Harry's pov

He held the certificate with a smile beaming on his face.He got off the bus. Entering the house he was welcomed by distinct giggling sound. Out of innocence and curiosity he followed the voices and found himself standing right at the doorstep of his father's room. He was forced to encounter his father lingering over yet another girl on bed.

Silently closing the door behind him he got in his room. Looking intently at the certificate in his hand-

"Congratulations for scoring 1st place on the father's day drawing competition."

It said. He was so excited to show it to his dad and surprise him but turns out his dad surprised him!

I don't know what sense in me was replaying those memories in my head but thinking about it now I can't control my laughter feeling pathetic and pitying myself for being so dumb and expecting anything from him back then. That was just the beginning after that it was his daily routine to bring random girls home. He was just a selfish bastard for most of his life, barely acknowledging my existence in his life and now after eleven damn years he says he is sorry?

Because of the warm liquid running through my veins taking control over me.
I felt the urge to snap when I realised I hit my fist against the glass counter.
Seeing the traces of blood on my fist made me feel satisfied. Guess, I deserve that.

"One more." I ordered the bartender.

It had been more than two hours since I am here getting myself wasted. My eyes were fluttering , chest being heavy. I felt kinda tipsy by now but it clearly helped me to leave behind the emotions rushing through me.

As the quiring liquid entered my esophagus I felt light headed and free from worries.
It felt good.

"Here..." I begun to ask for more when a voice stopped me.

"Enough Harry."

"What are you doing here Charles?" I asked him frowning.

"That's not the question. I think you had enough lets go now."
He came forward to hold my hand when I snapped him.
"I don't wanna go." I muttered almost inaudible owing to how horsey my voice was now.

"I don't care you want or not, you're coming with me that's decided . You don't want to make other headlines now do you?"
He spoke in his obnoxious dad of a voice.

Magazines, headlines reminded me.

"Bella." I spoke.

"Yeah, you don't want her to see another article about you being drunk and making a scene at public club ."

"I want to talk to her."

"Yeah, okay talk to her tomorrow. " he said again coming for me.

"No." I said snapping his hands again.

"I want to meet her..now. "

He remained straight faced for a brief moment before speaking.
"You're not in your senses right now. You wouldn't want to do that when you are sober." He tried to explain me.

But I wanted to meet Bella , I didn't want to wait no longer. Delay will only increase distance between us ,that I didn't want. I had already wasted pretty decent amount of time contemplating whether to trust her, when there was no question to not trust her.

I shook my head vigorously
"What do you think fourteen fifteen pitty shots are enough for me to be out of my senses?"

He gave a disgusting look then said.
"I don't want to fight you Harry please come home your family is worried. "

I laughed maniacally
"Family? My family?Talk about it Charles."

"Harry..." he began his voice screaming sympathy, that I didn't need.

"No Charles I don't want to talk about it now."

He hung his head low and after a deep sigh he sat beside me.

"Want some?"
"No." He politely declined my offer for a drink .

"Suit yourself. "

"Why...are you staring at me?" I asked him feeling uneasy under his constant glare

"I am waiting....when you're done from here and when we'll return. "

"He said sorry." I spoke very out of blue, it just slipped out of my tongue, I had no control.

"Harry I understand you may think I'll pity you or something but no, I can understand what he made you go through ,what you lost because of him and I just want you to know that you can openly tell me anything without doubting what I will think. 'Cause I know you well brother."

The wine in my system already made it hard for me to control my actions and his words on top , I just felt the urge and couldn't control my confession.

"I don't know what to do Charles. I myself want to just forget everything and move on. But I just can't! Atleast not this simply. Just a "sorry" doesn't erases all what he did. All what mom did to me and to Gemma. To us......my family."
I felt my chest burn, my cheeks blazing on top, making my eyes ignore the presence of very minute hot droplets.

He held my shoulders to show me he is there for me.

"Now Gemma is also mad at me. And Bella...I repeatedly hurt her and it seems like ages since I last talked to her I don't even know what she thinks of me now. Or do I have even a slight chance to make it all better? I really want to, Charles but sometimes I'm just too coward to face her."

"I believe she'll probably understand. " he said but I could not focus on what he said rather think about Bella

"Now after that magazine article I don't know what she will think. I don't want her to be hurt anymore because of me. I...I want to talk to her. I have to meet her..right now. " I stood up moving to leave the bar.

"Wait Harry please, you should not."

"I know Charles maybe this isn't the best idea but I don't know when will I get this courage to face her again. I can't leave it for the future. I have to do it today and now. I have to talk to her."

"Harry its 9pm already. Her parents would be home."

"I will make sure not to be seen by them"

"You can hardly make sure where to place your other leg ,to stand straight and you say you'll just professionally sneak into her place without her parents knowing. "

"I am going Charles don't waste my time."

