Things We Don't Normally Do

THIRTY

It was true, she supposed, that she did thinks too much. She had always been someone who had a hard time getting out of their own head—but for good reason. Because everytime she got out of it and let go, she always got herself into shit. So it felt to her like all the overthinking was both warranted and justified.

That being said, Harry had a way about him that often got her out of her own head. He was easy to be around; he was fun and genuine and it felt like she didn't have to try so hard for and around him.

But then just when it seems like she could let go and actually let herself act on how she feels, something in the back of her head starts nagging at her again, reminding her how it's always easy in the beginning. How people always seem to think she was alright at first, then they actually get to know her and get a glimpse of her issues and they run the other way.

It was terrifying to get close to anyone knowing they will more than likely feel differently once she let her guard down. And she can't even blame them. She wouldn't want to have to deal with all her baggage either—that was why she never did.

"Get out of there." Harry whispered against her hair, giving her a small squeeze.

"Hmm?" she hummed absentmindedly.

"Come out of your head and stay with me instead." he coaxed, pressing another kiss on the top of her head.

She lifted her head to meet his eyes, amazed at how he already knew her well enough to know she was in her head again.

Should she get out of her head? Should she stop overthinking this?

She wasn't sure about all the long term stuff, but this here, what was right in front of her. She was getting tired of overthinking and denying that part.

Reaching a hand to the side of Harry's face, tracing down his jaw. "Should I?" she wondered out loud with an unreadable expression.

"Ale-" he started but was cut short when Alex's lips met with his.

* smut warning: turn back now if that's not your thing. You'll still get the gist of the story without it. :) *

Alex wrapped both arms around his neck, then pulled herself on top him, swinging a leg around his waist, straddling him. A low groan escaped him as her hips shifted ever so slightly with each hungry kiss.

"Alex, you can't keep playing with me like that." Harry protested when she stopped.

She smiled and shook her head. She gave him a smirk, "How am I? I was just taking a breath."

"Come here then." he reached out to pull her back in.

Alex laughed a real, hearty laugh, throwing her head back. She hovered over Harry, bitting the corner of her bottom lip, "They say patience is a virtue."

"Not one that I'm very familiar with." he said with an exaggerated pout.

"I see." she teased, "And here I thought I was worth the wait, thought I heard that somewhere."

All this time since the very first time he saw her at the hospital, he has actually done everything to practice patience as much as he could. He had just about exhausted every ounce of energy he had in him, being patient and trying really, really hard not to push Alex into anything she wasn't ready for. And he wasn't about to give her grief for any of it because he felt that it was what he wanted to do to help her, but with Alex teasing him so blatantly like this, he was just about at his breaking point.

"You are." he groaned, "You really are. But we both know what you're trying to do and it's working. So please don't make me suffer like this, because you're driving me mad."