Life in the middle-Harry Styles Fanfic AU COMPLETED

Chapter 24

HARRY POV
I could stand here with her and admire that she's made me into a piece of artwork but I don't see myself, just the art she's produced of me.
She's looking a pictures on the monitor and she edits a few and then presses print.
The first photo I see is me walking towards her with my arms out. I can't believe I look like that? I look bewitched, besotted by her. She doesn't know how hard and fast I'm falling for her and although I'm not going to be in the country for long, I can only think of my life right here, right now, just me and her.
She catches me staring at her and she give me a smirk, her hazel eyes shining, with tears? No what, why?

I turn her to look at me, and I sigh as I ask her what's wrong? Did I do something wrong, did I go to far with the posing? Does she think I'm just a sex craze male who's only here to fuck around with her before I go? This can't be right, I can't let her believe that. Say something you flipping idiot!
She shocks me when she speaks first.
"Sorry Harry, I can get really emotional invested in my work. These sketches", she points with her arms " are what I fought my way through art school for while my family were complaining I'd never get anywhere" she takes a tissue and wipes her eyes.
She continues "I'm not a super star artist but I'm proud of my work and it's enough for me right now, I couldn't handle the pressure of something more" I swallow a lump forming in my throat, I hope I'm not the added pressure she's talking about?
"Hey it's almost Group time, will you come, I mean alone or with me?" She asked and chews at her bottom lip.
She has so much to offer yet she doesn't believe in herself half as much as she should.
I smile and her and she rewards me with one of her own.
"Let's go" I answer, starting to walk to the door. She giggles behind me, ohh great now she's laughing at my butt.
"Umm you really should think of getting dress or Misty will think all her Christmases have come at once" she continues to laugh as I walk back at grab my towel wrapping it around my waist.
We decide we'll eat after the meeting and I'm pretty happy to know I'll be with her after the meeting.

The Meeting is kind of awkward because we a both not sure how much attention we should be giving each other. So I sit to the left and she take a seat on the right side of the room. Pete is talking about family support systems and how important this is in your recovery. I feel glad that I'm here to look after and help Gemma. I have seen such changes in her but I'm not fooling anyone when I think back to when I got here and how unwell she was, it was frightening.
I stop listening to Pete and look at Echo sitting across the room, looking so far away. Could she be thinking about her family? I mean her Mother is truly something else and I get were Echo was coming from when she freaked out about her Mother visiting. This isn't the type of relationship Echo needs. I wonder about her brother, does he care about her?
I look away because she has caught me watching her.
She's looking hot in a pair of black cargo and a grey sweater, with a black beanie and scarf. I'd love to take her for a walk down a pier, even if the weather is terrible, we could just look out into the sea.
As I'm consumed by my own thoughts it's not until Pete is going around the room for achievements, that I see Michael lean over and whisper something into Echo's ear. By the look on her face, it wasn't a word of support. She looks up to me with a lost look on the face.
I feel like intervening but not wanting to cause any issues and the meeting is finishing up.
I curse at Pete for stopping me when I was to follow Echo into the kitchen to see if she's ok.

After a five minute chat, I'm free to go and I go looking for her, but I can't find her. I start to panic until I find her outside sitting on the steps. I let out a breath and approach her from the front.
"Hey Love, everything ok?" I question her as I try to make Eye contact with her. She doesn't look at me just in one direction. I have a ton of reasons swirling through my mind and most I don't like the outcome of.
"Hey, seriously what's the matter? I'm getting more anxious as we go and then I think of her anxiety and I can't help but feel sorry for her.
She looks at me while kicking the toe of her converse sneakers on the hardwood floor.

"Do you need a lift? I'm really just wanting to go home, sorry Harry" there she goes ending it as quick as we starting it, although I'm not sure what 'it' means to her?
"No, I'm fine, it not far, I'll walk." I answer her with a slight crock in my voice almost breaking, and glad it didn't because I already feel unwanted by her. Fuck why do her words and dismissal of me have my head spinning?
I know she wants me to walk away but my body is gravitating towards her. This is so fucking confusing. I've been draw to her since my first meeting which was weeks ago, almost a month, and the last few days we've spent together have been perfect, well for me but I know she felt something for me, she has to have.
"Ok I'm going home" she says as she walks away from me and I wonder if I'll ever see her again.
I take the long way home and somewhere in between it starts to rain, like the first time I lay eyes on her. The rain doesn't bother me and I could walk for hours but that's not going to help anything, not now.