"No wait.....okay but I will come with you."

"Umm no problem I guess."
_________________________________________

Bella's pov

I glanced at the clock for what seems like the twentieth time now.
Susan was lurking over the "special guest" at BGT and kept on ranting about how handsome he looked. But I was least interested in checking him out and didn't try to hide it either.

Hence I kept siting there with bowed shoulders. I was continuously squeezing my eyes shut then opening them again with great effort to stay awake.

I was still not able to make out what was wrong with me. Generally I would watch this show with great interest and just chilling on the couch with Susan, watching BGT, smearing crisps or chocolate was all I needed.

However something was definitely wrong with me I was behaving very oddly from a few days. Maybe I know the reason behind this dull, sluggish behaviour. Now all I wanted was to stay alone and just think, no matter how much I decline but I wanted to keep thinking about him all the time.
Because against my resolution to just forget Harry and everything that happened , I wanted to keep his memories alive and cherish the moments we shared.....

Something was definitely wrong with me! But I can find no cure for it.

Everything reminded me of him, the guest in BGT, Louis Tomlinson his name is. He also reminds me of him as Susan once told me they were in the same band before. Whenever any singer would come to perform, I would think of him. I just can't remove him from my thoughts.

I was brought out of my trail of thoughts with my phone vibrating.
I decided to avoid anyone messaging me at this time but the notifications would just not stop! I was frustrated by the constant vibrations therefore I decided to check the messages.

The instant my glance fell on the phone screen, I practically jumped out of the couch , my phone on the other hand landing on the floor.

I hurriedly picked it, silently hoping it was just my hallucination and that Harry was not actually texting me! I didn't want to indulge in any more drama now. But I couldn't ignore the ticklish sensation in my stomach as I saw that he was indeed texting me.
My breathing got uneven quickly, I began to take deep breaths preparing myself for his texts.

Susan was gawking at me as if I was a dancing monkey. When suddenly I began to question my every move. Should I open his texts? Or should I just ignore them?
What if he wanted to sort things out? Was I ready for it? Well the better question would be when was I not? But I feared what if it was not the reason he was texting in the first place?

"I think it's option C"
Susan spoke

"Hun?"

"Yeah I'm helping you, you're giving a maths test right? Oh wait you are not?"
She said with utterly fake surprised face.

I ignored her and regardless of all my doubts and insecurities I opened the texts.

And my immediate reaction was..."woah !"

Bella?

Bella can I call you?

I want to talk.

Yes I want befire you wanted but I didn't now I want but please talk to me now. Please.....

Please

I am......no I will tell you this once we meet.

Will you meet me? like now ?

I understand maybe your parents are home that's y i mexgd you before calling you directly.

Reply please Belle.

Please

I am waiting.

Oh my..I saw right now I called you Belle. hsha. But it suits u can i call u Belle?

Belle I'm waiting reply....please

Before I could interpret anything or reply to him or even explain a very baffled Susan what's going on, his name got flashing on my screen.

I answered the call.

"Hello?" I spoke almost immediately after the call got connected.

"Bella." He almost wispered tipsyly my name in his raspy voice.

"Harry?"
After that all I could hear was his heavy breathing. There was a brief silence between us but that seemed to be all I needed just feeling his presence, no words were spoken but a lot was exchanged between us.

"Bella...come outside.....please."
He spoke in his slurry voice raising my suspicion that he maybe drunk.

"Why?"

"I'm waiting for you."

"Wha...no.!" He was standing outside my house!? I rushed to the balcony.
Gawking at the ground, my heart escalated as quickly as I saw him standing by his car looking straight towards me. With his phone in one hand and a soft hopefull smile lingering on his face. My eyes went wide witnessing him standing by my doorstep.

"What a freakin' surprise!?" Susan joined me staring at him.
I looked at her with questioning eyes. I needed some guidance to act aptly in this situation.

"Please Bella I really want to talk to you." he spoke still on call.

"Harry..."

"No more thinking Bella...please let me in?" He asked in a honey like pleading voice that made me feel weak. I found myself gushing over him.

"Bu...bu...my parents. "

"I know they aren't home Bella....please I won't take long."

I looked at Susan again for her to give me some advice on what should I do?

But she too was not sure what was the best thing to do.

"Harry we can't...I..I don't think I want to talk to you..." it was the most difficult thing I've ever spoken in my life..it hurt when the words left my mouth but I had to let him know, I was not ready to have yet another argument especially after that magazine article I don't know if I want to talk to him now.

"No Bella please you can't do this."

"Why can't I?"

"Okay then....I'll stay here till you come and talk to me."

"Harry...please don't be stubborn, I don't want you to be seen by anyone standing by my doorstep this late at night."

"Then let me in." He said in his husky intoxicated voice that altered my rigid decision to avoid him.

