Thalia

It was cold. The kind of cold that sinks in through your clothes, past your bones, and into your very soul. I was so cold my body was sore and my joints ached from vibrating in attempt to create just a little bit of body heat.
The ocean spray dotted my skin once more, kicked up up from the rocks below and carried by that retched sea breeze. My hands had grown numb from holding so tightly to the sharp rock but I dared not move for fear of falling into the black sea below.
"Take my hand Thalia!"
I looked up to see Harry leaning over the cliffside, his eyes wide and afraid as he looked down at me. Without thinking I raised my own and was inches from his fingers when-
"No Thalia! Take my hand!" Marco had appeared next to Harry, his hand outstretched as well.
After a fleeting moment of indecision my eyes locked on the pair of bright green one. Marco had seen my decision and in his anger the cliff beneath me began to give way.
With a scream I reached out desperately for Harry, his hand catching mine at the last moment.
"Harry! Don't let go!"

"I can't Thalia! I can't do it! You're secrets are too heavy." Harry's grip slipped through my fingers and I was falling down...down...down.


I started awake violently, my heart pounding like a jackhammer in the silence of the morning.
"Thalia? Careful!" Marco called just as I made to move. I winced in pain as the realization that yesterday's events had actually happened and it hadn't (entirely) been a dream. Marco was at my side within an instant, "you hurt your leg. You have to be careful."
I was still breathing heavily as I took in my surroundings. We were in a room of the villa I had passed by many times but never entered. A crackling fire could be heard from the fireplace, which seemed odd as it wasn't even September yet. I searched the room and found no one but Tilly, who was still fast asleep on the bed, and Marco, who was by my side looking anxious.
"Where is everyone?" I asked.
"I'm not sure," he replied honestly. "But do not worry, they did not leave until they were sure you were safe."
"My mother? Has someone told-"
"Niall called her last night," Marco said reassuringly. His brown eyes searched mine lovingly before he whispered, "you had us all very scared. I am so pleased you are safe."
I broke into a small smile at his words. "Me too."
"I love you Thalia," Marco added, as he brushed back a few stray strands of my wild hair.
He said it so simply, so lightly, that it seemed to carry no deeper meaning. Marco loved me. It was something he said often and something I had returned on more than one occasion, but for some reason I couldn't now. Because I'm not sure I really did love Marco.
I blinked at this revelation and Marco, mistaking the origin of my surprise, chuckled lightly before saying, "I'm sure the gardens won't be your favorite place anymore."
"No probably not," I agreed, trying to slow my racing heartbeat. How do I tell him? "But don't worry, I love the villa too. It'll be so sad to leave."
"You don't have to leave," Marco replied. "You can stay here forever if you choose."
"What?"
"Thalia, I thought I was going to loose you last night."
"Marco-"
"And it made me realize that I don't ever want to be without you again," he said, taking my hand in his. My hazel eyes met his dark brown ones as he continued earnestly. "Please, say you'll stay with me always? We can live here in the villa and you're family can come visit every summer. What do you think?"
I was in complete and total shock. He wanted me to live with him...in this villa...forever. It was practically a proposal. I opened my mouth to speak, to tell him that this would in no way work, that I had been considering breaking up with him for the past three days, that I didn't love him. But nothing came. I was frozen in place, my mind seeming to have disconnected with my body.
"You don't have to answer now," Marco added hastily. "But I want you to know."
"Marco I-"
"Buongiorno!" Signora Conti burst into the room cheerily, causing both Marco and I to flinch. "Thalia, you are awake! Perfetto! You look well!"
"Buongiorno Signora Conti," I breathed, moving away from Marco to face the newcomers. For Signora Conti had fetched the doctor, who trailed in behind her.
The doctor was a sweet old man with grey hair and eyes that crinkled in a smile when he spoke to me. He was there for nearly an hour examining my ankle with a worried brow and discussing his thoughts in quiet Italian with Signora Conti. I managed to catch words like "not broken", "no walking", and "two days." After patching up my wound properly, he waved an excited goodbye and left the room.
Tilly, who had awoken in the sudden chaos, sat examining the doctors work at the end of the bed. I began chewing my lip in anticipation as Marco spoke in low tones with his mother.
"Knock knock!" Cried Louis only a moment before walking into the room and jumping on the bed next to Tilly. "Heard you saw the doc?"
"He just left," answered Tilly. Liam and Niall entered a moment later and sat down on the bed next to me. I quickly noted that Harry hadn't joined them and I hoped he wasn't off drowning himself in guilt somewhere.
"How are you feeling Thalia?" Liam asked politely, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh, I'm alright. Sounds like I won't be able to walk properly for a few days though?" I asked, turning towards Marco and his mother. I gulped involuntary when meeting Marco's eye, remembering his proclamation earlier that morning.
