First Love // H.S.

61

I leave the restaurant with a heavy heart, my mind racing. The conversation with Leo only added more weight to the storm brewing inside me. I need to talk to Harry. I need to make things right, but it's like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands.

I reach Harry's car and find him leaning against it, his arms crossed, looking down at the pavement. His face lights up when he sees me, but there's an unmistakable tension in his eyes. He looks like he's been wrestling with his own thoughts.

'Hey,' I say softly, trying to muster a smile. My attempt is half-hearted, and I know it. He can probably see through it.

'Hey,' he replies, his voice strained. He pushes off from the car and opens the passenger door for me. I slide in, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach. Harry gets into the driver's seat, and for a moment, the silence stretches between us.

'Livvie,' he starts, but his voice falters. I can see the struggle in his eyes. It's like he's trying to say something but can't find the right words.

'Let's just drive,' I suggest, my voice barely above a whisper. I need to clear my head, to figure out how to say what needs to be said.

Harry nods and starts the car. We drive in silence, the hum of the engine the only sound between us. I watch the city lights blur past, each one a fleeting reminder of the life I'm trying to hold onto. My thoughts drift back to Leo's words. He's right. I need to be honest with Harry, but I'm terrified of what will happen once I do.

When we finally arrive at the hotel, Harry parks the car and turns off the engine. The stillness of the night is almost too loud, making every sound seem more pronounced. I notice how tense Harry looks, his fingers gripping the steering wheel as if it's the only thing keeping him grounded.

'Come on,' Harry says quietly, opening his door. I nod, forcing myself to step out of the car. The cool night air feels refreshing against my skin, but the anxiety doesn't leave me. We walk into the hotel lobby, the low hum of conversations and the clatter of a few late-night guests adding to the cacophony of my racing thoughts.

Harry checks us in quickly. The receptionist gives us a polite smile as Harry collects the key card for our room. We head to the elevator in silence, the only noise being the soft ding as the elevator doors open and close.

We reach the room, and Harry unlocks the door with a practiced hand. The room is small but comfortable, with a king-sized bed, a cozy armchair by the window, and a small coffee table. The soft lighting casts a warm glow, but it does little to calm the storm inside me.

I step in, and Harry follows, closing the door behind us. I watch as he sets the key card on the small table near the door and takes a deep breath. He looks around, trying to gather his thoughts, and then turns to face me.

'Livvie,' he says gently, 'I'm sorry for what happened before. I know it's been... rough.'

I nod, unable to meet his eyes. I can't keep avoiding this. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

'Harry, there's something I need to tell you,' I begin, my voice trembling. 'It's about the baby.'

His eyes widen slightly, but he says nothing, waiting for me to continue.

'The baby... it's yours.' I force myself to look at him, searching for a reaction.

His face goes through a range of emotions—shock, confusion, and something else I can't quite place. 'What? Livvie, why didn't you—'

'I didn't want to burden you,' I cut him off, my voice cracking. 'I was scared. You said you weren't ready for a baby, and I thought... I thought it was better if you didn't know. But Leo made me realize that keeping this from you was wrong.'