Catching Red Eyes

I woke up the next morning feeling a little groggy but felt like I finally slept. Yesterday came rushing back to me and I couldn’t believe the flowers, then my graduation and my party, then my letter. I smiled to myself but I was still so skeptical about Harry. I wanted to let myself fall more in love with him but I couldn’t go through the same heartache. I was worried but I also didn’t want to miss out on something that could be great. But how much was I willing to risk?

I was pulled from my thoughts by Laurie stirring herself awake next to me.

“Good morning, Mrs. Styles.”

“Oh God, don’t even start.”

“What! I think it’s cute. How is your lover? Your phone would not stop buzzing all night. Or was that something else buzzing??” she said, starting to laugh.

“Laurie!!!”

She continued laughing. I tried to keep a serious face but ended up laughing with her.

“That was my phone, by the way,” I said to her, as I got up to stretch. “Harry and I did text back and forth until I fell asleep but it wasn’t anything dirty. Just…catching up.”

“Mmmmmhmm, sure, sure,” she said, pulling the covers back over her head.

It was almost 10 AM and I smelled breakfast and coffee downstairs. I knew Laurie would be out for another couple hours so I quietly closed the door behind me and wandered downstairs.

“Good morning, sweetie.”

“Hey, dad.” I grabbed coffee and sat at the dining room table.

“You have to work today?” I asked, eyeing his scrubs.

“Yea, back to the hospital. Wanna come?”

“Funny, dad. You know I hate hospitals.”

“Yea, yea, I know. Your mom is out at her book club and then I think she said something about looking for a new gardener or something.”

“Ok, dad. I’m not planning on doing much of anything today. Probably just take a walk down to the beach later then do something with Laurie when she wakes up.”

“She does love her sleep. Well, I have to get going, kiddo. Love you.”

“Love you too, dad. See ya later.”

I heard the garage door open and close and the house was quiet. I stirred my coffee and looked out into my backyard. I couldn’t believe how different it looked from just yesterday. I decided to change and take a walk down to the ocean. I hadn’t seen the water in what felt like decades.

I always took the same path to the same huge rock. I used to wander here during high school when things got stressful. The waves were big and the wind was high. I only had a light jacket that I wrapped tightly around me as I sat on the rock. My mind wandered to how my life was so different now, once again.

I was now officially graduated from college, I had an internship that I hoped would turn into an actually paying job, and I had the love of a boy named Harry. I smiled to myself again and let myself smile. I felt my phone buzz in my jacket pocket and pulled it out and answered.

“Good morning, love.” His voice sounded full of sleep but I heard the smile in his voice. “How are you today?”

“A little tired but I’m good. How are you?”

“Same, love. We’ve got a show today.”

“I know, you told me last night. So, listen, I know you are incredibly busy but before we-“

“Hold on, love-yea, yea I am up, sorry go on.”

“W-we just need to talk about what happened that night and really figure out what we can do to work on us.”

“Yes, I agree, Rowan. Listen, when you come into the city for the concert, we can talk.”

“Ok.”

“Have you ever been to one of our shows?”

“Uh-uh no. I mean, I’ve seen the videos so I can imagine.”

“Well, it’ll be great. I have to say I am a bit nervous that you’ll be there.”

“What? Why? You have played in front of how many sold out arenas all over the world and
you’re nervous about me??”

“Well, you weren’t at any of them so I didn’t have butterflies. Course, I am always a bit nervous but now I have a massive reason to be.”

My cheeks reddened and my heart fluttered at the thought of Harry being nervous to perform because of me.

“Love, I’ve got to run but I cannot wait. 5 days.”

The phone call ended and I sat on that rock for what felt like forever in my love stupor. I couldn’t deny my heart. I loved Harry. More than ever.

Notes