Lockdown | Harry Styles | AU

Chapter 23

Aubrey's heart pounded so hard in her chest she could feel her pulse in her ears.

Her entire body shaking with adrenaline.

And she was hot, so hot. So hot she was sweating. Her skin constantly sticky with heat. Even though she had used almost an entire can of deodorant on herself when she got out of the shower earlier.

Her mouth so dry, no amount of water in the world would quench it.

Her body twisting and pulling with so much crippling anxiety she could hardly keep still.

"You should eat something y'know." Timothee voice cut through the quiet as he suddenly appeared behind her.

"Jesus fucking Christ!" Aubrey barked out after she jolted so much she nearly fell over, her body spinning around to face him as it almost jumped out of it's skin. Her hand clutching her chest as her heart pounded even harder inside of her. Her breath now turning into shallow pants as she tried to calm herself down.

"Fuck, I'm sorry. I thought you heard me come out." Timothee told her sweetly, his green eyes filled with concern as he delicately held his hands up in defence.

"No, you little ninja!" Aubrey joked loudly through heavy breaths as she smacked Timothee on the arm, her lips curling upwards. Her reaction making a cheeky smile instantly break out on his face, his hands stuffing into the pockets of his green linen trousers.

"M'sorry." He said again, his pleased expression widening so much he flashed his teeth. "I just came to tell you that you should eat something."

"I'm really not hungry." Aubrey told him politely, her arms folding across her chest as her gaze returned to the breathtaking view of the Hollywood hills. The humidity in the air allowing just the smallest of breezes to blow across her timid body and through the golden messy waves of her hair.

"But you haven't eaten all day." Timothee pointed out with a little worry, moving his tall body so he was standing directly next to her. His eyes mirroring Aubrey's own as he joined her in looking at the landscape that stretched out beyond the edge of the stone balcony.

"I know, but I don't feel hungry when I'm nervous. It just makes me feel nauseas." Aubrey explained softly, her gaze stealing a side glance at Timothee.

"You better not keel over on me, Day." He teased, the thin material of his red Hawaiian shirt floating in the breeze.

"Oh, don't worry," Aubrey told him seriously before she let out a big grin, "I will."

Timothee chuckled a little, playfully using his shoulder to lightly shove at Aubrey's making her look up at him and smile. The glorious burnt orange and purple swirls of colour that flooded the sky from the sunset now shimmering across their faces as they shared a look.

"Are you sure you don't mind me staying here?" Aubrey then asked him gently, her eyebrows showing just a hint of a frown. The last thing she wanted to do was impose. She hated being a burden.

"Of course I don't." He reassured her, his voice delicate. "It was my idea."

"I know, but I don't wanna be in the way." Aubrey spoke, sighing a little has her eyes returned to the sky.

"You're not."

After a few moments, a comfortable silence then fell over them. Both of them just enjoying the quiet and the wonderful view of the sun as it continued to slowly disappear for the night, in the most dramatically colourful way possible.

"He'll be here soon." Timothee was the first to speak after a few peaceful beats had passed. His words making Aubrey heart surge into her throat, her stomach fluttering and flipping, her heart tinkering to life.