Different

Chapter 16

The next morning it takes me some time to realise where I am. After the fight I had with my father yesterday, I just to want stay bed and chill out all day with Harry, cuddling and watching movies . I've never fought with him like this before. I always remain polite and respectful, I can't believe I've insulted him. But he shouldn't have behaved like this either.
Since what happened when I was 16, we constantly fight about everything.
After turning in my bed a thousand of times, I finally decide to get up when Harry knocks at the door.

"Good morning sleepy head" he says with a smile, pulling me into a hug

" 'Morning Harold " I answer leaning my head against his chest.

"How did you just call me ?" He chuckles

"Harold ...?" I blush very embarrassed. I didn't mean to call him like that.

"Aw how cute"

"Don't tease me, I like to give names" I whine more and more embarrassed

"I'm not teasing, it's really cute I think" he smirks before giving me a quick kiss.
I pull away and and walk towards the wardrobe.

"So what are we going to do today ?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do ? I could show you the city. I just have to be at the studio at 6 pm for the interview" he shrugs

"Yeah visiting the city sounds great !"

"Ok well I'll let you get ready then" he smiles before leaving the room.

I head to the bathroom, grabbing a croissant from the table on my way. Liam gets out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. I honestly can't help staring at his abs.

"Hey ! Did you sleep well ?" He says with a friendly smile. I look up at him quickly, hoping he didn't catch me staring.

"Hey ! Yes very well, thank you"

I take a long and very hot shower. I like to feel very hot water on my skin after having an argument or a tough day.
After drying myself, I put on a slim and a big wooly sky blue jumper which is the same colour as my eyes.
I apply some mascara and a little bit of eye shadow before tying my hair into a plait.

"Wow" Harry stares at me when I get out of the bathroom. "You look... stunning" he says blushing. Harry being shy is definitely the cutest thing ever.

"Thanks. So do you, as always" I smile which makes him blush even more.

"Shall we go ?"

"Sure"

"Lads we're going out for a few hours, we'll be home for lunch" Harry shouts to the boys

"Ok see ya' ! " Niall shouts from the room next door.

"Have fun !" Zayn adds

And we leave the house that they rented for the next two months.
I dread this outing. It's the first time that we hang out in public with so many people around us. Before, we preferred to meet at our place so the fans don't think that me and Harry were dating. But now that we are together and that everyone knows about it, since we first kissed in a very crowded place, it's less disturbing.

~

After climbing to the top of the Empire States Building, we decide to go to Central Park for a walk. I like the way Harry doesn't feel embarrassed when he takes my hand or kisses me in public. I didn't expect him to be that demonstrative and cuddling with the paparazzi and the fans around, but it doesn't seem to bother him.

"I wish I could stay here forever" I tell Harry with a sigh, as we walk in the park. "I never want to come back to Europe and see my father again"

"Don't worry you'll get through this with your father. It's probably a bad time, he can't be mad at you forever" He tries to reassure me

"I doubt that. We've never got on well since..." I suddenly interrupt myself and look away.

"Since what ?"

"Since he caused my mother's death"

"How so ?"

I look up at him and his beautiful green eyes are dropped into mines. His gaze is soft and comforting.

"Well.. Hum... My father was cheating on my mother at the time. When I found out, he made me promise not to tell my mother and he said that he was doing this to have a big promotion, as the girl he was having an affair with was his boss. He said that he would end it very soon. But he didn't because he's a selfish guy who only cares about success, money and reputation and he was ready to do anything to be promoted.
One day, my mother had to come back home because she had forgotten an important file for her work. When she arrived, she discovered my father in bed with that girl who was his boss. My father was so afraid to lose his promotion that, when my mother asked him to choose between that girl or her, he chose the girl. So my mother ran away from the flat. She was crying so much that she didn't see the car coming..."

I stop myself for a few seconds, realising that I'm crying.
Harry takes my hand in his and presses it to comfort me. After a deep breath I continue.

"The car hit her and she passed out. She died a few hours after, in the hospital. For a week, my father was incredibly nice and sweet with me and my little sister. For once he was acting like a real father. But then, I found out that he had been lying to us. He didn't tell us the whole story, he just said that she had had a car accident. So when I learnt that he was the reason why she died and when I learnt that, even after the accident he was still seeing that girl, not to lose his promotion, I got really mad and we had the biggest fight ever. I ran away from our home with my little sister. She was only four years old at the time. I had nowhere to go so I went to my neighbours' house for a week. This is how I met Hanna, their daughter, who became my best friend. I honestly blamed myself for a long time about my mother's death. I told myself that I should have told her that he was cheating on her, so nothing would have happened. When I was home, after school, and when Hanna wasn't with me, I felt very alone. I spent my entire days locked in my room in order not to see my father. So I became a directioner. The music helped me a lot and seeing videos of you was the only source of positivity in my life. You and Hanna were the only one that could bring a smile back to my face. So yeah you kinda saved my life" I say biting my lips nervously. Talking about this is always very difficult for me.

"Charlotte... I'm so sorry... You've been very strong and very courageous. You're such a ball of happiness, always smiling, I would have never imagined that you've been through such an horrible thing. I'm so sorry... You didn't deserve this." He pulls me into a hug and holds me tightly., rubbing my back the way he always does.

"It's ok... I feel better now."

He kisses my forehead before adding
"If you need to talk about anything, I'll always be here for you baby girl"

"Baby girl ?" I smirk, pulling away to look at him.

"Yas, you are my baby girl"

He shots me a smile and I stand on my tip-toe to kiss him. Then he puts his arm around my shoulders and we keep walking. On our way back home, we stop a few times so Harry can take a few pictures with the fans. Given that I am still a fan, even though I'm dating one of the boys, I decide to talk to the other fans and take their Twitter username so Harry can follow them. I know Harry will grumble if I give him to many usernames but it's so important for the fans to get his follow !
Finally we leave the group and fans and come back home.