"Si. The doctor says no walking for a couple days to heal," he nodded. And, after seeing that I was well taken care of with the guys, Marco followed his mother out of the room to continue their secret conversation.
"Looks like we'll have te carry ya after all," sniggered Niall as soon as Marco left.
"And Thalia can be a princess just like Harry said," cried Tilly, falling back onto the bed.
I reached over and began tickling her, "but I'll never be as much of a princess as you are!"
“S-stop! I c-can’t b-breathe!” Tilly laughed, clutching her sides and attempting to roll off the bed in escape.
The guys and Tilly kept me company as Marco ran in and out of the room, constantly seeking out more supplies to make me comfortable. The attempt was cute, but I appreciated laughing and joking with my friends to being treated like a porcelain doll. It wasn't until noon that Harry visited and when he had walked into the room I felt my heart leap in my chest. He broke into a small yet relieved smile on seeing me alive and well again.
"Walt!" I cried as I threw my arms up in celebration. He broke into a broad glorious smile at my old nickname for him.
“Tilly, want to help Niall do something special for Kenzie?” Louis asked. Tilly let out a cry in excitement and, after shooting a puzzled look to Louis and Liam, Niall got the hint and got to his feet as well. The four of them left the room as Harry and I stared at each other in silence. It wasn’t until the door snapped shut and we were left alone that Harry remembered his words.
“Hi,” he said almost breathlessly.
“Hi.”
“H-How are you feeling?" he asked eagerly, his eyes filling with warmth.
"Extremely bored," I signed, feeling as pampered as a princess as I leant back on my many fluffy pillows. And as spoiled as one too when I added with a huff, "Marco won't let me do anything. I'm not even allowed to leave the bed."
Harry let out a deep chuckle as he watched my expression. "If I was him I'd never let you out of the house again."
"Oh come on, we both know I'm clumsy enough to wind up in another near death situation inside the house or out."
Harry let out a genuine laugh this time. "Well when you put it that way..."
"It's imprisonment?" I suggested.
Harry shook his head and bit his lip as he tried to hold back another chuckle.
"You know it's about time you came to visit," I smiled, breaking the sudden silence that had fallen over us. "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”
“Like I could if I tried," Harry smirked, ironically dodging the question just as he had avoided me all morning. "You found me hiding away at a tuscan villa remember?”
I gaped at him for staking such a claim. “Um, I believe it was the other way around actually. Hadn’t I been the one hiding from you?”
“Oh that’s right!" Harry slapped his had to his forehead and leant back dramatically. For a moment I was worried he would tip over, however he returned safely upright before adding, "How could I forget?"
I responded with a smirk before looking down at my hands. How was I supposed to reply to that? I wrung my hands absentmindedly in the comforter as the lapse in conversation lengthened.
Harry glanced down at his watch and, in a desperate attempt to continue the conversation, I threw out, “So what, no flowers? Don’t you know I nearly died?”
Harry's head snapped back up at me, a small frown etched across his features. But when he saw me smirking at him his lips tugged up into an expression which matched mine. “I did hear that rumor actually. Also heard it was on account of some idiot ex of yours.”
“Well, he may be a bit idiotic but I don’t think we can give him all the credit.”
“No?”
I shook my head lightly. “Nope.”
I watched Harry's reaction carefully as another pause ensued. He had let out a forced laugh at my words, not believing them for a moment. He had convinced himself this was his fault just like the car crash, and there was nothing I could say to convince him otherwise. It hurt my heart to see him looking so torn up about it.
"Har-"
“Well, I know how busy you must be lying around all day,” Harry smiled, pushing himself off from the bed post. "I just came in to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” I frowned in confusion.
“Yeah. The guys and I are heading out.”
“What! Why?”
“Come on Thal, you know why," Harry mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck in attempt to hide how uncomfortable he was with this conversation. "I can’t really stay here after what happened yesterday…after what I said.”
I stared at him. My mind seemed to have stalled and all I could do was open and close my mouth stupidly like a fish out of water.
“I...When do you leave?” I finally managed.
“Tonight.”
Tonight?! I had just got him back and he was telling me he was leaving?
“You can't stay until the morning?” I questioned, wringing the comforter even more tightly.
“I don’t want to push my luck," he chuckled. “Besides, the guys have already made plans to meet up with their families. Can’t ‘em change now.”
"Sure you can."
"Thal..."
"I don't want you to leave." The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. I looked up at Harry nervously as he stared at me dumbstruck. In an attempt to save myself I added, "I'm going to be so bored without you all."
