Heat - Harry Styles

eight

Love isn't a passive thing.

Maybe it's time for me to stop being passive. Maybe if I want what my parents and grandparents have I need to start taking risks, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, sacrificing a little bit of my independence.

Before I could overthink it, I crashed my lips onto Harry's.

I could tell that it took him by surprise, but he almost immediately relaxed, snaking his arm around my waist. His lips were just as soft and plump as I'd imagined them. He tasted like Pinot Grigio and just a bit salty from the seaside air. I had never had a kiss like this before. Our movements seemed to be so in tune with each other that it amplified everything. Suddenly becoming self conscious that someone was watching us, I pulled away. I looked back at Harry whose swollen lips were now curving into a smirk. His green eyes were dancing with delight and his hair was blowing in the evening wind. I bit my lip and looked down slightly, not really knowing how to transition back into conversation.

"Well," he chuckled, "that was unexpected."

I laughed and leaned my head back on Harry's shoulder, mostly just because I didn't want to have to look at him. He reached over for my hand and intertwined our fingers before sipping on his wine. We sat in silence for a while, the two of us clearly unable to find the right words for this moment.

"What changed your mind?" He asked quietly.

"I don't know, it feels right with you. You always know exactly what to say."

"If you kissed me because of something I said then maybe I need to start talking more."

"You're so annoying," I laughed.

"I know," he began, "but seriously, I'm glad you're giving me a chance."

"Me too," I sighed in contentment.

Today has been a good day, but definitely a strange one. I started the day off on a date with a boy that wasn't Harry, dealt with Harry's random house hunting emotions, and then kissed him at the end of the night.

Despite my years of ranting about my independence and not wanting a relationship, Harry had managed to completely change my mind within three short days. I felt really good about where things were going with Harry. He made me unbelievably happy, giddy even. He really understood me and appreciated the little things that everyone I grew up with saw as weird. If things kept going like they had been, I could see a future with Harry as my boyfriend... a very near future.

-

-

"Ugh, finally!" I hear my sister exclaim from the living room as I walked in the front door.

"Where have you been?" She questions as she walks towards me. "I was fixin' to send a search party out for you."

"That's hardly any of your business, Louisa," I say as I brush past her and up the stairs.

She's hot on my heels and before I even have the chance to close my bedroom door she's followed me in.

"You look happy," she remarks as she plops herself down on my bed.

"Really?" I try to brush off her comment as I head into the bathroom to wash my face. It was sticky with dried sweat and I mentally cringed knowing that I'd been kissing Harry while I looked like this.

"Stop playing coy! I know you were out with that guy you met the other day! What was his name? Henry, right?"

"Uh huh," I responded, not really paying attention. I was just eager to get myself cleaned up. "Listen, Lou, I'm going to take a quick shower and when I get out we can have all the girl talk you want."