To Fall So Deep

In the bathroom, Nina splashed her face with cold water. Her mind was still racing from the dream she had about Harry. It was a dream that felt so real to her, and as she stared at herself in the mirror, her fingers touched her lips. In part, Nina enjoyed the dream, but the rest of her felt crazy.

"What the fuck is going on?" Nina whispered to herself. She splashed more water onto her face before wiping it dry with a towel. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail. As she pulled and tugged on it, a small wad of matted hair easily fell off the back of her head.

Nina stared at the hair in her hand. In the months since losing her mom, and her appetite, her body lost so much nutrients. This unintentional anorexia was taking a toll on her health. She missed her long, shiny hair that was able to withstand hair dye, curling irons, flat irons, and anything else she wanted to do it. Now, brushing her hair was torture. Getting better-- recovery, was at the top of her list. Nina knew that helping her dad stand a chance in the election, surviving school, and gossip was not going to be possible until her health was in tip top shape.

She chucked the strands of hair into the trashcan, along with some of the hair that fell out that morning. She headed down the stairs where her family, Gregory Henley, and other ex-employees of the Piers Advertising Company were eating dinner. Despite the result of the trial, and losing their jobs, the men and women of the company seemed to have a little hope in them. They laughed, told jokes, and reminisced on the good ole times at the office.

"Anak, come and eat. There's plenty," Leo said, pointing to several trays of homemade food.

"Oh Leo, is this Nina?" a woman with curly red hair asked. She had a thick Irish accent.

"Yes Una, this is my eldest daughter," Leo confirmed.

"She's beautiful," Una declared, giving Nina a side hug. Nina smiled. "A little too thin if I may add. We're gonna have to fatten you up a bit."

"She makes the best Shepard's Pie," Gregory stated, pointing to his plate with a fork.

Nina grabbed a plate and began to pile food on it, surprising Leo, Corrine, and Kathleen. While the amount of food on her plate was a normal portion to most people, it was a great deal for Nina. She took a bite out of Una's Shepard's Pie-- a mixture of mashed potatoes, meat, carrots, celery, and peas-- and was very pleased with the taste. How her system would take to the sudden load of carbs and meat was beyond her, but she did enjoy the dish.

"Mister Henley is right, this is the best Shepard's Pie," Nina proclaimed. Una clapped her hands.

"I'm glad you like it, deary," Una smiled. The front door opened, and everyone turned their heads toward it. Walking in, holding a brown leather briefcase was Robbie Henley. He held up the brief case and smiled,

"I got it dad, it was in the trunk…. Oh, hi Nina."

Nina waved, her mouth full of mashed potatoes and meat. Gregory took the briefcase from Robbie and proceeded to open it up. He took out a tan folder and handed it to Leo.

"If we're going to have a chance of winning this election, we might as well get to know our competition," Leo opened the folder and as if taken straight out of a spy movie, the contents looked like a detailed profile of Desmond Styles, complete with a cliche black and white candid photo of him.

"Couldn't you just like, Google him?" Kathleen asked. She was serious. The adults in the room chuckled.

"Google doesn't have the nitty gritty secrets," Leo disclosed.

"Everyone has a weakness, we just have to figure out what Styles' is," Una pointed out.

The ex-employees of Piers Advertising Company crowded around the folder, pointing and discussing their election game plan. Corrine began packing to-go containers for everyone, and Kathleen had already left the room. All who was left was Nina, holding onto an empty plate, and Robbie. He turned his body to face Nina.

"Doesn't Una make the best Shephard's Pie?" Robbie broke the awkward silence between them.

"It is pretty good," Nina declared, looking up at him. He was wearing glasses, and a backwards snapback hat.

"The secret ingredient that makes it taste amazing is the meat. You know what kind of meat Una uses?"

"Uhm, pork?"

"Dingo balls,"

Nina's eyes widened, and she placed her hand to her stomach suddenly feeling a little nauseous. Robbie stared at her with an expressionless face for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. Nina furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"I'm sorry Nina," Robbie apologized. "The look on your face was priceless. You're right, it's pork."

She playfully punched him on the arm, and with sarcasm in her tone she said, "you're funny."

"Dingo testicles, really? One would have to go bonkers to actually scarf down potatoes and dingo testicles," Robbie was still laughing. "Sorry again... Say, do you like ice cream?"

"Only Dingo ball flavored ones," Nina replied with a smirk.

"Seriously. Because I know this great ice cream shop in town we could go to for some sweets if you're game?" Robbie suggested.

Nina looked at her father and his team. They were already so far deep into a conversation that she would not be missed. Besides, Robbie was a decent guy and for the first time in a long time, Nina was beginning to open up to the ideas of going out, and socializing.

