Adulation / h.s

47

When Rosie got to Harry's the night before he had got her a t-shirt and shorts ready. She was thankful, quickly changing into them before wishing him a goodnight and going to bed in his spare room even though he offered his room countless times. He didn't push or ask questions, he knew something was wrong so he left her to do what she felt comfortable until she was ready.

The next morning, Rosie woke quite late fully exhausted from the night before. Her body wasn't tired, just her brain. She smiled walking in his kitchen, Harry was sat scrolling through his phone drinking a tea. The french doors that lead to the decking and garden were wide open letting in the early summer breeze.

"Tea?" Harry offered.

"It's okay, I'll help myself." She smiled heading over to the mug cupboard and taking one down. She laughed reaching in and finding a white mug with an R on it. "You still have it," She smiled holding it up.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I wouldn't just throw something like that out."

"Do you have the H one too?"

He shook his head. "Dropped it and it smashed a little while ago."

Rosie rolled her eyes. "Clumsy."

She made her tea, stirring in a couple of sugars. "Joining me?" She nodded her head to the decking and Harry followed.

They sat on the second step, both comfortable in their pyjamas; mugs of tea in their hands. "I got some clothes for you sent over, they're in the livingroom in a bag when you're ready to change."

"Thank you," Rosie sipped her tea. "You didn't have to do that, I can wear what I wore yesterday again."

"It's not a big deal," He shrugged.

Rosie sighed.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Rosie scoffed. "More like need a fiver for what's going on through my brain right now,"

"What's going on? I mean, you left me last night and were happy to go to Zayn's.."

"He's cheating on me. Or at least he was last night. I don't know if it's been going on a while or what."

Harry sipped his tea that was now going cold. "Arsehole,"

"I walked in, and she was on top of him. Basically naked,"

Harry frowned, his blood boiling at the thought that Rosie had to witness that. She had to go through that. He couldn't think about doing anything so hurtful to her. Why would you want to be with anyone else when she's your girlfriend? That's like having a Bentley and trading it in for a Fiat 500.

"And it wasn't even the fact that he was cheating on me. It was the fact that it was with Vanessa."

"What?" Harry froze watching her carefully. He hadn't seen or heard of Vanessa in years. She knew to stay clear of him.

"Yep, straddled in my boyfriend's lap was Vanessa."

"How does he know her?"

Rosie shrugs. "I didn't even know he knew of her."

Harry shakes his head. "His loss, seriously. I know what it's like to lose you,"

Rosie bumped her arm into his smiling at him. "You never lost me,"

They spent the morning chilling in Harry's back garden. Rosie had no motivation to leave or even think about doing any work today.

They both lay in Harry's hammock in the shade, both a little tired from being in the sun for most of the day. It was almost time to make some food but both of them were comfortable where they lay, the hammock slowly rocking them.

"How you feeling?" Harry asked, his arm around her. The hammock wasn't very wide so they had to huddle together but neither of them were complaining.

"I'm alright, just disappointed."

"Course, how long were you together?"

"Nearly a year,"

"Wow,"

"I know," She shuffles slightly. "He wanted us to move in together, I'm glad I didn't go through with it."

"It would have been a little awkward."

"It's weird," She sighed. "We've been together for quite a while but I don't feel.. heartbroken."

Harry listened to her.

"Like, I'm annoyed and it sucks but I don't feel like the world is ending or like I can't go another day. I don't feel what I should feel, I don't feel like I'm losing the love of my life. I don't feel how I felt when it was you,"

Harry swallowed hard. "I understand,"

"I guess I didn't love him enough, or at all. I mean if I can be this okay after finding out he's cheating surely I can't love him that much?"

"Maybe it's a different love you feel for him." Harry suggested. "Maybe it hasn't sunk in yet and you need time to process it."

"Or maybe I'll never love anyone near as much as I love you?" She asked, looking up at him.