Despite the fact that I am despising being back in Vancouver, Dad kept his promise and took time off during my spring break. And because our visit at Christmas wasn't all that great, it was a must that I come home to spend this much needed time with him.

The last thing I want to be doing right now, is saying goodbye to Harry. Just thinking I wont be with him every single day for the next two weeks—well, it just sucks. We've made plans to make plans over the break, but nothing is set in stone at the moment. We're at least giving each other a few days with our families until we see each other again, making it that much harder to say goodbye to him. 

"You're going to have to get out of the car eventually, Paise," Harry laughs. We've been parked in front of my Dad's house by the woods for fifteen minutes now. And he's right. I need to let him go home. You would think that after spending nineteen hours driving, I'd be happy to get out and leave this damn vehicle. But no, I don't want for him to leave. "I'm going to miss the next ferry if I don't leave soon, and I really don't want to wait another three hours."

He steps out of the car and starts getting my luggage out of the trunk and I groan as I slowly follow suit, getting some things out of the back seat. When all my stuff is sitting next to the curb, I can't help but swing my arms around his neck and I instantly feel his arms pull me in close to him, rubbing my back in the process.

"I miss you already," I sigh. I don't care how pathetic I sound. I don't care if he thinks I'm being crazy, because the ache I feel in my chest is real, and I don't want to watch him drive away. Ever since we had sex for the first time two weeks ago, we've been extremely close. Closer than I ever thought was imaginable. I had let him in completely. And the fact that just by allowing myself to be this way with him a few times, the progress of getting better was a success, and in the process, I had exceeded my own expectations.  

"I miss you too, love," he whispers. "We'll see each other soon though, I promise. I'll come here and we'll do something fun, or you could come to the island, you know."

"I know," I sigh again.

His lips meet mine, in a slow and passionate kiss as his hand cups my face. The world around us seems to fade away every time he kisses me this way, and I allow myself to lose myself in him for the last time in longer than I'm used to. When his lips part from mine, he looks at me, gently brushing his thumb across my cheek. His eyes flick back and forth between mine and a small smile graces his lips. He looks incredible and I don't want to take my eyes off of him, knowing he'll be leaving in a matter of minutes.

"I love you," I breathe out.

These three words have still only come out of my mouth once to him before this moment, because as much as I want to say it every single day, I don't want to hear the silence that follows. I told him he didn't have to say it back to me, because it didn't matter if he didn't feel that way about me yet. But truth be told, as fine as I was about it, there was still a tiny bit of hurt inside of me, that he wouldn't tell me he feels the same way about me. I really thought that at some point over the last two weeks since I said it to him, that he would tell me he's fallen in love with me too, but the words haven't come out of his mouth. 

It doesn't mean that I don't feel it, because there has not been a day that has went by that I don't feel the way he feels about me. I can feel it in the way he looks at me, in the way he kisses me and touches me and how he even holds my hand. But I'm not going to try and force the words to come out of his mouth if he doesn't want them to. The fact that I can feel it, is more than enough for me.

As much hope as I had that he would say it back this time, all he can do is kiss me. I wont allow myself to feel disappointed though. I will take his lips on mine, as his way of saying he loves me, because this kiss is so intense and deep that I can feel my toes tingle.

He has a serious look on his face when he looks at me as our lips part. And I know with the way his eyes don't leave mine, that he is thinking about something. My heart fills up with hope that he'll say those most amazing three words back to me. "I know you want me to say it back," he finally says. I can feel my heart sink with his words, knowing he's not going to say what I want to hear. "You know how I feel about you. You're everything to me, Paisley." He puts both of his hands in mine and looks down at our hands joined together. "The last time I said those words, they got shoved in my face."

"Harry, I would never—"

"I know you mean what you say, Paise," he cuts me off. "I just—I promised myself that I would never love anyone else. The only girl I ever loved—She was it for me, and she hurt me. I don't want to make the same mistake twice and I want to be one hundred percent sure that I feel that way."

"But I'm not that girl—"

He smiles, although I can tell that he's nervous with what he's admitting to me. His eyes flick back and forth between mine as he raises his eyebrows at me, before letting out a long breath. "It's taken me a long time for me to let you—someone—back in. Just know that I care about you and I don't plan on going anywhere."

I'm at a loss for words, because I know he's being honest with me. He's allowed himself to be vulnerable and I have to accept what he's giving me. To show him that I understand, I press my lips to his with force, knowing it will be the last time in a few days that I get to be this close to him.

"You're beautiful," he says, when our lips part. "I'm going to miss your pretty face."

I roll my eyes and laugh, as I start to pick up my bags.

"And that laugh," he adds. "I'm going to call you later, just so I can hear that laugh."

"Just get out of here, nerd!"

"We're back to nerd again?" he questions, walking to the other side of his car, as he raises his eyebrows at me. All I can do is laugh at the expression on his face. "Well, I'm your nerd, and you love me!"

I watch as he gets into his car and starts it, making the smile on my face disappear instantly. He blows me a kiss and yells out the window. "I'll see you soon, love."

