Home is where the heart is.

April 6, 2012
The Dahm Mansion

“Do you want me to stay here?” Niall’s voice was soft as he helped me carry my suitcases up to my bedroom. “I mean, I could stay here if you want me to… Do you want me to?”


“Niall,” I smiled a little. “It’s fine. If you want to stay, there are plenty of rooms in this damn house. You’re welcome here any time.”


He let out a breath. “Okay. I’ll… Stay for a few days. Just until you get better.” He said quickly and I nodded my head.


“That’s fine. There are clothes in any spare room you can find, you can borrow some of those.” I began to unpack my suitcases and sighed when I sat down on my bed.


“Are you going to be okay?” Niall sat down beside me and I felt tears coming.


“No…” I whispered and buried my face in my hands. “I just don’t know what to think anymore. Should I forgive him?”


I looked at him and he furrowed his brows. “That’s your decision Ana, not mine. See this is why I love my woman so much,” I smiled because I know he was talking about food. “She never argues, she never protests. And, she’s sexy as hell. Ain’t got nothing better.” I began to laugh and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.


“You know, I’m really glad you’re here. I would probably die if I was alone here in this big house. There wouldn’t be any noises, no music, no voices… I’m going to die alone.” I closed my eyes and he patted my shoulder.


“You won’t die alone. Trust me,” He grabbed my shoulders and made me turn to him. “Listen Ana… I don’t know if this is the right time to say this but…” He put his hands down and I smiled. “I think you and Harry will make it.”


“Niall I-”


“No. I’m serious. You two… You two had something real. Even though I’ve never felt a love before, I know you two had it. It was something special. You both glowed when you were near each other, and I envied both of you for that but…” He trailed off and smiled at me. “I know you will make it out of this damned rut. I believe in both of you. I believe that you will get over this, and you will be together.”


“But how do you know that for sure?” I cried and he gave me another smile.


“Because you’re both strong enough to get over this, and you’re both desperately in love with each other to still be together.” He stood up, but I made him sit back down.


“I want you to tell me something, Ni.” I said and he nodded his head. “Did… Was… Was Harry in love with Penelope before they even met?”


He was silent for a minute, but then he nodded his head and I choked on my heart. “They met over Penelope’s parents a few years back, and he fell in love with her when they met. So when he found out that they were getting married…” He shook his head. “I feel like I shouldn’t be telling you this, Ana.”


“No. I want to know his story.” I whined and he took a deep breath.


“As you probably know, love in high school didn’t go too well with Harry. He got cheated and lied to, so he wanted to treat someone just as bad as he was treated. He wanted someone to get as cheated and as lied to as he did. And he thought Penelope would be the woman he could do that to.” He ran his palms over his thighs.


“But he met me and changed his mind?” I sucked in a breath and he hastily shook his head.


“No. Harry had no intentions of doing anything to hurt you-”


“How do you know all of this?” I asked, confused.


“Harry and I met again a few years ago and we’ve been talking ever since.” We sat there for a minute, but then he clasped his hands together and I looked at him. “Like I said, Harry had no intentions of hurting you, Anastasia. When he met you, his father was dying and he treated you disrespectfully because he was angry, and he was drunk. But when you began to show feelings for him, he needed someone to turn to… So he could get some things off of his chest.”


“So… He was using me for sex?” My tears came back and Niall patted my hand.


“At first. He didn’t want anything but sex from you. But he told me every day about things that he loved about you. And I kept track of him and both of your actions. He’s fallen hard for you, Ana. Believe it or not, Harry’s got it bad for you.” He looked serious.


“I wish he would have told me all of this.” I muttered and Niall chuckled.


“Do you honestly think it would be easy to tell the girl he loves that he was only using her for sex?” He seemed astonished by my statement.


“Well it sure was easy enough to lie to me about it.” I furrowed my brows. “But if he was in love with me, why did his messages say that he loved Penelope?”


“Why were you going through his messages?” He smirked and I shoved him a little.


“I’m serious.” I groaned and he held up his hands.


“He was trying to warm up to Penelope… To get to see if she could convince Gina to cancel the wedding so he could marry you. He didn’t think this through as much as he wanted to, actually. He should have kept the texts secret in my opinion. If you wouldn’t have seen the texts, he would have accomplished what he wanted…” He trailed off and looked at me. “Did you really mean it when you said you weren’t getting married to him? I heard what you guys said to each other…”


“Yes, no… Maybe. I don’t know. I still don’t know if I should forgive him or not.” I sighed and Niall stood up.


“Like I said, that’s your decision, not mine.” He laughed and walked towards the door. “Now, if you don’t mind… I’d like to see my woman.” He then dashed to the stairs, and hopefully, to the kitchen.


I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen to see that he already had a bunch of food laid on the counter.


“She’s so beautiful!” He groaned and licked his lips at the food.


