kissed before. I just loved him so much.

Our little moment didn’t prolong when Gemma walked into the house and Anne called us to come into the dining room, as the dinner was ready.

*

“Your brother is getting married, isn’t he?” Anne asked as she passed me the breadsticks.

I nodded with a smile. “Yes, he is. It’s in 3 weeks.”

“Has he got everything prepared?”

“I believe he has or at least mum has. She’s so excited when he told us the news, I think his wedding might be the highlight of her year.”

Anne diverted her eyes to Harry and smiled softly, “I think it would have been mine too if it’s Harry’s.”

I didn’t know what to say as I turned my gaze to Harry. He was smiling as he shook his head. “I’m going to be a nice brother and let Gemma has her wedding first so I won’t overshadow hers.” When he looked up, he had a smirk taking over his feature.

With that, Gemma threw a breadstick to him. “Asswipe.”

*

Harry was brushing his teeth when his phone vibrated.

I was never one to go through people’s phone, but when I saw Audrey’s name, I went on my jealousy mode. When I heard the tap running in the bathroom, I grabbed his phone and read the text that she had just sent to him.

Went to ur house to give u back ur jacket but u weren’t there. Is there any way I can give it back to u soon? Xx

I was not going to assume anything, I was not going to let this one text ruined my good mood and I sure as hell would not let Audrey got in between us. Again.

The water from the bathroom stopped running and I knew Harry was going to come out soon so I placed his phone back to the nightstand and went to my luggage to take out my pajamas.

“Someone texted you and it sounds important,” I said as I brushed past him and closed the door to the bathroom before I could see his reaction.

I didn’t mean for it to come out bitterly but it did. And I almost regretted it. Almost.

I was about to wash my face when Harry came into the bathroom without knocking. “It’s not what you think it is.”

“I don’t mind, Harry.” I said as I continued washing my face.

He stood there, absorbing what I had just told him.

“She was cold and being the gentleman you are, you gave her your jacket, I get it, Harry. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to pee.” I put on the best smile I could possibly show to him so he would believe me. But I knew he didn’t. He was frowning and that couldn’t be good.

“I was being a friend to her.” He said rather calmly.

I nodded. “Okay.”

“I know it’s not okay. Damn it! Can you stop being so vague, Sky?”

“Who’s being vague, Harry? Tell me? Hmmm?” When he didn’t answer my question, I closed the door and washed my face once again. I really needed something to calm me down.

“You’re impossible.” I heard him mutter from outside and next thing I knew I heard his footsteps leaving the room.

It was ludicrous that those two words could break my heart so easily; but then again, how many times had I allowed my heart to break over words?

*

I took one of the pillows from the bed and set it down on the floor. I was about to take the blanket with me when Harry woke up from his sleep and looked at me. His eyes were half opened but even in the darkness I could see that he was frowning. “What are you doing?” He finally asked.

It took a lot of fiber in me not to climb in bed with him when his voice was groggy. I tried to appear nonchalant as I answered his question. “I’m sleeping on the floor.”

When his head registered what I was doing, he sat up and shook his head. “No, you’re not sleeping down there. It’s cold.”

“I’m fine.” I lie on the floor and pulled the blanket to cover my body, “see, I’m comfortable down here.”

“Sky, you’re ridiculous. Get up here, there’s no way I’m letting you sleep on the floor.”

I closed my eyes and shushed him.

Just when I thought he was giving up on me and thought that it was pointless to argue, I heard his footsteps moving towards me.

First, he removed my blanket then he bent down and grabbed me behind the knees and picked me up. I cracked one of my eyes open to look at him, “where are you taking me?”

“Bed.”

Once he had tucked me in the bed, he grabbed the pillow that was on the floor and handed it to me.

He walked around the bed and turned to look at me, “Don’t ever think of sleeping on the floor, again.”

And so I didn’t.

*

I wouldn’t have woken up if my phone didn’t ring. I ignored the first ringing, the second ringing and when it got to the third ringing; both Harry and I were annoyed. He reached for my phone and shoved it to me. “Make it stop,” was all he said before he went back to sleep.

“Hello?” I answered groggily. I didn’t have that sexy morning voice most women have, I had a really ugly voice when I woke up and I was pretty sure I looked ugly too.

“Where are you?” Landon’s voice was filled with urgency as he asked.

“Cheshire.”

“You need to get back here.” He said, not giving me a chance to object. “We need you to be here as soon as possible.”

I turned to look at Harry and was relieved that he didn’t hear the conversation. I slipped out of the bed and got into the bathroom. “What happened? Can’t it wait?”

“No, it can’t.” he sounded annoyed. “You can’t simply put off your job for the sake of your relationship, Sky. That’s not professional.” Well he was one to talk about professionalism when he barely made an appearance to the meetings that we held for the past few weeks.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the door. I really did not want to leave Cheshire and I wasn’t ready either. “Give me one more day.”

“Fine, just one day.”

Harry was already awake by the time I emerged out of the bathroom. I was going to tell him that I had to leave Cheshire tomorrow because Landon needed me but I thought it was best if I didn’t. I was going to leave just for a while in the morning then I would be back, we had two more days left here and I wasn’t going to take that away from him. I would rather face the hours of driving if it meant I would come back to myHarry.

He looked at me cautiously as I sat on the edge of the bed. I knew what he was thinking; he was wondering if I was still mad at him.

If it weren’t because we were interrupted, I would have talked to him.

Harry and I walked down the stairs and almost instantly a smiling girl that was waiting in front of the stairs greeted us. She had Harry’s jacket on one of her arms as she looked at Harry, completely ignoring me.

It was like I was invisible all over again.

Audrey threw herself to Harry as she hugged him – a hug that was far too friendly for my liking. “I knew you’re here.”