"Please?"

He was making it damn hard for me to be cold towards him with the pleading look in his puppy like eyes, even from this distant I could see the glistening in his clear eyes.

I looked at Susan one last time for reassurement then sighed.
I went downstairs , unlocked the door and found him standing exactly where he was. But it was the first time now that I noticed Charles was there too standing beside him , he mouthed a "hi" to which I replied by greeting him back.

Then my attention shifted towards Harry.

"Bella?" He spoke, still on call, he was standing a few steps far from me.

I looked at him, not speaking anything.
"I'm sorry." He said , making me look at him intently.

I didn't take any step towards him rather kept standing rigid at my place.

"For everything Bella. Everything that I did wrong , for everything I blamed you, for everything I made you go through. I am sorry. Also I am sorry that I didn't apologise to you earlier."

His face, gleamed under the golden street light, his eyes were glossy with slight redness in them, his pink lips were parted, he looked tired.

"I am sorry." He said again making me want to condole him, it seemed as if those moments, our fights were never in the frame all that mattered to me was that he was standing infront of me and trying to mend his mistakes.

"Harry.." I stopped myself before I could let the emotions control me and make things worse, I wanted to talk to him but not now, not here.

"Harry I heard you now...you should..." before I could complete my sentence I saw blood, oozing out from his knuckles.

I instantly ended the call and went towards him. Taking his hand in mine I began examining his injury.

"Oh my God , the wound is bad." I spoke looking at him.

"Come with me....Charles you can come too."
_________________________________________

I instructed him to sit on the couch in the living room.
When I was about to go get a first aid kit, I felt his cold grip on my arms leaving me rooted to the ground.

"Please don't leave me." He muttered in please
This made me angry, I was reminded of the time I pleaded him to believe me but he never did instead he kept on blaming me of such a horrendous act.

I freed my hand from his amber like grip, the anger in me didn't bother to do it gently rather I almost snapped it away.

"I'm just going to get the first aid." I spoke coldly .

On my way I saw Susan talking with Charles, maybe he was telling her how Harry ended up coming here that I was very interested in knowing too.

"Here give me your hand." I said as I went and sat beside Harry.

"First tell me, do you forgive me?"

"Harry give me your hand now, please." I said again ignoring his previous statement.

"Uff.....fineeee....take my hand." He spoke unnessecerily stretching each of his words.

I held his hand and examined his wound ,the skin on that area was torn, witnessing how brutal his wound was I unintentionally sucked a sharp breath.

"It's going to hurt a lot." I told before applying the ointment.

"More than I hurt you?"

I stopped with my to and fro motion of spreading the antiseptic, getting a closer look of him.

My emotions got over the edge by what he said and I couldn't help but be captivated by the look in his intoxicating eyes, his galvanic stare.

I forcefully drew myself out of his hypnotising arena and carried on with what I was doing.

But my attention being drifted, thanks to Harry, I ended up loosing my control that resulted him growling in pain.

"Sorry." I said immediately regretting my mistake.

"Oh my god there is even a piece of glass in it!?" I said utterly shocked and horrified.

"What were you doing smashing the wine glasses with your hands!?"

"Nope." He spoke acting as if it was not a big deal.

"Stop it Harry, don't utter a word now!" I shouted at him, getting irritated by his childish behaviour, he was indeed drunk.

He put a finger on his lips, further irritating me nonetheless I continued with my work.

After carefully removing the glass piece from his flesh, I applied the antiseptic on.

"Now I am going to do the dressing, tell me if it hurts, okay?"

When he didn't reply I looked up to him, and found him, sitting with the finger still on his mouth. This time an involuntary smile threatened to come on my face but ceasing it I spoke

"You can remove your finger now."

"Bella wait." He stopped me from further doing his band aid.

I looked at him puzzled.

"I don't want you to be done with this just yet."

"Why?"

"Because I know when you will be done with this, you'll ask me to leave and I don't want to leave before telling you everything. "

"Telling me what?"

"That I regret the moment , the second I disrespected you, when I didn't believe you. When you kept on trying to explain me but I rigidly declined. I...I regret doing it. "

As he said that I was reminded of the time I regretted not hearing him out when he wanted to explain me why he lied to me about his identity.
I remembered how bad I felt , not giving him the chance to explain himself.
Those days all I felt was regret for letting him go and fear for not getting to meet him ever again.

"Why do you regret it?" I asked him

"Because I'm afraid I'll lose you because of that."

"You are saying this because you're drunk. "

"No I'm saying this because I have the courage to. Before I was afraid that maybe you will leave me."

"So you drank to gain courage?"

"No no no I...that's not true..."

