Bella's pov

Everything was set, a fancy charcuterie board with a beautiful filet mignon over mushroom risotto was beautifully arranged on the dinner table.

Harry and Charles bought the cake as well. Harry introduced me to Charles, he seems a pretty good sort of chap .Talking about Charles , I've noticed he was somewhat flirtatious around Gemma or maybe that was his posh British style but that's what it appeared to me.

Hero was running around the house with the cookies I made for him, offering them to everyone in the house.

I was pretty flustered when Anne appreciated my baking skills. It wouldn't be a lie if I say I was on cloud seventh.

Harry however was behaving weirdly the whole time, he ate my cookie but on contrast to my expectation didn't say a word about them , he didn't even tease me or anything. I could tell he was worried because of my stupid zoning out earlier. He sat as if he was in some deep thought.

Gemma, Susan and Charles couldn't stop chatting while Anne was busy admiring my cookies with Hero. Well all of us were actually waiting for 'Drake' and Harry's father.

I had finally settled down for the fact that Gemma's boyfriend is 'hopefully' not Drake Weasley. So there was nothing to worry about right?

"Harry she really defeated you in this." Anne spoke to Harry making him turn his head towards me.

"Harry used to bake?"
I asked.

"He didn't tell you?" Gemma asked.

"What?" I asked looking at Harry.

"Umm my mother, Harry's grandmother owned a bakery, so sometimes Harry and Gemma would help her bake. "

"Oh that's sweet." I said

Anne nodded.

"So.." I was gonna ask something when the bell rang , making my chest feel a bit heavy, I wished it wasn't him.

Gemma went to answer the door.
"Hello everybody. "
His voice caused me to stick my head towards his direction.

It was not him . He was a middle aged man , who gave strong resemblance to Harry, definitely his dad. I concluded .

"Hey Damon." Charles greeted him.

"Hello Charles. " he replied

Apart from Charles, no one in the room greeted him, Hero kept on playing, Anne got busy on her phone and Harry didn't even try to cover up, he kept staring at the wall behind.

Susan and I sat there confused! Didn't have any idea what to do.

"Dad this is Susan and this is Bella. Harry's friends and now mine to." Gemma finally spoke.

"Hello young ladies nice to see some new faces here." He said.

"The pleasure is all ours Mr Stlyes." I politely said.

"Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?" He asked me while seating on the couch.

"No absolutely not. I'm from the UK." I answered.

"Really, where in the UK?"

"London. " I replied.

"We're from Cheshire." He told.

"Yeah I know." I said with slight uncertainty as talking to him I wasn't feeling very comfortable, there was something in him that was deflected me from him.

"Oh yeah Harry must have told you."
I just nodded.

"Living here these days?" He further asked, I was starting to feel awkward considering that only we were the once talking here and the more I was trying to keep the conversation minimal he kept on asking more questions. When I looked around Gemma and Susan were gone, Anne and Charles were busy on their phones and Hero was no where seen. Harry was in the same state.

"Uh.." I begun but Harry cuts in and says "Umm Bella would you come with me I want to return you something. "

I was startled and confused how to respond him ? However I agreed and followed him .

We went upstairs to his room.
I can't help but investigate every edge of his room. It was of cream and brown colour combination with a small gallery towards the left, cream coloured curtains were drawn over it.
His room didn't have many adornments except the large brown bed , a small couch on the corner and a book shelf. That very much explains he doesn't live here all the time.

"Umm why are we here?" I asked breaking the awkward and awful silence.

"Because of my dad." He replies.

Well dih obviously that I knew he brought me here because of his dad he had once mentioned about his dad not being 'good company' to be with.

I looked at him for a few seconds indicating that it was not enough explanation then said. "Yeah it explains everything. "

A few seconds later when I realised he wasn't going to say anything more, I began to freely roam around and explore the room.

The first thing that drew my attention was the book shelf , I went close to it . One book 'Wishes Fulfilled ' was bulging out , indicating that it was the last book he read, I removed it from there.

"You actually read it?"

