Unexpected Fate
Chapter 30
Aria’s POV
I was lying in Harry’s arms, both snuggled under the covers. My head was snuggled into his chest and his chin was placed on the top of my head. I listened to the steady beat of his heart while he ran his fingers through my hair. What had felt like years of being away from him was made up in this moment. I began to draw patterns in his bare chest with my finger, “Can we just stay like this forever and never have to move?”
His chest rumbled lightly with laughter and kissed the top of my head, “That would be amazing but too easy. When do you want to see your parents?”
I suppressed a groan, “Probably sometime today…”
His fingers ran over my bare shoulder, “You don’t seem too enthused.”
I continued drawing patterns, “My parents and I… We don’t have that great of a relationship. After I moved to New York, they both kind of disowned me in a way. I mean, they would still talk to me but they were hardly supportive. My dad was more understanding than my mother. And now, my mother heard about me and you and she isn’t too approving of that either… I’m not sure if she knows we are back together or not.”
“Does she know about… You know…”
I knew what he was talking about immediately. He wanted to know if she knew about my assignment. I frowned a little at the thought, “Yeah… When I quit, my boss got in contact with my aunt, who got me the job. My aunt consequently told my mother. I haven’t talked to my mom since before we left for London when she basically blew up on me, telling my how ungrateful I was and that she couldn’t believe I gave up my job for a boy.”
My tone was hard and icy. I wanted to fix things with my mother but how was I supposed to do that when she wouldn’t try to see my side? I didn’t want us to be on bad terms and I wanted her and my dad to like Harry, but I knew it was all just a far-fetched dream. What I had done was practically a sin in her eyes. I looked up at Harry who looked a little concerned, “Are you afraid?”
He tried to compose his face but failed miserably, “No.”
A smiled grew on my face, “It’s okay if you are. If you weren’t, I would have to think you were mentally ill.”
He breathed out a sigh of relief, “Good, because I am bloody terrified.”
I laughed and leaned in closer, “It’ll be okay. I’ll be there with you the whole time.” I pressed my lips to his and he kissed me back tenderly.
I broke the kiss first, “We better get ready. We have a forty-five minute drive.”
He trapped me in his arms, “Or we could just stay here.”
He began kissing my neck and I tried to pull away, “Come on, Harry. Be a man.”
Harry pulled away, grinning at me and raising an eyebrow, “Be a man, huh? Last time I checked I was a man.”
I rolled my eyes, “Whatever you think, curls.”
He let go of me, ripping his blanket back, exposing his naked body. Little, or I should say big, Prince Harold was shown to the world, “Yep. Still a man.”
I laughed, rolling my eyes, “Just go get ready.”
He kissed me on the cheek, “Only if you take a shower with me.”
I cocked at eyebrow at him, “Nahh… I took one this morning.”
Harry’s jaw dropped at being shut down but he quickly recovered with a devious smirk. I didn’t like that look at all. Before I could even ask him what he was doing, he ripped the blankets from my body, scooping me up in his arms. I let out a scream which caused him to laugh. I started kicking my legs but he ignored it, walking into the hotel bathroom. He sat me down on my feet, keeping his arms around my waist. He leaned in kissing my neck, “Will you pleaaaase take a shower with me?”
I crossed my arms over my bare chest, “No.”
His lips moved up to my jaw line, “Pleaaaase?”
Goose bumps erupted over my body but I held my ground, “Nope,” popping the ‘p’.
His lips moved to my sweet spot below my ear. His teeth grazed my earlobe, “Are you sure?”
I let out a small moan and he chuckled. I practically melt in his arms.
Harry’s rental car pulled to a stop in front of my parent’s home. It was a white, two story house. The front porch was lined with hanging baskets of flowers and two old wooden rocking chairs. There were old oak trees in the front yard and memories of trying to climb them went through my mind. I guess it was a stereotypical American home. I felt Harry grab my hand and squeeze softly, “Are you ready?”
