Heat - Harry Styles

sixteen

OKAY GUYS! I have  bone to pick with you! This story has 16 parts and not a single comment! I gotta know what you think!!! PLEASE LET ME KNOW! 

It was just late enough that you could hear the crickets chirping and bullfrogs croaking against the subtle sound of the flowing water. Pinks and oranges scattered across the sky as we watched the light recede over the water. The sun was inching ever closer to the waves and Harry and I were inching ever closer to each other.

"I wish I knew about his place earlier," Harry mumbled into my neck, smelling like sandalwood and red wine.

The two of us had gone almost two full weeks without seeing each other. Unfortunately, the paparazzi had caught on to Harry's whereabouts, and I wasn't willing to risk being photographed. It had been a long week full of boring days and wistful late night calls. I missed the feeling of his skin against mine--the goosebumps that inevitably arose when he was near.

"Hmm," I hummed as I nuzzled close to his chest. "This is my happy place. Wasn't sure I could trust you with it yet."

"Didn't think you could trust me?"

I shrugged, "I never bring anyone here anymore."

My family owned a small beach cottage off of the peninsula. The area was much less crowded. There was a smattering of houses around, but it was out of the city, meaning it wasn't a tourist area. We weren't in any danger of the paparazzi finding us here, and the sunset was almost as magnificent as it was from the battery.

"The cottage is beautiful," he commented.

"Thanks. I really loved this place when I was in high school. It was a great place to escape to when everything got crazy. Charlotte and I spent pretty much every weekend here."

Silence fell upon us again as we gazed out over the water. Harry's breathing was steady, and I relished in the constant feeling of the rise and fall of his chest. It was nice to be stationary with him – to be calm. These moments always seemed to be fleeting. Even when we had our early morning coffee on our bench we always faced the threat of cameras, but not here. Here, we were safe. Here, we were alone.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" he grinned, green eyes meeting mine.

"Hmm," I hummed, "not since about fifteen minutes ago."

"At the risk of ruining this moment, can I ask you something?" he asked, clearly testing the waters.

I nodded even though I couldn't help but stiffen upon hearing his words. I had a pretty good idea of what he would ask next. After all, we'd been spending all of our time together and when it wasn't possible to physically be together, we were together on the phone or through text -- in constant communication. In other words, things were starting to get serious. Even though we hadn't officially put a label on anything, I knew that Harry thought of me -- or was at least beginning to think of me -- as his girlfriend. Honestly, I've got to say that being adored by one of the most wanted men in the world did make butterflies erupt in my stomach, but even more, being cared for by someone as good as Harry made me dizzy with excitement.

"When are you going to tell your parents about us? I'm fine with sneaking around from the paparazzi, but sneaking around your house just feels wrong at this point. I mean, don't get me wrong it was exciting at first, but now it just feels like we're going to get caught and I'll start off on a horrible foot, ya know?"

"Yeah," I swallowed, "I know. I just... I'm worried about what telling them will do to our relationship."

"Why? Sloane, you're an adult and you're allowed to make your own decisions. Why are you so sure that they'd hate me anyways?"

"Harry," I sighed, "you just don't understand what it's like to grow up in a southern family. I know that sounds obnoxious, but it's true! You don't just disobey your parents – especially when it comes to romantic partners. And... you're just not what they imagined for me. I mean, you're a tattooed British rockstar. They want me to be with someone from their world."

"Someone like Spencer?" Harry asked though it sounded like more of a statement.

"Haz," I tried, but it was too late. He had clearly shut down, eyes glued to the ocean in front of us, refusing to meet my gaze.

"It's fine, Sloane," he grunted. "I should get going anyways."

"Why?" I asked as he was already beginning to stand up. "Harry," I said pleadingly, taking hold of his wrist lightly.

His eyes finally met mine and I swear, it was like I could see him soften. "Damn it Sloane, I just don't want to fight with you," he confessed.

"Then let's not fight," I tried. "Here, sit back down with me." I pulled him down to the back porch sofa we had been cuddled up on just a few moments before. I reached my hand up and gently ran my fingers through his brown hair, scratching his scalp lightly. "Come meet my grandmother tomorrow."

I felt him perk up at his. "Really? You want me to – like actually?"

"Like actually," I giggled. "Baby steps, but I promise that you'll meet my parents soon enough. I just need to figure some things out first." I wasn't exactly sure if this was one hundred percent true. Because yeah, I did need to figure some things out -- I just wasn't sure what those things were. But if things kept going how they are now, it wouldn't be feasible to keep this a secret forever, especially considering Harry's career.

"Well, I can't exactly meet the famous Mims if you're going to introduce me as your friend," he teased. "That just simply won't do. What do you say? Be my girlfriend?"

I grinned and leaned in, leaving a soft kiss on his perfectly pink lips. "Of course." Harry was the perfect guy for me and I could finally see it. At this moment, I simply could not understand why it had taken me so long to take down my walls. But if one thing was infinitely clear to me, it was that Harry was worth the effort, and perhaps even more importantly – worth the risk.

-----

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Harry said as he wiped his palms on his pants and ran a hand through his hair. This was simultaneously the most nervous and most put together I had ever seen Harry. He was wearing a pair of dark blue plaid trousers, a light blue button down, and a toned down pair of Gucci sneakers. He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up just a bit, his tattoos peeking out from underneath the fabric. He looked amazing. But inside this pretty package was a man who was so clearly scared. His face was flushed a bright pink and beads of sweat dotted his pretty little forehead. Even in the thick of the Charleston heat, I'd never seen him this flustered.

"Harry," I laughed, "calm down. It's just my grandma."

"Yeah, just your grandma," he scoffed. "She's only the most important person in your life! But, yeah, totally, just your grandma."

Today was the day that I was introducing Harry to Mims. It was around noon and I had just gotten out of church with my family. I slipped away after the service to go pay my weekly Sunday visit to my grandmother. I had instructed Harry to meet me a block away from her house, and he was there waiting for me when I showed up. "You're going to be fine," I assured him.

"Any last minute advice?" he asked as we walked up the steps to the home.

"Drink your iced tea, if she offers you food just eat it – she's a true southern belle so she will be gravely concerned if you don't – and don't lie to her. Mims always knows a lie when she hears one," I quickly advised. "She's going to love you, I promise."

With that, I opened the front door and stepped inside. No matter how many times I come here, this house will always send memories flooding back to me. When I see the steps up to the front porch I think of the time when I fell off my bike. I wailed and screamed and sat on the steps while Mims ran inside to get a bandaid. When I see the living room I think of Christmas mornings spent with my family, all snuggled up beneath Mims' lavishly decorated tree with my grandfather. And now, new memories are about to be made. This would be the first time I'd introduced Mims to a boyfriend. I sincerely hoped she would like Harry, because I don't know what I'd do if she didn't.

I tried to push the what ifs out of my mind. Of course, Mims would love Harry. What's not to love... right?