Complicated Freak ✓ h.s

• 66 •

would you look at that? it's finally an update.

"When's your first lecture?" Carter sat cross-legged in front of me "First Tuesday of July" I answered and she groaned "Lucky. I have to go back in a week, you still have 2 weeks left." I chuckled at her misery "Oh, don't be so sad, Car. It'll be great, it's your last year so just think about all the cool senior parties you'll be attending" I say to change her sour mood and she smiles "Yeah, you're right. I'll have to suffer with our art professor while you're in a different lecture" She reached over and grabbed a bottle of nail enamel, "Do you think red would suit me?" She held up the little glass bottle and I nodded "Definitely" I continued painting my nails with a baby blue shade, it was subtle against my skin tone unlike the red which stood out against Carter's pale complexion. "Hey, so what do you guys think of this?" I turned my head to Ethan who sat with us and we broke out into laughter seeing the poor condition of his nails.

"Babe, those look horrible" Carter said and he pouted "It's not my fault I'm not good at this" He waved his freshly painted fingers about so the liquid would dry faster. The three of us were sat in the living room of Harry's apartment, Carter came over to do manicures and pedicures, so Ethan decided to join us as well - his clear coated toe nails compliment the tattoo he has on his ankle. "Did you hear the big news?" Carter gasped, her tone was dripping with gossip and I shook my head "Hear what?" I bit my lip to concentrate on my thumb as I painted the nail "Dylan and Hailey broke up because Hailey cheated on him with Corbin" I whipped my head up to look at her "What!" I shrieked "Yeah, Rebecca and her fought as well, like actually fought" She added and my jaw hung, even though I didn't know them that well and I hated their living guts, I didn't expect the power couple duo to end up like this.

"Poor Rebecca, she didn't deserve that. When did all of this happen?" I placed my hand on Carter's knee as she made a cute sunflower design on each nail - she's so much more artistic than me. "Last Saturday, at the fraternity, they all hate each other now. Why didn't you come to that party?" Last Saturday, Harry and I decided to just stay in, he wasn't in the mood to be surrounded by people and frankly, I wasn't as well. So we spent the night in bed, binge watching Full House, which reminded me that I need to do a little grocery shopping as Harry and I finished nearly every kind of junk food found in the kitchen that night. "Oh, I didn't feel like it plus Harry was really tired from training" I shrugged "You should have come, at least you wouldn't have been bored" I blew air on my nails to help it dry faster "I wasn't bored with Harry" I gave her a pointed look.

As much as Carter says she accepts my relationship with Harry, there are certain moments where she just breaks out into sarcastic comments and distaste for us. The sound of the front door being flung open broke me out of my reverie, "Harry?" I called then stood up from the floor, I walked towards the door only to see him storm into the direction of the kitchen "He- what the fuck happened to you?" I gasped seeing a cut on Harry's lip, his eye had started to darken around it "I don't want to talk about it" He growled, holding an ice pack to his bruised cheek "Harry, you're hurt, we're talking about this now" I neared him and pulled his arm, forcing him to sit on the barstool "How did this happen?" I asked as I searched for the first aid kit and once done, I dabbed the cotton wool with a disinfectant "The guys and I were playing a harmless game of football when these two assholes walked up to us and I got into a fight with one of them" He complied and hissed as I nursed his wounds.

"I know that your temper sits on your nose but that doesn't mean you need to punch everyone that pisses you off" I remarked with a stern tone and he rolled his eyes "The things they said abo-" He cut himself off before continuing "What did they say?" I frowned, holding the ice pack to his cheek again "Nothing. Don't worry about it, okay" He dismissed then stood up, kissing my forehead before walking out the kitchen and into our room. "What's wrong?" Carter asked when I returned to the living room "He got into a fight with someone and he won't tell me anything about it" I glanced towards Ethan when he mumbled an 'oh', I gave him a look and he handed his phone to me. I pressed play on the video and frowned, "Who is this?" I squinted my eyes as if that will help me see the people in it, one is definitely Harry but I couldn't make out the other.

"Is that?" I looked up at Ethan and he nodded "Jason" My hand fell to my lap in disbelief as I recalled what Harry said, did Jason provoke Harry? "We should get going" Carter announced, understanding that I need to speak to Harry in private. I walked them out the door, after being squeezed by a bone crushing hug from Ethan and Carter. "Babe?" I stepped into the master, finding Harry on the bed, still holding the ice pack to his cheek but the aloe scent of his shampoo filled the room as little droplets of water fell down his chest from his shower. "You fought with Jason, didn't you?" I asked quietly and he sighed "He's a fucking dick" Harry growled darkly and I couldn't agree more. I took a seat next to him on the bed, holding his hand in mine "Why did you fight him?" By what Harry mentioned before, I had a feeling that I knew why - Jason must've said something about me to get Harry worked up.

"He started talking about you, just to provoke me and he was successful so I got angry and swung my arm at him." Harry explained and a small smile made its way to my face at the thought of Harry defending me. "No one and I mean, no one talks about my girl like she's some fucking object except me" A broad smile stretched on my lips and I whacked his chest "You're mine, okay. Nobody else's" Harry kissed the side of my head, throwing his arm around my shoulder as he pulled me closer to him. I tilted my head back, "I'm yours and nobody else's" I repeated his words, words that held no less of a meaning than a simple I love you but it concludes our relationship with each other. "Your nails look cute" Harry complimented, twining his fingers with mine "Thank you, Carter did the flowers, I'm useless at nail art" I slung my leg over his right thigh.

"I've always loved sunflowers, my mum did as well, they represented 'hope' for her, hope that the dark skies would clear" His voice was solemn and I kept my gaze on him, taking in the new information he shared about his mother, his past. "You miss her a lot, don't you?" I spoke after a period of silence "I do" Harry's voice shook but he morphed it into an action of clearing his throat "What happened to her? You never talk about it" I looked at him warily, wondering if mentioning the times he hardly ever speaks about his mother was a good idea or not. "She overdosed on painkillers. Living with Gabriel had taken a toll on her, she didn't care about my sister and I. She thought that after her death we'd be sent to live with my aunt, as stated in her will but Gabriel changed that and made her sign it without her even knowing what the document was" Harry's eyes hadn't falters off of my nails, his thumb occasionally brushed over the sunflowers.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that" I wrapped my arms around him "You don't have to apologize, I'm actually glad that she got out while she could even though I think it was selfish of her to do that. She managed to escape from Gabriel's clutches. I didn't tell you this but I met my father a few years back, technically I didn't meet him, I just saw him from afar." Harry held this wistful look to his face and ended off with a scowl. I frowned, "He has his own family now, my half-brother is probably in high school and they have another baby on the way" Harry's lips twisted in disgust and I tightened my arms around him "You don't need him anymore" He looked towards me "He doesn't deserve to know you after practically selling you away. You're better off without him, babe" I added and he nodded, agreeing with me "I know, I don't even want to but it just hurt seeing him so happy, without any worry about how my mother was doing or where she was staying"

I'm sorry for the late update, so very sorry. I found some inspiration lately, I feel like I can write again so hopefully chapters would flow smoothly from now, plus this book has to end soon.

hope you enjoyed the chapter, I'd love to read your thoughts on the story so far xx