I nodded my head lightly and opened the door on the car. I waited for Harry to come around and he took my hand in his. I hadn’t called my parents to tell them I was coming; I was just kind of showing up. I smoothed out my light blue sundress and ran my free hand through my brown curls. I breathed out steadily and led Harry down the sidewalk that was lined with flowers. We walked up the steps to the porch and stopped on the ‘welcome’ mat. I starred at the door, fear washing through every bone in my body. I didn’t know what they would say to me or Harry. My mother’s mouth didn’t really have a filter and I was sure we were going to hear her opinion tonight. I knew I had to do this so I quickly pushed the doorbell, knowing I couldn’t turn back after that. We waited only a few seconds before the door opened.
My father stood there, starring at me like he had no clue who I was. He was slim and tall, with graying hair and glasses. He was wearing khaki shorts and an orange shirt that said, ‘Mount Dora High School Hurricanes’. I was glad it was him answering the door, rather than my mother. My relationship with my father wasn’t perfect, but it was far better than my mothers. I smiled up at him, “Hi, daddy.”
His facial expression softened, “Aria? What are you doing here?”
“I just thought I would come and visit, since I didn’t get to on Christmas… Is that okay?”
I pushed the glasses up on his nose, “Of course it is. Don’t just stand there, nugget, give me a hug.”
I laughed at my dad’s old nickname for me and stepped into his open arms. He wrapped his arms around me, patting my shoulder and whispered in my ear, “I’ve missed you, sweetie. Even though your mother doesn’t act like it, she does too. I know we can be a little pushy, but we just want what’s best for you.”
I nodded my head that was against his chest, “I know.”
I pulled away, reconnecting my hand with Harry’s, “Dad, this is Harry Styles… My boyfriend.”
He looked at me, and I smiled at him encouragingly, then he turned to Harry, looking him up and down before extending his hand and smiling, “It’s nice to meet you Harry.”
Harry smiled back, taking his hand, “Nice to meet you too, Mr. Franks.”
“Just call me, Richard.”
Harry nodded, and they dropped hands. I internally breathed out a sigh of relief. My father was willing to behave, which is a huge advantage. My dad turned to me, “You guys want to come inside?”
I nodded and me and Harry walked inside. It was just like how I remembered. The same white living room and staircase. A few pictures were on the wall or random things, like my father’s parents and only one picture of me on my graduation. My dad shut the door, “Do you want to stay for supper?”
I turned to Harry and looked at him questionably. He shrugged his shoulders and I turned back to my dad, “Sure. Um… Where’s mom?”
Dad went and sat on the leather sofa by the bay window, “She went to the store to pick up a few things.”
Harry and I joined him on the couch and he made conversation with Harry about various things like: England, One Direction, being famous, soccer teams. That kind of stuff. They seemed to get a long great and Harry didn’t act as nervous. My father asked me what I was doing now since I quit, “I, um, am working for a company from home, just until I find another job.”
He raised an eyebrow, “Have you gotten any offers?”
I tapped my fingers against my thigh, nervously, “Yeah. Quite a few, actually. But none that have really… caught my attention.”
He nodded his head in understanding, “Well, I’m sure you will find something. You’re a very good worker. Maybe you could find something closer to home.”
There it was, closer to home. I didn’t want a fight with him about moving closer to home so I just nodded, “Maybe.”
The front door opened and my stomach dropped into my butt. I grabbed Harry’s hand and he squeezed. My mother shut the door with her hip, holding two paper bags full of groceries. She froze when she saw me and Harry on the couch. I swallowed back my fear and fought the urge to grab Harry and run out the front door, “Hi, mom.”
I was lying in Harry’s arms, both snuggled under the covers. My head was snuggled into his chest and his chin was placed on the top of my head. I listened to the steady beat of his heart while he ran his fingers through my hair. What had felt like years of being away from him was made up in this moment. I began to draw patterns in his bare chest with my finger, “Can we just stay like this forever and never have to move?”
