Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 1

Eventually, he decided on a three piece charcoal suit and then made quick work of getting changed. Once the vest was securely buttoned and the ivory collar of his dress shirt was straightened, Harry pulled out a red bowtie from the bottom dresser. With an ease that came from years of attending formal events, he fastened the satin bowtie underneath his collar.

Adjoined to the bedroom was a private bath. Harry's shoes scuffed against the white and black checkered flooring as he walked towards a vanity hung above a pearly sink. After straightening the knot of his tie, Harry twisted off the lid to a carton of matte wax and got to work on styling his hair. Once his chestnut curls were slicked back into something that his mother would deem acceptable, Harry gave himself a final check in the mirror. His cheeks were sun-kissed from golf lessons earlier and the bags underneath his green eyes seemed more prominent than usual. With a slight shrug, he turned away from the mirror and walked back to the bedroom.

Two garish flashes of bright lights seeped through his windows and bled into the bedroom. Harry wrested his palms against a windowsill and watched a pair of headlights pulled into the end of their drive. The familiar rumble of a car muffler echoed through the glass, slightly shaking the panels with the abrasive sound. He tugged on his bottom lip with his teeth as the canary yellow Duesenberg parked directly out front.

Three people exited the car with a grandeur that rather suited a queen. Mr. Mason was a robust looking man with the face of a pug. Mrs. Mason wasn't much of an improvement, spare the suit for a taught skirt and blouse. Slightly stumbling out of the back seat was a young woman who Harry assumed to be their daughter, Faye. She was slighter than her parents and dressed in a black dress that hit just above the knee.

Harry strode down the stairs in time to see the front door being pulled open. He elongated his spine, pulled his shoulders back, and moved to stand next by his father's right side. Harry monotonously listened as the two families greeted each other, chancing a glimpse towards Faye. The petite blonde with narrowed features was already scrutinizing him. Her brown irises peered from underneath heavy eyelids and her rosy lips were slightly quirked.

Faye had a bit of a reputation in Dahlonega. It was a reputation that Harry had no intentions of adding to. The slogan that went around town was, "If you ever need a lay, better call Faye." A part of him toyed with the idea that she had come up with it herself in hopes of rebelling against her strict upbringing. He winced when she fluttered her eyelashes and shifted his gaze towards Mr. Mason.

"Mr. Mason, pleased to see you again," Harry politely greeted with an outstretched hand.

"Harry Styles," Mr. Mason throatily chucked, clasping Harry's hand in his meatier one. He exuberantly shook their hands, "Pleasure as always." Mr. Mason let go of Harry and gestured towards Mrs. Mason, "This is my lovely wife, Mary."

Harry gently shook her hand, "Pleasure, Mrs. Mason."

Her face screwed into a far too pleased grin, "Oh, what a charmer you've got, Anne!"

Harry internally rolled his eyes, unsure how a polite greeting qualified him to be called a charmer. He mentally braced himself as he turned towards Faye's expectant gaze.

"You must be Faye," He nodded his head and faintly shook her hand. "Lovely to meet you."

She swayed forward and tightened her hold, "Pleasure is all mine."

Harry uncomfortably laughed and slipped his hand from her grip. When Anne started to lead them towards the dining room, he subtly wiped his palm against his thigh. He steeled himself with a deep inhale and followed behind the small group with his hands clasped behind his back.

The rest of the evening was filled with stuffy conversation and a three course meal brought out by the cook and various housekeepers. Harry felt passive through it all. From time to time, Mr. Mason would include him in the conversation, asking about his future plans to work at the firm one day. He nodded and replied politely, "Sounds like that's the plan."