Rescue Me [H.S.]

11. At the Hotel

Slowly I open my eyelids and for a moment I'm not completely sure if last night was a dream or not, until I realize that I'm not in my own bedroom - I'm in Harry's. His arm is loosely around my waist and his face is resting against my neck so that I can hear his breathing. I place my hand on his, and even though my heart is racing, I know I'm able to fall asleep again. I know that no nightmare can get to me right now, and I close my eyes.

* * *

"Good morning, sleepy-head."

"'Morning," I say, after yawning and turning to face him. I open my eyes to find Harry staring at me with his sparkling emerald eyes. His hair is even messier than usual and there is a smile on his face, making his dimples appear. I'm only in one of his t-shirts and panties, and he is only covered from the stomach and down with a sheet, so his artistic tattoos are visible on his muscular, perfectly-shaped body.

"What time is it?"

"It's three in the afternoon. Did you really think I would call you a sleepy-head for no reason?"

"Oh, f*ck you," I say while trying not to smile like an idiot.

"You already did," Harry mutters and in his voice, I can hear him grin.

"You're so mature. Let me sleep, I'm still tired."

I drag the comforter with me as I turn my back to him, mostly so he won't see the big smile on my face. Harry is giggling as he removes the comforter and slides his strong arm around my waist, turning me around again to face him. I glance down and to my disappointment he is wearing boxers.

"You're so beautiful," he breathes before he leans in to kiss me.

* * *

The tv is on, but neither of us is paying much attention to it. We're both lying in his big bed; my head is resting on his stomach, he is playing with a strand of my hair. None of us has left the bed at all today. It has been a long time since I felt as rested and peaceful as I do today...

BEEP. BEEP.

Harry's phone disturbs the peace, but he quickly tosses it aside before he continues playing with my hair.

"sorry about that, where were we?"

We've been talking about everything and nothing all day; though we have avoided all talk about our relationship and the night before.

"Hm.. we were talking about what we want to do with our lives, and you were saying something about One direction."

"Yeah. It's just... I can't really see myself in one direction like three or four years from now, but at the same time... what else could I be doing? I never really got a proper education."

"Well. You could get an education? I've always just wanted to do some good. Not very specific, and I don't know what or how. But... in one direction or not, you can do good. Millions of people look up to you."

"Yeah, I know. But sometimes..." He glances at his phone for just a second and his smile fades a bit. "There's just a lot of pressure sometimes. And not so much privacy, it's just... I would never have imagined it like this when I auditioned. I know I'm lucky and all that, but I still miss not being followed by the paparazzi."

I turn my head to face him properly and run my finger along some of his butterfly tattoo. "It must be hard," is all I say, a sudden knot forms in my stomach as I realize that I can't do anything to help him with it. "But hey, at least you're not alone in this. The boys probably feel the same way."

Harry groans before saying through clenched teeth: "Don't say anything that reminds me of Niall."

"He was just drunk, Harry. It's okay. I've forgiven him, you should too," I say. To be honest, the only reason I've forgiven him is that if it weren't for him and his drunkenness, Harry and I wouldn't have ended up together.

"Yeah, yeah... Not gonna let it go though," he mutters under his breath. He stops playing with me hair and intertwine his hands with mine. "Hey. I've never really asked you this, but yeah... better late than never... Will you go out on like... a proper date with me?"