I wake up with Harry’s long arms still forcing me against his body, and I struggle to get out of his grip. Once I finally escape, I check my phone to see it’s only nine in the morning. I guess I’ll take a shower and let Harry sleep some more, he definitely needs it. I don’t think he fell asleep until a few hours ago.

Once I shower and change I remember it’s Christmas Eve. It’s so weird not being with my parents at home, but I’m glad to be here. When I see Harry still peacefully sleeping on the bed I decide to go downstairs, maybe gran needs help with something. I think she said some of Harry’s aunts and uncles are coming over tonight to celebrate Christmas.

Just as I’m about to get downstairs, my phone starts to vibrate in my pocket and I get a little excited thinking it’s my parents. I haven’t talked to them since I got here, and I really want to tell them how beautiful it is here. I am quickly disappointed and rather confused when I see Ethan’s name on the screen. Why would he be calling?

“Hello?” Maybe it’s a butt dial.

“Oh hey Aubrey, I didn’t think you’d answer.”

“Ethan isn’t it like two in the morning there?”

“Yeah”

“Why are you calling so late?”

“Well I figured you’d be up and I just wanted to say Merry Christmas... Well Christmas Eve.”

“Oh... thanks, you too” There has to be something more he wants to talk about.

“How is your trip?”

“It’s really good so far… How’s your break going?”

“Alright, dad’s been working the whole time and everyone’s out of town”

“What are you doing now?”

“I’m just sitting in my basement, pathetic I know” He laughs and I giggle. “At least one of us is having fun”

Okay I really don’t know what to say to him, this is painfully awkward.

“Ethan I should really get going…”

“Of course… um sorry for calling you I just”

“It’s fine, I was just about to help out Harry’s grandmother, maybe we can talk another time?” I lie.

“Yeah, alright bye Aubrey”

“Get some sleep Ethan” I laugh before hanging up… Well that was weird and awkward.

I get downstairs to see gran already busy in the kitchen with food covering all of the counter space.

“Good morning!” I greet her.

“Morning, sunshine! Are you hungry?”

“No I’m okay” I say, I’ve never been one to eat breakfast, and she looks otherwise occupied. “Is this all for tonight?” I ask while studying the various types of foods in the kitchen. She really is going all out.

“Yes! It’s Christmas Eve, go hard or go home!” I laugh at her choice of words. Did she really just say that? “Harry taught me that one” She says reading my thoughts and laughs.

“So who is all coming over?”

“Well there is Harry’s uncle Jack and his wife Amelia, his aunt Lily and other aunt Julie and her husband Oliver” She says as she tries to think of the guest list for the evening. “Oh and Jack and Amelia’s daughter Avery, she is the cutest little baby”

“Oh” I nod, I’m a little nervous? So far everyone I’ve met here has been wonderful, but I still can’t shake that feeling in my stomach.

“I really wish Grace and Joel could make it, but of course they have something for work. Grace hasn’t been home for gosh, years now.” She sighs, and I agree with a nod. Even though I’m sure Harry would like it if his parents were around more, I don’t think it would be such a good idea, especially now that I know their whole story.

“morning ladies” I turn my head to see Harry has finally waken up, his unruly hair contained by a grey beanie, which looks very good on him I must say.

“Good morning, Harry, breakfast?”

“Nah I’m good. I better save my appetite for this” He says and points at all of the food in the kitchen causing us all to laugh.

“Well why don’t you go take a shower and get some nice clothes on, they are going to be coming over soon”

He lights out a sigh before looking at me to follow him back upstairs and we do just that.

“How long have you been awake?”

“Only a couple of hours”

“And you showered without me? Yesterday was so fun I thought we could make that happen again!” He teases and I punch his shoulder. “Alright fine, I’ll just go take a cold, lonely shower…”

“I’m not going to feel bad for you! Get in the shower Styles!” I laugh and he finally disappears into the bathroom.

I change into a nicer outfit because I don’t want to look bad when Harry’s family comes over. Then I sit down on the bed and switch the TV on, waiting for him to get out of the shower. As I mess around on my phone, I do something that surprises myself. I tap the green message icon and type in a familiar name before composing a message.

Sorry I couldn’t talk earlier, are you sure there's nothing else you wanted to talk about?

I read over the text carefully and take a deep breath before sending it to Ethan. I know It’s not the best idea to be talking to him, but my curiosity is taking over and I just want to know what that was about this morning.

“Whatcha doin?” I’m startled by Harry’s voice when he speaks. He must’ve come back into the room while I was looking at my phone.

“Just texting my mom” I lie. Why did I just lie to him, I shouldn’t be, there’s no reason to, but I did. Well I’m not doing anything wrong, so it doesn’t matter. Ethan is my friend now, and people text their friends, right?

He nods and continues to search for clothes before picking out a pair of black jeans and I nice shirt. He pulls a pair of boxers on and uses the towel to dry his hair and proceeds to pull the clothes on.

“Enjoying the show?” Harry teases as he catches me staring.

