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It Takes Patience III: Stripped

Chapter 19: The Siren

*Reagan’s POV*
When we pulled into Channel’s driveway, I hadn’t even noticed that I had fallen asleep. Jet lag catches on quickly and stays with you for way too long. As we got out of the car I wiped the drool that began to develop on the side of my mouth off of my face much to Channel’s amusement. She seems to catch every embarrassing moment that I have. I drug my carry-on luggage up the stairs with me that had a few articles of clothing in it in hopes to take a warm shower while I’m here.

We were just off campus and the building was familiar to me, the old off campus apartment that I shared with Channel when I went with her to UCLA, before I had ever left for London that faithful summer, before I accepted my position working under Dr. Koch and before any of this bullshit happened.

I walked over to the couch and sat down as the fond memories filled my mind of how excited Channel and I were when we first moved in at the start of our sophomore year. The only way we were able to get it is by our parents’ names being on the lease. We made sure to take care of it and worked our asses off to keep up rent and even though it was hard, these four walls will always hold some of my most fond memories.

Channel hung her keys up on the hook on the wall before she opened the sliding doors that led to the balcony. The warm Los Angeles breeze made its way through making me feel more relaxed before the questioning that I knew was coming started.

“Come out with it Channel,” I looked at her with my head rest on the back of the couch, lazily opening one eye before I continued, “I know why you’re looking at me like that and I want to get it over with. I never want to talk about it again after this.”

“That’s kind of impossible Rea.”

I looked over at her rolling my eyes knowing that she was right. She dropped her gaze before she started to bite her nails and shake her head, reminding me instantly of Laurie. I saw a tear fall and I had to look away. I could feel my body trying to muster up some moisture that I wasn’t willing to give, but I know I won’t be able to hold it in with Channel.

“I’m so, sorry Reagan. I feel so bad,” her voice cracked and I knew that was the end of my restraint, “to think that I sat in the same room with him, that I pushed for him,” Channel waved her hands in the air between us and then dropped them scoffing at herself before she continued, “I felt sick Rea.”

She stopped and put her head down before she wiped her eyes once more and looked at me.

“How are you going to tell your parent’s? I started to but I feel like it’s not my place. They don’t even know you’re home do they?”

I’d thought about it on the plane and decided the best idea for myself, and for this all to blow over in a timely manner. Once I had told my parents, there would be no going back.

“I’m not going to tell them.”

“Rea what-”

“Channel, I’m not! There’s nothing that you can say that will make me change my mind on this. I’m going to get help, but if I involve them in any way this is going to get dragged out worse than it already is. I’ve already filed a claim and honestly there’s nothing that my parents can do. Harry has court next week and I know, I know he’ll be there.”

An eerie feeling comes to the pit of my stomach when I think about the whole thing and it reminds me that I haven’t heard a response from Harry yet. I take out my phone in hopes that I just might still have it on airplane mode and that I’ve just missed a message but my notifications are clear and void. I try not to show my disappointment in front of Channel not wanting to come off as desperate, but at the same time I know that’ exactly what I am.

I desperately want to talk to him, I desperately want to see his face, and I desperately need to know that he’s okay as he told me he was a few hours ago. Harry tries to hide behind his disorder and use it to his advantage, but I know when something isn’t sitting right with him. He told me that he was fine with the decision that he made for us, but the truth came through in his eyes. Behind the crystal jade and sapphire pools I saw the complete chaos that started in his mind. The only reason that it was easier to depict this time though, was because the same worries entered mine.

“When I go home, I’ll just tell my parents it’s a surprise visit. Dr. Koch should be able to set me up with something so that I don’t have to pay as much or have anyone outside of you know that that’s what I’m doing.” I speak out loud to myself mostly as ideas begin fall into place all the while staring at my phone screen as if thinking about him will make a message appear.

I can see Channel primp her lips out of the corner of my eye, but I ignore it as my eyelids become too heavy to hold open. I blink rapidly a few times before I widen them to keep myself awake. I feel like a narcoleptic.

“Is there anything you want to do right now since you’re back? You shouldn’t fall asleep yet or your timing will be all fucked.” I chuckle at her knowing that she’s right, but I secretly want to cry. I’m. So. Tired.

I look down at myself and Casper the Friendly Ghost comes to mind. It’s three in the afternoon now; the sun’s rays should be at their best.

“Can we go lay by someone’s pool? Preferably mine? I’m too drained to do anything else and I’m pale like you said.”

Channel grabs my hand pulling me up from the couch while giving me one of her most beautiful smiles before we leave out of the apartment.

*Harry’s POV*
No.

I can’t deal with her right now. Tamsin always catches me when I’m at my worst and uses my weak points to her advantage, but in the back of my mind I feel that in a weird way I’m drawn to her.

Tamsin is arrogant; she has been since I’ve known her. She’s pretty, but she’s not beautiful like Reagan, and there’s something about her that I can’t stand, but I’m drawn to her like a moth to flame sure to be burned as an end result. I don’t love her by any means, I don’t even know if I necessarily like her, but she has me bested and she knows it. Tamsin is the mermaid siren and I the traveler lost at sea hoping for guidance. The ironic thing about it is, every time I’ve gone to her in the past I’ve been mislead and further confused.

I stand on unstable legs as I hold on to the railing of the patio for added support trying to make my way to the door. I need to leave and not allow her to sink her claws into me anymore than she already has, but Gemma stops me in my tracks blocking my get away.

