Different 30 (Patreon)

Author's note: Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing great. Here is a new chapter of Different. Let me know what you think! Do you think that Y/N acted correctly? What do you think of Harry?

Y/N couldn’t believe her eyes. The sight before her felt like something out of a nightmare. Ivy stood at the front entrance, her face bright with a wide, almost smug smile, a duffel bag slung over her shoulder. It was Christmas Day—of all days—and there she was, standing in Harry’s family home as if she belonged there.

For a moment, Y/N was completely speechless, too stunned to move or even process what was happening. She felt her heart racing in her chest, confusion mixing with the disbelief that was slowly turning into dread. This couldn’t be happening. Not here, not today.

The room fell silent as everyone stared at Ivy, processing her unexpected arrival. It was Gemma who finally broke the tension, her voice sharp and cutting through the awkward silence like a knife.

“Who invited you?” she asked, her tone laced with suspicion as she narrowed her eyes at Ivy. The question hung in the air, and Y/N’s heart clenched in her chest.

Ivy didn’t hesitate, her expression confident as she glanced at Harry before answering. “Harry did,” she said smoothly, not a single trace of doubt in her voice. “We spoke earlier in the week. He suggested I drop by, said it’d be nice to see me.” Ivy’s words dripped with a casual confidence, but to Y/N, they felt like a punch to the gut.

Y/N’s heart dropped. Her body froze, her mind struggling to keep up with the flood of emotions surging through her. She felt like the floor had disappeared beneath her feet. Slowly, her eyes drifted to Harry, looking for some kind of explanation—some kind of denial. Anything that would make sense of what Ivy was saying.

But Harry said nothing.

The silence was deafening. The longer he remained quiet, the more the knot in Y/N’s stomach tightened. Her chest felt heavy, her heart sinking as she stared at him, waiting for him to say something—anything—that would undo the chaos that was unraveling in front of her. But Harry just stood there, looking as stunned as everyone else, yet offering no defense.

That was all Y/N needed to see.

Without saying a word, she turned on her heel and walked up the stairs, her head held high even though she felt like crumbling inside. Each step felt heavier than the last as she made her way to the guest room where she and Harry had been staying. Her hands shook as she started to gather her things, stuffing them hastily into her suitcase.

The sound of her packing was the only thing filling the silence now, but inside her mind, all she could hear were Ivy’s words repeating over and over: Harry suggested I drop by.

It felt like betrayal—cold and unexpected. Y/N’s mind raced with a thousand thoughts, each one more painful than the last. And through it all, Harry’s silence echoed the loudest.

She swallowed hard, her vision blurred with unshed tears. She wasn’t going to cry—not here, not now. Not until she was far away from the mess Ivy had created in what was supposed to be a perfect Christmas.

Harry rushed up the stairs after her, taking them two at a time, panic setting in as he saw Y/N frantically packing her things. His heart pounded in his chest. He hadn’t expected this—any of this—and now it was all spiraling out of control. When he reached the door of the guest room, he saw her hands shaking as she shoved her clothes into the suitcase, her movements hurried and forceful, as if she couldn’t get away fast enough.

“Y/N, stop!” he called out, his voice laced with urgency.

But she didn’t. She just kept packing, her face set in determined silence.

Without thinking, Harry stepped forward, reaching for her suitcase. He tried to pull it away from her, his hands gripping the fabric of her clothes, but Y/N yanked them back, refusing to budge. She shot him a glare that was filled with both hurt and anger, her eyes sharp enough to cut.

“Let me explain!” Harry pleaded, his voice rising in desperation as he tried to get her to stop.

Y/N froze, her breathing heavy, her hands clenched tight around her clothes. Slowly, she straightened, turning to face him fully, the look on her face piercing straight through him. She stared at him for a long moment, her chest heaving with emotion. And then, with her voice trembling on the edge of fury, she snapped.

“Then explain!” she yelled, the frustration in her voice spilling over. “Explain to me how Ivy shows up here on Christmas Day, claiming you invited her! I don’t understand, Harry! I don’t understand what the hell is going on!” Her voice cracked under the weight of her words, her hurt palpable.

Harry swallowed hard, his mind racing for the right thing to say. “I didn’t invite her,” he said quickly, his eyes wide with sincerity. “I swear to you, Y/N, I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that to you. You’ve got to believe me.”

But Y/N’s eyes were filled with disbelief. She took a step back, her expression unreadable, a storm of emotions swirling in her gaze. “Then why the hell did she say you did? Why would she show up here, Harry, if you didn’t give her a reason to? Why would she lie?” she demanded, her voice loud and furious.

“I don’t know!” Harry shouted back, his frustration matching hers now. “I don’t know why she’s here, but I didn’t invite her! I don’t want her here, Y/N! I don’t know what she’s playing at, but I swear to you, I didn’t ask her to come!”

They stood there, staring each other down, the tension between them almost unbearable. Neither of them could back down, the weight of the situation pressing hard on both of them.

Y/N’s face twisted in a mix of hurt and confusion. “Then why the hell did you even answer her call, Harry? Why are you still entertaining her? If you know she’s a problem—if you know she’s a threat to us—why are you still letting her in?”

Her words hit him like a freight train, guilt crashing over him as he realized how deep this cut for her. He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration mounting. “I... I didn’t think it would matter. I thought I could just—keep it civil. I didn’t want to make things worse.”

