#27 The Last Stick Standing Part 2 (Harry Styles)
SO HERE IS THE MUCH REQUESTED IMAGINE!Â
(Itâs quite long so, I hope you like the story!)
Maybe, time has a way of healing things. Maybe it is like a balm on a wound, and slowly it helps heal the cut. Slowly stop the blood from flowing, slowly start making a net to stop it. And, my life was like a sharp nail, that kept scratching at the wound till the blood started flowing again. I wanted to stop now. I couldnât get myself to jump off the cliff. I couldnât, and I wanted a fresh start now. So, I cut all my nails. It was time to start fixing myself before I blamed myself. It was time to redo.Â
More time was spent by me. For the first time, in a long time, I didnât look for the company that always wanted to surround myself. I grew up with the idea that having a group of people around you led to happiness, and Matthew had it. I just didnât fit in that group. I visited the library, reading the self-help books which helped me a lot. Just to find peace at times, and for the time to go away. It hurt initially, I wanted what my brother had, what people around me had, but maybe I wasnât meant for it. And that was okay. I didnât have to conform according to the world around me, I could form a new path.Â
It was difficult in the start. Keeping to myself, not crying, but it had been better lately. I was feeling better. I was taking care of myself now. I liked my body, my hair, my eyes, I was falling in love with myself for a start. Figured that was wrong, I had this need to always hold on to people to validate myself, first Matthew, then Harry. I had myself now, and it felt wonderful. I was laughing more. I was happy. I had a few people who I talked to in class, or some were library specific. Some were from the coffee shop I went to, but I kept a distance. Not till I was ready would I let them close, and I wasnât ready yet.Â
I didnât go back home in the summer. I got myself an internship instead, and they paid me quite well. My parents werenât pleased, but it was Matthew was upset.Â
âYou donât have to work to run away from me,â He slammed his hand on the door.Â
âIâm not running away from you or anyone for that matter,â I smiled. I smiled at him lately. No, I didnât talk to him. It wasnât healthy at first, I knew. But no one treated their family like that. And, I didnât have to give respect when I didnât receive any in return. He chose his girlfriend, his friends repeatedly over me. When I was treated like shit, he said nothing and, then expecting me to be all love and care, when we are alone was some shit.Â
âYes, you fucking are! I know you! You just want to ignore me like a punishment,â I rolled my eyes, âLike some revenge, and then blame all your shit on me in front of Mom and Dad like you always do!â He screamed and, I dropped my stuff I was holding in my hands.Â
âIs that it then? You donât want to be blamed for me not coming back home?â I folded my hands.Â
âThatâs not what I meant,â He tried to correct himself, but I knew better.Â
âWell thatâs shit, but donât worry. I didnât tell mum and dad anything about us. I want to work, and therefore I am. Not everything in this world is about you, you know.â I folded my arms,  âAnd, as far as my dealing with my shit goes, I donât want anything to do with you anymore.âÂ
âGiselle...â He came forward, and I stepped back. "Youâre my sister, my twin...â
âYouâve lost all your rights to call me that. It shouldnât matter to you. It isnât going to make any difference to your life,â I got back to my work. âYou should be glad Iâm not coming back with you. The perfect child can be with his perfect parents who love him all alone!âÂ
âYou donât mean that,â He shook his head.Â
âWhy because it hurts you? Because it is finally being stated? You are the perfect child, the perfect little boy they wanted to have while I just came along with the package. Donât tell me you havenât felt me being treated like that, oh wait, you wonât know! Because you spent all your time gloating about how you got the better! Itâs so in your face in everything. For people outside, we must be a family that provides equal chances to everyone, but we know itâs not. So, why donât we accept it and move on. I will not live in this illusion that my parents love me like they love my brother, and then live in this complex my entire fucking life!â I yelled.Â
âGissy...â He tried to hold my hand.Â
âYou couldnât even be there for your sister when she was actually in grave danger. What sort of a family is this? Did I tell you, I donât get a call from mom, every Saturday. I call her, while she calls you! Thank fucking god, I got a scholarship for this place, or they wouldnât have even sent me here while you werenât even pressured to get one! Where were you during all this, Matthew? You donât have the right to call yourself a brother. Go to your fucking girlfriend and family!â I screamed, it all came out. I couldnât control it. There was so much that was never said, so much hidden, I couldnât let it all out, no, this wasnât right. âGet out!âÂ
