Harper's POV

Even though I had more sleep than I usually did on a weekday, my body felt exhausted and drained. After getting in from my afternoon spent with Angelo, my mind kept going over what he had told me; he was an orphan like me. I knew staying up and torturing myself with the image of a young motherless Angelo would only cause me more emotional turmoil, but I couldn't help it, no child deserved to grow up motherless.

By the time sleep consumed me that night, my dreams plagued by images of a small dark-haired boy with strikingly blue eyes crying out for his mother. When my alarm went off in the morning I was grateful for its obnoxious tone, I had slept for over 8 hours, but my body didn't seem to realise that, all these late nights were catching up to me. In less than two weeks I'd be leaving school for the Christmas break, and then I was on the Home strait, three months left and then adios school and hello big bad world.

My mind drifted back to the decision I made yesterday evening when I got home, was I ready to tell Angelo everything? The decision seemed right at the time, so I was sticking to it. It felt strange knowing that I was going to open up to someone I'd known for less than two months. 

However in that short space of time, Angelo had become a friend something that I hadn't had for a long time, and I felt guilty about keeping something as important as this from him after everything he told me yesterday.

Dragging myself out of bed and over towards my wardrobe I threw on some jeans and a jumper, picking up my glasses off the bedside table I made my way downstairs for breakfast and hopefully a large coffee or ten before I leave for school. Walking into the kitchen, I was surprised to see that my nan wasn't in the kitchen waiting for me, walking over to the table something caught my eye. It was a note.

Harper darling I've gone to see your grandad and parents for a while, I'm sorry I'm not here to make you your breakfast, but the coffee pot is hot and please remember to make yourself some food before school. I'll see you after school, dear.

Lots of love nan xxx

I pulled out another piece of paper and wrote out my reply; I wouldn't go into the details of where I'd be going only that I wouldn't be back at my usual time.

I won't be coming straight home after school, I'm going out for a while, but I'll be back Home in time for dinner & don't worry I'm making some toast as I write this. I love you, and I'll see you soon

Harper xxx

After a piece of toast generously covered In Nutella and two coffee's with slightly more sugar in them than I technically needed, I was ready to take on the day, and by that, I meant sitting through six hours of school without pulling clumps of my hair out. I was counting down the days until school finished for the Christmas holidays and I could finally have some time to rest, even though I'd still be working I wouldn't have to worry about the lack of sleep.

Throwing my vans on and picking up my bag I made my way out the door and towards school, it wasn't an unusually cold morning, but a part of me wished that I was sat in the warm back seat of Angelo's limo instead of walking.

Four hours into the school day and I was ready to slam my face into my desk; there was nothing particularly wrong with Wednesdays at school it was just mind-numbingly dull. I could think of 100 different places that I'd rather be. Yeah, and most of them involve being with a particular CEO.

God my subconscious was a bitch sometimes, but I couldn't argue with her. Spending all this time with Angelo wasn't helping the fact that I had some pretty strong feelings for him and that we were only meant to be friends.

I suddenly realised that I hadn't text Angelo to tell him where I wanted to go this afternoon. Slowly and carefully I went into my bag to get my phone, placing it in my lap and began texting Angelo.

To: Angelo

From: Harper

What time do your meetings finish? I want to

Show you something; you need to keep an open

Mind though.

Moments later, my phone screen lit up; I smiled to myself. Even though I knew Angelo was sat in an important business meeting, he still made time to text me back. Well, that's what friends are for Harper, just common courtesy to text back a fellow friend. The thought made me scowl at my screen If my subconscious were a person I'd strangle her. I wasn't going to let random thoughts ruin my day, unlocking my phone and read Angelo's reply.

To: Harper

From: Angelo

I finish at 2: 30, I'll come to get you

As soon as I finish

I was surprised that Angelo didn't comment on my statement of him keeping an open mind, I guessed he was probably still thinking about what went on over the past two days, I knew due to Angelo being the man he is perhaps he felt guilty about what had happened. I'd ask him about it later I didn't want him feeling guilty about anything, we were friends, and that's what friends are for they help each other when the other needs it. 