"What's the truth Harry? What's true what's lie? Tell me. Why don't you tell me ? Why do you always like to keep me in dark!?" I was confused how to respond to anything now , I just wanted answers and to be kept in light, I didn't want to be in dark anymore and then one day come to know a drastic truth about Harry. I just didn't want that.

"Now you need to tell me. Now I want to hear only the truth from you Harry nothing but truth."

"You want to know why I drank I drank because I am tired Bella!....Yes I am tired of my life....of my family...of of this all. I wanted a break!"

"Your family?" I mumbled as when he said that Gemma's words played in my mind. Harry had to leave his mother and Gemma, to live with his father at a very young age.

All the anger, madness fled away, I was occupied by the want to hear him.
I wanted him to say it all.

"Family...." he mumbled with a soft smile on his face, that held hurt and agony.
"I don't even know what 'family' means. I was always fed by the literal meaning of this word but unfortunately never got to know it's essence. The love , the care, the the happiness people claim it's all about..." he was blabbering without actually speaking to me. His bright emerald eyes were dull and tired. They were deep like they led into infinity of darkness.

"I always wandered Bella why was I kept from all that? Why me?" He asked, his tired eyes wanting to be served with the answers but unfortunately I had none.

Very slowly I caress his red almost numb cheek, this gesture was not easy for me to perform but that gave him the
satisfaction of my presence beside him and that was all that I wanted.

"Tell me.....I'm listening. " I whispered in his ears, maybe his intoxicated form made me intoxicated in his aroma that all I could think of was to say or do something that will make him realise that I was with him and was ready to hear what he said.

He held my hand that was placed on his
left cheek, stroking it as if making sure I was present there.

Tightening his hold on my hand not once leaving the gentleness of his touch he began
"You didn't deserve any of that Bella."

I looked at him with expectant eyes wanting him to add on for me to get what he meant.

"My accusations, Gemma's hatred and my mother's humiliations. "

My gaze involuntarily fell down. I didn't want him to pity me.

"I know I didn't listen to you back then when you expected me to but.... I can't do anything rather regret every second for that. I know I wronged you not once twice but numerous times but now I want to talk and do what I should've done earlier.....I don't want a mere misunderstanding ruin the special that we have"

Each word of his was slurry and nearly uncomprehensive but I could understand every word clearly. That was all I wanted to hear from him back then but was it the same now?

He comes almost after a week and says he is ready to talk and sort things out and need not mention he says that when he probably had taken ten/twenty shots.

Am I ready for a "mature-drunk-sort out-talk" ?

"You know Harry this was all I wanted to hear from you but not when you're drunk." I spoke, my words highlighting my disappointment.

Hearing those words there was a shrill fear one could make out from his eyes.

"No no no no no...Bella it's not it's not that. I accept I am drunk......a little bit....but I am. But believe me I wanted to talk to you ever since our first fight but the situations arose and all obstructing my decision. I I accept I made a mistake by letting my anger and possessivness take control over me and not talking to you then and there. But I finally realized I couldn't live peacefully while you must be probably hating me and that that is something I don't want Bella I don't want you to hate me or be hurt because of me. Therefore I decided to meet you today. But things happened one after another and I ended up in the club but that didn't change my mind to talk to you and resolve this thing already. I can't see through the fact that you are hurt because of me."

"What happened that you ended up wasted?" I asked , maybe I already knew the answer.

He looked around everywhere except me that made my answer sure.

"Because of your mother?"

He came closer , minimizing the almost negligible distance between us making me inhale a sharp breath.
He very gently stroked my bottom lip, that gesture of his, made my brain go blank for a fraction second arousing the tenderness within me. I almost melted under his touch.

He wiped of a drop of tear that I didn't know appeared, from his other hand.
Then leaning more towards me he whispered in very sloppy voice.
"Because I would never want to see tears in your beautiful eyes."

I looked into his emerald eyes it seemed as if they had a lot to say, to express that was hidden somewhere maybe under the camouflage of the wine but I knew that was because he didn't want to potray them just yet. I knew there was a long way to go through before exploring them. But I was also well aware that I was ready to get tangled in them, to loose myself and get lost in them.

I was so engrossed in his eyes that I didn't realise he continued coming closer , our faces were now only inches apart , just one small movement was needed to overcome the unwanted distance.

He continued coming closer and I stayed still, very well aware of where this was leading to. I was even aware that maybe it was not the best of the times, he was drunk and this could be a mistake. But I was even more intoxicated by him than he was. He was like the most precious wine of my life.
A part of me continued warning me that I could regret this in the near future but I was too drunk to comprehend right or wrong. Maybe I got selfish that I also moved closer.

His nose tip touched mine eroding an enchanting feeling within me that I never felt before. After that his soft lips, touched mine giving me tingles.

But that feeling didn't last long as we were interrupted by a horn sound, indicating my parents were here.

_________________________________________
AN

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