Stay

Chapter 20

"Where were you?" I look up to see an extremely angry mom and the smile on my face immediately wiped off. There was a vain throbbing on her forehead and I knew she was ready to lose it.

"At Harry's place, Ma." I told her the truth fixing my structure to look confident with my words.

"Yeah, I know that. But why did you stay the entire night?" She crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the ground testing my every nerve.

"Well actually, we didn't complete the project quite yet. We were up so late and it was way to dangerous to go out alone in this foreign country and you guys didn't come back home until after I decided to crash at his house so I just chose the safest option." My almost satisfied mother nodded still not certain that everything I was saying was true. Who knows, my face could've been dripping with sweat right now and I wouldn't have even noticed. Yet another imperfection about me. Mom suddenly started bombarding me with questions.

"What time did you go to sleep?"

"11:30."

"What did you eat?"

"We ate at the restaurant."

"For breakfast?"

"His mom made us omelettes."

"What subject was your project on?"

"Science."

"What exactly?"

"Efficacy of Estrogens and Progesterone in Hepatic Fibrosuppression." I mentally patted mysef on the back for getting that one right.

"And?"

"Almost done." I locked the door behind me and walked past my mother without any expressions on my face. Just a smile and I walked on.

"Wait!" I turned around waiting for her to continue. "Did you have fun?" I chuckled.

"Mom, its schoolwork. Of course not." She laughed with me.

"I'm sorry for misjudging you like that, honey."

"It's okay Ma, I understand. I would've done the same." I felt extremely guilty for lying to her like that but also glad because we were almost on good terms. Ever since Madison came into our life, she's all mom seemed to care about but hopefully that'll have changed soon.

**

"Good morning, beautiful." Harry wrapped his arm around me pecking me on the cheek in front of all our friends. He had a coffee mug in his right hand and was wearing a grey sweatshirt and a black beanie.

"Good morning." I hug his neck as he does my waist. Harry kissed me through the hug until Niall interrupted pretending to clear his throat. We both brought

our attention to him, but Harry stared for a bit longer.

"I'm so delighted that you two are finally together." Eleanor shrieked in front of us taking Harry by surprise.

"Since when were you ever excited about any of my other relationships?" The words that came out of his mouth brought me down a bit, but not enough.

"What relationships?" Eleanor said hitting me with some confidence.

"Alright, let's all meet up after school?" Everyone nodded walking away, so did I, drinking my bottled water. I turned the other way when Harry pulled me into his arms holding my waist. We were leaning by the lockers, and my full attention was on Harry who couldn't seem to lay his eyes off of me.

"Harry, what are you doing? We're at school!" I shrieked attempting to push him away.

"So?" He raised his eyebrows still not looking anywhere but my face.

"So, if we get caught, and I get a detention for not being in class, that's not going to look good on my record."

"You're such a good girl. Why don't you be a little bad for me?" Harry pouted hiding a smirk.

"Later, Harold." I blew him a kiss and he pretended to catch it.

Our squad was now at Starbucks since we all agreed to hangout today after school. All of our friends were sitting at the same table making a racket. Some were standing and some were sitting in each other's laps. Harry and I were going to join them but they insisted on letting us have our time alone. What's with them, have they never seen a girl with Harry before? What am I thinking, of course they have. All I really do remember is them motioning for Harry to do something when he guided me to another table.

"So, how's my princess?" Harry strokes both of my hands after sipping his macchiato.

"Just dandy." he gave me a confused look. "Harry, could you just please tell me whats going on? Why are our friends always leaving us alone? Do you have something to tell me?"

"Okay fine. It just... give me a second." Harry was starting to worry me as he took a deep breathe and closed his eyes before opening up his mouth. "Will you go on a date with me?" We both remained silent for a while until I spoke up.

"Uh, no Harry I'm sorry. I just don't think of you like that. I hope you understand that this was a one time thing. That's why I always got so paranoid when people left us together. I wouldn't have even come here if it weren't for Eleanor. I'm sorry..." I backed away from him since my body was leaning closer to him on my of the table.

"What?" Harry looked heartbroken, I swear I thought I saw a tear in his right eye. He held on to my hand as I got up walking just a bit closer to get by his side of the table.

"Oh my gosh Harry I can't believe you actually believed all that." I plopped down in his lap feeling so guilty for witnessing the tears in his eyes. I wiped them away as Harry looked down slightly smiling. "I'm so sorry, love." I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his forehead, still seated in his lap.

"No I'm sorry babe. Its just that I've never wanted anyone as much as I want you with me."

"Well, at least now I'll know how you will react if I actually did decide to leave you." I cheekily smile shrugging my shoulders, looking back at Harry who raised an eyebrow at me.

"I can't wait to see your reaction."

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same.