Permanent
Chapter 17
Harry Styles
I looked at the calendar at the foot of the stairs. Christmas had arrived and once again time had worked itself too quickly. I walked into the family room to find Robin in his brown reclining chair with his eyes moving over the day’s paper.
“Morning,” I said, walking over to the window to push aside the curtains dressed over the big windows of the room.
“Morning, Harry. Happy Christmas,” I heard Robin say from behind me.
I slid the cloth to the sides with both arms and smiled instantly at the sight presented in front of me. We were having a white Christmas; it was snowing. A first for Ellie, my subconscious admitted.
My senses responded to the smell of Christmas breakfast and the dark green tree lingering in the air. My legs carried me to the source of the mouthwatering scent. I entered the kitchen and saw my mom at the stove accompanied by my sister sitting at the small white table in the middle of the space.
“Morning,” I smiled.
Both women turned their heads in my direction and smiled.
“Happy Christmas, Haz,” Gemma said before I walked over to kiss mum on the cheek.
“Did you see the snowfall?” I asked, pouring myself a hot cup of tea. I felt like a young boy again with the thought of snowfall on Christmas morning. In my mind I was only wishing and wondering that Ellie was feeling the same excitement. I constantly found my thoughts wondering into a territory I probably should have been avoiding-Ellie.
“Yes, it’s wonderful, dear. Where is Hallie?” Mum asked with her back toward me, poking at the eggs in the pan.
“Still asleep. I guess she is a bit jet lagged still.”
I sat at the chair beside Gemma and rested my chin on my hands, watching my mother cook.
I leaned over to Gemma slightly. “We should probably be helping,” I whispered.
“We should, but I am too lazy. It’s Christmas. She isn’t really cooking too much because we have a lot to eat later.” She instantly sat straight up, turned to face me, and smiled much like mine. “And I finally get to see Ellie too!”
“Oh yeah. What time are we going to Beth’s?” I asked.
“Two. You better not do anything, Harry. That girl has been through enough trouble without you,” mum said as she set the big plate of eggs and sausage down on the white wood.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, offended by her accusations.
“It means don’t be a bipolar douche like you tend to be,” Gemma chimed in.
“What?” I paused to think. She probably thought I had been a douche by the way I treated her after we had supper at the pub in Liverpool. Crap, I thought.
“And you have already done that haven’t you?” She sighed with my intent to remain quiet.
“Blimey, Harry! We just got her back and now with you being an idiot she definitely won’t come back. You might have ruined this not only for you, but for us and Beth and Dan.”
Her facial expressions mirrored mine, close knit brows hovering over a deep frown. Somehow the tension had grew in the room quicker than anticipated.
“I didn’t do anything mean, Gem.”
“Don’t Gem me. I know what it is now. I think we all can see what you did here whether you would like to admit it or not. Get your elbow out of your arse and maybe you should have realized that bringing home another person to surprise her with was a horrible idea.”
I didn’t think Ellie would be mad at me. My goal was jealousy, but I had no intentions to hurt her. “What the hell are you-“
“Alright that is enough. It is Christmas morning and I am sure your guest upstairs, neither me nor your mom want to hear the both of you fighting. We can talk about this later. Harry we all know what you are trying to do,” Robin cut in before Gemma and I would continue.
“Harry, go wake up your girlfriend so we can eat some breakfast,” Gemma’s eyes focused on mine. There was no feeling in comparison to the way I felt when a particular pair of gray eyes were focused in on mine; it was a feeling I missed.
I backed out of the chair before walking up to my room. I walked in and looked down at the blonde hair surrounding a delicate face on the white pillow. Her body was still neatly tucked under the pure white sheets my mom had recently changed the bed with. She was beautiful, even asleep, but she was almost too beautiful. She wasn’t Ellie. Ellie surpassed Hallie in so many ways. I knew I was a horrible man for acting so childish, but my emotions and incapability of patience got the best of me. I needed Ellie and if using my girlfriend as a means of getting Ellie, I was a man to go to hell for it.
The little light produced through the snowy winter displayed itself across the walls, brightening the room enough to make Hallie stir.
“Hallie, babe, wake up. It is time for breakfast. I’ll be down there,” I softly said as her eyelids slowly lifted open revealing her tired eyes.
She nodded and made slow moves to lift her body out of my bed. I turned around and headed back downstairs to two smiling faces and one aggravated.
“She’s coming down. She is still pretty knackered.” I pulled out the chair opposite my mother.
It was awkwardly quiet for a few seconds before mum commanded us to eat.
It was a simple breakfast, simple enough to make me forget about Christmas. Or maybe it was the tense atmosphere opposing the usual Christmas joy.
Hallie soon joined us, taking a spot between Gemma and me. The conversation started flowing around the circle.
Gemma brought up a subject which made Hallie slightly stiffen by my side. I doubt anyone else could notice, but I felt her tighten uncomfortably at the mention quickly before continuing to guide the eggs into her mouth.
“Ellie is going to be so overwhelmed with all of us. I am so excited though,” Gemma said smiling. I simply rolled my eyes.
My mum sent a courteous smile to the direction of Hallie and me. “Beth said she has a guest. He arrived last night.”
“Dammit. What?” I snapped quickly, causing all four head to look in my direction. I knew the bastard would be there.
I looked at the calendar at the foot of the stairs. Christmas had arrived and once again time had worked itself too quickly. I walked into the family room to find Robin in his brown reclining chair with his eyes moving over the day’s paper.