For the first time, the word friend didn't place a bitter taste in my mouth because if Angelo hadn't rung me that night, he would've gone through all that on his own and the thought made me shudder. He was struggling with everything that had gone on with both of his parents. I was going to make it my mission to make sure Angelo gets better, no matter how long it takes.

Two hours later, I was rushing out of the classroom I had been stuck in for the past hour, eager to get to Angelo's limo. The stares from everyone didn't bother me anymore it was nobody's business apart from mine, even though the fear of people finding out what I did for a living still sat at the back of my mind but I concealed it well. 

Standing outside the main doors of the school, I waited for Angelo's limo to pull up. I wasn't waiting long as two minutes later the sleek black vehicle pulled up and with that a broad smile appeared on my lips, even though I was about to unload everything that had happened to me in the last ten years, at this moment in time I couldn't be any happier.

"Hey, how was your day?" I ask Angelo as I slide into the seat next to him.

"Tedious and pointless, most of my meetings happened to be a waste of time, the conversations could have been had over E-mail". I tried not to giggle; It was funny seeing Angelo this agitated he was usually so calm and collected, I put it down to him having a bad couple of days. I resisted the urge to reach out and squeezed his hand, I wanted to, but I knew it wouldn't be appropriate.

"So, where have you decided you want to go". Angelo's words pulled me out of my little daydream. "Um for a little walk I think after what happened over the last few days it's my turn to be a little more honest with you" I took a deep breath and carried on talking " I haven't told you some things about myself, but after some thinking I've decided that I'm ready to tell you". Angelo's face was void of any emotion he was just sat there taking in what I was saying. "Where will we be taking this walk?" he asked with his eyebrow raised.

" I'll tell you when we need to get out" I gave him a small smile and turned slightly so I could rest my head on the cold glass.

The ride to the cemetery was comfortably silent; I watched the scenery go by in a colourful blur until I saw the spot that Angelo and I would be getting out at. "Get Craig to stop the car by here; we can walk the rest of the way It won't take us long." 

A few moments later we were both climbing out the back of the limo and walking down a small path; it was a short cut to the part of the cemetery I wanted I had found it a few months ago. "Are you going to tell me where you're taking me or do I have to start guessing?" Angelo asked after we'd been walking for a few minutes. 

I started to get even more nervous the reality of telling Angelo everything about my parents and grandad was beginning to set in, despite how nervous I was I knew I wouldn't be able to chicken out. "Just a few more minutes, you're not very patient today, are you?" I stifled a laugh despite how nervous I was feeling.

A few minutes later I saw the gate that I would use if I ever came to visit my family from this side of town, Angelo still hadn't caught on to where we were going however it surprised me that he hadn't once complained about getting mud on his fancy suit or shoes. 

Walking through the gate, we entered one of the quieter parts of the cemetery, I looked back at Angelo and gave him a small, sad smile and began walking to my parents and grandfathers graves. I had no idea what Angelo was thinking but looking at the man beside me out of the corner of my eye I saw a look of understanding appear on his face, it took a lot of will power to stop me from reaching out to hold his hand. 

Moments later, we both reached the place where my parents laid to rest and stood in front of the headstones and admired the flowers my nan had placed down this morning.

"Angelo, I'd like you to meet my parents and my grandad" I spoke to him without looking at him, I don't know why but I was fighting back the urge to cry. After a few silent moments, I turned to look at him.        

"Walk with me? I've got a story to tell you". He gave me a small nod as a reply, and I turned to walk to the nearest bench. It's now or never, Harper.

"I suppose now is a good time to tell you why I brought you to see my dead parents and grandad, this isn't a happy story, but it'll probably answer some of the questions you probably have. When I was eight years old, my parents were killed in a car accident, I was at my grandparents' house at the time they had gone out for their anniversary. We were told later on that they were killed by a drunk driver, the man handed himself in after he learnt that my parents were dead. It didn't make what happened to my parents any easier I was only eight years old and my parents were just taken from me and I guess that's when I started to go into my shell a bit  but with my grandparents help it got better, I still miss them, and I think about them almost every day"

My confession was interrupted by Angelo, he slowly grabbed my hand and gave it a small squeeze, the tightness I was feeling in my chest eased slightly I looked up at Angelo, and he was looking at me, patiently waiting for me to continue my story.

