I sat at one of those pathetic excuses of a chair in the waiting terminal of my flight back to the States. I sat slouched with my book in hand and my phone on my thigh. I glanced at the screen when it lit up and blinked.

From Harry: For the last time Annie, cats are cooler.

To Harry: Oh puh-lease.

From Harry: You cannot argue with their adorable little faces.

To Harry: Mkay Styles.

“Flight 103 to Los Angeles, California is now boarding.” A woman came over the intercom.

“C’mon sweetheart.” My mom tapped my knee and I grabbed my carryon and got in line to board the plane.

From Harry: How am I going to survive two whole weeks without you?

I felt the corner of my mouth twitch into a smile. To Harry: You survived 18 years without me before. I’m sure you’ll be fine babe. Though I will miss you greatly.

From Harry: But I didn’t know you then…

I smiled again, To Harry: You’re too good to me Haz

From Harry: Never. I wish I could give you everything you’ve ever wanted in your life.

To Harry: You already have.

From Harry: I love you Annie.

To Harry: I love you too babe. I have to go. We’re getting on the plane. I’ll call you when I land okay? .xx

From Harry: Okay love. Have a safe flight .xx

---

Our plane landed in L.A. around 9:00M. My mom and I grabbed our bags at the luggage claim and we met my Uncle.
“Annie!” My Uncle yelled. Goodness it was weird hearing someone other than my mother speaking in an American accent…

“Hey Uncle Rob. How’ve you been?” I gave him a one-armed hug as my one hand was latched protectively on my suitcase.

“Wonderful ever since I’ve known that you and my sister would be home for the holidays.

“Hey sis.” He greeted my mom. I really did miss my family here in LA but this constant changing is just getting so old.

He took the handles of our suitcases and started dragging them behind him. My mom and my Uncle caught up as we walked to my uncle’s car. I walked in their wake and fished my phone out of my pocket. I scrolled down to Harry’s name and hit the call button.

It rung a couple times and he answered in a groggy voice, “Huuuuh?”

I chuckled, “Hey Styles.”

“Annie!” He immediately sounded wide-awake. “So you’re in LA then I take it?”

“Yessir. Gahd this is so weird.”

“Why love?”

“Well for starters it’s actually like…warm-ish out. Second everyone is speaking in an American accent and I can honestly say I never thought it would be weird to hear that.”

“Yeah but your mom speaks with an American accent.” He chuckled.

I laughed, “Yeah but not everyone else around me!”

I heard him chuckle again, “So what are you doing right now?” He asked.

I felt a warm breeze brush across my face, “I just walked out of LAX. My mom, uncle, and I are walking to my uncle’s car. He’s gonna drive us to my grandparents house.”

“Are you excited or bummed?”

“Both. I mean of course I miss my family. I haven’t seen them in months but I’m gonna miss you so much. Just hearing your voice is making me home sick.” There was a long pause. “Harry?”

He finally spoke again, “You said home sick.”

“Yeah so?”

“LA is technically your home. How can you be home sick when you’re home.”

I almost laughed, “London is my home now Haz.” I could almost picture the smile that would spread across his face at those words.

“I miss you babe.”

“I miss you too. So what are you doing? Sleeping I’m assuming from your groggy entrance to this conversation.”

“Well it is two in the morning here silly. I’m surprised you’re not exhausted.”

I leaned against a pillar and wrapped the arm that wasn’t holding my phone around myself. “I slept on the plane.”

“Ah.”

“Should I let you sleep then?”

“No! No I want to talk! I haven’t heard your voice in hours and it sucks.”

“I know this whole situation is pretty much shit.”

“Annie, come help put the bags in the car.” My mom said looking at me from the open trunk of my uncle’s car. I nodded and held up my index finger letting her know that I would be there in a minute.

“Hey Haz, I actually have to go. My mom needs me to help them out.”

“Damn. Okay call me as soon as you can okay? This is literally going to be so weird. We’ve seen each other everyday for two months and now I’m not gonna see your face in person for two weeks.”

I laughed, “I know this is strange. I love you. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay babe. I love you too.”

I hit the end button, shoved my phone into my pocket and jogged over to my uncle’s car to help them pack.

---

CHRISTMAS DAY

12:00AM

I rolled over in my bed and glanced at my vibrating phone.

From Harry: Merry Christmas my love.

My mouth grew into a wide grin as I grabbed my phone off the bedside table.

To Harry: I love you babe. Merry Christmas.

From Harry: Annie! You’re supposed to be asleep of Santa won’t come!

I felt my eyes role, To Harry: You are the definition of “Cheese”

From Harry: Yeah but you love it.

To Harry: Yessss

From Harry: Seriously though go to bed.

To Harry: Uh huh. Why aren’t you sleeping Mr?

From Harry: Shhhhhh.

To Harry: Alright, alright fine. I’m going to bed. Goodnight Harry.

