Resolution

79. Fix You

"When you try your best but you don't succeed... when you get what you want, but not what you need..."

Song: Fix You

Artist: Coldplay 

“Excuse me?” Dan said, his voice dripping with venom as he glared daggers at Harry.  My hand was frozen in Harry’s as I tried to keep him calm, but it was hard when my own adrenaline was bubbling through my veins. 

“You heard me,” Harry said firmly, his voice deep and steady as he returned the heated gaze.  My eyes flashed back and forth between them and I could practically feel the tension in the room settling onto my shoulders.  No one dared speak to interrupt the loaded exchange.  They stared at each other in silence, anger seeping off of Harry.  My pulse pounded in my ears so loud I was positive everyone else could hear it as well. 

The tense silence was suddenly shattered by a bark of laughter from Dan, his head thrown back while he cackled darkly.  He was grinning but the light didn’t reach his eyes, which remained cold and hard. 

“Oh come on,” he said, flashing his too-white grin around the table.  “We were just joking around, right?” 

No one returned even a hint of a smile despite his efforts.  Harry remained stiffened next to me, and I could see the tight breaths he was taking from the way his nostrils flared slightly.  I squeezed his hand, causing him to blink once and take a full breath finally.  Still, though, he didn’t look at me. 

“I think you should go, Dan,” Anne finally said, breaking the now tense and awkward silence. 

“No, no, we just started dinner! No need for that. Harry knows I wasn’t serious, right Harry?” he said smoothly, turning to flash his false smile at Harry.  I glared at him, which he did not see through his false bravado. 

“You should go,” Anne repeated calmly.  All throughout the exchange, Harry had continued to glare at his father and remained silent.  Dan’s expression faltered before sliding off his face altogether.  He slammed his utensils down sharply, making Gemma and I jump. 

“Fine,” he said, his voice once again losing the forced pleasant tone.  “If I’m not wanted here, I’m not going to waste my time,” he spit, pushing his chair back with a screech before standing abruptly to walk out the way he’d come.  Just as he was about to disappear through into the hallway, he paused and turned around, locking eyes with Harry.

“Quite the girlfriend you have there, son,” he said spitefully, his tone making it very clear he thought none-too-highly of me.  Harry snapped and lurched out of his seat, about to charge toward his father.  My hand, which was still locked in his, jerked forward as he tried to take off. 

“Harry, no!” I shouted, desperately trying to keep my voice calm.  I tugged as hard as I could, managing to stall him a split second long enough for his father to shoot him yet another disappointed glance and disappear out the front door.  I pulled on his hand, unable to get him back into his seat but at least stopping him from chasing down his father.  No matter what he said, it wasn’t worth getting physical with his own flesh and blood over. 

I rose from my chair to shift closer to him, moving my body around so we were face to face.  He seethed in front of me, his eyes directed over my shoulder to where his father had disappeared.  His fists were shaking by his sides, vibrating slightly beneath my palms as I grasped them gently. 

“Harry,” I said as calmly as I could manage.  I watched his eyes and hoped they’d come to meet mine.  His jaw was clenched as tight as I’d ever seen, and I could see a vein pulsating slightly beneath his skin in his throat.  I squeezed his hands once again.  Finally, as he heaved out an uneven breath, he dropped his gaze to meet mine.  He looked slightly wild, but the moment his eyes locked on my own the tension there melted just a bit.