His chest rumbled lightly with laughter and kissed the top of my head, “That would be amazing but too easy. When do you want to see your parents?”
I suppressed a groan, “Probably sometime today…”
His fingers ran over my bare shoulder, “You don’t seem too enthused.”
I continued drawing patterns, “My parents and I… We don’t have that great of a relationship. After I moved to New York, they both kind of disowned me in a way. I mean, they would still talk to me but they were hardly supportive. My dad was more understanding than my mother. And now, my mother heard about me and you and she isn’t too approving of that either… I’m not sure if she knows we are back together or not.”
“Does she know about… You know…”
I knew what he was talking about immediately. He wanted to know if she knew about my assignment. I frowned a little at the thought, “Yeah… When I quit, my boss got in contact with my aunt, who got me the job. My aunt consequently told my mother. I haven’t talked to my mom since before we left for London when she basically blew up on me, telling my how ungrateful I was and that she couldn’t believe I gave up my job for a boy.”
My tone was hard and icy. I wanted to fix things with my mother but how was I supposed to do that when she wouldn’t try to see my side? I didn’t want us to be on bad terms and I wanted her and my dad to like Harry, but I knew it was all just a far-fetched dream. What I had done was practically a sin in her eyes. I looked up at Harry who looked a little concerned, “Are you afraid?”
He tried to compose his face but failed miserably, “No.”
A smiled grew on my face, “It’s okay if you are. If you weren’t, I would have to think you were mentally ill.”
He breathed out a sigh of relief, “Good, because I am bloody terrified.”
I laughed and leaned in closer, “It’ll be okay. I’ll be there with you the whole time.” I pressed my lips to his and he kissed me back tenderly.
I broke the kiss first, “We better get ready. We have a forty-five minute drive.”
He trapped me in his arms, “Or we could just stay here.”
He began kissing my neck and I tried to pull away, “Come on, Harry. Be a man.”
Harry pulled away, grinning at me and raising an eyebrow, “Be a man, huh? Last time I checked I was a man.”
I rolled my eyes, “Whatever you think, curls.”
He let go of me, ripping his blanket back, exposing his naked body. Little, or I should say big, Prince Harold was shown to the world, “Yep. Still a man.”
I laughed, rolling my eyes, “Just go get ready.”
He kissed me on the cheek, “Only if you take a shower with me.”
I cocked at eyebrow at him, “Nahh… I took one this morning.”
Harry’s jaw dropped at being shut down but he quickly recovered with a devious smirk. I didn’t like that look at all. Before I could even ask him what he was doing, he ripped the blankets from my body, scooping me up in his arms. I let out a scream which caused him to laugh. I started kicking my legs but he ignored it, walking into the hotel bathroom. He sat me down on my feet, keeping his arms around my waist. He leaned in kissing my neck, “Will you pleaaaase take a shower with me?”
I crossed my arms over my bare chest, “No.”
His lips moved up to my jaw line, “Pleaaaase?”
Goose bumps erupted over my body but I held my ground, “Nope,” popping the ‘p’.
His lips moved to my sweet spot below my ear. His teeth grazed my earlobe, “Are you sure?”
I let out a small moan and he chuckled. I practically melt in his arms.
Harry’s rental car pulled to a stop in front of my parent’s home. It was a white, two story house. The front porch was lined with hanging baskets of flowers and two old wooden rocking chairs. There were old oak trees in the front yard and memories of trying to climb them went through my mind. I guess it was a stereotypical American home. I felt Harry grab my hand and squeeze softly, “Are you ready?”
