Marlene

My mom's house was a very cliché white house, red door, picket fence, the kind you see in films. It was a home my parents bought when I was 16, so I didn't really grow up in it. I was the oldest, and my two younger siblings still lived here, unlike me who left at 19. It wasn't the fact that my mother was a bad mom, quite the opposite actually. She was very smothering growing up, had to know everything and was involved in everyone's business.

I walked up to the path to the house and the door was open, a strong smell of turkey, ham, apple, and pecan pie roamed in the air. I walked through the house and my mother was standing in the kitchen with her friends from church. We had no close family in the state, so most thanksgivings we had people from her church here. "Mom?" She turned and gasped.

"Marlene!" All the women said coming over to me. It was like an episode of cheers every time I showed up. I got hugs and cheek pinches by random women.

"Hi." I smiled.

My mom looked at me and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. "Oh sweetie you look amazing, let me introduce you to Lori's son Malcolm-"

"Mom actually I need to talk to you really quick." She looked at me and I pulled her towards the sitting room. My mom was in her mid-forties and had fake blonde hair, too hide her white hair.

She looked at me and sighed. "Oh sweetie, you're a lesbian aren't you, oh gosh we told you last year if you wanted to come out you could-"

"Mom no, I'm not gay I'm seeing someone. It's sort of new so that's why I didn't invite him." She gasped and then made almost a squeal.

"How long? Is he nice? What does he look like?" I took my phone out and showed her the picture Harry took of us. "Oh he's handsome, well I guess I'll have to break the news to Malcolm. What's his name?"

"Harry." She put a hand on her chest and smiled. Harry just saved my thanksgiving without even knowing it. She patted my thigh as I sat there, I could hear music playing upstairs and my mom sighed.

"Can you tell your brother to keep it down, he's going through some crisis about a girl and I can't handle it." I nodded getting up to go upstairs.

My sister Victoria was about 8 and very loud-mouthed. She was sitting in her room playing with her dolls with two other girls when I walked past her room. "Vicky." She looked up.

"Marlene!" She ran over to hug me. "Mom's right, you do need to get your eyebrows done." I rolled my eyes turning around to go see my brother.

Jeff was 17 and clearly my favorite sibling. I knocked on his door and it quickly opened. "Marlene!" He hugged me.

"Did you know it was me?" He nodded before pulling away.

"You're the only person that knocks." I walked into his bedroom and the smell of boy was very much in the air. I sat down on his bed and he turned the sad music down. "I'm glad someone I tolerate is here." I smiled.

"Well, your mother says you're having girl troubles." He rolled his eyes. "What's going on?"

"Mom wants me to take Mary Beth from church to the prom, but I already asked this girl name Keke and mom says I have to either tell Mary or Keke that I already have a date." I shook my head. "I don't want to be mean."

"She's annoying, do you like Keke?" He nodded. "Photo?" He pulled a picture up on his phone and I smiled. The girl was beautiful, brown skin, big brown eyes and curly locks framing her face. "Um yeah dump Mary Beth and take her." He chuckled.

"So what's up with you?" I sighed.

"Just lied to mom that I'm seeing a guy, but I'm not he's just my co-worker. But he's hot, but he's dating someone." He took a sip of his juice.

"Is he married?" I shook my head. "Photo?" I pulled the photo up and showed him. "He's a good looking dude, you should go after him." I laughed.

"Well if his relationship ends, I'll be waiting." I looked at the photo and smiled. I wonder what he was doing right now?

*

Harry

Emily sat across from me at the table of a very nice Italian restaurant. She smiled at me gently taking my hand. "I know sometimes it may seem like I don't care, but it's because of my medicine. It messes with my head, you know that right?" She asked.

Around 18, Emily had been diagnosed with depression and recently had been switched to a new medicine. Nothing helped her and the doctor wants her to get retested for bipolar disorder. It would make sense for her to have it, but she thinks she didn't.

"I know darling, we just have to get through this right?" She nodded. "You were there for me when I needed you, and I'll be there for you." She sniffled looking down. "Please don't cry."

"I love you, Harry, I do." She took a bite of food and let go of my hand. By the time we made it home she was a bit drunk which wasn't a good thing. I tried helping her to bed, taking off her shoes and her jewelry.

She began getting her clothes off and kissing me. "Stop Emily, you're very drunk." She began touching me and whispering dirty things into my ear. She wasn't usually like this.

It was beginning to get hard to say no to her so I kissed her back. Her lips pushed against mine, kissing me roughly. I set her down on the bed and laid over her kissing her back. I began reaching between her legs when I heard her moan. "Oh, Zayn." I stopped my actions and pulled away from her.

