Desolate - h.s. ✓

° sixteen °

     On Thursday, Harry asked if he could run with me. At first, I felt like I wanted to run alone, but I agreed anyway. It was close to five when he showed up at my house, his dry-fit T-shirt accentuating the fact that he was physically fit. Rolling my eyes at myself, I stepped outside, shutting the door behind me. Although, to my surprise, Harry pressed me up against the front door, a smile on his lips.

"What are you doing?"

"Appreciating you."

My face flushed, and I laughed when he pressed his lips to my neck. Pushing him away, I told him I wanted to run. He said my running would probably be a light jog for him, but I just shoved him lightly, Harry laughing. The two of us started with a jog, but then we picked up speed. I felt a little awkward, not exactly wanting to sound like an out of breath beast, especially when Harry would probably sound fine. However, we just ran for a while, Harry and I stopping at a small intersection.

"Can I take you somewhere?"

"Are you going to kill me?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "That's been my plan all along. To get you to like me, and then, you know, kill you." "I hate you. I have no clue what you're talking about."

He smiled, pushing my shoulder lightly. I pushed him back with the same force, only for him not to move. Harry chuckled, the sign saying we could walk. We started running again, the boy staying slightly in front of me so he could lead the way. It was about half a mile before we took a turn onto a woodsy path, the two of us continuing to jog. Although, we came out on the other side to a lake, Harry stopping suddenly only for me to run into him. He stumbled, grabbing me before I could totally fall onto the ground.

"You can't just stop in front of me like that!"

"Mm, you're fine," he told me.

"But still!"

Rolling his eyes, Harry tugged his shirt off, my brow pulling in. I didn't know what he was doing, watching as he reached for his shorts. Suddenly my hands were covering his, my eyes wide as I stared at him.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to go swimming," he shrugged.

I felt a little more nervous now, my cheeks flushing instantly. We were about ten feet from the edge of the lake, Harry letting go of his shorts and grabbing my T-shirt. I felt anxious knowing I was smaller now, but not liking the idea of him seeing where I had stretch marks from about a year ago when I was larger.

"I trust you, but I don't like my body."

His brow pulled him.

"What? Why not?"

I shook my head, pulling away. Harry grasped my hand, his fingers pushing some loose strands of hair behind my ear. He cupped my cheeks, tilting my head up so he could look over me easily. My heart was racing with how gentle he was being, Harry pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"You know, I trust you so much," he stated simply. "Like, more than I trust Ethan, I think."

"You don't understand. You don't. Just being in your T-shirt the other night stressed me out, but it covered me. I don't want you to see—"

"See what? How fucking hot you are?" he asked softly. "You know I think you're incredibly attractive, right?"

I shook my head, pulling away. Thoughts of what Trinity and even Angelo had said to me came into my head. My chest was aching, and I tried taking deep breaths to calm down, but was almost too anxious to control myself.

"Nicole. Shh, I'm here. You're fine, baby."

Turning around, I could tell he was surprised himself. A small smile formed on my face, my nerves going away slightly as I focused on what he had just called me instead of what had been in my head. Breathing easier, I held onto him, Harry rubbing my back easily. We were closer than I thought we would ever be, my chest still rising and falling quickly, but not aching nearly as much.