I nodded my head lightly and opened the door on the car. I waited for Harry to come around and he took my hand in his. I hadn’t called my parents to tell them I was coming; I was just kind of showing up. I smoothed out my light blue sundress and ran my free hand through my brown curls. I breathed out steadily and led Harry down the sidewalk that was lined with flowers. We walked up the steps to the porch and stopped on the ‘welcome’ mat. I starred at the door, fear washing through every bone in my body. I didn’t know what they would say to me or Harry. My mother’s mouth didn’t really have a filter and I was sure we were going to hear her opinion tonight. I knew I had to do this so I quickly pushed the doorbell, knowing I couldn’t turn back after that. We waited only a few seconds before the door opened.
My father stood there, starring at me like he had no clue who I was. He was slim and tall, with graying hair and glasses. He was wearing khaki shorts and an orange shirt that said, ‘Mount Dora High School Hurricanes’. I was glad it was him answering the door, rather than my mother. My relationship with my father wasn’t perfect, but it was far better than my mothers. I smiled up at him, “Hi, daddy.”
His facial expression softened, “Aria? What are you doing here?”
“I just thought I would come and visit, since I didn’t get to on Christmas… Is that okay?”
I pushed the glasses up on his nose, “Of course it is. Don’t just stand there, nugget, give me a hug.”
I laughed at my dad’s old nickname for me and stepped into his open arms. He wrapped his arms around me, patting my shoulder and whispered in my ear, “I’ve missed you, sweetie. Even though your mother doesn’t act like it, she does too. I know we can be a little pushy, but we just want what’s best for you.”
I nodded my head that was against his chest, “I know.”
I pulled away, reconnecting my hand with Harry’s, “Dad, this is Harry Styles… My boyfriend.”
He looked at me, and I smiled at him encouragingly, then he turned to Harry, looking him up and down before extending his hand and smiling, “It’s nice to meet you Harry.”
Harry smiled back, taking his hand, “Nice to meet you too, Mr. Franks.”
“Just call me, Richard.”
Harry nodded, and they dropped hands. I internally breathed out a sigh of relief. My father was willing to behave, which is a huge advantage. My dad turned to me, “You guys want to come inside?”
I nodded and me and Harry walked inside. It was just like how I remembered. The same white living room and staircase. A few pictures were on the wall or random things, like my father’s parents and only one picture of me on my graduation. My dad shut the door, “Do you want to stay for supper?”
I turned to Harry and looked at him questionably. He shrugged his shoulders and I turned back to my dad, “Sure. Um… Where’s mom?”
Dad went and sat on the leather sofa by the bay window, “She went to the store to pick up a few things.”
Harry and I joined him on the couch and he made conversation with Harry about various things like: England, One Direction, being famous, soccer teams. That kind of stuff. They seemed to get a long great and Harry didn’t act as nervous. My father asked me what I was doing now since I quit, “I, um, am working for a company from home, just until I find another job.”
He raised an eyebrow, “Have you gotten any offers?”
I tapped my fingers against my thigh, nervously, “Yeah. Quite a few, actually. But none that have really… caught my attention.”
He nodded his head in understanding, “Well, I’m sure you will find something. You’re a very good worker. Maybe you could find something closer to home.”
There it was, closer to home. I didn’t want a fight with him about moving closer to home so I just nodded, “Maybe.”
The front door opened and my stomach dropped into my butt. I grabbed Harry’s hand and he squeezed. My mother shut the door with her hip, holding two paper bags full of groceries. She froze when she saw me and Harry on the couch. I swallowed back my fear and fought the urge to grab Harry and run out the front door, “Hi, mom.”
Notes
Thanks for reading Directioners!1) What has been your favorite part of the story so far?
2) What do you think about Aria's dad, Richard Franks?
3) Do you think Aria's mom will be as nice as Richard or do you think World War III is about to break out in the small town of Mount Dora, Florida?
I was looking for fan fiction and I saw on onedirectionfanfiction.net and I saw it on her. I can't believe she did that. EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW THIS STORY IS PLAGIARIZED. The real writer is @TuxedoNails LOVE HER.
12/2/14