“Actually yes I was” I smile and he chuckles. He’s quite fit, and I am one lucky girl to have him.

“Harry, Aubrey!” Gran calls us from downstairs, and I assume his family has started to arrive. My nerves kick in yet again and I start to twist my hair with my fingers, a nervous habit.

“Don’t be nervous Aubs, they’ll love you . More than me probably” He says as he notices my actions. I shoot him a smile and stand up from the bed. We make our way downstairs and I see many new faces filling the kitchen.

“Oh, she’s lovely!” One of the women coos to Harry after they hug.

“Aubrey these are my aunts, Amelia, Lily and Julie” He says while pointing to each of the women. They are all very beautiful I must say. And they all greet me with a hug, they seem to be very sweet so far. I notice Lily looks a lot like Harry’s mother, and I feel sad for a moment thinking about what Harry told me last night about his parents blaming him. How terrible is that… How could you blame your child and make them feel unloved? It disgusts me, but I’m snapped out of my thoughts when Harry introduces his uncles, Jack and Oliver, whom I greet with a handshake.

“Alright, everyone find a seat in the dining room, dinner is almost ready!” Gran announces and we make our way to the room where a long table is beautifully decorated and set with what looks like expensive china.

“So Harry, how are you liking California?” Jack asks Harry, who is holding my hand under the table still from when I grabbed it earlier. They had all just finished grilling me about my childhood, current life, my future plans, and such before they moved on to Harry. I get the feeling that they don’t see him often.

“It’s nice” He vaguely replies.

“How’s school going for you? I heard you made the football team”

“It’s fine”

Why is Harry acting like this? I squeeze his hand in hopes to help him realize he’s being rude, and I think gran feels the same way when I see her shoot him a deep glare from across the table.

“So are you still planning on coming back to London next fall for school?”

“Yep” He says, popping the ‘p.’

For the next five minutes, all to be heard is the sound of forks against the plates. I want to say something to break this awkward silence, but I feel like it will make it even more awkward.

I continue eating, but gasp as I see Harry’s arm knock over his cup of some sort of punch, spilling onto my dress. I quickly stand up and dab my napkin over the large stain on the fabric. Wonderful.

“I’m sorry Aubs, here I’ll help you clean it” He says and takes my hand, dragging me towards the stairs. I am taken back at his quickness, it’s almost as if he planned to do this.

“Alright, who wants to go catch the Christmas movie special on the television?” I hear gran say from the dining room as we disappear into Harry’s room. She must’ve felt the awkwardness going on in that room as well.

“Sorry, I’ll buy you another” He says as I walk over to the sink and try to salvage this dress.

“It’s alright” I say as I decide there’s no use, and change into a different one. “Why did you spill that on me though?” I laugh. This was obviously planned.

“It was an accident?” He says.

“Yeah, sure” I smile.

“Okay fine! I just needed to get out of that suffocating room. They wouldn’t quit asking me questions that they don’t care about the answers to”

“Yeah, what the hell was that about?”

“What was what about?”

“You were being rude, Harry. They’re your family”

“They don’t care about me, they all just pity me because of how I acted that summer” He admits and I feel my mouth fall open. I honestly don’t know what to expect anymore with this family.

“Of course they care about you?”

“Nope, they just feel bad for gran because of how I treated her” I have a feeling that’s not completely true, but I also have a feeling that Harry doesn’t understand that. He feels guilty for all of this when he shouldn’t. It’s not his fault, and I wish he realized that. I can tell by the way that they speak to him, that his aunts and uncles genuinely care about them, but like I said, I know Harry doesn’t see that.

“That’s not true, I can tell. Stop tearing yourself down Harry, they care about you so stop thinking like that”

“I really shouldn’t have asked you to come.. I didn’t know think all of this would happen.” He says and rests his elbows on his knees as he sits on the edge of the bed.

“Harry, it’s fine. I’m glad I can be here for you”

We end up sitting in his room for ten minutes just talking and I let him vent to me about his family before we decide we should go downstairs. I really think Harry is starting to feel better about all of this, and I’d like to think I’ve helped him some.

Thankfully when we join the others downstairs, he takes my advice and actually speaks in full sentences to his family, and he even laughs a few times. Before we know it, everyone is headed home and we are left alone with gran.

“Well, I’m going to go get some rest, thank you for changing your attitude, Harry” She looks at him and says.

“And thank you for talking to him” She smiles and looks at me. “I’m starting to think he listens to you more than me!” She jokes and we all laugh.

“Night gran” Harry and I say, and we make our way to bed ourselves.

Notes

I am so sorry I haven’t updated all day and that this is a terrible chapter, but I have been very busy today. And I just wanted to let you all know that I am starting school Tuesday, so I may not update as often, but just know I will try to update as much as I can! I have a lot of great ideas that I can’t wait to write and for you all to read :)

I really hope you guys are still liking this story and don’t think it’s being dragged on or anything! Xx
If you just read the notes than I love you haha :)