I can't describe the feeling inside of me, as I watch him drive down the road, away from me. After spending all our time together for so long, you would think that some time apart would be needed and it might feel nice to just get away for a while. But that isn't the case whatsoever with me. 

What I've come to realize, is the best feeling in the world, is being in love with someone you already feel is your best friend. I have always considered Harry to be one of the best friends I've ever had. We were best friends before any of this started, and I think it helped our relationship grow to what it is now. And there's no doubt in my mind that he has already given me his heart. He's just afraid to admit to it, because he doesn't want to get hurt. I understand completely, doing everything you can to protect yourself, but I know that I would never in my life, ever do a single thing to hurt him.

When I walk into the house, the main floor is flooded with boxes. All the pictures are taken down, leaving the room to seem brighter, with the sun bouncing off the white walls, and I'm confused as to what is going on. "Dad?" I call out, hearing my voice echo throughout the house, as I drop my bags.

"Oh Good, you're home!" Dad comes out of his bedroom at the top of the stairs and runs down them to give me a hug. "Did I miss Harry? I was hoping to say hi to him before he left."

"What's going on?" I ask, dismissing his question completely. "Are we moving?"

"We sure are, kiddo!"

"Why did I not know about this?" I walk further into the house, maneuvering my way through the sea of boxed up belongings with wide eyes. I'm shocked that he's packed up the house already, before I've even heard a single word about this.

"I wanted to surprise you!"

"Surprise me?" I ask, looking back over at him. "I'm confused. Where are we moving?" Please don't say the city. Please don't say the city.

"Home!" he announces. Phew. "Back to Victoria! I miss my ocean views. This being locked away in the corner by the woods is starting to get to me, especially with you gone all the time. And I'm going to take over at the old office. The one I used to work at."

I don't think I've heard more amazing news in my life. And Dad can tell by the look on my face that I am happy to hear this. I wont ever have to come back to the Vancouver area in my lifetime because of this, and nothing can make me happier, knowing I'll be free and safe forever. And the fact that Dad sounds excited to go back, makes it even better, and all I can do is hug him tighter than I ever have.

"So, I'm sorry your break is going to be spent packing," he says. "But it all needs to be packed up by the time you go back to school."

"Lamest spring break ever," I groan, rolling my eyes.

As I start carrying my stuff up to my room, I can't help the smile on my face thinking we're moving back home. Despite the fact that apparently everywhere you go, Jenny and her little minions seem to be, I will be close to my favorite place on the beach again. I'll be close to Harry over summer holidays when school lets out in a few months and I wont have to worry about when I'll get to see him. And no more living in fear of Ryan. This is by far the best decision Dad has ever made and I almost can't believe he's just decided to move back there now.

"I'm assuming you're taking a nap, eh?"

I laugh, turning to look at him from the top of the stairs. "You know me too well."

"We'll go for a late dinner when you wake up then," he says. "And tomorrow you can start packing up your room and help me get boxes down from the attic."

"Woo, I can't wait," I say, sarcastically, heading for my room down the hall.

*

Packing is a grueling experience that I usually could live without, but in this situation, I'm actually enjoying it. Having not really spent much time in this room, I get to take a look at all my old things before stuffing them away in boxes. Going through my copious amounts of cd's that I didn't even remember I owned. Flipping through pages of old journals from high school and landing on a page where all I wrote about was how much Jenny's bitchiness was getting out of hand, and I can't help but laugh at how it sounds exactly like something I would have written back then.

"Paisley!" Dad calls from the hallway. I'm not particularly excited that he's calling me, because I know exactly what he wants to do at this specific moment, and I don't have a choice but to help him.

I climb the ladder and pull myself into the small space. It's dark and dusty and luckily for me, there's only a couple handfuls of boxes that I need to send down to Dad who's standing on the ladder waiting for me. "We should just leave this shit here and call it a day."

"You might want some of that shit," he laughs. "Most of it is yours. And I think there's some of Mom's clothes in there you might want to go through."

I'm thankful it doesn't take long to finish up this dreadful task and I can get the hell out of there. Dad's placed the boxes neatly down the hallway against the wall and I open one that's labeled 'Mom's Clothes.'  And there, just like the box says it is, is Mom's clothes.

I stare at them for what feels like a long time, trying to decide if I want to go through them. Just looking at them sitting in a box, makes me miss her. I pick up a shirt that's sitting on top and bring it to my face to smell it. It still smells like Mom. It smells like her perfume, and I want her so badly to come back to me. My phone starts playing its usual Halsey song, taking me out of my thoughts, and I'm happy to see it's Harry calling.

"Hey babe!" I say when I answer.

"Paisley—hey," he says. "So, um—I'm in Vancouver."

"Really?" I ask. I'm confused and excited at the same time. "I thought we weren't going to see each other for a few days. How come you didn't tell me you were coming?"

"Can you meet me?" he asks, dismissing my question.

"Oh, well, I'm kind of busy, babe," I start. "Dad's got me going through boxes. Why don't you come over?"

"Come have ice cream with me," he insists. "Meet me at Mondo Gelato."