"What?" She looked at me confused for a second.

"Get off of me!" She said quickly. "Are you taking advantage of me?" I shook my head.

"Who the fuck is Zayn, Emily?" She stood quickly getting dizzy and falling back down. "Emily!"

"Don't yell at me, get out!" She said quickly. I grabbed her arms and looked at her.

"Who the fuck is Zayn!" I roared. Her eyes began to water.

"You're hurting me, Harry." I looked at her arms and realized how hard my grip was. I quickly let her go, I had never done that. Emily could hit me and slap me around but I wasn't that type of person. I walked out of the room and went straight outside to get some fresh air.

*

The next morning I woke up on the couch still confused. Who the hell was Zayn? Emily walked out of the room to the kitchen setting up the coffee machine. I looked at her and she seemed a bit quiet. "Morning."

"Do you not remember anything about last night?" She shrugged.

"I was drunk Harry, I know you hate it when I drink, But-"

"Who the fuck is Zayn?" I asked her. She looked down shaking her head. "Last night, you said his name, so who is he?"

"I don't know a Zayn, maybe you miss heard me-"

"Cut the crap Emily, clear as day you said Zayn." She put her hand on her hips and shrugged.

"He's a guy in my yoga class, he's very attractive and I was thinking about him! What, like you don't think of other women while we have sex?" I stood quickly.

"Well, that would require us actually having sex." She rolled her eyes.

"Well if you weren't so lazy and tried to be romantic, instead of trying to wake me up because you're hard." I shook my head getting off the couch to change out of my clothes.

I decided to shower and get dressed in some shorts and a t-shirt. I didn't know if I should believe Emily's excuse. Perhaps in her mind, she didn't find me attractive anymore. But if I'm honest, maybe I didn't find her attractive anymore. I loved her, I did, but it wasn't the same anymore. I walked out to find her sitting on the couch looking down. "Emily, I need to know if there is someone else?" She shook her head quickly.

"No Harry, I wouldn't do that, please I swear." She stood quickly walking over to me. She placed her hands on my face and pulled me in to kiss me. Her arms wrapped around my neck and her legs around my waist. I took her to the bedroom and laid her down.

We made love and afterward she held me close in her arms. "Darling, maybe we-" I looked down and she was asleep. I wanted to suggest we try counseling, our relationship was on rocky waters and I knew that having sex wasn't going to fix it. You don't put a bandaid on a bullet hole.

*

Marlene

The Monday we came back from work I was so excited to tell Harry that his plan had worked. I was more excited to see him. As I drove past his apartment on my way to work to see if he needed a ride, I noticed he was standing outside with his girlfriend. She leaned in and kissed him and he smiled as she handed him a set of keys. I drove away and towards the office feeling a little sick.

I was so into him, yet clearly, he was in a happy relationship. The fight they had the other day was probably nothing and they made up already. I took a deep breath before entering the building and going to my desk. My uncle came in and smiled. "Marlene."

"Mr. Edmund." He smiled patting my head, then dumping a pile of paperwork on my desk. That man showed no mercy for his niece.

"Reports I need to be done." I nodded. "Split the work with Styles when he gets in." He told me walking out of the cubicle. I loved my uncle because he was very hands on. I split the pile in half and set the pile on Harry's desk. About 15 minutes later Harry walked in and smiled.

"Good morning." He sounded cheerful.

"Morning." I needed to stop talking so much to him, it made me get more feelings. But he was just so nice.

He looked at the pile of work and groaned taking a seat. "I hate reports, make sure you do them in order of dates or Edmund will flip." I nodded starting my work. During lunch, I decided to eat at my desk and continue working. "So how was your Thanksgiving." I smiled at the sound of his voice.

I turned in my chair and faced him as he ate. "Well, thanks to you my mom got off my back about having a boyfriend." He chuckled. "H-how was your weekend?"

He smiled as if remembering something. "Good, really good." It made me happy, every Monday I'd ask him how his weekend was and he would just sigh and say 'I've had worse'. So to hear him say he had a good weekend made me smile big.

"Good, anything fun?" He shrugged taking a bite of food.

"Just went out to eat and spent some alone time with Emily." I nodded listening. "It would be inappropriate for me to get into details." My stomach turned.

"Well glad you had a good time." I turned in my chair.

"Sorry if that was too far-"

"No! No, it's okay, just want to get out of here on time." I told him quickly.

*

After work, I decided to get a drink with Liam from work. He sat down at the bar watching some game while I told him what I saw at Harry's apartment. "I'm telling you, Liam, screeching at the top of her lungs, and his stuff was everywhere." He raised an eyebrow.