"I'm sure Marco will find ways to keep you entertained," Harry muttered, his tone souring slightly at the mention of my boyfriend. "I heard him mention something about Venice."
I rolled my eyes dramatically. "Oh Venice isn't all it's cracked up to be. I've already been with Greta and Francesco. We were there for a whole week! It was lovely but I'd much rather go somewhere I haven't drawn yet."
"Greta and Francesco?" Harry quizzed, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"My flat mates back in Rome. They found me in a bar my first week here and took me in out of pitty."
"You sound like a lost puppy."
"I was," I replied seriously. "Are you going to be leaving Italy right away? If not you should visit!"
"I am visiting," he replied cheekily.
I rolled my eyes in response. "I meant visit me in Rome."
"Or you could visit me in London?" The moment he muttered the words he looked up at me in surprise, as if he wasn't actually expecting them to have left his mouth.
"Oh London," I signed, closing my eyes and imagining the city. "I miss London."
"Don't tell me you actually miss the crowded streets, the overwhelming smells and all around gloomy atmosphere?"
"I do. I Particularly miss the smell of the crowded tube," I giggled before turning serious. "No. I miss my apartment and my rooftop."
"It's a good rooftop," Harry agreed.
I nodded dumbly. The sudden longing for home hitting me like a steamroller, knocking the breath from my chest and leaving me empty. I had made so many memories there and I could almost picture Harry and I sitting on that rooftop having conversations like this one.
"But you know, you have a pretty good view from here too."
I looked up to see Harry watching me intently, his eyes full concern. Then suddenly he was at my side as a mischievous little smile playing on his face.
"Come on. We can make a new rooftop."
I frowned at him suspiciously before holding out my arms and allowing him to pick me up bridal style. I tried not to notice how good his cologne smelt, how attractive the slight stubble on his chin looked, or how strong he seemed to have grown in the past year. Harry walked us over to the balcony, careful not to let my injured foot hit the door as he stepped outside. He set me down on the chair gently before taking a seat opposite me.
"Ta-da!" He smiled brightly, his dimples popping in his pride. "Welcome to - how do you say rooftop in Italian?"
He looked over at me curiously and I frowned in response. "How would I know?"
"I thought you knew Italian!" He cried out with a laugh.
"Yeah...enough to order gelato!" I laughed. "I'm still learning Harold."
"I've never been more disappointed in you," he teased.
"Oh hush. Who uses the word rooftop anyway? That's a random word. How would I have learnt that?"
"Okay sassy. No need to get angry with me," he laughed cheerfully before breaking into a sudden frown. "But seriously don't get angry cause Marco would kill me if he knew I got you worked up."
Now it was my turn to let out a laugh.
"I'll try not to get angry," I promised. "but Lord knows you test me Harold."
"I know," he replied with a sigh. He turned towards the garden, avoiding my eye before adding, "I didn't mean to make you angry yesterday either."
I watched him for a moment before saying, "Harry, I'm not angry now and I wasn't angry yesterday."
Harry turned to me, his eyebrow skyrocketing in disbelief.
"I was upset and overwhelmed by everything you had told me," I continued. "That was a lot to take in and I'm still working through it all."
"What's there to work through?" He asked, the harshness of his tone causing me to flinch. "Marco cheated and I love you. It's not that complicated Thal. You're just overthinking it."
"My feelings are complicated Harry. And, as you reminded me once, you have just as many feelings as I do so you of all people should understand this will take me a while to sort through."
"Why do you have to analyze everything?” He asked, annoyance evident in his every syllable.
"To make sure I come to a rational conclusion," I replied.
“Rational?” He cried. "Thalia you're only holding yourself back by trying to be rational. Have you ever considered what would happen if you just for once listened to your heart instead of your head?"
"I've more than considered it, I've done it!” I cried out in indignation. "How else would I have said yes when you asked me out? My head was screaming at me that it would never work but I loved you so much my heart convinced me it would. And look where that's gotten me.”
Harry’s shoulders sunk, hurt and disappointment taking over his features. With a stony face he muttered, "If you didn't believe in us from the start then it's no wonder we blew to pieces.”
“For fucks sake Harry. Will you stop trying to blame me for that!” I cried.
“I didn’t say-“
“That’s exactly what you were saying!”
"Are we really going to have this conversation now?" He asked quietly.
"You're leaving tonight when else are we supposed to have it?"
Harry shrugged in response and I felt myself growing irritated. When we broke up he had expressed, or rather screamed, how I always kept things from him. And now here I was attempting to have an open conversation about whatever was going on between us and he was doing his best to avoid it. Why? Was it because he was worried about what my honesty would mean?
