Through the Awakening (Harry Styles) [Bk. 2]

13. Care or Don't Care

 “If you didn’t care you wouldn’t have come back to this exact town. I know that there is a part of you that missed this place and your friends. “I stated my voice sounding more like a plea.

“I know that even though at the moment you don’t want to admit it you miss your friends, all of them and me” I whispered.

 “Yeah….no” He sighed shaking his head with a smile I opened my mouth to speak but he interrupted me.

 “I don’t have time for this shit!” Harry bellows dismissively. He turns on his heel stalking out of the kitchen, his footsteps echoing off the hardwood floor. I roll my eyes and after a beat I follow him

“Harry!” I called out as he opened the front door walking out onto the porch. I ran over grabbing his arm pulling him back so I could stand in front of him to block his way. The cool wind made me shiver but I ignored it.

“Harry, you cared more than anyone!” I yelled my voice laced with annoyance. “Out of everyone in my life and my entire family, you were the one that cared the most!” I exclaimed. “How can you just stop?” I asked in aggravation letting go of his arm.

“I had to. “ He replied staring blankly at me. “I had to start over, Elizabeth. I had to come to terms that I had to leave and erase everything about you for Dominic to leave you alone. I had to pretend that I didn’t care until I learned not to, which I don’t.” I scoffed, slowly shaking my head at him. “Even if I did, it wouldn’t change anything!” he growled.

“So in the time that you were still trying to move on you couldn’t hear me in all of those messages that I left you?” I paused trying to figure out my words pushing my tears back, my mind quickly clouded with my past unbearable months.  “You couldn’t hear that I was completely falling apart without you!” I yelled using my hands. Harry looked at the ground licking on his lower lip with both of his hands on his hips.

“You didn’t listen to them” I whispered in realization leaning away from him.

“I had to move on, I didn’t have a choice.” He shrugged. “So I deleted them.” I shook my head.

“No, Harry. I know you and I know that there must be a reason why you came back here. I know that being back here reminds you of all of our friends and how much they need you and how much I need you.” I paused biting on my lower lip. “I need you. I know that there must be this little part inside of you that I am the reason why you are back here. That you are at least passing through to check up on me.” Harry looked away from me rolling his eyes.

“Okay fine, if I’m wrong then I am wrong!” I shrugged. “If you say that you just came back here to start over and forget about all of us and forget about me then fine. If that’s the case then walk away from me right now and all of the time that I could be wasting on waiting for you will come to an end and I will forget like we ever happened.” I nodded taking a deep breathe holding to hold back my sobs.  Harry looked back over at me, knitting his eyebrows together.

“But if I’m right… If there is that little part inside of you that made you come back to town to check up on me because you still care… then stay” I whispered.  Harry looked at me nodding at my words then looked back down at the ground. I stared at him waiting for him to make his final move. Harry glanced back up at me with his dark green eyes before flashing himself away from me.

I shudder involuntarily as the wind blew pushing my hair back. I gazed numbly in the direction that Harry disappeared to, tears rolling down my cheeks, feeling cold as the wind started to quickly dry then away. He walked away from me. Shit!

I am left alone on the porch with the silence- the still, lingering silence. I blink away my tears licking on my lower lip, trying to make them stop. I turned around and walked down the porch steps heading for my car when I glance up I stop in my tracks seeing Eleanor and Louis standing by my car. They both had sad sympathetic looks on their faces, except Louis had a faint scowl hiding behind his sympathy.

 I smiled at them through my teary eyes and quickly walked over to them. Eleanor met me halfway quickly wrapping her arms around me. I faintly smile hugging her tightly feeling a sense of security. To think I wouldn’t have met any of them if it wasn’t for Harry.

 I shake my head dismissing the thought glancing up , seeing Louis opening the back door allowing Eleanor and I to slide in before climbing into the driver’s seat.

“Yes, Niall, she’s here.” I hear Louis say out loud as if he was talking to himself. I know that Niall spoke to him through his mind. I looked over at Eleanor and she wrapped her arm around me as I leaned my head against her shoulder closing my eyes sobbing. 

A few seconds passed and I heard the door on my side open and I looked up seeing Niall but I quickly hid my face away from him in Eleanor’s shoulder.

“Hey, Elizabeth” Niall whispered trying to turn my face to look at him.

“No” I sobbed.

“Elizabeth, look at me!” Niall said and grabbed my chin turning my head to face him. I sniffed looking up at him, his soft blue eyes scanning my face turning colder by the second.

“I’ll be right back.” Niall says softly to me before looking up at Eleanor and Louis. “Guys, take her back to the academy. I’ll be there in a few.” Niall ordered releasing my face kissing my cheek before closing the door.