Things We Don't Normally Do

FORTY THREE

It was nearly 3 weeks since Alex had come to London with Harry, and in the short amount of time they had found some sort of a rhythm with each other. Almost like a tried and tested couple who had known each other for ages, they were starting to get into the groove of things, finding Every little crevice where they fit perfectly together.

That being said, Alex was starting to feel antsy. While she knew Harry liked having her around, and Cal at the very least didn't mind her company, she was just starting to feel like she should be doing more.

When the two were busy filming, she often found herself feeling restless at home. Of course, they always invited her to tag along, but really she didn't want anyone feeling like they had to be her keeper. And it was weird just hanging around while the boys filmed—it made her feel like one of two things: a stage mom and a clingy bitch. And she honestly did not want to be either.

Harry needed time with his boys. She sincerely believed and understood that.

Of course the problem was that she didn't know anyone else but Harry and his friends. (And it didn't help that she didn't know the first thing about trying to make friends as an adult.)

She didn't know what to do with herself and as the days went on and Harry's schedule continued to be steadily packed, it was making her think more and more that she may have overstayed her welcome. Her coming to London was never really meant to be a long-term thing. It was supposed to be a break from her real life; and now it was starting to look like it was time to go.

"Oi space cadet!" Freezy called out to a spaced out Alex.

"Sorry?" she asked, taking a moment to snap back to the present.

It appeared her mind had completely wandered off during dinner. All the while, the boys continued to chat away, and now she was struggling to catch up with the conversation.

~

"You alright?" Harry asked as they laid on his bed.

Her head was resting on his bare chest, as he absently played with her hair with one hand, while his other arm wrapped her into an embrace.

"Hmm." she hummed in response both wanting him to elaborate and dreading to talk about what was actually on her mind.

"You've been quiet." He offered, feeling him shrug.

She nuzzled her face closer to him, finding comfort in his scent. He felt warm and safe; and she just wanted to hide in his arms for as long as she could.

"Just thinking." she shrugged back.

She was wearing his old W2S hoodie for extra comfort, paired with nothing but her underwear underneath. She had a leg tangled with his, while a hand traced random shapes on the soft skin of his stomach.

She smiled, remembering how just over two weeks ago, he still flinched when she touched his stomach, complaining that it tickled. Now he could lay perfectly comfortable as her fingertips gently trailed across his skin.

"Are you telling me?" he gave her thigh a gentle squeeze, before his hand found its way under the blue hoodie, rubbing the soft skin on the small of her back.

She scrunched her face up at him, making her discomfort blatantly obvious. But with a sigh, she gave in, "I feel like I should go home."

Harry's hand stopped dead, and he abruptly propped himself up on his elbows to give her a proper look. Concern showing through his expression, "W—why? What do you mean?"

Biding herself some time, she unconsciously started to pick at her nails. He reached for her hands instinctively, stopping her nervous habit. She bit her lower lip, starting at their hands. After a couple of false starts, she took a deep breath and confessed to how she had been feeling.