To Fall So Deep

Nina’s head was spinning in several different directions that she was unaware of time and space. Her eyes were closed tight, as she grasped onto Harry’s waist for support. Her head was buried deep into his chest, too afraid to let go. Harry rested his chin on top of her head, stroking the back of her head.

“I’m so sorry baby,” was all Harry could let escape his lips. He didn’t know what else to say, His mind kept drifting back to his father. He was in office for less than a week and he already was making life miserable in Ashford. Desmond Styles made it a mission to keep Ashford from going downhill in the hands of the Dela Vera clan, but it was Mayor Styles who was doing the damage.

“I need to get out of here. I need air,” Nina managed to get out in between her silent cries.

“I got you,” Harry separated from Nina, holding her face in his hands. He swiped her tears away with his thumb before giving her an assuring kiss on the forehead. He draped his arm around Nina’s shoulder and proceeded to lead her out of the school.

The couple stood by Harry’s Range Rover in the frosty air. Nina leaned her back against the vehicle, her fingers fidgeting and her head looking down at her feet. Harry stood before the love of his life, gazing at the sadness that unexpectedly overcame her. He noticed tears dribbling down her nose, and falling onto her hands. Nina sniffled.

“I can’t believe any of this,” Nina looked up to meet Harry’s gaze, “Corrine doesn’t deserve this… She loves this school, she loves her students. She already had to give up her teaching methods to oblige to that stupid Act.”

“I know sweetie. And I hate my dad even more for all of this,” Harry disclosed.

“We literally can’t afford for Corrine to not work. Kathleen and I only get to go to Ashford Academy because Corrine teaches here. My dad hasn’t found a new job yet. My minimum wage job at the café can’t support a family of four. We’re still paying for Kathleen’s hospital bills, and bills still left over from my therapy sessions. I can’t… Harry, there’s nowhere to go. I-I-I just…”

“Hey stop, shhh,” Harry interrupted Nina’s rambling mouth and pulled her into a tight hug. Nina’s arms wrapped around Harry’s waist, as she breathed in his comforting scent.

“Sorry for rambling. I just don’t know what to do anymore,” Nina breathed. After what seemed like twenty minutes of silence, she finally spoke up again, “I miss my mom.”

“I just want to make you feel better babe,” Harry stated, lifted Nina’s chin. He placed a quick kiss on her lips before continuing, “I hate it when you feel like… well, like shit.”

“The only thing that will make me feel better, is you,” Nina declared, “I love you.”

“Same here,” Harry leaned forward and kissed Nina, pushing his body against hers and closing the gap between them. “I’m so in love with you.”

“Harry let’s go away,” Nina said, with hope in her tone.

“Where would we go?” Harry questioned.

“Canterbury,” Nina simply answered, “please? Just for a night or two. I really don’t want to be here. Just you and me… can we just runaway from our problems? Even if it’s just a temporary fix.”

Harry stared into Nina’s pleading eyes, contemplating her request. It was tempting. Too tempting. He wanted more than anything to leave, and with Nina nonetheless. What could it hurt? A night or two out of town would do them good. Harry knew that running away from their issues wouldn’t solve anything, but a little air from the situation may give them both some of their sanity back.

Harry exhaled and let out a dimpled smile, “let’s do it!”

“Really?”

“Really!”

“Oh my gosh!” Nina squealed with delight, lurching into Harry’s open arms and wrapping her legs around his waist. She hid her face into the crook of his neck, holding him tightly. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

“Anything for you my love,” Harry chuckled at Nina’s excitement. He leaned back to look at Nina’s wide grin, “let’s run home and pack a few things. I want to see Gemma anyway. I’ll pick you up at noon?”

“Sounds like the perfect plan,” Nina smiled, and Harry sat her back down on the ground.

The couple both climbed into the Range Rover, and Harry backed the car out of its spot and drove it down the gravel pathway. He reached over and held Nina’s hand, giving it a light squeeze. Nina looked at the curly headed boy next to her and smiled.

After dropping Nina off to the empty Dela Vera residence, Harry made his way back to the house he once called home. Despite his mother’s attempts to bring him home, Harry refused. He spent the last week at Greg Horan’s flat with his wife, and their newborn. Though the baby boy’s screaming wasn’t the greatest thing, Harry still preferred their home over his own.

Harry opened the front door of the Styles residence, feeling a waft of cold, unwelcomed air. The house felt empty, and not in just occupancy. It felt unlived, soulless, and even the typical smell of cookies and muffins were missing in the picture.

In his room, which was left exactly the way it was when he last left it, Harry pulled out a black duffle bag from underneath his bed. He threw random articles of clothing and his bathroom essentials into the bag. From his closet, Harry pulled out a pair of black slacks, a white buttoned up shirt, and a black tie. He slipped on the new attire, looking at himself in the mirror. He smiled to himself, thinking about Nina, and her approval towards ties.

He opened up his desk drawer, sticking his hand beneath the messy pile of notebooks and paper. Harry pulled out a large envelope, and a stack of official documents. After looking at the envelope’s contents, he shoved them into the duffle bag, and ran out his bedroom door.

