When I’m Too Far From Home, Hold On And Pull Me In
I was twenty eight years old when the seaplane Harry Styles and I were travelling on crashed in the Indian Ocean. Harry was seventeen, and three months into remission from cancer. I was a teacher, hoping for a few months away, but I got a lot more than I bargained for.
Chapter 1
Hey, I’m back!
I’ve been working on this story for quite a while, and so excited to finally be okay enough with it to start posting it. It’s roughly based on one of my favourite books, On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves. It’s going to start out a lot like the book, but the plot after the first couple chapters will change quite a bit.
So disclaimer: I’m not in any way copying the book or claiming it as my own, I’m simply taking bits of it and creating my own story around it.
I really hope you like it, and you should seriously think about reading On The Island if you even remotely like this story. The book is amazing.
Thanks guys, enjoy :)
~*~*~
I was twenty eight years old when the seaplane Harry Styles and I were travelling on crashed in the Indian Ocean. Harry was seventeen, and three months into remission from cancer. I was a teacher, hoping for a few months away, but I got a lot more than I bargained for
~*~*~
As I walked through the airport, I scanned the waiting areas. I had never actually met Harry before, and wasn't a hundred percent sure what he looked like. The only clues I was going by were the fact that he was seventeen and probably almost bald because of the cancer.
And I was right it seemed. I spotted two teenage boys, one with a tall black quiff, vest top on with tattoos on his arms, and the other one had extremely short hair and long, lanky legs. I made my way towards them. The tattooed one noticed me first, looking up at me with wide eyes, nudging who I assumed was Harry. Harry looked up and pulled the headphone out of his ear.
“Harry?”
“Yeah?”
“Hello, I’m Louis.” I moved my hand out to shake his.
He just looked at my hand. “Yeah.”
“....Okay.” I slowly lowered my hand. Maybe he just doesn't like strangers.
“And you must be Zayn?” Harry’s mother had told me he was going to an end-of-school party at his friend Zayn’s house. That was why he was flying with me and not with his parents and sister, who left three days prior.
“Yeah, hi.” He said with a smile, putting his hand out to shake. A lot more polite than Harry seemed.
“Listen mate, I’d love to stay and wait for you to board, but you know I have to get back. I really don’t think I should trust Niall alone in my house for too long.”
Zayn said his goodbyes to Harry before he left the airport, giving me a smile as he walked away.
“Have a good trip!” He said with his back to us, putting his hand in the air with a little wave.
I walked closer to where Harry was sitting, taking the seat beside him that Zayn previously sat on. I gave Harry a once over while sitting beside him. Very nice dress sense for a sixteen year old. He looked older than that, but maybe that was because of practically bald head. And what kind of sixteen year old wears a blazer? Especially when going somewhere as hot as the Maldives?
“So.. Harry, are you excited to get there?”
“Pfft, no. Why would I be excited for a summer that includes being exiled on an island with my parents and school work? Not exactly ideal.” And with that, he put his headphones back in, turning the music up so loud I could hear the lyrics. It was Mcfly though, so at least he had good taste in music too.
~*~*~
The flights seemed to go on forever. We had a stop in India, which due to crew shortage had a much longer stop than anticipated. By the time we made it to Male, it was almost dark. The summer house we were going to was on a different, much smaller island in the Maldives, and to get there we had to take a seaplane. Unfortunately for us, the airport didn't have our reservation.
“But I have a reservation number!”
“I’m sorry Mr. Tomlinson, we have no records of it. We can get you on the next possible flight.”
“When is that?”
“Seaplanes don’t fly after dark, so it will be first thing in the morning.”
“And what do you expect us to do until then?! We can’t stay here all night.”
“I’m very sorry sir, but there isn't anything we can do.”
I rolled my eyes, turning back towards the waiting area. Walking over in a rush, I plopped down on the seat next to Harry.
He took one look at my face and said, “Whoa, what happened? You look pissed.”
“I am! They lost our reservation and now we have to sit here until the morning! This is great, just great.”
Harry looked at me with sad eyes. “I’m sorry.”
~*~*~
“Mr. Tomlinson?” I vaguely heard as I was being shaken awake. I must have dozed off.
“Sorry to wake you sir.” The same woman who I talked to about our flight was standing above me, smile on her face. “One of the charter planes has offered to fly you to the island. He was supposed to be done for the night, but is willing to do one more flight for you and Mr. Styles.”