"You know, had a lot of time to think things over while dangling on the edge of death there and-"
“Jesus Thalia! Don't say that!" Harry cried out, looking at me incredulously. "I don't need reminding how nearly killed you! Again!"
"Harry, I told you I don't blame you for any of it!" I replied, my tone rising to match his. "If you'd just let me finish-"
"Why? So I can hear all about your decision to continue dating a cheating prick?"
I blinked, completely taken aback by his words. I knew he didn’t like Marco, but if he would just listen to me for a moment he would realize that I had every intention of ending things with the ‘cheating prick’. In a forced calm I started, “I didn’t say-"
"You're still with him Thalia! He cheated and you're still with him! Why?" Harry was running his hands through his hair and bouncing his leg up and down in frustration. Suddenly he stopped and looked up at me adamantly. "You deserve better than him. I thought you knew that. But no, you're sitting here talking as if this whole thing never happened meanwhile Marco's planning trips...he's talking of marriage-"
"Marriage?" I cut in, my temper rising. "Don't be so dramatic Harry."
"I'm serious Thalia," he warned.
"I thought you weren't trying to aggravate me?"
"I'm not trying to."
"Well you're doing a shit job,” I snapped.
Harry’s features softened slightly. "I know. I just…"
I looked over at him once more to see him running a hand through his hair, his leg still shaking in anxiety. I knew he had more to say, but he knew if he said anymore he would succeed only in pushing me further from his reach. It was strange that we were able to understand each others characters so well as to realize this.
After a somewhat painful silence I let out a small laugh, "We're a mess aren't we?"
Harry broke into a smile. "A fantastical mess.”
And just like that, the fight was over. We had pushed it aside just like we did all the other disagreements. It hadn’t gone completely, but we had both gotten enough off our chests to let the other know where we stood. And for some reason that was enough for now. I watched Harry in the silence that had overcome us. He was running his hand across his mouth as he always did when he was nervous, his hair falling wildly around him. He had grown extremely tan during his stay at the villa, the color darkening the look of his tattoos and bringing out the pink in his lips. I suddenly realized how much I couldn’t bare being here without him.
The bedroom door opened, signaling either Marco or one of the boys had just walked in and I turned to Harry almost desperately.
“Please don’t leave tonight,” I whispered, my voice small. “Just say until the morning. What can that hurt?”
“Why?” Harry asked, dropping his hand from his mouth only to wring it together with the other one. His features became even more anxious, urging me to say the words he most wanted to hear.
But I couldn’t. Instead I went with, “I don’t want you driving the Italian countryside at night. It’s dangerous.”
Harry broke into a smile despite himself. “Worry wart.”
“I’m just channeling my best Elaine,” I replied with a smirk. When he didn’t respond I added, “please stay?”
“We already told Marco we were leaving.”
“So? I agree with Thalia.” Harry and I both jumped and turned to see Marco leaning in the doorway. He was watching me, some hidden emotion held behind them. I tried not react as he came to sit on the edge of my chair, his hand coming to rest gently on my shoulder. “Driving through the country at night can be dangerous, and you don’t know anyone if you run into trouble. We would fee much better if you all left tomorrow morning, we’ve had enough anxiety for one day don’t you agree?”
Harry’s eyes remained locked on mine throughout this interaction. It was evident that seeing me with Marco killed him, and as we stared at each other I tried to telepathically tell him that it wasn’t what he thought it was. That he was right about Marco. And that I really was planning to break things off the moment we were alone.
Harry let out a sigh. His eyes dropped to the floor and he pushed the hair from his face while he debated. After a few agonizingly long seconds he finally he looked back up at me, “I’ll see what the boys think.”
I broke into a cheer at his words, knowing his friends would be more than willing to stay an extra day for me, especially after last nights events.
“Excellent,” replied Marco. “Nicola should be getting in at any moment. We were thinking of going on the boat today, care to join?”
“Of course he will!” I smirked before tipping my head to the side like a five year old. “Won’t you Harry?"
Harry let out a small laugh at my actions, his eyes still trained on mine. “Of course. How could I resist such a temptation?”

Notes

Hello friends!

Looks like things are finally heating up between Harry and Thalia! (and she's beginning to come to her senses) It's going to take me two more chapters at least to cover everything that happens in this last day at the villa so stay tuned! I don't know about you all but this chapter seemed slightly dull after the excitement and action of the last two. I tried to spice it up with a long interaction between our favorite couple, hopefully you didn't find it too boring!

PS keep the comments coming! I absolutely LOVE reading them!