“I agree.” I laughed and saw that he had put- Rocky Road ice cream. “Oh my God.” Tears were burning my eyes and I began to sob. “Why does every little thing have something to do with him?!” I yelled and Niall dashed to me.


“Calm down, Ana.” Niall muttered and rubbed my shoulder.


“Don’t tell me to calm down! I don’t have to calm down! I should deserve to let all of this shit out!” I screamed and cried harder. I dizzily walked over to the dining room and to the living room… The living room where Harry told me he was marrying Penelope. I cried even harder.


“Ana please. Stop crying. It won’t get any better.” Niall followed me and I yelled out Harry’s name. “You’re not making this any better.”


“Oh God Harry! Why did you do this to me?! Why couldn’t you have just left me alone?! Why did you pretend to love me?!” I collapsed to the floor and buried my face in the seat of the couch. “I still love you!” I hollered as loud as could into the cushion and I was drug to sleep from my tears and constant screams.


When I woke up, I was in my bed and my eyes were swollen and sore. I still had tears on my cheeks and I took a deep breath.


I picked up my phone and called Niall. I wasn’t sure if he was still here or not, and I feel too weak to even walk down the stairs.


“Hello? Ana…” Niall felt relieved and I shuddered.


“Hey. What happened? Why am I in my bed?” I asked, feeling over my duvet.


“I carried you up there, honey. I was kind of worried about you. Even though you were asleep, you kept ripping at your hair, and you were screaming and crying in your sleep. I about had a damn heart attack. I thought you were going to have a heart attack.” He chuckled a little and I smiled.


“Well, I didn’t know I could do all of that in my sleep.” I yawned and he chuckled again.


“I don’t know why you’re calling me either. We’re in the same house, Ana. You couldn’t have just came into the dining room to talk to me? Gah, you lazy oaf.” He let out a hearty laugh and I rolled my eyes.


“I thought you would have left.” I scratched at my arm and he sighed.


“Do you honestly think I would leave you when you were acting like that? I am not that low Ana. Sheesh.” He clicked his tongue. “Get down here! I’m tired of talking on the phone! And who talks on the phone anyways?” He took a deep breath, “We’re supposed to text because we’re so basic.” He said in a girl voice.


“Okay. I’ll come down there.” I laughed and pulled on my grey sweater and my white shorts, then I walked down the stairs.


But I fell on the last one and I heard someone laugh in the dining room.


“Alright. Just because that happened doesn’t mean you have a right to…,” I walked to the doorway and stopped where I was. “Laugh.” I finished and my gut began to twist and I cringed.


“I was coming to help you.” He had stood up and his chair had knocked over.


“How eager were you to come apologize?” I crossed my arms and Niall stood up and took his plate to the kitchen, leaving me and Harry alone.


“Look, Ana. I-”


“Did you come here to gloat about how you lied to me? Because I don’t have time to listen to your shit. Honestly I don’t.” I rolled my eyes and he took a step towards me.


“What else are you going to do? Cry over me?” He snapped and my mouth dropped. “Niall told me everything that happened last night, and how you cried out my name when you were breaking down…”


“What else did he tell you?” Tears were coming to my eyes.


“He told me what you said before you fell asleep…” He looked down, and I laughed a little, making him look back up.


“You know, the funny thing about that is. I didn’t lie when I said it. Now, I want you out of my goddamned house.” I pointed to the door and he began to walk towards it.


“I was just trying to talk to you dammit.” He grated through his teeth when he reached the door as I followed him.


“Well you weren’t doing a very good job.” I rolled my eyes again and he snapped his body towards me, making me tense.


“I will be back.” He said before walking out of the house.


Just before I could walk away and wipe away my fresh tears, there was a knock on my door and I groaned.


“What?!” I hollered and I was surprised to see Malina.


“Look who I found crawling around your front yard.” She raised her eyebrows and yanked her arm, pulling Harry to my vision. “Now, if you would be ever so kind to tell me what the fuck is going on between you two.”


“Nothing is.” I glared at Harry and he looked down.


“I don’t believe you.” Then she shoved Harry into the house and he scrambled to his feet. “Now. Either you tell me,” She looked at me. “Or I’ll listen to him.” She gestured towards Harry and I swallowed.


“Yeah. Maybe you can tell her the truth I didn’t tell you.” Harry muttered, and before I could say anything, Malina lunged towards him and grabbed him by his shirt.


“You lied to her?! What the fuck is wrong with you?! You suck so much ass!” She pushed him back and he held up his hands. “I ought to show you what a beating looks like you rich fucker, but luckily I’m a nice person. God! You fucking lied to her!” Then all of a sudden she punched him right on the jaw, surprising me and Harry, even herself.


But then I felt myself smile at the look on his face. And when he saw me smile, he took a step towards me, grabbed my hand, and took me up the stairs and to my room before I could even protest.

Notes

I have no words....




I love you so much!
-Kaleigh. xx