“Oh thank you so much!” I turned back towards Harry, who was stirring awake. “Harry, they found a pilot, we can get a flight tonight.”
“Oh thank god.” Harry said with a smile, getting up and throwing his book bag over his shoulder.
~*~*~
We boarded the plane, and I can honestly say it was the smallest I had ever seen, let alone flown in. There was the pilot’s seat, then four passenger seats directly behind him, and that was it. I didn't know how it was able to hold that many people honestly. It didn't have a very high roof either. I walked in first, walking comfortably but the roof was almost grazing my head, so when Harry came up in behind me, he had to duck his head to get in. That’s when it struck me that I was eleven years older yet Harry had a foot or so of height over me.
After we piled in with our luggage, getting comfortable in our seats, the pilot turned around with a big smile on his face.
“Hello folks! I’m Harley. Are you ready to finally start your vacation?”
Harley was a very good looking guy, if I do say so myself. He was extremely tanned with dark brown hair and eyes. He had a bit of scruff on his face, and amazing teeth. He looked very rugged, but in the best possible way. If I had met him in a different setting, like a bar let’s say, he’d be the kind of guy I would go over and chat up.
I introduced myself and Harry, and quickly was comfortable talking to Harley. I assumed we were about the same age, so maybe that’s why. As we took off, I explained how Harry was going to the Maldives for vacation, and how I was tagged along to tutor him because of all the school he missed due to the cancer. How his parents were already at the vacation home, and we were to meet them there.
Harley was a really nice guy, very talkative and friendly. He told us about the islands; a bit of history and what’s on each island now. It was amazing how many islands were uninhabited here. The flight was supposed to be about two hours, but sixty five minutes in he started complaining about a headache. Within minutes, he had both hands on his head, making little whining noises.
“Harley? Harley, what’s wrong?”
“My head. It feels like it’s about to explode.”
“Do you have anything for it? Any medication, a first aid kit?”
“I really don’t think there will be anything in there that could help with this, love.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No... I don’t... think... I’m not su-sure what’s... going... on...”
The plane started to nosedive, and within seconds Harley was completely still.
“Oh my god, what’s going on? Is he okay?” Harry asked frantically, walking up the tiny aisle.
“Harry, get back to your seat and get buckled, NOW!” I screamed. I tried to take over steering the plane, but there were just too many things going on. Too many buttons and lights and I didn't understand any of it.
“Louis?” Harry sounded so scared.
“I’m trying here Harry, stay in your seat!”
I started hitting buttons, trying to let down the landing gear. We were about 20 feet from the water when I finally found it. But it was too late. The last thing I remember is looking straight ahead, right into the water, and hearing the loudest crashing noise I’ve ever heard in my life.
~*~*~
I woke up on the beach, Harry lying beside me. He was breathing wildly, eyes closed.
~*~*~
Packing my bags, I looked around my enormous bedroom, scanning the walls covered in my pictures. I looked so happy in them, so full of love. They were a few years ago.
Almost every single picture had Tyson in it as well. They made me sad just looking at them.
It’s not like I was getting over a bad break up or anything. We are still together in fact. But I knew it was going to end sooner or later. I just wanted so much more from the relationship, and it seemed Tyson was never going to give me that. I wanted marriage, babies, a cozy home with a loving family. And yet here I am, 6 years into the relationship and all I had was a sleek, modern, non-homey flat with a (seemingly) loving boyfriend who was unable to commit. If he loves me as much as he says, why is he so against those things I want? If you love someone, don’t you want to marry them?
“Babe, you ready?”
Tyson’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts, swinging my head around to see him standing in the bedroom doorway, leaning on the frame, arms crossed. He didn't look happy. I knew he didn't approve of me going away for so long, but I really needed the break. Not that I would tell him that or anything.
I gave him a little smile. “Just about, I just have to grab a few more textbooks and then I’ll be good to go.”
I walked around the bed, grabbing the books I needed for Harry’s studies from my bookcase.
“Okay, I’m ready.” I zipped up my two suitcases.
“Are you sure you really want to do this? It’s the whole summer.”
“Yes, but the summer isn't really that long, when you think about it.” I leaned up to give him a quick peck on the lips. “I’ll only be gone for 2 and a half months, promise.”
~*~*~
Lying washed up on the beach, I had a feeling I was about to break my promise.
Chapter 2 will be up soon, let me know what you all think so far? Maybe what you want to happen in this story?