im going to go ahead and publish the rest of the story :)
M A R Y
the next day, harry and louis were working the usual shift at styles selections. i had asked for the day off, and with harry being the man in charge i got what i wanted without question.
it wasn't because i was lazy; i was just exhausted as could be. christmas eve was still taking its toll on me evidently, and every time i was left gasping for breath after climbing the stairs that was all i could think about.
"hey, mary." mom said when i made my way downstairs for breakfast. i had just been texting harry and he said that business was really good today. i was happy for him, and really wished i had the energy to be there and work with him. but it would be useless. i would be useless.
still, i was confused at how mom, dad, and jett were sitting in the living room like they were about to go somewhere. was it another one of their art festivals? god knows. "hey." i said with a frown, sitting down with them.
"we're wondering if you'd like to go family bonding with us." dad said sternly and my blood ran cold when i realized what that meant. with lilac gone, there was no one to tell my parents that stealing and lying was wrong.
because i knew that now.
but then again, one time can't hurt-- right?
"where are we going?" i asked apprehensively.
mom just seemed excited about the whole thing, as usual and expected. "robbing a store. well, shoplifting."
i rolled my eyes and went upstairs to change. even though i was agreeing to this only one time... i had such a bad feeling about it that i couldn't just push it to the back of my mind.
after i got changed and we took off, i couldn't help but ask which store it was going to be.
"surprise." was all mom said, and jett stirred in his seat from excitement. i felt like jumping out of the car window and rolling down the street, away from my criminal family.
i almost doubled over and threw up when we pulled in the parking lot of harrys store. i hoped with everything in me that this was just a pit stop.
then, two words i didn't want to hear: "we're here!"
we climbed out of the car and nonchalantly walked into the store. i spotted harrys beautiful head of hair from my side of the store, and it looked like he was having a nice conversation with mike. i was glad they'd been getting along recently.
and there sat king louis, watching over the store with pursed lips and a stern expression like he didn't want to be there. he probably didn't though, just doing it for harry. that's why the both of us had jobs there. for harry.
i didn't want to go through with this. i would've rather ran away from my family.
i watched with a look of disdain as everyone, including jett grabbed bandanas from the rack and stuffed them in their shirts. the store was so busy that no one noticed. it was a shock that louis had even seen me yet. maybe he could've saved me.
"okay; lets go." dad said in a hushed tone, and my heart beat out of my chest as we started for the door. i feared someone would recognize and tell harry. he'd never forgive me.
but something even worse happened: the alarms.
they blared loud and obnoxiously, freezing us all in our tracks and leaving the whole store to stare at us. louis ran over right away and i felt like bursting into tears.
"hey! im calling the po--mary?" his voice weakened.
i didn't say a word.
"harry!" he called, and my breathtaking lover turned around in a swift motion and met eyes with me right away. it was like i could see him breaking at once.
"mary." he mouthed with sad eyes, i could've sworn he was about to cry. i didn't know what to do.
he walked over slowly, and it felt like everything was moving in slow motion. when we were face to face i couldn't even bring myself to look at him.
"look at me." harry urged.
i looked him in the eye and almost broke myself. his eyes were puffy and red, his cheeks swollen.
"why would you do this to me?" he cried. "this was all going to charity and i forgave you for stealing my journal, even! but then you go against your word and keep even more secrets. you could've just told me if you were going to start stealing again. i would've ended this a while ago."
i fell to my knees. "harry, im sorry."
he clicked his teeth, wiping his tear stained cheeks. "and im calling the cops."
------
the police came about five minutes later, and we were all handcuffed and escorted out of the store. harry was full out sobbing while watching me being pulled away from him forever and louis stared me down like i was gum on the bottom of his shoe.
i had just broken the most fragile man in the world, harry styles. two days after he trusted me enough to give himself to me. show me parts of him that no one else had seen. what a cheaply spent waste.
the tears wouldn't stop as i sat in the holding cell, already counting down the days for a trial. then, i would only have to see harry in court again and all the feelings would be paying me another visit. what had happened to my life?
my parents had managed to jump in and ruin it, once again.
it was about morning of the next day when a guard rapped on my cell and my cell only.
"you're free to go, miss miller."
what?
"excuse me?" i asked, looking up at the guard meekly. there was no way. the trial wasn't to be until a week from today. "im free? as in.. out?"
he nodded. "charges have been dropped. you're free to go."
it was almost like a miracle, because i would have never expected him to have so much mercy on me as to drop the charges on me completely. he could've sued me into hell, or maybe had me spend some time behind bars. but he didn't.
so as i walked into the fresh, crisp air, it was decided that the first thing i was going to do would be to thank him.
but first, i would have to find him.
the first place i checked was the most accurate. and indeed, he was still working his shift at the bakery like the committed, loving man he was. he seemed cheerful as dimples popped out and he engaged in conversation with a customer. he hugged her tightly, almost a little too tightly, and she waved and walked by me as she left. she was pretty. prettier than me.
i walked up to harry.
"why'd you drop the charges?" i asked abruptly.
he looked up from the counter and met eyes with me. even though he had that innocent smile, i could see the pain in them. "your parents are still going to jail, mary." he said passively. "jett is likely going to a foster home. and it's their fault."
"why on us though?" i asked. he just frowned like he didn't want me to be in his presence. "why me?"
he shrugged like i was nothing. i probably wasn't anymore, not to him. "you didn't steal anything. your brother was too young for jail. there."
so there weren't any lingering feelings.
i just stood there, unable to find words to say.
"mary, i might still love you." he started, playing with his fingers. that was it. there was still hope for me.
"but we're done."
the pain was so strong, physically and emotionally, that i blacked out right away.