I asked him in quite disbelief because that was not the type of books he was inclined to and neither did I ask him to read it unlike the other ones in the shelf. As far as I remember I just told him that it was my current favourite and it inspired me in a lot of ways.

When I turned around to face him my breathing accelerated finding him standing very close to me. I was so lost exploring his mini library that I didn't realise when he moved and now was standing right behind me.

"The only thing you need to learn is that you already are what you are seeking to attain. " He spoke with his very captivating husky voice, answering my question with one of the quotes from that book

"Make your future dream a present fact by assuming the feeling of the wishes fulfilled. " I quoted as well.

His eyes sear into me as I spoke. His eyes remain fixed with mine. I felt myself, getting closer to him with his almost trance like pull. Not my body but my heart, my soul got more close to his.

I smiled not once diverting my gaze from him, my heart blossomed when he returned that with a even more bright and sweet smile lingering on his lips.

For the first time today he was the Harry I know, just the sweet , little nervous guy that I find damn cute.

Oh my God did I just say cute? Guess I can't lie to myself no more.

He came forward decreasing the already minimum space between us causing my heart to beat in my throat, he extended his hand taking the book from my hand. He brought his face close to mine his intense gaze remained fixed on me while he kept the book back to the shelf behind.

Due to uneven breathing I didn't acknowledge the strand of loose lock on my face but he did . He gently tucked the strand behind my ear. I got tense finding him so close to me but at the same time relish under his gentle touch.
We remained silent, no words were exchanged, there was no need of words , his smile, his carefree, relieved and sweet face said it all I wanted to hear.

The bell rang breaking the magical, lovely moment between us.

He looked at every where but me , same with me though.

"Umm Where are Susan and Gemma?" I asked trying my best to not let the situation get any more awkward.

"Last minute preparations. " he replied.

I nodded.

"It must be Drake...umm lets go downstairs. " he said.

"Yeah right. "

Midway down Anne stopped Harry
"Harry do you know where the wine glasses are?"

"In the kitchen. " he replied.

"Common Harry we know that but where in the kitchen?"

"I got no map here." He said in not so sweet manner causing me look at him with wide eyes.

"Umm don't worry Anne we'll bring the glasses." I assured her.

"I'm counting on you for this." She said sweetly and went.

"Common lead me..." I said.

"What?...Where?"

"To the kitchen then you tell me where the wine glasses are. "

Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Bella...." he tried to cut in but I spoke right over him
"Harry."

He sighed and gestured me to follow him.

"Here." He indicated me.

"Now that was easy wasn't it?"
I teased him

"Guess what it was you, so yeah." He replied leaving me confused nonetheless I arranged all the glasses on the tray.

I entered the living room ...with the tray in my hand.

Anne and Hero were facing towards me therefore only their faces were clearly visible from this distance however I could make out Mr Styles and Charles sitting there to.

When I stepped forward their faces were properly in view but his face was also clearly visible .

He sat there infront of me beside Gemma , laughing. His vexing laugh.

The player , the hooker, the biggest jerk , Drake Weasley. Spotting him there
my eyes began scanning for Susan , thank god she was not here.

"Bella what happened. " Harry spoke from behind, probably because I stood in that spot frozen.

"Nothing ." I replied and carried on.

I placed the tray on the table there, "Bella." Gemma called

I turned towards her and forcefully had to face him to.

"Bella meet Drake, my boyfriend and Drake this is Bella , my friend. " she said, causing him to look at me.

Finding me here,there was a slight frown on his face, he probably remembers me but that didn't last for more than a fraction of second before he successfully adopted a straight face with a slight smile.

Seeing him here ,there was a slim chance that he had changed for good but that seemed to dissolve by this look in his face, there was not even a pinch of regret or sorrow or any like emotion except that obnoxious fake smile on his mouse of a face.

"Hi Bella." He spoke sounding absolutely normal.

However I can't bring myself to reply back I just kept standing there staring right at him with burning gaze reflecting how utterly shameless he is.

"Drake?" Called Susan standing in the stairs making all the heads turn towards her.

Finding Susan here however a slight look of worry flashed over him.

"You two know each other?" Gemma asked witnessing Drake staring at her intently.