I seem to be rendered speechless, because I instantly feel a lump in throat, unable to answer him. He wants me to meet him in the city? I don't want to go to the city. I was planning on staying away from there the entire time I was here, and now he wants me to meet him for ice cream, downtown? Why does he have to do this to me?

"Please?" he finally adds, when he realizes I'm not going to say anything. "You owe me Mondo Gelato from the last time, remember?"

"Why don't you get ice cream and bring it here?" I ask. My heart starts to pick up its pace just thinking about going into the city. I will do just about anything to not have to leave this house right now.

"It's a long drive," he reminds me. "It would be melted by the time I got all the way to your house."

I start to sift through the open box in front of me, as I nervously try to think of an excuse as to why he should just come here. "I don't want ice cream. So why don't you just have your ice cream and then come over?"

"Paisley, please," he says. "I want to see you. I miss you. And I just want to take my girl out for ice cream."

Rummaging through the clothes, I notice a wooden box at the bottom. And I stare at the words 'You and I' painted on the top of it in black. I'm curious as to why it's in the bottom, underneath all these clothes and I lean into the box to try to get it, but it's too heavy to retrieve it holding my phone in one hand.

"Paisley?"

"Yeah?"

"So, you're going to come then?"

I know that I want to see Harry. Even though he just dropped me off yesterday, I miss him. Do I really want to risk going into the city to see him though? Not really.

"Please?" he begs.

"Fine," I groan. "Give me about twenty minutes, depending on traffic."

"I'll be waiting."

I sigh heavily as I make my way down the stairs, to the kitchen where Dad is making himself a coffee. "Harry wants me to meet him for ice cream downtown," I tell him. "Is it okay if I take your car?"

"Harry's here?" he asks, excitedly. "Sure you can have the car. Will he come for dinner? I'll make a lasagna."

"I guess," I shrug. "I'll text you when I see him and let you know if he'll stay. I don't know what his plans are."

I grab the keys from the bowl on the marble table by the door, even though I want to take my time. Stupid me told Harry I'd be there in twenty minutes, which basically means I have no choice but to leave now, and I'm cursing myself under my breath for agreeing to go anywhere near downtown, even if it does mean that I get to see Harry.

I had been more focused on the contents in the box than I was on Harry while we were on the phone, and it's only now that I'm realizing how vague he was with me. Even the way he was talking to me, was different. The tone in his voice didn't seem like his usual self. Or maybe I'm just thinking that because I wasn't focused properly. Or maybe I have no idea what I'm thinking, because I'm scared as hell about being downtown. I had gotten away with only running into Ivy and Hunter the last time. I was lucky. I can only hope that I'm luckier this time, and I don't see anyone at all. God, I hate being paranoid. I hate this stupid city. I hate being reminded of my old life, especially knowing that Ryan is apparently still looking for me. And I hate Harry at this very moment, for making me come here.

I'm happy when I find a parking spot right across the street from Mondo Gelato. I sit in the car for longer than I should, trying to calm my nerves, realizing my hands are shaking. I don't want to get out of the car. Somehow I feel safer sitting here, locked inside. I know that I need to get out and just run across the street and I will be safe being with Harry. Nothing bad will happen when I'm with him.

I muster up the courage to leave the car, after looking in every single direction to make sure no one I recognize is around. When I feel the coast is clear, and there's no traffic coming from either direction, I quickly step out, and dart across the street, pressing the lock button on the keys and listening to it beep a couple times.

I breathe out a heavy sigh of relief when I make my way inside the ice cream shop and close my eyes for a second to calm myself down. I made it inside just fine. I need to stop being paranoid. Feeling this way will easily be the death of me. I need to lighten the fuck up.

I look around the room, not seeing Harry anywhere. I internally thank him for not being near a window and realize he must be sitting in the back corner on the opposite side of the place, and quickly make my way through the room to find him.

When he sees me, he stands from his chair, smirk on his face, and I feel like the weight of the world is suddenly sitting on my shoulders, pulling me down and I can't seem to move. I'm frozen on the spot. My heart feels like it's stopped as sharp pains jolt through my head, making me feel weak in the knees before it starts pounding in a way that makes it hard to see straight.

The confusion in me lasted all of two point five seconds. But a wave of visions flashed behind my eyes at the sight of Harry standing before me, wearing a pair of big black framed glasses. And it's all of a sudden very clear to me, the boy standing in front of me is Harold, and I can remember everything.

A/N: Omg, my heart was pounding the whole time I was writing this last bit. I'm finally at the part of the book where the whole idea of the book came from. And I can't believe we're here already! There is still so much to happen! :)

Once again, thanks for all your support! I hope you'll keep voting and commenting your thoughts! Thank you for 19.3K reads!

What do you think is going to happen, now that Paisley knows who he is?

And I hope you don't think it's messed up that she remembers everything just because of the glasses, because she did have that one small vision of the glasses at the beach, so it's possible the glasses could make her remember everything! ((if you don't think so, sorry, but that's what I'm going with! lol))

much love
amberlove

xo