At the familiar back hallway, Harry entered the elevator that he missed riding on a daily basis. Once on the third floor, and the doors slid open, Harry ran into the well-lit loft, scanning his eyes for Gemma.

“Sir Harry?”

“Lady Gemma!”

The frail girl lied in a slew of fluffy pillows and soft blankets, her head covered by one of her many signature animal beanies. This time it was a bright green frog that adorned her baldhead. Tubes ran through her nose, and an IV was attached to one of her veins in her arm.

“Well look at you! Aren’t you a dapper lad! Are you back home?” Gemma asked. Her voice was weak, but the sight of her goofy little brother made her feel happy again.

Harry shook his head, “nope. Just came by to visit and to tell you something.”

“What?” Gemma patted the empty area on her bed.

“I’m going to marry Nina,” Harry declared.

Gemma’s eyes widened, “you’re what?!”

“Today,”

“Today?!”

“Will you stop repeating what I’m saying?” Harry exclaimed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I’m sorry,” Gemma sighed, “but what? Today? You’re marrying Nina today? Baby bro, why?”

“I mean we’ll eventually do it… so why wait? I need her, and she needs me. Why delay it any further?” Harry explained.

Gemma eyed Harry, shaking her head with a smirk on her sunken face, “just make sure you bring back your new wife here so I can meet her. Please?”

“Of course I will,” Harry chuckled. “I need you to do a couple of things for me sis.”

“What’s up?”

“Nina is only seventeen… she needs consent to marry,” Harry leaned down and unzipped his duffle bag, pulling out a packet of paper and a pen. He set it down on Gemma’s lap, “I was wondering if you can forge a few signatures?”

“Harry!” Gemma scolded. Harry held up his hands in defense,

“Please big sis?”

Gemma rolled her eyes with a groan, “fine. You’re lucky I’m on a ‘living positively’ streak.”

“Thank you,” Harry smiled. He placed a kiss on Gemma’s cheek before she uncapped the pen, and neatly signed the consent forms.

“Anything else?” Gemma asked, a taunting note to her tone of voice.

“One more thing,” Harry grinned goofily. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and waved it in front of his sister. “I need a few selfies with you.”

“You want to take photos with me?” Gemma’s mouth dropped open, gesturing to herself, “Harry no! I’m a complete mess!”

“Gemma please? Come on! Just two selfies… I don’t know when I’ll be able to do this again,” Harry begged, looking pleadingly at Gemma.

“Harry, I’m ugly,” Gemma admitted, her eyes falling to her lap.

“Sis, you will always be beautiful to me,” Harry replied in a heartbeat, which immediately made Gemma lift her head to face Harry.

“You really are the best brother,” Gemma smiled. She rubbed her forehead with a smirk before letting out a reluctant sigh, “okay, I’ll take selfies with you. But only two!”

“Promise,” Harry smiled. He sat closer to Gemma, holding out his phone’s camera in front of them. The sibilings both smiled as Harry clicked the center touch-screen button.

“One more,” Gemma said, “but a funny one!”

Holding the phone up again, Harry and Gemma both made the craziest, goofiest, derp-iest expression they could ever make. In between their fits of uncontrollable laughter, Harry snapped their hilarious moment together, before sticking his phone back into his pocket.

“Thank you for taking these photos with me,” Harry held onto Gemma’s boney hand and rubbed it softly.

“Remember, bring Nina home. I want to meet her. Do you promise me Sir Harry?”

“I promise Lady Gemma,”

“Good! Now get out of here before mom and dad get home. Go marry the girl of your dreams!” Gemma sent away her brother with a smile, waving as he exited the loft.

Harry sat in his car with the keys in the ignition and the duffle bag in the passenger seat next to him. Unzipping the bag, he pulled out the envelope and stuck his hand inside, taking out a few documents. With the camera ready on his phone, he began to take photos of each important file. Harry opened a fresh email and began typing a quick message into the textbox:

Ashford Press,

My father is not an honest man. My sister Gemma is not in America pursuing her studies, but has been held captive by my family due to her medical illness. This is not a joke, nor a cry for attention. Ashford must know the truth about the man they elected as Mayor. Attached to this email are my sister’s medical records, diagnosis, and recent photographs. Thank you.

H. Styles

Harry pressed send, and just like that life was about to change—and hopefully for the better. He always knew he’d be the one to expose his father, but the adrenaline of it was something he never expected. At this point, Harry was relieved to be leaving the city because being in Ashford as this entire controversy unfolds was something he did not want to be a part of. He just wanted the love of his life, and her vows.

Notes

Hey hey hey!

Happy Friday everyone!! Is everyone doing well?! I'm doing pretty peachy! Lazy and peachy haha! Well here is Chapter 37. Hope you all liked it! Finallyyyyy Harry does something about his father! I hope you all have an amazing Memorial Day weekend, and I'll see you with Chapter 38! Thanks for reading!

-Erica Jaine <33