"I'm game," Nina said. Robbie looked pleased. "Let me just change, and grab a jacket."

Nina hadn't changed since arriving home from school. She was still wearing her school uniform and decided to throw on a pair of skinny jeans, a dark blue long sleeve, and an oversized cardigan. She passed Kathleen on the way out of her room.

"Where are you going, Ate?" Kathleen asked.

"Ice cream with Robbie," Nina replied.

"OoOoOo…" Kathleen giggled.

"It's just ice cream," Nina reassured, pushing her sister to the side. "I'll be home later, bye."

Nina was back in downtown Ashford. She and Robbie walked side by side to the ice cream shop, passing Vitale's Place on the way there. Downtown Ashford was pretty at night; an elegant touch at every block. Strings of lights hung on the trees, the water fountains had lights that changed color, and to Nina's surprise, the streets were busy. People came in and out of the shops, restaurants were filled, and people of all ages were together having fun and taking selfles.

"So how do you like England so far?" Robbie asked. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.

"It was hard at first, but I'm starting to like it. The culture is different, you guys have different slang, but it's really not too different from my hometown," Nina looked up at Robbie and smiled. "Though, the accent here is 10 times better."

Robbie chuckled. He placed his hand on Nina's shoulder and pointed to a small shop-- Button's Ice Cream, the glowing lights read. This place was definitely the busiest on the main street of downtown Ashford, and with good reason. The inside was bright-- in lights, and in color. It was warm, happy, and the sweet smell of warm chocolate welcomed each guest as they walked in.

Outside of the shop, Robbie held onto Nina's shoulders, bending down so they're eye to eye, "Nina, I need to know that you're ready."

"Ready for what?" Nina cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"For an explosion of flavor, and beauty with every bite of thee best ice cream in the entire world," Robbie was clearly excited, a goofy smile painted on his face.

"I'm ready Robbie," Nina played along.

"I don't know, I can't hear you," Robbie shook his head.

"I'm ready," Nina said a little louder. Robbie cupped his hand around his ear,

"What? I can't hear you! It looks like you're not ready!" Robbie threw his hands into the air and amped up the volume in his voice, "Folks! Nina Dela Vera is not ready for Buttons!"

Nina's eyes widened. She punched Robbie in the chest, "Robbie, shhh."

Robbie's loud, and funny act caught the attention of random onlookers, who smiled at the cuteness. Among the other bystanders was Harry, walking across the street. He first noticed Robbie, and his loud voice. Then Nina, who began to jump up and down,

"I. Am. Ready!"

"Are you certain?" Robbie grabbed Nina's hands.

"I, Nina Dela Vera, am ready for Button's ice cream!" Nina bellowed at the top of her lungs, and the entire area within several yards of the ice cream shop stopped in their tracks to look at the crazy duo.

Harry stepped onto the sidewalk, and observed them jump around crazily-- their hands still holding. He noticed Nina's excitement, and the smile on her face. He smirked. He had to admit that it was a sight to see; a beautiful smile, because it was a genuine one. It brought him back to the summer holidays, when he first 'met' Nina.

Harry just started his shift, and was in the steam room soaking a clean towel in a bucket of santizer. He wrung out the excess into the sink before grabbing a grey bin. Zayn walked in through the swinging doors, giving Harry a high-five as they passed one another. He went out onto the floor, to table fifteen where a family just left. He began to do his normal duties as a busboy, and clean the table-- being careful to not break any expensive china.

As Harry wiped down the table, he noticed a pretty girl walk in from the back patio. She was petit, no more than 5 foot two, with long dark hair, tanned skin, and brown almond-shaped eyes. She had a simplicity that radiated from her, but a cloud of darkness and mercy that followed like a shadow. Harry couldn't stop staring at her, even when accidentally knocking down the salt and pepper shakers from the table.

A loud crash echoed through out the floor. Louis had just dropped his bin of dirty dishes on the floor causing plates, glasses, and silverware to shatter on the ground. The incident grabbed the girl's attention, and in that split second she stepped on a fallen pepper shaker, whipped her head around and BAM, collided right into Harry. She fell backwards, but like a reflex Harry threw the towel the off to the side, grabbed ahold onto her arm and pulled her back up in one swift movement. As he gazed into her eyes, the cloud that perpetually latched onto her, suddenly disappeared for a moment, and Harry could feel a lightness around her.

But then she left, just as quick as she had came. Throughout Harry's shift that day, he noticed himself steal glances in her direction to take a peak at the pretty girl. And when she left the restaurant, his mind released her image, for he was certain that he was never going to see her again.

Notes

Enjoying so far? I really hope so! If this story is your cup of tea, please give me feedback, rate it up, subscribe and tell all your friends to read it too!!

Thanks,

-Erica Jaine <3