From Harry: Goodnight Annie. I love you.

To Harry: I love you too.

Harry’s POV

From Annie: You are the definition of “Cheese”

I felt the corners of my mouth twitch into a smile. To Annie: Yeah but you love it.

From Annie: Yessss

To Annie: Seriously though go to bed.

From Annie: Uh huh. Why aren’t you sleeping Mr?

I smiled again, To Annie: Shhhhhhh

From Annie: Alright, alright fine. I’m going to bed. Goodnight Harry.

To Annie: Goodnight Annie. I love you.

From Annie: I love you too.

Annie’s POV

Later that morning…

I stumbled down the stairs of my grandparent’s house to the kitchen. I walked through the doorway rubbing my eye and stretching.

“You sure you awake Ann?” My uncle chuckled from around his newspaper.

“Oh leave me alone.” I laughed. I strutted over to the fridge and took out a plump grapefruit. I cut it in half and ran the knife along the edges to make triangle shaped bites. I placed a half in a bowl and grabbed a spoon. Sitting down at the table across from my uncle, I took a bite of the bitter and sour fruit. I sighed missing the moist bread Harry always made me. It’d been a week and a half and it’d felt like a year. It was ridiculous. I tapped my finger on my phone hoping Harry would miraculously text me at that very instant.

I heard my uncle chuckle, “Wow you’ve got it bad.”

“Leave me alone!” I repeated and felt my cheeks turn pink.

“Nah I think it’s precious actually.”

I rolled my eyes and perked up as my phone began to ring. I snatched it and answered it after one ring, “Hello?!”

“Annie! Gahd you’re finally awake!”

“Yessir!”

“How did you sleep?”

“I slept okay. How about—Uncle Rob!” I yelled as he took the phone out of my hand.

“Is this the mysterious Harold that my niece keeps talking to?” My uncle said mockingly as I tried to grab my phone from him.

“Give it back!” I laughed.

“Uh huh. So give me the details. How much do you love her? If it’s anywhere shy of my expectation you better sleep with one eye open.”

I felt my face go pale and I momentarily stopped trying to grab my phone, “Uncle Rob…”

“Uh huh. Uh huh. Alright I’d say that’s good. Here yah go.” My uncle tossed my phone at me and I fumbled with it before it hit the floor.

I reached for it quickly and put it to my ear, “Harry?”

I heard his endless laughter in my right ear, “Yeah?”

“What did you say?”

“Nope I’m not telling.”

“Oh c’mon Styles!”

“Nope!” He said popping the “p.”

“You’re thoroughly enjoying this aren’t you?”

“Yup!” He said popping the “p” again.

“Leave the man alone Annie!” My uncle chirped from his newspaper.

I rolled my eyes, “So I see you and my uncle have formed a secret bond huh?”

“I believe so!”

“Annie, get dressed! We’re going to brunch!” My mom called.

“Ugh. I have to go. I’ll call you later okay? Love you!”

“Love you too Annie.” He replied obviously disappointed. I hit the end button of my iPhone.

Harry’s POV

“I slept okay. How about—Uncle Rob!” I heard her yell.

“Is this the mysterious Harold that my niece keeps talking to?” Her uncle’s voices said.

“Uh ye-yessir.” I stammered.

“Uh huh. So give me the details. How much do you love her? If it’s anywhere shy of my expectation you better sleep with one eye open.”

I chuckled a bit, “Rob, I love your niece more than I love myself. If it was possible to give her the literal world I would.” I replied easily. I could feel my cheeks turning pink even though the man I was speaking to was on the other side of the world.

“Uh huh. Uh huh. Alright I’d say that’s good. Here yah go.”

I heard a muffled sound and then a loud bang, “Annie?”

I heard another shuffle and then Annie’s voice, “Harry?”

I laughed, “Yeah?”

“What did you say?” She pressed.

“Nope I’m not telling you.”

“Oh c’mon Styles!” She said frustrated. I chuckled again.

“Nope.” I said popping the “p.”

“You’re thoroughly enjoying this aren’t you?” She sighed and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Yup!” I said popping the “p” again.

I heard a muffled voice in the background that must’ve been her uncle and then she said, “So I see you and my uncle have formed a secret bond huh?”

“I believe so!”

I heard another muffled sound but it sounded like a women’s voice, and then Annie said, “Ugh. I have to go. I’ll call you later okay? Love you!”

My shoulders slouched. “Love you too Annie.” And I heard her end the call.

Notes

Hey guys! I AM SO SO SO SO SORRY that I haven't updated sooner! I literally have had ZERO time to write! I have a bunch of scholarship shit to do and it suuuuucks. Not to mention all of my classes :p So I've just been able to write little bits each night.

I know this chapter is kind of boring but the exciting stuff will be in the next couple chapters promise!! It's all part of my plan!!!

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~JoseyWhite