“Worse?!” Y/N’s voice trembled as she yelled. “This is already a disaster! And now she’s here, in your family’s house, on Christmas. How is that not worse, Harry?”

He winced, knowing she was right. He had no excuse, no defense strong enough to shield himself from what was happening. All he could do was stand there, watching as Y/N’s trust in him crumbled right before his eyes.

Harry felt his heart drop as Y/N zipped up her bag with a harsh finality, the sound slicing through the air like a knife. Panic surged through him, and he stepped forward, reaching for her again, desperate to stop this from unraveling any further. "Y/N, please, I’m sorry," he stammered, his voice tight with emotion. "I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I don’t want her here—I swear. I’ll fix this. Just give me a chance."

But Y/N was done. She didn’t even look at him as she yanked her bag off the bed, her movements quick and filled with anger. Her eyes stayed forward, not even glancing in his direction as she spoke.

"I’m so sick of your sorrys, Harry," she said, her voice low and trembling with frustration. "It’s always ‘I’m sorry,’ but nothing ever changes. You say sorry, and then she’s always there, waiting in the wings, and I’m just supposed to be okay with it."

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth to protest, to try and explain, but Y/N wasn’t giving him a chance. She turned to face him, her eyes filled with a hurt so deep it left him speechless.

"You need to make her respect our relationship," Y/N said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I can’t keep doing this with you, Harry. I shouldn’t have to be the one always fighting for us. I should be your priority. Not her. Ivy’s feelings should come last."

Harry's mouth went dry. He felt like he was losing control of everything, grasping at straws as he stood there, guilt and regret heavy on his chest. "I’ve just known her for longer, Y/N. It’s... complicated—"

Y/N let out a sarcastic, bitter laugh that cut through him. She shook her head, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him with disbelief. "You’ve known her longer?" she repeated, her voice filled with disgust. "That’s your excuse? That’s supposed to justify this? She treats me like I’m nothing, Harry. And you—" her voice cracked, but she quickly regained her composure, her anger simmering just beneath the surface, "you let her. Every time. I’m always second to her."

Harry tried to reach out to her again, but Y/N shook him off, taking a step back, distancing herself from him. Her gaze was cold and distant now, and he could feel her slipping away from him.

"I’m done, Harry," she said softly but firmly, her eyes locking onto his. She was holding back tears, but her voice was resolute. "Fuck off."

With that, Y/N turned, pulling her suitcase behind her as she stormed out of the room. The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house, leaving Harry standing there in stunned silence. His heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the empty doorway, realizing just how badly he had messed up.

Y/N came down the stairs, her chest tightening with every step. Her tears flowed freely, but she didn’t care. She could barely breathe through the sobs wracking her body, but when she reached the bottom, she went straight to Gemma, wrapping her arms tightly around her.

Gemma, sensing her distress, hugged her back just as firmly. “Don’t do this, Y/N. Please. Don’t leave,” Gemma whispered, her voice pleading. But Y/N just shook her head, unable to speak, her throat too thick with emotion.

Pulling back from Gemma, she wiped at her eyes and turned toward Anne and Robin. Anne was already there, her face full of concern, arms open wide. Without hesitation, Y/N fell into her embrace.

“I’m so sorry, love,” Anne whispered, rubbing her back gently. “You don’t deserve this.”

Y/N nodded against her shoulder, unable to stop the tears from falling. “I know I can’t stay,” she said softly, her voice shaking. “But... thank you, Anne. For everything.”

Anne's face tightened with sympathy. She nodded slowly, brushing Y/N’s hair out of her tear-streaked face. “I understand,” she whispered, her own voice heavy with sadness. “You deserve better.”

Just as Y/N pulled away, she saw Harry standing at the top of the staircase, watching the entire scene unfold. His eyes were filled with regret, but Y/N couldn’t bear to look at him for too long. The pain was too raw, too fresh. She turned away quickly, heading for the door.

Before she could make it outside, Ivy’s voice cut through the air like nails on a chalkboard. “Leaving already?” Ivy’s tone was sickeningly sweet, but laced with a taunting undertone that made Y/N’s blood boil.

Y/N stopped dead in her tracks. For a moment, the room fell silent, everyone holding their breath as they watched her. Slowly, she turned to face Ivy, her expression hard as stone, eyes burning with fury.

“You know what, Ivy?” Y/N’s voice was deadly calm, but filled with venom. “You are really fuckin’ bitch. And I know you didn’t transfer to our school like you always said.” She took a step closer, her words hitting like a slap. “You were kicked out. Your daddy had to pay so you could be admitted into ours. Thought you’d gotten away with that lie, didn’t you?”

Ivy’s face paled, her smug smile fading as the room seemed to freeze. Y/N took a breath, her gaze flicking back to Harry, who looked stunned, unsure of what to say or do.

“She didn’t tell you, did she?” Y/N asked, her voice dripping with mock sympathy as she looked at Harry. “Of course not. She’s quite a fuckin liar, but I already knew that.”

With one last, lingering look at him, Y/N turned on her heel and walked out the door, her heart heavy but her head held high. Gemma rushed after her, still trying to convince her to stay, but Y/N was done. She had nothing left to give... of herself.