Mandolin Rain

Harry's POV


“So you like California?” Andrew asks me.


“Yeah, I'm planning on making it a permanent location but I'll still have to keep a house in London because I go back and forth so frequently.” I explain as I sip on my water, trying to casually look at Elliot talking to Lynx, or is it Clover? I suck at names.


“So you and our sister huh?” Ethan interrupts my thoughts.


“What? Oh no, just friends.” Sadly.


They all start laughing. “Man apparently everyone sees what you two don't.”


“What do you mean?” I ask for an explanation.


“Well, the way you two interact. Smiling at each other, you constantly helping her up, following her around like a lost puppy. She likes you too, we know our baby sister.” Andrew informs me. I'm not short, but her brothers are well over six feet, a little intimidating.


“Eh, I don't think she likes me like that.” I honestly just don't know how she feels. And this is a little awkward talking to her brothers about their sister's feelings for me.


“You're funny. Just don't break her heart. We'll beat the living shit out of you.” James threatens me and I start laughing until I realize I'm the only one laughing and quickly stop.


“Right. I won't.” I promise and can only think about the fact that I'm sure she'll be breaking my heart.


“Hey, can I still Harry away?” Speak of the devil.


“Sure thing sis.” James tells her and winks at me, I can't help but see him tighten his grip on the cup he's holding. I take a drink of my water and force it down as I follow Elliot.


“Sorry about my brothers, they can be a little overbearing. They were always tasked with protecting me when I was younger and it's carried over to my adult years as you can see.”


“It's okay, I have an older sister and I'd do the same thing. What are the plans for the night?” I ask as we stop at the picnic table to make a sandwich.


“Well, dinner is this.” She points to the sandwich meat, cheese, and variety of cut up fruits and veggies. “And then we'll have a campfire, s'mores of course, and everyone will go to bed. Tomorrow everyone gets up early and goes on a hike, eat breakfast, I do some yoga, we play outdoor games, go swimming, fishing, another campfire, sleep, then everyone leaves Sunday morning!” She explains it all so fast. “It's all very relaxed, you want to take a nap instead of fish, take a nap, no one cares. Oh, and no paparazzi.” She smiles, she knows I hate them.


“Good. Think I'm going to come back next year even if you don't invite me.” I wink at her as I drape my arm over her shoulder. I can't wait to see where we are in a year. We.

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“And then she threw up everywhere!” Ethan tells everyone as they all bust out laughing.
Except for Elliot. Pouting.


“It wasn't that funny Ethan!” She scolds him and crosses her arms.


“Oh come on, you we're trying to impress that boy and you spun in circles for what seemed like hours. It was hilarious!” He defends his story.


“I was seven!” Elliot throws back at him. “Still not as bad as when you peed your pants when dad told that story to us in China.” She raises her eyebrows.


“That was different. Dad was telling a scary story.” His eyes narrow.


“Yeah, but I'm three years years younger and I didn't piss myself.” She shakes her head and sticks her tongue out at him.


“You want me to keep going Elliot? I've got plenty of stories in my brain I can share.” He winks at her as her eyes narrow and they engage in a brief staring contest.


“Oh knock it off you two.” James ends the contest and glares at them, obviously the more serious of the four. I know they're just kidding though, I can really see the love this family has for one another, everyone is so nice and happy. Maybe no social media is the way to go.

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I lay in this massive tent, I just can't sleep. Not that I'm not tired, just can't get comfortable. Elliot said we wouldn't be laying on the ground but a plastic like floor and a semi squishy sleeping bag doesn't do much for me.


I listen to the nature around me, winds whipping in the trees ever so slightly, crickets chirping, random lights from the lightning bugs, its quite peaceful, minus the snoring of a few people here and there. Then I hear it. What sounds like feet padding on the ground and then sticks breaking. I'm not sleeping anyway so I scoot out of my sleeping bag and peek at the window above me and see long blonde hair swaying around, long legs, and short shorts. I know without question it's Elliot.


What is she doing? Where is she walking?


I quietly wiggle all the way out of the sleeping bag and quickly maneuver my way around people to get to the outside. I say behind her, not alerting her of my appearance just to see where she's going. I hide behind the tree like a creep as I notice we're close to the lake. She walks across the dock and sticks her feet in.


“You can come out now Harry.” She tells me and I sink a little in defeat. Of course she would know I'm here.


“How do you do that?” I ask. “What if I was a murderer?” I ask.


“Well then I would have died I guess. Can't change fate.” She informs me as I walk on the dock and she pats the old wood to gesture me to sit down. I slip my shoes off, as usual Elliot doesn't have any on, and take a seat next to her.


“So you wouldn't care if you died today?” I ask her a little shocked.


“Well, when its your time to go, its your time to go Harry.” She shrugs her shoulders and looks at me. “Its fate. You don't believe in fate?” She asks.


“I don't know. Never really thought about it.”


“Well I believe in it. Fate that I was running at the exact same time you got into your accident, if I wouldn't have been there we would have never met. Fate that you knew the exact same flowers to get me, right time right place, all that jazz.”


“How are you always so positive? I wish I could see the world the way you see things.” I tell her as I casually scoot closer.


“I don't know, I just choose to see the good in people. The world is full of negative and you can look at that as much as you want but it will effect your life and you can become someone you don't want to be. So I see it, but I try to look at the good in situations. I'm not perfect. But I'd rather spend my days cheering people up, bringing peace into the world, and spreading love then bashing on everyone.” She explains.


“Just amazing.” I whisper as I look at her. She smiles and lays down. “What are you doing?” I ask and she just points up.


“Looking at the stars. Stuff you don't get to see in LA. Now that's amazing.” She nods her head to the side and I join her laying down. I can't believe I'm laying next to her looking at the stars.


She points out different constellations, “See that is Lyra it looks almost like a harp, all 6 stars turn to shape like one, and that's Scorpius, and of course the Big Dipper, little dipper. They're all beautiful. So far away and yet they shine so bright.” She explains as we just sit in silence for a while.


Finally I muster up courage and turn to her. “Elliot.” I whisper as she turns her head to me and smiles.


“Yes Harry?”


“I like you.”


“Well I like you too.” She elbows me and laughs.


“No, I mean, I really like you.” I let out a deep breath and force myself to look in her eyes.


“I know Harry. I like you too.”

Notes

How cute is that?! 18 chapters and they finally admit they like each other, seesh! :)

Double update today.

My LAST day of my summer job. Explains my spazzy mood. Excited to be free before I head off to school again but no money kinda sucks. Any who....enjoy!

Thanks as always for the VOTES, COMMENTS, and new/"old" SUBSCRIPTIONS!!

xo