"You're insane."
He made the comment with a smile, pretending that your excitement didn't stroke his ego at the perfect pace.
You were tucked in bed, propped up against your plush headboard. The room was dark aside from the small night light by the door and your phone screen. It was the middle of the night after all. But that didn't stop you and your boyfriend from staying up with giddy anticipation of his new single dropping.
He was tucked in bed beside you, laying his head resting by your hip, his hair fanning out above his pillow. His knee was laying on top of your shin, his hand warm on your thigh as you clicked into your YouTube app and proceeded to type his name into the search bar. "Not every day you release a song and music video," you murmur with a casual shrug. "Oh come on!" You scoffed when you saw the two minute countdown for the premier to begin, turning the phone towards his face. "You're annoying."
"Thank you," he replied, pleased with himself.
"Oh god, I'm nervous," you laughed as the twisting in your chest increased with the smile gracing his lips.
"Me too."
You stroked your fingers through his hair, scratching at his scalp for a moment as the seconds dwindle down. "They're gonna love it, H."
His lashes fluttered in time with your soothing caress, a sweet, endearing smile on his face that made your heart flutter all on it's own. You knew about this release for months now but refused to engage with him about it. You wanted to experience it with the same build up the rest of the world did: in the moment, with anticipation and nerves flooding your skin.
It was like your heart started to beat in time with the countdown.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...
The build of the intro went through you like a chill in the night; in slow motion, creeping under your skin and along your spine. The flashes of a glistening Harry with damp hair and tan skin filtered through your mind like a slideshow. His smile, his relaxed demeanor, the guitar, the lights. Everything aiding in a cataclysmic explosion in your chest and you hadn't even heard him sing yet.
But then the beat dropped.
You watched, unblinking, with bated breath at the imagery this man produced. A sparkly suit in shallow water, swarms of people surrounding him, his arms extended out on the back of a motorcycle. A sheer, reflective blue shirt and suspenders. An image of him suspended above his own self. Flashes of green, pink, red and blue reflected in your eyes as you watched, feeling an overwhelming surge of love and admiration swell in your chest.
Harry was quietly watching you as his fingers softly smoothed up and down your leg. A gentle squeeze, a long run of his first finger across your skin, his palm warm on your knee. He wasn't trying to be distracting. A simple show of affection that was most likely mindless on his part. But every movement of his skin on yours, paired with the visuals in front of you, made your skin heat.
Do you know who you are?
You released a slow puff of air once his voice faded, staring blankly at your now black phone screen. The room was quiet; impossibly still as you tried to take in everything you just experienced. Your mind was running wild with concepts and symbolisms.
You didn't speak a word as you clicked the replay button, the now familiar opening of eyes being rubbed and hair being tousled adorning your mind once more.
Harry stayed quiet, letting you rewatch the video and giving you time to get your thoughts together. His hand continued it's delicate caress, somehow in time with the beat of the song. You weren't sure if it was on purpose or not, but every movement made the experience that much more intense.