"Listen, Marlene, all couples have their issues. If this girl is psycho then Harry would have left by now. He's smart, a good looking guy, and can get any woman if he wasn't so damn shy. If he's with her, there's a reason." I shrugged looking at my Jack and coke. "Holy shit, you like him." He gasped.

"Shut up." I shook my head.

"God, it's so obvious, is that why you give him rides and offer him lasagna?" He shook his head. "Marlene he has a girlfriend, you have to be careful."

"You don't think I know that, god it's just that he's literally the sweetest guy and I'd hate to think he's with a terrible person." He nodded. "Would it be messed up if I asked him about what I saw the other day?"

"Probably, hey I have to go, do you want me to wait with you outside for a cab?" I nodded getting up, quickly paying my tab and walking beside him. As I got home I set my stuff down and went to feed Polly. My phone began ringing when I suddenly got a call.

"Hello?" I slurred.

"Hey, Marlene it's Harry." My eyes widened. "I was just wondering if you accidentally took half of the report for last quarter?" I sighed walking over to my bag.

"Umm yeah I did, I thought you finished your work?" I was sort of disappointed that he was calling just for work.

"I wanted to double check some stuff, are you alright?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, just drunk." I sighed. "Harry about the other day, sorry if I came at a bad time." There was a long pause and then he took a deep breath.

"It's alright, I'm sorry you probably heard us arguing."

"No biggie, your personal business. Did you need anything else?" I looked down.

"No, I'll see you at work." We hung up and I stood up off my couch.

"Ugh! Why are you so cute!" I yelled at myself.

*

Harry

The morning of Friday I woke up feeling a bit upset. Emily was being difficult again. I stood up and without even telling her, I got dressed and went to work. When I reached the office my phone began ringing and I smiled. "Hi, mum."

"Hi pumpkin, how are you?" She asked. My mum was the sweetest woman alive. I missed her all the time but she knew I had to work. "When are you coming to visit me?" I chuckled.

"I was going to try for Christmas, but I can't this year I work around the holidays. Emily is going on the other hand, her mum sent her money." She hummed. "Mum?"

"Well, I miss you, how is it fair that she's going to be here and you aren't?" I looked behind me and Marlene walked into the cubicle setting down a cup of coffee for me on my desk.

"Well, I saw you in August for Gemma's wedding so I'll try for Easter at least." She chuckled. "Well I'll call you later, I'm at work."

"Oh alright busy bee, drink lots of water and eat Harry, wear sunscreen, clouds are just as bad-"

"Bye mum." I hung up and heard Marlene giggle. "Don't make fun of me." I turned my chair to her.

"No, it's cute, calling your mom and stuff." I blushed. She put her hand on my arm laughing. "Make sure to put on sunscreen Harry."

"Ugh, you heard her?" I covered my face. She just nodded and giggled. "How did it go with your mum the other day?" I asked her.

"Good, although if you ever run into her she's going to ask why you broke up with me during the holidays." I chuckled.

"Breaking up with me so soon?" She nodded making me laugh. I heard Mr. Edmund call everyone in for a quick meeting and so we stood walking side by side to the meeting room. She sat down and I sat beside her.

"Okay is that everyone?" We all nodded getting quiet. "Alright, every year in December we have our company Christmas party and this year thanks to Diane we have decided to do a secret Santa." Everyone groaned. "So it's very simple, simply pick a name from the hat, and then on the 23rd bring it to your person. We also have a signup list if you'd like to bring something, please people we have enough cups and napkins bring food." We all laughed as we stood up.

We walked out one by one each getting a name out of Diane's hat. I grabbed mine and walked to my desk sitting down. I opened my name and raised an eyebrow. "Who did you get?" I turned to find Marlene looking over my shoulder.

"You really don't get the 'secret' in secret Santa do you?" She giggled sitting in her chair.

"I'll tell you who I got?" I shrugged. "I got Liam, easy peasy I'll get him a bottle of wine and a cheese plate and he'll be happy." She joked. "Who did you get?"

"Still not telling, it's a secret and you might spill the beans." She gasped.

"I can keep a secret."

"You just told me yours." She made a cute face and pointed a finger at me.

"You got me there." She looked at her desk and picked up some papers. "Well I need to make copies of these forms, I'll be back." I saluted her and watched as she walked out. I couldn't help but notice how nice her rear was. I bit my lip and instantly wondered how good she'd look naked.

Whoa, easy Styles.

I shook the thoughts away and looked down at the name on my little piece of paper.

Marlene Holt.

*

Thank you for reading. Xx

-k