"We...were in the same college. " I cut in preventing Susan from saying anything else. I didn't want to come in her way in the first place but I also didn't want to make any scene here and ruin Gemma's special day. Also though minimal but there was a chance that Drake has changed maybe things were not what I was assuming them to be?

I didn't want to jump into any sort of conclusions just yet. As far as Susan was concerned I'm sure she'll understand.

"Drake , Susan and I ." I completed.

"What a fortunate stroke of serendipity ! That's so cool we can be like a squad now." Gemma said and chuckled.

Susan looked at me with arched brows, I gestured her to calm down.
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"Never would've thought you like his type." Drake begun when unfortunately we were left alone after the cake cutting session.

"You think about me?" I spoke

"Oh baby you don't wanna know."
his words made me disgusted I began to get up and leave when he left me startled by saying
"Oh don't be scared now...."

"You don't scare me. Disgust? Yes." I spit.

He gave a manical laugh.
Scared? Definitely not but I was getting really confused by his odd behaviour.

"It's just the starting believe me." he said tainting me perplexed, I didn't know where he was getting by this conversation.

Maybe confusion was clearly visible on my face because looking at me , he shifted more towards me.

Intimidated I didn't move a muscle just my reflexes moved my face away from his. Coming disgustingly close he whispered, "I never.....forget nor forgive."

His words made it clear to me what he was talking about. That instant all the memories of that night came flashing on my inward eye, I knew exactly what he was referring to.

"I forgive and not forget but I also know who is worthy of this and who is not." I said pushing him away from me.

"And also I'm not scared of you but you definitely are." I said while getting up.

I saw the expected expressions on his face that he masked quickly but not before giving me the satisfaction of unnerving him.
_________________________________________

"You know him pretty well." Harry startled me as I exited the living room.

"Umm...you were being a cat?" I asked him

"Hun?" He asked back with a confused look.

"Standing by the door....eavesdropping "

"I was not..." he begun to explain when I spoke "Nevermind and a 'yes' for your question."

He hummed in response and was ready to leave when I stopped him.

"Harry."

"Hmm."

I inhaled a sharp breath, debating within whether to tell him about Drake or not.
"I don't know if I should......"
"You shouldn't. " he said cutting me off.

I looked at him frowning.

"By the way I wasn't 'eavesdropping' I happened to just catch you......two in a....." he shook his head, contemplating with himself whether to complete it.

He was about to leave again when I held his arm , stopping him once again.

"Complete....what you were saying. " I demanded him, I wanted to prove myself wrong that what I was thinking, it was not it.

"You probably know him so well to....get cosy with him on that couch. "
As he said that my frown deepened, I could feel anger blazing in me because he just assumed it without asking me anything.

"You interpreted it all wrong. " I wanted to explain him, rather than do anything stupid by allowing the anger and frustration , that erupted in me due to Drake and now Harry, to lead me.

"I don't know what the correct interpretation is. " he bluntly states.

"Harry...what are you trying to imply? I was flirting with your 'sister's...boyfriend'?" I asked out of frustration Drake already hyped me emotions then Harry was assuming things about me that was not helping me regain my composure.

He shrugged at my question.

That moment everything about Drake seemed to evaporate. What bothered me the most was that Harry was suspecting me to do something so mean and atrocious, that I didn't even realise I was being bit rude towards him.

He didn't say anything and I dreaded it. I wished, I believed he would say something, anything even if it was against me , whatever. But he just stood there silent. And that made it all as clear as a crystal. There was no other edge for it.

He didn't believe me and he probably won't listen to what I say further, it was useless explaining or clarifying myself to him.

"Great." I gave a bitter, humourless chuckle and wake passed him.
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"Susan , I think we should leave now. I mean if you want you can stay a bit longer but I want to go. " Susan frowned at me and was about to say something when Gemma bumped in

"Ah..why so early the party just began."

"I know but it's almost ten and my Granny is alone in the house."
I explained further.

"Alas! I wish you stayed a bit longer but anyways I'll let you go now. Today was fun with the two of you." Gemma hugged us .

"Yeah."

After saying goodbye to Anne we exit the house.
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AN

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