Damaged » h. styles au

Chapter 67 - Harry

I nodded, just admiring how caring Lana was. Whatever Scarlett didn’t have with her real parents, she was having it with Lana now. She was probably the best person that got into her life.

Suddenly, I felt the need to blurt out, “She told me about how you met,” and then Lana’s face was stagnant in sheer shock; eyes widened, pupils blown, lips half parted in an “O”.

“She did already?” and I nodded again, pride taking over me. Pride of knowing her, pride of knowing more about her than Lana did herself. Maybe Lana could read her mind perfectly, but she didn’t know half of what I knew about Scarlett.

And that was something I would keep to myself for two simple reasons: 1. Scarlett had trusted me not to let anyone else know. She trusted me and I would not break her trust; and 2. It was something I shared with her; just me and no one else. I knew all the parts of all stories, not the ones just related to her past, nor the ones related to her family only, or Tyler, but I knew everything as a whole. She’d let me in. And I wanted that to be ours.

“I’ve always known you were special, Harry,” Lana whispered, my smile only growing wider at her words. I’d become fond of that woman as well as her daughter, and also the troubled girl she gave her life as protection if she had to. I couldn’t see myself anymore without any of those women; both Lana and Angel with the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen. Those were priceless people I would keep inside my life forever, if I could.

“Why, thank you,” I finally said, letting the small fade gradually, sighing once the playful environment was gone. “Do you really think she can’t see a future with me?” the question left my mouth half-heartedly, wishing I could have a “no, I was just kidding” as an answer. Though I knew what the real one would be, since Scarlett had told me from the very beginning not to expect huge things out of whatever is going on between us. And yet, I wished Lana could tell me she was lying to me, when, really, inside her head she can picture both of us still together even after so long.

I can definitely see myself with her.

“I do,” Lana said with a sad smile, stretching her arm across the table to reach for my hand, squeezing it in an attempt to comfort me. It helped a bit. “Don’t get it the wrong way, though. It’s not about you. She’s like that about everything in life. She tends to think she’ll ruin everything she touches; tends to think she’ll disappoint everyone who likes her. I don’t have a clue of why she’s always that self-conscious, but I can tell you something: she’s had a tough past. By what she told you I think you can understand a bit of it. There must be more behind whom she is now, but she won’t let me see it, so.”

“I understand,” I assured with a nod, not wanting to hint I knew she’d had a tough past, but not wanting her to think I was taking the whole situation into something personal either. It had indeed nothing to do with me; Scarlett did tend to think she was the problem about everything, so I knew what she was talking about, really.

“I really mean it when I ask you not to give up on her. She may be hard to deal with but she’s an amazing girl once she lets you in. Just don’t push her buttons too much and always give her time. With her everything takes time.”

For the thousandth time that evening, I nodded, squeezing Lana’s hand back and shooting her a dimpled smile. “Don’t worry, Lana. I have all the patience in the world for her.”

I do.

“Linda just called me and I gotta go to the hospital now. I won’t take long, though; you won’t have to go home too late, okay?” Lana asked already sinking into her coat and shoes and grabbing her purse all at once. Scarlett and I just muttered an “okay, no problem” as she left out through the door, and then it was completely silent.