“How did you know I’m here?” Harry asked. He was just as surprised as I was.

“I’ve got my sources.” She beamed.

I cleared my throat and that seemed to work.

“Oh hi, Sky.” The smile that she showed to me was nearly as fake as the tone that she directed at me. “Didn’t know you’re here too.”

I smiled, “Well, I am here.”

She nodded and returned her gaze back to Harry. “Here’s your jacket. Thank you so much.”

I had no idea why she was doing this. I knew she could have given it the next time she met him; why was she going through the hassle of driving to Cheshire just to give Harry his jacket back?

Then it dawned on me that maybe what I thought all this while was true.

She liked him. She’s obsessed with him.

I walked into the kitchen and poured myself a cup of tea. I needed something to wake me up.

*

Audrey stayed for another 30 minutes before she was up and gone for her shooting. I was relieved when I heard her car left the driveway.

Harry walked into the room and closed the door to face me, “I didn’t know she would be here.”

“Neither did I.” I said as I put on my t-shirt. “She’s obviously comfortable enough around you to casually come around just to give your jacket back.”

“I-“

“Don’t.” I turned around and looked at him. “Please, I want today to be Audrey-free.”

His lips raw from being chewed on and I wanted so bad to feel those lips on mine.

“Okay.”

“Thank you. So what are your plans today?”

Harry raked his fingers through his hair; “They asked me out for drinks tonight.”

I smiled and stood on my tiptoes, “that’s good.” It was supposed to be a chaste kiss but he placed his hand behind my head and pulled my mouth to his. We continued kissing until we got to the point of retreat where Harry would suddenly pull away.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

I nodded, not believing my voice right now.

We were bipolar, weren’t we?

*

By 8 pm, Harry was already waiting for his friends to pick him up. I could tell that he was both excited and nervous to meet them. I patted his hand and smiled. “Have fun.”

“Thanks.” He said as he continued to tap his feet. It was funny to see him nervous.

Then, five minutes later, a car arrived in front of the house.

“Have fun, Harry.” Anne said as Harry walked out of the house and got into the car. She then turned to me, “Why aren’t you going with him?”

I shook my head. “I thought he might need some time with his old friends.”

“You’re a really good girl, Sky.” She held my hand and squeezed it. His motherly gesture made me miss my mother. “Harry’s lucky to have you.”

I was pretty sure I was lucky to have him.

“Thank you, Anne. We’re lucky to have each other.” I smiled reassuringly at her.

“Come on, let’s get the movie marathon started before Harry got back.”

*

Anne ended up calling it a night when we reached the third movie. I was about to insert the fourth dvd when I heard someone banging the door.

I hurried to the door and opened it to see Harry leaning against the wall. My eyes then moved to the man standing in front of me.

“He got really drunk we had to get him home.”

“Thank you.” I bent down and wrap my arm around his waist. “Come on, get inside.”

He was about to protest when his friend came next to him and helped us to get inside. “Is there anything I can help?”

“No, it’s okay. You’ve done enough. Do you know how much did he drink?”

“I wasn’t aware of that, sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

The man left Harry and I alone in the living room. I had never seen him drunk in a while. “What were you thinking?” I whispered.

He cracked one of his eyes open and looked at me with his glossy eyes. “I just wanted things to be easy,” he slurred out.

I didn’t say a word as I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water for him. When I got back to the living room he was on the floor, his eyes were fixed on the ceiling.

“Things are so complicated between us. I didn’t know what to do, baby.” He said, not taking his eyes off of the ceiling. I walked over him and placed the glass next to his head. “I wished things were easy. I wanted things to be easy. I wanted everything to be easy.”

I sat next to him on the floor and prepared myself to listen to what was coming next.

“But it was just getting harder and harder. Works.. Life.. Us..”

I was speechless. Lumps were forming in my throat and I blinked away the tears. I wasn’t going to cry. No I was not.

“When I was with Audrey, everything was easy. She was easy to be around with. She liked me for so long, I didn’t have to work hard to impress her. It was just easy.” He laughed half-heartedly and continued. “I liked easy.”

All I heard was, “Being with you is difficult, I can’t do this anymore. I needed someone that could understand me more than you did.”

Harry turned to look at me then he started to frown. I started to dislike that look so much. “Don’t cry.” He started to reach for my cheeks when I stopped him.

“Drink the water, Harry.” I got up from the floor and went straight to his bathroom.

We were sitting on the couch, watching a movie when he suddenly turned to me and asked, “Do you know why you’re not like other girls?”

I didn’t. “Enlighten me,” I said, pausing the movie.

He smiled as he twirled my hair with his finger. His eyes didn’t leave my hair, though. “Because you make me work for something that I want. You aren’t easy; you play this whole ‘hard-to-get’ game and I think it’s really hot,” he grinned and I blushed. “And I like that, I like that you don’t fall for someone so easily because it assures me that you wouldn’t be looking at other guys when you’re with me.”

I shoved his chest lightly as I stifled my laugh. “You’re being a caveman, Harry.”

“You’re different, Sky and I kind of like you a lot.”

“Are you sure you won’t be changing your mind about that?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Are you sure that maybe in few months, let’s say a year, you won’t get tired of trying to impress me?” I raised my eyebrow at him.

He shook his head.

“Are you sure you aren’t going to go for the easy ones when you’ve come to a realization that I’m complicated?”

He shook his head again. This time his face turned serious. “Nothing is going to change that, Sky. Come on, stop denying that you like me too.”

I smiled and got up from the couch. “Well then, I kind of like you a lot, too.”

Before I thought he’d broken me but now he had the power to destroy me.

And I was incapable of doing anything.

Notes

please tell me what you think and prepare yourself because it's about to get a (tad) emotional in the next chapter!