The Parent Plan » Harry Styles

Chapter 7

   Shaking that thought away, Harry looked away from the two girls who had already turned away and looked to be learning some weird leap and down to Jake who stood beside him, on his tiptoes to look through the window at his mum and friend. He and Jake had previously talked about racecars – because Jake liked things that go fast and of course, The Hulk – and that one time when Harry had actually went to NASCAR just to see if he was missing out on anything. Jake was amazed by this story, especially how Harry told it – with bright emotions, hand gestures and distanced eyes as if he was picturing that moment once more.

   "Do you always come here after school, bud?" Harry questioned the smaller brunet with raised eyebrows. Because if he did, poor boy he had to sit through these hour and half long lessons alone or with the parents of the student learning.

   "Only three days," Jake answered, looking up at him with big brown eyes. He put his heels down on the floor before smiling. "But now you come here!"

   Harry ginned and patted the boy's head before looking up again, watching as Monica let out a bubbly laugh as Athena tugged the hair tie out of her hair. I worked so hard on that, he frowned.

   "It hurts my head," Athena complained throwing the hair tie on the ground before pouting. Monica laughed again, instructing Athena to sit down in front of her as she picked up the hair tie and sat behind the blonde. "Are you going to do my hair?"

   Monica nodded, raking her fingers through the younger girl's hair before creating a soft and not-at-all-tight bun. After doing so, she looked up at the clock in the studio and sighed, realizing that only four minutes were left. At that moment, Harry walked in the studio with Jake in tow, something churning within him when he'd watch Monica do Athena's hair.

   "Look, Daddy, Monica does better buns than you." Athena jumped up from the floor and looked up at her father who faked sadness. Although he did feel betrayed because he is the expert at buns.

   "How did you ever beat my incredible bun skills?" Harry asked after complimenting Athena, looking to Monica who still sat on the floor with her legs tucked into her chest. He couldn't help but think that she looked adorable.

   Monica shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips as Jake ran toward her and roped his arms around her left arm. "Well, when I was pregnant and didn't know the sex of the baby I just thought that if it'd be a girl I'd want to make the cutest hairstyles ever. But as you see, my skills never was put into use until now."

   At that statement, Harry couldn't help but think about the fact that Jake doesn't have a father – well he does, but he's not in the picture – and that makes him think about what happened between Jake's father and Monica. He was curious yet scared to know why because in these situations, you never know. And then he thought about how Jake told Liam that he could be his father – Jake wanted a father so bad which made him wonder if Athena desires a mother.

   "You could always let Jake grow his hair out." Harry shrugged, his hands shoving themselves into his pockets.

   Monica giggled. "Sorry Harry, but I don't think I'll let my son grow his hair to how you had it in twenty fourteen."

   "Oh, well aren't you memorized on One Direction appearances," Harry mocked with raised eyebrows. Monica blushed lightly, looking down to the floor trying to hide it. Athena quickly met Jake's gaze, both of them smiling at this banter between parents – everything was going in a positive direction.

   "I told you that I was a Directioner," she mumbled finally looking up and meeting Harry's emerald green eyes.

   It got silent for a moment, making Harry realize why he had walked into the studio in the first place. It was time to leave. His gaze drifted down to Athena, taking grasp of her hand shaking her arm slightly. "Well, we've got to go. Say, by 'thena."