Everglow | on hiatus.

everglow: twenty two

Flashback

Two Ghosts by Harry Styles

Nia's giggles echo through the flat on a cold autumn evening and she wiggles as his soft palms calmly cover her eyes. There's supposed to be a surprise waiting for her in their indoor balcony and she has no idea what it is.

Whenever she tries to fight through, he wraps his arms around her shoulders and keeps her still. He calms her down by pressing a kiss to her head.

It's almost like holding a child from running through a glass door because that's how excited she is. Nia manages to keep her eyes closed and she sniffs a little, wondering if it's a meal or aromatherapy.

Nothing. It smells like the same vanilla candle that she burned in the morning and nothing has changed. Harry notices that she's wiggling out of his grip again and he smoothly turns her around to face him.

"Why are you so impatient, woman?" he huffs, frowning a little.

"I don't like surprises and you know this," she rolls her eyes, impatient.

"Okay but just chill out, it's nothing serious," he says.

"If it's nothing serious, why d'hell are you covering my eyes like you're leading me to a slaughterhouse?" she panics.

"Enough with you, you have to quit those true crime podcasts," Harry tries not to laugh.

"You're the one being mysterious," she nudges him.

"Isn't that why you love me? For the mystery," he smiles a little.

"The faux mystery you try to sell your fans? No thanks, I'm with you for the dick and money," Nia sticks out her tongue.

"Hey, I have feelings too," he pouts before bursting into a laugh.

"Glad you know how ridiculous you sound," she smiles.

Harry steadies himself and cups her shoulders, keeping eye contact.

"Stay still jellyfish," he breathes out.

"New nickname?" she asks.

"I guess. Do you like it?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it sounds cute but then again I like you so everything will be cute," Nia shrugs and tries to turn around.

"Oh for fucks sake, I just said stay still," he massages his forehead with his fingers.

"Sorry, I forgot for a second. Fine, I'm still," she sighs, staring at him.

"Now you're building it up to be bigger than it is," he groans.

"You're taking me out to have cereal, are ya?" She deepens her accent.

"No but it's close to that. That's how basic it is," he replies.

"Are you proposing?" Nia asks.

"God, no," Harry blurts out before thinking.

Nia gasps and smacks his arm. "Knob!"

"No - I meant, not yet," he flinches at her smack and breathes out a laugh.

"What do you want me out here for?" she asks, recoiling into her shell.

Harry notices this and instantly hates himself for ruining the mood. The question threw him off and he nervously responded. Of course he sees himself spending the rest of his life with this woman but he's terrified to be forward about it.

Noticing her change in mood, he calmly leans in to kiss her cheek and Nia simply rolls her eyes in understanding. In silence, he takes her hand in his and guides her to the indoor balcony.