Bookseller / Harry Styles

Chapter 25

I flip through publications trying to find any news covering Emily's death. I have been going in a spiral the past few days, especially after Harry dropped me off first when we made our way back. He knew I'd be questioning him about everything. And that's why he didn't want to risk being alone with me in the car. Although, I did see him one circling my building late at night.

 In the meantime I've decided to show Meredith the article from a local newspaper from Falmouth that announced the accident.  

Her eyes follow every word on that page, scrolling again and again to see the picture of the destroyed vehicle next to a very nice picture of Emily, her brunette bob perfectly combed and her small and lips forming a smile. She was indeed a sweet looking girl, as Harry put it into words. 

"I don't even know what to say to this." She says after finishing the article. "This is incredibly sad. She was so young. How the hell did she just race the car into an empty shop? Do you think she wanted to kill herself?" Meredith asks and sips the last drops of coffee from her cup. 

"I don't know. It's hard to tell. I mean, it just doesn't seem that she lost control of the wheel." 

I play the video from a local camera that shows Emily driving the car straight into the shop, the engine stopping at the contact, glass shuttering everywhere - on the street, into the shop, into the car. We both turn our heads when we hear footsteps coming closer to our table. I turn around and I spot Harry, coming, with a smug smile of his face, hands in the pockets of his black jacket and sunglasses on top of his head. 

"What a surprise!" Meredith says, with her usual cheerfulness. 

I turn off my phone and gesture a small wave, but my face remains neutral. 

"Well, I need a coffee. I've worked non stop since we got back. It's only me at the bookstore these weeks."

"Where's your employee?" I ask out of curiosity. 

"Home for the holidays. So I'll be running the shop on my own until then." 

"You're the boss, can't you just reduce your opening hours?" Meredith questions his logic. 

"I could, but I don't really want to. Especially now, people come to buy gifts. It's good for the business." He stands up next to our table, making us to look up at him. 

"Did Louis tell you that we're going to his parents for the Christmas?" 

"Yeah, he did. I'll be working. I would have taken the day off only for the our diner. But I'll guess we'll see each other for New Year's, right?" He asks and looks at both of us. 

"I will not be here. I'm leaving tonight for Ireland and I'll be coming back in January, when courses start again." I tell him. "But you three have fun!" I smile at Meredith.

"Ugh, maybe we'll do a fake make up New Year's party when you come back." She says, while gathering her stuff. "Harry, if you want, you can take my seat. I'm meeting Louis, so I kind of need to go." 

Interesting how Harry timed himself perfectly to come to this coffee shop and right before Meredith needs to go. I might be overstretching this, but he has confessed to following me. So now I walk the streets a bit more cautious knowing that I'm in his panopticon. 

"Alright, then. I'll go grab myself a coffee and I'll be back. If it's okay with you, Sara." He looks at me while he unzips his jacket, letting a white t-shirt to be seen. 

I look down to see that the contains of my cup. Half of my hot chocolate is still there. 

"Sure." I reply.