Was he going to cry? He ran out before that, and I couldnât help myself from following him. I didnât see him, but I saw Harry standing in the hallway. He looked at me with shocked eyes, âWhat? Enjoying the show?â I slammed the door before he could answer.Â
The good thing was that I saw none of them during the summer. It was a relief and a good escape. My internship was hectic but brilliant, and I earned quite a bit while my spending wasnât much. It was good for me, mentally and emotionally. After I didnât call mom for two weeks, she finally did. She screamed at me for not calling and about how worried she was, but couldnât say much after I told her that she didnât hear from me for two weeks, and dad didnât send the money so, there wasnât much worrying happening. The âenjoy with your sonâ was another thing that stopped her. All my life I was treated like the second best. Like I wasnât important, made to feel that way, if I wanted to stop pretending and get over this competition and want for attention, I had to start afresh.Â
Today, I was soaking in the sun. My body was toned now by all the running and workouts I put in every day. My hair was longer, and I for the first time in a long time, felt happy in myself. I had made a few friends as well, and was hanging out with them when I saw him.Â
He was tanned now, and I could see the muscles that developed over the summer. His eyes widened as they took me in, I did look different.Â
âHey Gissy, letâs go get those pancakes now. Iâm sure theyâre ready!â I offered Nick my hands, and he pulled me up. I felt his eyes follow me as I got up and walked to the stall.Â
âGiselle,â I turned around knowing it was his voice. I smiled, âYou look different.âÂ
âI grew my hair,â I nodded. âThis is Nick,â I introduced my friend, and they greeted each other.Â
âIâll meet you there,â Nick nodded and I turned to Harry.Â
âSo, how was summer?â I asked.Â
âFine, yeah how was yours?â He asked.Â
âQuite lovely, hectic but lovely,â I nodded, âSo, Iâll see you around, yeah...â
He held my arm, âWhere were you?âÂ
âYou didnât come back home. Why? I know you were mad at him, but he is your brother,â He frowned. âAnd, being as righteous as you claim you are, I expected you to be there.âÂ
âWhat are you talking about?â I frowned.
âWait, you donât know?â his eyes in shock. âMatthew, he met with an accident...how do you not know?âÂ
âWhat? How? When?â I took out my phone to see if I missed any call or message. I had nothing.Â
âA week ago, he is bad, Giselle.âÂ
âI wasnât...I didnât...fuck!âÂ
âIf youâd like, Iâll be leaving to see him in about an hour, I can give you a ride,â He said, and I nodded wiping my tears. He was my brother after all, and I couldnât believe mom hadnât mentioned anything! Not much could be expected out of them, though.Â
Rushing back to my room, I packed my things and met Harry outside. It was a four-hour ride back home, and I couldnât wait. âYou know, that night when I had asked you out...âÂ
âI really donât want to talk about this, Harry.âÂ
âFuck! Why? Why canât you give somebody else a chance to explain themselves! You did the same with Matthew when he constantly tried to reach out to you. He canât help being who he is, but I have seen him fight every person who said shit about you. But he couldnât always protect you! I donât know what you guys had while growing up, but I know he genuinely does love you and care about you! Fuck, I saw him howling in the car after you slammed the door that night!â He yelled.Â
âThat night, I called him up to pick me up, the night you left me, remember? He switched off his phone to have sex with his girlfriend and came knocking at the door three hours later...âÂ
âHe wasnât having sex with his girlfriend, by the way,â Harry cut me off. âShe had taken his phone, and thrown it across the room. When he went to fix it, it was broken. He then went to replace the model so, he could contact you. Meanwhile, that bitch hid his keys, and then after arguing for a long time, she finally gave it. He looked for you the entire night, I looked for you with him because for some reason he thought you werenât safe. We finally gave up and reached your dorm where you were, thank god!âÂ
This was a perspective that I didnât know. All this while, I thought he had left me alone, but he hadnât. I had misjudged the situation so bad.Â
