Paper Birds

Chapter Twenty-Two ; Up Against Bricks

"Claire!"

I nearly had a stroke as Lucas' voice boomed and shook the whole house in what used to be silence, since Max wasn't here.

"Your boyfriend's here!"

I hopped off of my bed and raced down the stairs, meeting Luke at the door in 0.4 seconds. I watched Harry walk up the drive, fans screaming around him as his bodygaurds stuggled to keep them away. Harry seem unaffected by all of it, but if it were me I knew that someone in that crowd would get hurt. I wouldn't handle being famous very well, though I guess that's what I would have to deal with if I really was his girlfriend.

Lucas shot me a weird look. "Hyper much?"

"If you had a girlfriend then you'd know what it feels like, but you will forever be alone so I guess it doesn't matter."

"Ouch."

"The truth hurts, brother."

I smirked, watching him walk away. Mission accomplished; one brother down, one to go. Robbie was out getting groceries or something, and afterward he would have to head to work. I doubted Jonah would bother me, but I couldn't say the same for when Max comes home.

I opened up the door for Harry, a strong winter breeze entering the house.

"Hey, baby," he greeted me, kissing me on the cheek.

"Hey," I responded half-heartedly. I still felt bad about the way I hung up on him.

"I can only stay an hour. We've got a photoshoot."

The corner of my mouth curled up. "Better, make it count, then."

I grabbed his wrist and headed up the stairs. I saw Jonah giving me a warning glance from his room but didn't say anything. I gave him a look back, like, We aren't going to do anything. He shook his head, gaze returning to his computer screen with a small grin on his face.

I opened the door and let Harry in before quickly locking it before Max or Robbie had the chance to come home and meddle with my life. I sat down on the bed with my legs in front of me, Harry sitting in between them and setting his legs the same way.

My mouth twitched. I was itching to say something. "Uh, sorry about our conversation earlier."

He just smiled and said, "It's fine, I'm used to waking up early."

I shook my head. "No, not that. Well, that, and how I.. ended the phone call."

"Oh. To be honest, that did leave me a little distraught."

I rubbed my forehead and sighed. "I'm sorry. I just.. I don't know what love feels like anymore. And I don't think I should tell you that I feel something when I'm not sure that I do. I don't want to lie, but I don't want to hurt you."

"What did love feel like when you were with Jared?"

That question caught me off guard. I didn't know how to answer.

Harry swallowed. "Did it feel.. Like this?"

He held the back of my head and leaned in, his lips intertwining with mine. The kiss grew less gentle as I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him harder. He tightened his grip on me and leaned forward more so that I was on my back. His body laid on top of mine, and for a while we just laid there and kissed. Harry pulled away, though his lips still lingered on my cheek. He ran his finger up the side of my jeans and whispered in my ear, "I don't mind that you don't love me yet, Claire. Just know that I love you."

I pulled his head down from my ear and back to my mouth, my lips resting his bottom lip. "Harry.. I do love you."

And this time, I meant it.