HYSTERIA

TWENTY NINE - DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE - HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS

"Oh, you're makin' me believe it too."

ARIEL CALLAWAY

Waking up, my bed feels warmer than usual. It's a toasty comfort that I find myself wanting to bask in all day, but the slight pounding in my head and the familiar foggy feeling becomes overpowering and the need to wake up and use the restroom is at an all time high.

Blinking my eyes open, my room is mostly dark thanks to my black-out curtains, but narrow slivers of light sneak through the areas where they weren't completely pulled shut. I stretch out my limbs, feeling the tension release down my legs as I point my toes in a satisfying stretch.

The air in the room is different, and I can't quite pinpoint it. There's a masculine edge to aroma in here and the memories quickly come flooding back the same time I sense the heavy presence in my bed beside me.

Harry spent the night. In my bed. He fell asleep first and I crawled in next to him. Should I have slept on the couch? Does he even know I slept with him?

Before I lay in bed longer and get lost in my thoughts, I carefully scoot myself out of bed, careful not to wake Harry. Hopefully he's not already awake.

I turn back to look at him sleeping peacefully in my bed, lips parted slightly as small pants leave his mouth. He's hugging my pillow so tightly, like someone is going to try and steal it from him. I can't tell if it's just a shadow, or if he drooled a little on it as well. A sign of good sleep, I suppose.

Making my way into the bathroom, I first relieve myself before brushing my teeth and following it up with a refreshing face wash, concluded with a dollop of moisturizer all over my face and neck.

Walking back into my bedroom, I try to be as quiet as possible, but Harry is noticeably stirring in his sleep and soon becomes conscious enough to realize where he is, and I watch as the panic sets in.

"Shit. Fuck. Sorry, I didn't mean to crash here last night." Harry scrambles out of bed, clearly trying to rush out.

"Oh um, it's okay." I clear my throat, words a bit groggy as I speak for the first time this morning. "I just have to get to work soon, but you can stay for breakfast if you want."

"Yeah uh, I can do that. I'll drop you off at work too, don't want to make you late." He suggests and I accept his offer.

I watch as he digs through his black duffle bag, finding a clean shirt to throw on and pairing it with the same jeans he wore last night. His hand runs through his hair several times and he seems to be getting a bit frustrated that it won't stay how he wants it.

"Want a clip or something to help hold your hair back?" I ask.

"Actually, yeah. If you don't mind." He sighs, scooping his hair back once more only for a few curls to fall straight back onto his face. He lets out a laugh, deep and raspy from just waking up.

"Not at all." I exit my room and rummage through my hair basket in the bathroom to find a clip for him to borrow. My hair has become much too long to utilize these smaller clips, so I couldn't care less if I never get it back.

"You can keep it, I don't use these anymore." I hand him the clip once back in my room and I watch as he sections off the top part of his hair and secures it with the clip.

"Yeah? Thanks."

I leave Harry to himself to wake up and get situated and bring myself out to the kitchen to get started on breakfast.