“Morning,” I said, walking over to the window to push aside the curtains dressed over the big windows of the room.
“Morning, Harry. Happy Christmas,” I heard Robin say from behind me.
I slid the cloth to the sides with both arms and smiled instantly at the sight presented in front of me. We were having a white Christmas; it was snowing. A first for Ellie, my subconscious admitted.
My senses responded to the smell of Christmas breakfast and the dark green tree lingering in the air. My legs carried me to the source of the mouthwatering scent. I entered the kitchen and saw my mom at the stove accompanied by my sister sitting at the small white table in the middle of the space.
“Morning,” I smiled.
Both women turned their heads in my direction and smiled.
“Happy Christmas, Haz,” Gemma said before I walked over to kiss mum on the cheek.
“Did you see the snowfall?” I asked, pouring myself a hot cup of tea. I felt like a young boy again with the thought of snowfall on Christmas morning. In my mind I was only wishing and wondering that Ellie was feeling the same excitement. I constantly found my thoughts wondering into a territory I probably should have been avoiding-Ellie.
“Yes, it’s wonderful, dear. Where is Hallie?” Mum asked with her back toward me, poking at the eggs in the pan.
“Still asleep. I guess she is a bit jet lagged still.”
I sat at the chair beside Gemma and rested my chin on my hands, watching my mother cook.
I leaned over to Gemma slightly. “We should probably be helping,” I whispered.
“We should, but I am too lazy. It’s Christmas. She isn’t really cooking too much because we have a lot to eat later.” She instantly sat straight up, turned to face me, and smiled much like mine. “And I finally get to see Ellie too!”
“Oh yeah. What time are we going to Beth’s?” I asked.
“Two. You better not do anything, Harry. That girl has been through enough trouble without you,” mum said as she set the big plate of eggs and sausage down on the white wood.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, offended by her accusations.
“It means don’t be a bipolar douche like you tend to be,” Gemma chimed in.
“What?” I paused to think. She probably thought I had been a douche by the way I treated her after we had supper at the pub in Liverpool. Crap, I thought.
“And you have already done that haven’t you?” She sighed with my intent to remain quiet.
“Blimey, Harry! We just got her back and now with you being an idiot she definitely won’t come back. You might have ruined this not only for you, but for us and Beth and Dan.”
Her facial expressions mirrored mine, close knit brows hovering over a deep frown. Somehow the tension had grew in the room quicker than anticipated.
“I didn’t do anything mean, Gem.”
“Don’t Gem me. I know what it is now. I think we all can see what you did here whether you would like to admit it or not. Get your elbow out of your arse and maybe you should have realized that bringing home another person to surprise her with was a horrible idea.”
I didn’t think Ellie would be mad at me. My goal was jealousy, but I had no intentions to hurt her. “What the hell are you-“
“Alright that is enough. It is Christmas morning and I am sure your guest upstairs, neither me nor your mom want to hear the both of you fighting. We can talk about this later. Harry we all know what you are trying to do,” Robin cut in before Gemma and I would continue.
“Harry, go wake up your girlfriend so we can eat some breakfast,” Gemma’s eyes focused on mine. There was no feeling in comparison to the way I felt when a particular pair of gray eyes were focused in on mine; it was a feeling I missed.
I backed out of the chair before walking up to my room. I walked in and looked down at the blonde hair surrounding a delicate face on the white pillow. Her body was still neatly tucked under the pure white sheets my mom had recently changed the bed with. She was beautiful, even asleep, but she was almost too beautiful. She wasn’t Ellie. Ellie surpassed Hallie in so many ways. I knew I was a horrible man for acting so childish, but my emotions and incapability of patience got the best of me. I needed Ellie and if using my girlfriend as a means of getting Ellie, I was a man to go to hell for it.
The little light produced through the snowy winter displayed itself across the walls, brightening the room enough to make Hallie stir.
“Hallie, babe, wake up. It is time for breakfast. I’ll be down there,” I softly said as her eyelids slowly lifted open revealing her tired eyes.
She nodded and made slow moves to lift her body out of my bed. I turned around and headed back downstairs to two smiling faces and one aggravated.
“She’s coming down. She is still pretty knackered.” I pulled out the chair opposite my mother.
It was awkwardly quiet for a few seconds before mum commanded us to eat.
It was a simple breakfast, simple enough to make me forget about Christmas. Or maybe it was the tense atmosphere opposing the usual Christmas joy.
Hallie soon joined us, taking a spot between Gemma and me. The conversation started flowing around the circle.
Gemma brought up a subject which made Hallie slightly stiffen by my side. I doubt anyone else could notice, but I felt her tighten uncomfortably at the mention quickly before continuing to guide the eggs into her mouth.
“Ellie is going to be so overwhelmed with all of us. I am so excited though,” Gemma said smiling. I simply rolled my eyes.
My mum sent a courteous smile to the direction of Hallie and me. “Beth said she has a guest. He arrived last night.”
“Dammit. What?” I snapped quickly, causing all four head to look in my direction. I knew the bastard would be there.
Notes
I meant to update multiple times this past weekend. I had a medical emergency and had to visit the hospital though. Sorry guys. I literally have the worst luck ever. Hope this chapter wasn't too much of a bust. Tell me what you think. Any suggestions? Anything you want me to add?
And please read You Have Me by ChesseBurgerHell and give it a true rating. It deserves much better than where it stands right now.
Love you all and I hope to update soon. We shall see.
xo
YOU CAN'T JUST STOP HERE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE UPDATE!!!
2/25/17