Keeper

Chapter 10

Since it was the first day of school, I fortunately didn't have any homework due the next day. I stayed in the kitchen for a little while more and talked to my mom about her day, taking the attention off of myself.

Once my mom started on dinner I looked up at the clock on the wall, realizing I still had a good four hours until Harry would show up, I thought of ways that I could stall time. I finally decided to take a nice long shower since I skipped taking one this morning, making sure to take my good old time.

Afterwards I began raking through my closet for something to wear. I kept in mind to only dress casual, and soon enough my mind was set on a cream lace top and my dark wash skinny jeans. I slipped on my white vans to finish off the look and readjusted my necklace so the little bird pendant was resting perfectly on my chest.

Once I had my outfit on and out of the way, I made my way back into the bathroom to put on my makeup. My eyes immediately found the shining pendant around my neck. Shaking myself out of my gaze I continued to get ready. I carefully applied a single coat of mascara along with a little blush, nothing much.

Once I opened my phone I noticed I had one missed call from Anna and one from Harry. I glanced up at the time which read, '5:36', noting I still had a good hour until he'd be here.

I decided to call Harry first and then Anna, knowing with Anna it was nothing incredibly important. With Harry I had absolutely no idea. The phone rang a few times until he picked up,

"Harley?"

"Hey, I got a missed call from you, what's up?" I asked, hesitantly biting down on my bottom lip.

"Did you tell your parents about...you and me?" He asked.

I didn't need confirmation to know he was talking about telling them he was my soulmate or not.

"No, I figured we could wait for that." I answered back into the phone.

I heard Harry take in a breath on the other side,

"That's fine, I was just wondering is all."

"That's all?" I asked.

I heard him laugh,

"Yeah."

"Alright, well goodbye Harry."

"Wait,"

I rolled my eyes,

"Yes?" I asked.

"Do you like fedoras?"

I laughed, "Goodbye Harry."

After I ended the call I quickly scrolled through my contacts until I came to Anna's name. It only rang twice before she picked up,

"Hey Harley." Anna spoke, her tone unusually cheerful.

"Hey. What's up?" I asked.

"Um, me and Layla were thinking, since there's nothing better to do, we could go to the mall tonight, just the three of us?"

I took in a deep breath,

"I-I can't sorry."

"Oh, how come?" Anna asked. I could just picture the hurt look on her face and it began to fill me with guilt.

I was hesitant to answer but eventually did in one quick breath,

"Harry is coming over for dinner tonight."

The line went dead until I heard laughter,

"Tonight? Don't you think that's a bit quick?"

I furrowed my eyebrows,

"What do you mean?"

"He's already meeting your parents?

"Well yeah, they were going to find out about him sooner or later." I defended.

"Okay, okay, will you at least take a raincheck on our plans then?"

I laughed, "Of course."

"Yay! Well good bye Harley."

"Bye Anna. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Once Anna ended the call I let a sigh, solemnly tossing my phone back onto my mattress.

The rest of the hour went by rather quickly, the living room television keeping me company until finally a loud knock erupted at the front door. Immediately I felt my heart begin to race since I knew it could've only of been Harry. Just as I got up from the couch to open the door my dad passed me,

"I've got it." he mumbled.

"No, no, I've got it." I smiled, rushing past him to get to the handle first. Luckily I did.

I quickly swung it open, revealing a smirking Harry who was leaning nonchalantly against the door frame. He was wearing a blue and white checked flannel which was unbuttoned at the top, revealing even more of his tattoos, dark skinny jeans, and a cream fedora which hid his signature curls.

So that's why he asked if I liked them.

"Hey." He smirked at me, hastily taking his lip ring in between teeth. My dad cleared throat, causing Harry to dart his eyes up to meet his,

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Patterson." Harry nodded, reaching his hand out to shake his hand.

My dad put on his best fake smile as he returned the gesture,

"It's nice to meet you too."

I could see my dad eyeing up Harry's tattoos and piercings, luckily distracting him from the very prominent pendant around his neck.

"Come in," my day spoke, walking towards the kitchen.

"Dinner's almost ready."

"Alight." Harry laughed, taking my hand and entwining his fingers with mine.

I looked up at him and all he did was wink. I raised an eyebrow and Harry broke out into a laugh. He pulled me into a hug, his chin resting on my shoulder as he rocked us back and fourth. Before I knew it his lips were at the very base of my ear,

"Why don't you show me your room, babe".

"O-okay." I stuttered, dragging him towards the staircase. Just as we reached the first step my mom's voice ran through the room,

"Dinner's ready!"

I watched Harry roll his eyes before we turned around and headed towards the kitchen, my dad already seated at the far head of the table. He had already started carving the turkey.

I sat down next to my dad and Harry took the seat next to me, my mom eventually sitting down next to my dad on the opposite side. Her eyes went wide as soon as they landed on Harry, immediately telling me that he was not what she had imagined he would look like.

