Together

Hometown Hero

Well, this chapter is what I like to call "abby rants about her town via Harper ranting about her hometown" haha. It's a bit of a filler, but there are a few more sad chapters still. Then things will look up, I promise!! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, btw. Dance has been crazy these past few weeks because the recital is soon. But I'm updating now! So I hope you enjoy! Comment/vote xx
-ab

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March 26, 2026

Harper

It's nice to have a day to cool down before having to leave with Patrick for the service on Thursday. It's a quick trip, as we are going to return on Saturday, meaning that we will only be spending two nights in my hometown.

I must say, I've got a sneaking suspicion inside of me that it is the last time I will ever be in my hometown. In spite of how much I disliked it growing up, I still am a bit sad upon that realization. Yes, my mum will still be living there, but she will probably come to London to visit me. It's easier that way, rather than the other way around, especially with my shows and such.

As Patrick and I are in the car out of London, I try to make the best of it. It's a nice car ride. We listen to my pick of music, meaning a various mix of original cast albums, with some Taylor Swift thrown in there as well. I sing, and smile bigger than I have in the past few days.

When we get to our destination, Patrick and I go to my mum's house before our hotel, becuase it's too early to check in there.

"Hey kids," Mum says, greeting us at the door. "How was your drive?"

She appears to have aged in the amount of time since I last saw her. There are dark circles under her eyes and her hair may not have been brushed yet today.

"It was good," I shrug.

"Come on in. You must be hungry..."

Patrick and I exchange a glance. "Mum, it's fine," I tell her. "Is there anything that you need us to help you with?"

"I'm alright."

"I might take Patrick out for lunch, then..."

"Oh, okay. You kids have fun."

"We will come back this afternoon after we get checked into our hotel, alright?"

"Okay. Bye, love."

"Bye, Mum."

I grab Patrick's hand and frantically lead it out of the house.

"Okay, what was that?" he asks me. "Harper, she's clearly struggling. Having us around was going to be helpful to her."

"Patrick, I just... god, I couldn't face it. I blew it, I get it," I snap.

"Hey," he says, his tone softening, "don't say that. I get it, you panicked. I probably would have done the same honestly."

"I just don't know what to do... seeing her like that, it-"

"I know," he cuts me off. "I get it, I really do. I just don't think that running away is the right way to help her. But it's alright. It's done now. We will be back in a few hours. Now, come on, and you can show my your favourite spot to eat when you were growing up."

"That would have been Vapiano in London," I giggle. "I would make my parents take me into central London whenever I possibly could, whether or not we were seeing any shows."

"Well, what was your favourite place in this town?"

"None of it. I'm gonna be honest, I'm really not loving being back here..."

"Okay," Patrick rolls his eyes, "but you're here for your dad."

"I know," I sigh. "I have to be here. It's just hard."

"It's okay to cry, sweetie. You know that?"

"I'm fine, Patrick," I insist. "Now, come on. There's this little spot in town that we can go grab lunch... just sandwiches and such, but it's good."

He knows that I'm intentionally dropping the topic, but he ignores that. I truly didn't know how much I would be effected by seeing my mum, especially in the state that she is in. I should have expected it. She lost the man that she loves so very much. Not that I don't love Dad, of course. I do, but it would be so different of a situation if I were to lose Patrick.

That's something that I don't even want to think about.

It isn't too long before we find ourselves downtown. Once we are in the little cafe, it's only about five minutes before I manage to run into somebody that I know.

"Harper!" I hear. I whip my head around.

"Mrs. Burwell," I smile. "Hi..."

"I didn't expect to see you here. I hear that you've been quite successful in London since you graduated."

"Oh, yeah, I guess," I shrug. "I've been in a few West End shows after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music."

"I always knew that you were talented and would go amazing places," the older lady smiles at me. "What shows have you been in, again?"

"I was Cosette in Les Miserables, and I'm currently Anya in Anastasia."

"That's amazing. Congratulations. And who is this fine young man?"

"Oh, this is Patrick, my husband."

"It's lovely to meet you," she tells Patrick. "I was Harper's GCSE History teacher when she was fifteen."

"Oh my," Patrick laughs. "It's nice to meet you, too."

The two shake hands.

"So, what brings you back to town?" she asks me.

"Oh... um, my dad passed away a few days ago, so we are just back for the funeral..."

Mrs. Burwell frowns. "I'm so sorry to hear that, love. He was such a nice man."

"He was in a lot of pain. Cancer took him, so-"

"Oh, I see. That's very hard. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you," I reply.

"Well," she says, "I'll let you two get back to your lunch. It was lovely to see you, though, Harper."

"Thanks. You too." When she walks away, I turn to Patrick, and start to speak in a hushed voice. "She clearly thinks that I liked her a lot more than I actually did."

He laughs. "Well, she was sweet today."

"No, see, that's why I hate this town. You can't go ten minutes without seeing somebody that you know. And it's always the people who you don't want to see. I could count on one hand the amount of times that I ran into one of my friends at the grocery store. A teacher or a peer who I didn't like, on the other hand? Countless times."

"To be fair, there were lots of peers who you didn't like."

"That's irrelevant. The point is that I never see anybody that I know in London- whether or not I like them. I like it a lot better like that."

Patrick only laughs. "Well, some people are just weren't built for small town life, I guess."

"True," I nod.

Thankfully, Patrick and I manage to make it through the rest of lunch without any more uncomfortable run-ins, but one was all it took to bring back all of the unpleasant memories from secondary school. Memories that I associate with this town and just about everyone in it.