How It's Going To Be [h.s.]

Chapter 22

I had given myself enough time to drive to my townhouse and shower before heading off to the studio. I took my coat off in my room and saw the two tickets from the aquarium fall to the floor. I picked them up and smiled at the memory of taking her there the night before. I placed the tickets in the drawer of my bedside table and went into the bathroom to shower.

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{Kate's Point of View}

Wednesday evening came quickly. Harry had spent the morning and better half of the afternoon with Louis and Niall working on the project he had mentioned days earlier. While he was away, I cooked to prepare for Gemma to come over.

I reached into the refrigerator for a lemon when I heard knocking at the door. I dried my hands on the kitchen towel and walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Harry! Gemma is here!"

"Can you get the door, love?"

When I opened the door, Gemma was standing on the front steps with a wide smile. Her hair had been dyed nearly white-blonde since I had last seen her. Her eyes were wide with excitement. Both of her hands were occupied by small wrapped packages.

"Gemma!"

"How are you?" She walked through the threshold of the door and wrapped her arms around me. She rocked us back and forth a few times in our embrace.

"I'm well," I giggled. "And you?"

"Fantastic!"

A deep voice interrupted our reunion. "Good to see you, Gem. How was Greece?"

"Unbelievable! I cannot wait to tell you all about it!"

"Let me take these," I pointed to the two neatly wrapped packages she had been holding.

"Thank you," she gave them willingly. "They're for you and Harry."

"Let me take your coat," Harry took Gemma's coat and hung it up in the coat closet.

I saw Gemma properly for the first time since she had come to dinner at Harry's weeks ago. She was stunning; her style was such that if seen on the street, she would certainly be stared at and envied. Her laugh was genuine and contagious like Harry's. She was extremely sweet, but it was clear that she had an edge.

Dinner was a laugh. Gemma told hilarious stories of her friends that traveled with her to Greece. Tears brimmed in Gemma's eyes as she fought off giggles to tell a particular story of her friend trying to order at a restaurant. She burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter as she explained the story and caused Harry to laugh so hard he knocked a glass of water over. Everything became funny and I was surprised by how natural it felt to be with the brother and sister. I felt like I really belonged.

"It was absolutely gorgeous! The beaches, the sites, the food, and the people were all amazing. I didn't want to leave! Here, everything is just...the same. I liked how exciting everything seemed there," Gemma rested her chin in her hand and spoke in a longing tone. "Oh! I almost forgot! I brought you both gifts!"

"Gemma, you didn't have to—" Harry started.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Gemma returned to the table with the two packages. She handed the larger one to Harry and the smaller one to me. "Good things come in small packages, you know. Go on, open them!"

Harry and I opened them at the same time. He lifted the lid of the gift box and smiled. He pulled out a white silk scarf with blue trim. In my box was a silver pendant necklace. It was a circular pendant with the iconic Greek border pattern around the edge.