Perfect to Me

--3 weeks later—

“How was Afri—“ I tried to say as I picked Abby up from the airport.

“Don’t talk, just hug me,” she mumbled into my shoulder as she embraced me. I was confused as to why she was responding this way but I didn’t question it. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her to me, letting her know everything was okay. I pressed multiple kisses to her temple before we pulled apart and laced our hands together as we made our way through the paps and to my car.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” I asked her as I put her suitcase in the back of the car and helped her get in.

“Not now, when we get home I will,” Abby said as she rested her head against the window and looked out of it.

“’Course,” I said and pulled onto the streets of London. After driving in silence for 15 minutes I pulled to the side of the road just outside of a grocery store.

“What’re you doing?” Abby asked after taking her gaze off the window and looked at me.

“I’ll just be a second,” I told her and hopped out. When I walked into the store I went straight to the freezers and grabbed two galloons of Ben & Jerry’s half-baked and red velvet cake, Abby’s favorite ice cream. I then walked over to the candy department and grabbed all her favorite candies and I went and purchased some wine as well. Just as I walked with all my items to the cashier I saw the movie section and saw they had ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ I quickly snatched a copy, the last copy, and went to check out.

“Having a night?” The cashier asked and I simply nodded my head.

“Something like that,” I told him and he nodded in acknowledgment. “Girlfriend’s having a rough day,” I told him.

“I see. So you’re buying all this junk food so she can eat her feelings?” He asked.

“Yeah, isn’t that how girls do things?” I asked him and he shrugged.

“That’s how they do it in films,” he said and I laughed.

“Thanks mate,” I said as I grabbed my bags and walked back to the car. I threw the bags in Abby’s lap as she sifted through them.

“Ice cream, candy and wine? You’re the best,” she said as she leaned over the center console and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“There’s more,” I said as I made my way to her flat.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s! How’d you know it’s my favorite movie?” She asked, with a smile.

“We’ve only rented it twenty times, love,” I told her, looking at her with a smile on my face. We arrived at her flat and we grabbed all our bags and made our way to her door. After putting all the groceries away I picked up Sage, Abby’s dog, and walked into the living room where Abby sat on the couch, looking quite sad I might add.

“Where’s Charlotte?” I asked her as I sat down and let Sage sleep on my lap.

“Work.”

“Gonna tell me what’s bothering you, love? You’re acting funny,” I asked her as I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her into my side.

“Africa,” she simply stated as she rested her head on my shoulder.

“What? How can Africa do something to you?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“The comic relief program that I worked with, it was brutal, Harry. So many sick kids, all they needed was one shot, one shot. That’s all. We’re terrified of shots but those children over there find joy in the shot because it helps guarantee them a longer life,” Abby said as tears poured down her face.

“It’s gonna be okay, love,” I told her, trying to sound as assuring as I could.

“No it won’t. Little kids, newborns even, die every day from malaria and even fucking chronic diarrhea!” Abby said as she threw her hands in the air. “They had so much joy even knowing that tomorrow could be there last day, they were still the happiest of kids.”

“I’m sorry it affected you like this, babe,” I truthfully, told her as I stroked her hair.

“There was one kid, Amadi, he was the sweetest little 9 year old ever. He was, is, a miracle child because his name in Yoruba means ‘seemed destined to die at birth.’ He was really ill as a new born because his mother didn’t get a lot of nutrients whilst pregnant. She died in childbirth and his father went away to work and make money in Cape Town so he’s been living with his aunt. He had two older sisters but they both left town as well, except to make money in worse ways. He’s all alone now with his aunt and 3 cousins.”

“That’s terrible,” I mentioned.

“Yeah, I met him one day when he was playing soccer in the street. I was walking to go to the hospital to help out when his friend kicked the ball away and to my feet. I played with them for hours and they just kept telling me their stories and Amadi has the prettiest smile. We became instant best friends, I’d see him every day and play soccer with him or just walk around town while he gave me tours. On some days I could tell he was really hungry so I’d always treat him to breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Abby said as she spoke to me with a smile on her face. The first time I’d seen her really smile today.

“If those are such happy memories then why are you so upset, love?” I asked her and she looked at me, a frown replaced her previous smile.

“When I was waiting to board my plane to come home I received a notice that Amadi had been diagnosed with Malaria. His vaccination was too late, Har,” Abby said, a single tear sliding down her face.

“I’m so sorry, love, I’m so so sorry,” I told her as I brought her to me and hugged her. While Abby wept on my shoulder I held her close to me while whispering sweet nothings into her ear. After a few more minutes of crying, I heard Abby start to sniffle.

“You okay?” I asked her as I held her out at arm’s length.

“No,” she said. “But I will be.” I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. I stood up and went into the kitchen where I pulled two bowls out of the cupboards and placed a tremendous amount of ice cream in each. I, then, opened each candy packet and sprinkled some of each on both bowls. I poured two glasses of wine and grabbed two spoons before going back into the living room. I handed Abby a bowl and a glass before setting mine down on the coffee table so I could start the movie.

“Let’s get rid of this case of reds, shall we?” I asked her and she giggled while nodding her head.

“Thank you, Harry,” she told me while pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “You’re the best.”

After we finished our ice cream and wine we snuggled for the remainder of the movie. Once the credits began to roll and Abby pulled her phone out. She put her phone away and soon my phone beeped, signaling I had a new notification on twitter.

@AbbyEGrimes: How did I get so lucky to get a boyfriend like @Harry_Styles? Comes to the rescue with ice cream and candy.

“I love you,” I told her as I kissed her lips.

“I love you as well,” she told me as she curled back into me. “So I got to thinking while watching the movie,” Abby said from beside me.

“’Bout what love?” I asked her while sitting up a little further.

“Africa,” she simply stated and I signaled for her to go on. “I was thinking about making my gallery strictly about Africa and the comic relief program. I thought fifty percent of the proceeds could go towards getting kids their vaccinations and people could donate more if they wanted to. Also, I’d still have photos from other places in there but most would be from my trip to Africa and I could put up stories about different kids suffering from malaria, or those who really need a vaccination. I even filmed some video clips while I was there, I could make that into a DVD and sell it to provide more money for the children,” Abby rambled on about, with an excited grin on her face.

“I think that’s brilliant,” I told her. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I just don’t want any other kids to suffer, and the relief program really needs the attention. Barely anyone knows about them,” Abby said and a light bulb went off in my head.

“What if the boys and I did something, as well? That’d get it the attention it needs. We could go visit in Africa with the program, film some things, then make a single and put it on iTunes? All proceeds of the sale of the single could go to the program?” I said to her and her smile only got wider.

“That’s the best idea ever, Harry,” Abby said as she placed multiple kisses on my lips. “Really though, how did I get so lucky?” She said and I just shrugged my shoulder with a playful smirk on my face.

“Come on, love. Let’s get you to bed, you’ve had a full day of traveling,” I told her as I picked her up and carried her to her bedroom.

“Why do I have the feeling we’ll be doing more than just sleeping?” Abby giggled as I threw her down on her bed.

“You have the right feeling,” I seductively said to her as I started placing kisses on her neck as one thing led to another.