I heard Harry clear his throat next to me before reaching across the table to shake my mom's hand,

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Patterson."

My mom smiled but was hesitant to shake his hand, although she quickly gave in,

"Please, call me Deborah."

Harry winked,

"Whatever you say, Deborah."

Surprising I saw my mom's cheeks flash a deep shade of pink. He had only just met her and she was already warming up to him, not too bad I had to admit.

After everyone had filled their plates my dad found it to be the right time to start up a conversation,

"So, Harry, what made you get all of those...tattoos?"

Harry didn't seem to mind answering as he laughed,

"I just thought they were cool." He shrugged.

My dad nodded at his simple answer before returning his attention to the pile of mashed potatoes sitting on his plate. I could already feel my hands starting to become clammy.

It stayed quiet for a moment before my mom spoke up,

"So do you play any sports?" She asked.

Harry smiled up at her,

"As a little boy I played ice hockey, but no, I don't."

My mom's eyes went wide and I already knew what was coming,

"Oh you did?" She asked. Harry nodded.

"So did Harley, isn't that right sweetheart." My mom grinned.

"Yeah." I mumbled, looking up to meet a smirking Harry.

"You? Hockey?" He laughed.

I furrowed my eyebrows,

"Yeah? What's so funny about it?" I asked.

"No, no it's just," Harry's eyes quickly darted over to my dad before he finished his sentence,

"Cute, it's cute."

Everyone finished eating in complete silence, the atmosphere nonetheless awkward, all that was heard was the sound of forks and knives clacking against glass.

Without warning Harry rested his hand on the bottom of my thigh, the apples of my cheeks immediately reacting to his touch by burning up.

I heard my father cough into his arm
and both me and Harry looked up to meet his gaze.

"Harry, what are your intentions with my daughter?"

Once the words registered in my brain I practically spit out my drink at his direct question. I hesitantly looked up to see Harry's eyes go wide,

"Excuse me?" He stammered.

"You heard me." My father countered.

"Mr. Patterson, I-"

"Would you ever hurt my daughter?" My father cut in.

"What? No of course not. I would never even think of hurting her, sir."

My father narrowed his eyes,

"Are you sure about that, son?"

I turned back to Harry just in time to watch his eyes flash with anger and his jaw tighten,

"I'm pretty damn sure."

My father cracked a sly smirk,

"I don't believe you."

In the corner of my eye I watched Harry one again take his lip ring in between his teeth. His eyes never left my father's as he spoke,

"I would never hurt my soulmate, sir."

My father's features were stone hard, his eyes concentrated on one thing and one thing only. Harry's pendant. I looked over to my mom who was giving me a confused look.

Suddenly Harry's hand was around mine and his eyes were a deeper shade of green then I was used to. I was sure my father was uncomfortable under Harry's stare because he kept squirming in his seat. Finally he had the courage to speak.

"Son, I want you to leave."

Harry gaped,

"What? You're just going to-"

"I said get the hell out of my house, now."

"Dad." I warned.

I looked up at Harry with a look of sympathy but he didn't seem to catch it. I watched as his nostrils flared before he spoke through gritted teeth,

"I may not look like a saint, hell I've never been one and I never will be, but I'll always be here for your daughter. Sure, kick me out now, but I will always be here."

Before anyone had a chance to speak Harry was up and out of his seat. He was halfway out of the kitchen doorway before he turned to look at me.

"See you later, Harley." He winked before continuing out to the front door. The loud slam told us he was gone and immediately my mom let out a groan,

"You just couldn't be easy on the kid for one night, could you Jeff?" She hissed, getting up from the table herself.

Without hearing my father's side of the story, I put mine and Harry's plate in the sink and made my way up to my room.

I immediately pulled my phone off of
my bed and stuck my earbuds in. Just as I was about to press, 'shuffle', there was a tap at the window behind my head. Once my eyes met the figure crouching on the roof behind it they went wide. My mind simultaneously connected with my feet and within a matter of seconds I had the window open,

"What are you doing up here? If my dad catches you he will kill you!" I whispered.

Without a direct answer Harry slipped through the small space and with a small thud, landed in my room. I could tell he was out of breath by his heavy breathing. How he got in the roof still remains a mystery.

"I told you I'd see you later, and I'm keeping that promise." He winked.

"Plus you never got to show me your room." He added.

I bit down on my lip, "I thought you just wanted to stall time, I was-"

Before I could finish Harry had his hands around my waist and his forehead was resting on mine,

"No, baby, I thought we could have some fun."

"T-that's not a good idea Harry." I mumbled, my forehead remaining on his.

"Why not?" He asked, bringing my body closer to his.

"What if my dad comes in, or my mom." I shrugged.

He raised an eyebrow,

"Does your door have a lock?"

I furrowed my eyebrows,

"Of course."

Harry smiled,

"Problem solved."