Best Friend

Chapter 18

Harrison manoeuvered us through the crowds with ease, despite all the ogling eyes of his fans following us wherever we went.

Young or old, men or women, it was magnetic to see in the flesh just how different he has changed over the years, but seeing him now, freely happy and politely talking to his fans, I just then realise just how much he had changed, for the better.

He had it all, everything he ever wanted, yet he wanted to throw this all away for me.

"Charlotte?"

I finally snap out of it and see now that Harrison was looking at me, with worry on his face and his hand on my shoulder.

"Sorry." I sheepishly apologize.

"You disappeared on me there." He humorously joked, despite the worry in his eyes. "Are you regretting coming here with me?"

The faces of strangers trying to get as close as possible to where we stood made me regret doing this in public, but even though my head was telling me to just tell him it was too much, and to leave, my heart wanted to try, to enjoy the date and focus only on him.

"No." I forced a smile as we walked side by side through the shopping market. 

"I am."

I froze in my step and look at him shocked to see an expression on Harrison's face that made my heart skip a beat, and clench tightly in my chest.

"I can't help myself with you." He admits, his ears turning a light pink. "I'm selfish, Charlotte, and when I got noticed... I couldn't help but notice the look of every man who passed us as they stared at you."

"I've never hated being famous until today."

Harrison, who had just admitted to being jealous of something I didn't even notice suddenly looked like the boy I grew up with, nervous, arrogant and so damn cute.

I was embarrassed that men had looked at me, having not noticed, but I was more embarrassed by the fact that he felt so strongly for me, all this time, and he can admit it without feeling nervous, or anxious.

It made me fall deeper for this man.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't laugh at me." He groans out and intertwines our hands together. "I hate it, I wanted this date to be just us, but now all I want to do is go home and keep you for myself."

This man... really, the things he says make my knees go weak.

"So let's go." I shrug, smiling up at him as his brows clench.

"We can grab a pizza on the way and just watch movies." I say. "Our first date doesn't have to be perfect, Harrison."

Harrison frowned. "Are you sure?" He asked, not convinced I was okay with it as I nodded my head with a smile, dragging him with me.

"Yup, I'm sure." I told him. "It'll be like old times, only this time it's a date, and I get to pick my own pizza instead of sharing yours." I joke.

Smiling, Harrison squeezes my hand in his. "You had me at pizza."

We both laugh and went our way outside the large town market and back to Harrison's car, with only a few stops along the way, Harrison kept a smile on his face with every fan we passed, asking to shake his hand or get a photo with him.

On the ride back to Harrison's parent's house, we talked the entire way about how he missed being home, and away from the spotlight, despite his obvious situation of being noticed everywhere he went, when he was home, he felt the happiest.