All Too Well

Chapter 15

Sorry for a lateish update, hope you all enjoy!

I highlighted my curser over the send button, debating whether or not to go through with it. I needed to impress on my first story and I wasn't really sure how they would react when they found out I was writing about myself. I closed my eyes and clicked the curser, I watched as the small envelope ran across the screen, indicating it had been delivered. 

I took a sip of the now cold cappucino that remained perched on my desk and took a moment to recollect my thoughts, the past two weeks had flown by so quickly, between moving to London and meeting Harry, finding my apartment and furnishing it within two weeks, then to my first day in my new career, I hadn't really taken a moment to let things sink in. I couldn't help but feel in over my head a little, this big city seemed like it would pick up anybody who wasn't emotionally prepared and churn them over before spitting them back out and I definitely felt like I was next.  A gentle knock at the door brought me back down to reality and I expected to see Gia's smiling face - a copy of the article in one hand and a thousand questions in the other, however I couldn't be more wrong. 

"Hey hey stranger, long time no speak" the stridulous voice echoed through the room.

What the fuck was she doing here, I had only just found my feet again since the last time she through me under the bus, what could she possibly want now?

"What are you doing in here Harper?" Anger now lacing my voice.

"We're neighbours again! Thought i'd come and say hello and congratulate you on your first article, we've all read it, who knew you'd be so quick to find a toy?" The smug smile now smeared across her face was obviously in relation to the pictures of Harry and I, what a bitch.

"Thats fantastic, I'm so glad you stopped by, I can't wait to read your column, what page is it on again? forty-five right down the bottom in the left hand corner? I'll try not to miss it this week!, it's just so small." I sarcastically remarked, no way was she humiliating me again. 

Harper ran her hands over the front pleats of her dark brown skirt and pushed her long blonde hair back behind her ears, I could tell my response had caught her off guard and she left the room the exact way she entered, I watched her trance away through the frosted glass and I could tell that was not the last I would have to see of that bitch. 

The rest of the day carried on quite smoothly. Gia and I went to lunch at a local cafe down the road and for some reason I ended up telling her about Harry. Not that there was even anything to tell, apart from that one night but it felt good being able to get it off my chest and have somebody tell me he was an asshole too. That reassurance was enough to get me through the rest of the day and not to mention the official publishing of this weeks Confession magazine. In less then an hour, this article will be on the front page of every social media operation and I was okay with that. We ended up leaving the office early - it was some kind of tradition on the days that the magazine went to the stands and I stepped out into the ice cold London air, I hailed a taxi and directed him to the address of my apartment. Thankfully I left the aircon running all day for this exact reason and I welcomed the warmth with open arms, I changed into a pair of sweats and a loose black cropped tee before heating up the remainder of last nights pasta. I curled my body up on the couch and switched the television on. For some reason I found comfort in watching home and away re-runs whenever they aired, even though I didn't want to be reminded of home, it gave me the sense of reminiscence that I needed. However the loud knock at the door disrupted me from my comfort and I carefully pulled back the hinges.

Tight fitted black jeans and a black t shirt were now moulded in front of me, his hair was pushed off his face and his lips were pursed together creating an unreadable expression. He was holding multiple copies of the magazine and I knew exactly what he was here for.

"What do you want?" I objected, my tone coming across rude and volatile.

"What is this, she hopes he finds someone well suited for his personality" bringing his fingers up to create air quotes to emphasize his point.

I was right, I thought it might have taken a little longer for him to read it but apparantley not. 

"It's the truth Harry, the entire article is the truth, I do hope you find someone suited to you and you are incredibly single, I don't see what your problem is or why you found the need to come to my apartment?" I could feel that sickly gut feeling returning and I had nothing to distract me from what was to come.

"What does that even mean, why would you write this article after you knew what went on that night at my house, do you seriously think I do that kind of shit with just any girl?" His tone was condescending and scornful and I could feel myself about to crack. 

"Are you fucking kidding me? How dare you come to my house and start pointing fingers at me for doing my job, that article is nothing but the truth Harry. I sat on your couch and I told you things about myself that I hadn't told anybody in a really long time, you had me believing that you actually cared about me, almost as if you wanted to get to know me, you saw me in one of my rawest states and then you have the nerve to not speak to me again, if you weren't interested after that night you couldn't have even sent me a fucking text message, something as simple as - Hey Luca, you have too much shit going on for my liking, see you around." It's not that hard? Instead you leave and I don't hear from you again, well you know what Harry two can play that game, get away from me." My voice threatening to break under my emotional rampage. Harry stepped closer to me, his hot breath and his familiar scent re-welcoming themeselves to my life , his face softened up and he removed almost all of the space between us. 

"Luca, I do care about you, I care about you a lot, thats why I didn't talk to you for two weeks. I had a lot of shit that I left behind in L.A, all of it rubbish that could potentially fuck up a relationship, I wanted to have a clean slate with you, no secrets, no baggage, nothing. I wasn't kidding when I said you weren't like other girls, you fascinate me and I wanted to message you so many times but I knew it wasn't fair to bring you into something that wasn't finished. So i'm sorry, I really am sorry." 

The sick feeling in my stomach had now been replaced with something else, I couldn't put my finger on what the feeling was but I knew I liked it. Harry managed to break down every bit of resentment I had towards him in a matter of seconds and I couldn't help but feel guilty for spilling our story across the tabloids. His eyes remained locked with mine the entire time, the piercing hazel stare infusing itself into every pore. I detached myself from his eyes and looked at the handful of magazines clutched around his enormous hand.

"Why did you buy so many?" I cautiously asked.

"The more I have, the less other people can read I guess," Harry defended, holding up the ten or so articles in his hand before letting out a small huff. 

Harry's eyes met mine again and I could feel the corner of my mouth pinching up, he stepped in closer and dropped the magazines onto the floor, before kicking them into the corner of the corridor. 

"Cute top," He whispered before adjusting his mouth to be centered with mine, he removed a strand of hair from my face, staring straight into my eyes. Slowly our faces began moving towards each other, the taste of his minty breath enchanted me. His soft lips seemed to fit perfectly in mine, making my heart flutter uncontrolably. He was so gentle, so cautious. It was only a moment before he pulled away, smiling. 

Harry leant his forehead against mine, breathing steadily, "be free tomorrow night, i'll pick you up at seven, I promise this time," he quietly proposed.

I watched in awe as this beautiful man walked away, his presence illuminating everything in his path. I stepped back into the apartment, shutting the door behind me. I leant my body against the back of the wood, what just happened?

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, let me know your thoughts in the comments! And remember to follow me on twitter - madisonhigs :) xxxxxxxx