" A few years down the line, my Grandad got ill, extremely sick but the doctors said it was pneumonia, but it turned out that it wasn't as simple as that it was cancer. That didn't stop my Grandad from doing whatever he wanted; he was always such a strong character, he didn't think of his cancer as a debilitating illness he treated it as a minor inconvenience, he battled for two whole years before he passed away. I was 16 when it happened, while he was getting treatment, my nan had moved him to a private hospital. They charged a lot of money for my grandad's treatment, but my nan would have sold her soul to the devil himself if it meant that he had the slightest chance of getting better ... but he didn't. After he passed away the hospital bills and funeral costs left my nan in a lot of money trouble The money my grandad had saved up barely even dented the overall cost, my nan was too old to work, and that's when I met Jack."

I carried on my story, telling Angelo how I had met jack after a failed attempt of finding work, and that I owed so much to him because without him my nan would have lost the house. When I mentioned it was Jack that had swooped in and 'saved the day', the hold that Angelo had on my hand became just that little bit tighter, It was almost so subtle that for a moment I thought I had only imagined it.

After I finished telling Angelo, what theoretically was my life story we, both sat on the bench for a while in silence with our hands still entwined. " I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my parents sooner" I turned to look at him, I've always felt guilty about leaving it so long, but the timing was never right, and now it was.

"Don't feel guilty about not telling me something as sensitive about this. I know how hard it is to deal with the death of a parent, and I know how hard it must have been too loose three significant people in your life. You've not let it stopped you from getting through high school, the death of both parents cripple some people to the point of where they can't function anymore, but you're strong, and you haven't let their passing define you."

Angelo's little speech made me feel a bit better; he always knew the right things to say. I guess that was one of the things I liked about him.

"You don't feel guilty about calling me that night, do you ?" I asked him quietly

" No not really, I wish I could have told you at a better time, but I guess things just got to me. I'm sorry for making you worry and for waking you up."

We sat in comfortable silence until it began to get dark, the wind had picked up slightly, and I started to shiver a little. "I've just text Craig he's on his way to pick us up, I don't want you freezing to death" Angelo gave me a heart-stopping smile, I had to look away or else the blush I could feel creeping over my cheeks would cause an issue. Ten minutes later I was sat comfortably in the back of the limo, Craig had ever so kindly put the seat warmers on which was a pleasant surprise when I sat down.

"It's my father's birthday next Thursday. Would you come with me to visit his old house? The one I was brought up in, he was cremated, and his ashes are in the garden under a blossom tree. That was my mother's favourite plant." The confession took me by surprise, and it took me a few moments to register what had been said. Me visiting the house that Angelo grew up in wasn't something I had ever imagined.

"Of course I will, what time? I'll have to go home and get changed because of school."

I was surprised that I had managed to get that amount of words out. "You won't have to change. I'm sure whatever you wear you'll look, fine Harper, it's just visiting a house" he chuckled. However I could see the emotion he had behind his eyes, slowly I reached over and slipped my hand into his he gave mine a small squeeze in reply, after the past few days both of us had a new found understanding of each other.

 For the rest of the journey, I had my head resting on the cold glass, but mine and Angelo's hands were still connected, it felt so natural to me now to have his larger hand wrapped around mine, friends held hands, right? By the time the limo pulled up outside of my nan's house, the sky had turned completely black, and a light snowfall had begun to fall.

" Text me over the day's you're working for the rest of the week, and I promise you I'll be there," Angelo said with an embarrassed chuckle.

"I'll text you them as soon as I get In" I smiled at him and he gave my hand one last squeeze before I left the warmth of the limo and into the first snowfall of the winter season.

A/N

I hope you all like this chapter, your views, votes and comments mean the world to me ❤️ thank you for all your continued support 😊

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The next update for Day and Night will be on Friday as usual.