“Gem...” I try to speak and tell her to get Tamsin away from me, but I manage to almost fall over instead. I need to get out of here away from her.

“Jesus,Harry! Zayn what have you guys been giving my brother? He’s beyond pissed.” She laughs but I can sense the seriousness in her tone that Zayn seems to miss as he laughs along with her. I almost tell her to fuck off and that I can handle my drink, but my inebriated tongue doesn't work as fast as my brain rattles off ideas.

Zayn flicks his cigarette butt into the grass after taking one final drag and comes up behind me, pulling my left arm around his shoulders.

“Where’s Reagan?” Gemma asks me sincerely this time compared to all the others where it was only done to be polite.

I shake my head not wanting to say that she’s gone again and this time I’m the one that sent her away. I don’t want to give Tamsin the opportunity that I know she feeds off of, so instead I stay silent and allow my intoxicated mind to take hold as my head lulls back and forth on my shoulders.

“She’s back home in California. Went to visit her family Harry said. I’ll take him home. Don't worry about him Gem. He's just asked to leave anyway and Perrie's just called me.” Zayn speaks for me and I wish he hadn’t. The look on Tamsin’s face is the exact thing that I was trying to avoid.

We make our way to Zayn’s black Camry and as he puts me in the car a muffled marimba begins to play.“I fucking hate that ringtone.” I speak and Zayn laughs in my expense, again.

“It’s your phone that’s playing it mate, not mine. I keep my phone on silent or vibrate.” I look over to him as he puts his key into the ignition and I have half a mind to ask him if he’s in any better condition to drive than I am, but I can’t get my mouth to formulate the words.

The noise stopped but then shortly started back up again drowning out the soft rock that comes through the speakers as the car starts. My hand reached for my pocket once more, this time successfully grabbing my phone out. Her name came across the screen instantly sobering me and making me feel guilty about my previous thoughts on Tamsin. She should be the only one on my mind and I hate myself for allowing another to be of any type of relevance.

I reached for the button above my head, turning on the overhead light and squinting to be sure that I could see her when I accepted the face time call.

“Harry? Are you there?”

“I am.” A towel covered her , but I could tell that she was in a bikini. The sun shined bright behind her. She looked beautiful, and my heart skipped several beats to see her illuminated by the light while I was once again in the dark.

“I can’t see you. Where are you?” I could hear the smile in her voice and I know there was a small one on my face as well.

“Leaving a party. It’s dark here and I don’t have good lighting,” I try to keep my sentences short as to not slur them and I can see her smile drop somewhat, “how was your flight?”

“Oh, it was good I made it back fine. I sent you a message but I guess you didn’t get it?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry. I’ve been with the lads all day. I miss you terribly already.” I see Zayn jeering at me out of the corner of my eye but I don’t give a fuck. I need her to recover as quickly as possible. I don’t know how much more of this I can take and it hasn’t even been a full day yet. It’s pathetic, but it’s the truth.

“Harry, I miss-” my phone goes dead cutting her off mid-sentence and I have to detain myself from throwing it out the window in frustration.

“You guys are so cute.” Zayn chuckles lighting another cigarette before he turns off his overhead light.

I glare at him as we make the turn down my block and then rest my head against the window. As we pull up next to my house my eyes do a double take. I could have sworn I’d seen a figure standing close to my front drive, but when I look again there is no one in sight.

I pull the lock and get out of the car, hoping that the ground doesn’t drop from beneath me as I make my way to the door and bound as quickly as I can make it up the stairs to charge my phone.

Notes

Hello Beautiful subscribers!!! Sorry for the late update, but I hope you enjoyed it none the less. How are you all? I got into a small car accident yesterday :( Anyway, What did you all think about this chapter??? I cant wait to see the comments on this. Why do you think that Harry has this strange infatuation with Tamsin? and is Harry seeing things or was there actually someone there in the shadows by his house? Please leave me loads of comments guys you know I live off of them! Also be sure to vote and subscribe if you're enjoying the story so far and haven't done so yet. LOVE YOU ALL FOR READING!!! :)))))))

PS: With the exception of this Friday, I will more than likely be doing FanFic Fridays so I can give you all better quality chapters. I might be able to sneak in a chapter here or there in between, but for the most part updates will come later in the week.

Comments

@XOXOH

Hi there lovely, I am a big fan of your books and you don't know how happy I am to see you back here. I LOVE THIS TRIOLOGY so dam much......so let me get this straight....you are not updating this story anymore on here? You are only going to continue this story on wattpad?? .....despite what decision you make I will be waiting for you because I want to know what will HAPPEN ....sorry I am weird xxx

@MACxx
No problem xx

@polisson just added you on watt pad can't wait to see what you have in store! Starting uni daze as we speak thank you for replying to me!!! :)

@MACxx
Hi love! I am XOXOH I unfortunately can't log into my account on here for whatever odd reason??? Google gives me an access denied message but it still shows me when people comment here.Anyway, I will be posting this story again on wattpad under the user polisson it's gonna be a revamp so it will probably be a bit longer and have new parts. I wish I could log in to tell everyone about it. I also have another story that you may like there called Uni Daze. I'm sorry that I can't post here anymore :(

MISSING THIS SO BAD. My favorite book ever and ive been rereading to fill the whole in my heart! Truly miss your writing it's the only thing I have to look forward to when I get on here! Miss you hope to hear from you soon!