âAnd as for me, if youâd let be explain myself,â He waited for me to interrupt. I didnât. âI really liked as you as well. I still do for fuckingâs sake, knowing how impulsive you are, and such a pessimist! I told you I was caught up with Ally and the gang. They had my book in their hand. Fucking never using a typewriter again in my life! And, all my books as well. They threatened to burn it, they actually did burn a few chapters to prove a point. Ross had my things which he was so ready to pour oil on and burn. Earlier, the plan was to mess around with you, and I thought fine. I will go with it, and then tell you everything they did so, youâll understand and weâll have our date!âÂ
I looked at him, wanting to know more, âBut, it didnât happen that way. Then, she didnât stop the car when we went forward. Drove all the way to the pub and took me and kept me the entire time until Matthew came to look for you. He beat Joss up and, I handled Tyler and we rushed outta there.âÂ
âWhy didnât you tell me this before?â I asked, now crying.Â
âI was so guilty for the longest time, Giselle. Knowing what had happened, knowing how you werenât talking to Matthew, knowing I could lose you forever with one wrong word because you werenât listening to anyone,, I just couldnât do it. I loved you and I was so guilty. On your birthday when you went back home, I planned to tell you everything. But you were so broken, I didnât know what to say to fix it. And then, you thought I liked Ally and hated you and, I was so guilty Gissy,â Harry shook his head.Â
âThought time would give me a chance, and when I built up the courage to tell you, you threw Matthew out, slammed the door, I couldnât reach you with the wall youâd created.â
âOh god, this is such a mess,â I cried into my palms.Â
We reached the hospital in my town and I rushed to reception. Asking for his room, I ran up the staircase and Harry followed me. I reached the room and stopped when I saw our parents outside.Â
âGiselle, what are you doing here?â Mom asked me. Dad looking at mom accusingly.Â
âHow could you not tell me?â I asked them.Â
âYou were working, Giselle. We thought better not to distract you!â Dad cut mom.Â
âBullshit! She knew I finished work last week!â I yelled.Â
âDo not raise your voice at us, young lady!â Mom spoke in the voice she used whenever she wanted to make me disappear.Â
âThen stop coming between me and my brother!â I told her. âIf you want me out of the family, say it to my face instead of creating a divide between us!âÂ
âGiselle!â She yelled.Â
âEnough mother. I have had enough,â I said, pushing his door open. Walking inside I saw the doctor giving an injection to Matthew. Matthew oh god, his hand and his left leg was broken, he had bruises on his face. His upper body was covered in bandages, his head was hurt. I wanted to cry.Â
âGissy, hey...â he tried to smile. I stood away from his bed. âPlease come here.âÂ
I wiped my tears and slowly walked to him, sitting on his bed. The doctor gave his last pain killer and left. âWhat have you done to yourself? You didnât have to get so bad to get my attention.âÂ
He laughed and then grimaced in pain, âDonât make me laugh, it hurts.â
His left hand which was better pulled me closer, and he kissed my cheek, âI missed you.â
âI missed you, too,â I said, crying into his neck. âIâm sorry, Iâm so sorry. I didnât know, I thought you hated me, Iâm sorry.âÂ
âHey, youâre my twin. Weâre basically the same. I could never hate you in my life! Iâm sorry for not noticing the differentiation earlier. Iâm such an idiot, but you should have mentioned this before and not hid it from me.âÂ
âIt was what I was taught,â I shrugged. âDoes this hurt?â I asked, touching his ribs.Â
âI broke two,â he whined. âYouâll have to take care of me now. I canât live in this town anymore!âÂ
âThe jailers should let you go,â I laughed.Â
âI think we should shift into that apartment you saw. It seems like the perfect opportunity!âÂ
After talking a bit more with my brother, Harry came in and they talked for a while before he slept from the pain killers. Dad walked with me outside leaving mother behind. âYour mother loves you too,â he said.Â
âBut loves Matthew more. You do too. It is not exactly hidden,â I said.Â
âItâs not like that, Giselle. You are as precious to us and Matthew. Yes, we have been harder on you, but thatâs because your mother faced a lot of problems being a woman and, she wanted to prepare you for that. Yes, maybe a son is seen as more important, but we donât want to lose you for it.â He said. Maybe some wounds take time to fill, but slowly with time, everything becomes alright and I could only hope for this to become better.
âSo, you like me?â I ask, handing Harry a coffee.Â
âPretty much,â He said, taking some time. âYou know, there is a very good restaurant down the road.â
âHmm, I grew up here,â I said, sarcastically.Â
âIâd like you to take me on a date there then. Right now would be nice. Iâm starving,â Harry said, standing up.Â
âYouâre driving me. To cancel all the chances of a repeat, you know!â I laughed.Â
âShut up!â He said, pulling me as we walked towards the car.Â
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