A Step Away From Falling ➸ h.s. [Needs Editing]

Chapter 9: Do you trust me?

Harry's POV

I took the much needed shower, which helped ease my overwhelming frustration and confusion at the events that occurred in the past twenty four hours.

After drying my body with a towel, I pulled some dark jeans up my legs and brought a grey t-shirt over  my head, then pulled it down over my bare torso.

Inhaling a deep calming breath, I mustered up some courage and then walked out of my room and made my way to the kitchen, where I knew my best friend would be busy making breakfast.

As soon as I entered the kitchen area, the smell of eggs and sizzling bacon clogged up my senses and a genuine smile spread on my lips.

"What are you doing?" I asked Helen, who seemed busy turning over the bacon, while her hips swayed to the tropical music playing from her phone in a low volume. It was salsa. I don't know what the song was about because it was in Spanish, but I'm sure the lyrics weren't that important, it sounded like it was more about dancing, but what do I know? 

Helen's family is Cuban. Her Hispanic heritage usually surprises a lot of people because she looks –in her words– like a typical 'white girl', whatever that even means.

I stood next to her as she scrambled the eggs, just by looking at them it made my mouth water. I happen to love Helen's cooking. I mean, everyone knows Spanish people have this unique seasoning and flavor in their cooking and I'm a huge fan of it.

"Would you stop drooling over the food? Just go sit down, I'm almost done" Helen pushed my chest with her hand and I stumbled back a bit. She was smiling slightly.

I had this strong urge of grabbing her hand and pulling her against me.

The thought scared the shit out of me so I did as she told me and sat down on one of the stools next to the kitchen's counter. 

Pull it together Harry, it was just a stupid dream.

"What dream?" Helen asked, her back still towards me.

Shit. Did I just say that outloud?

"Uh, what?" I asked her, hoping I had imagined her question.

"You said: Pull it together Harry, it was just a stupid dream. So what did you dream about?" she asked, putting an end to my hope.

Damn. 

"I didn't say it out loud" I said, trying to distract her.

"Of course you didn't, I'm psychic and I read your mind" she said this in the most serious and straight face so I actually took a second to study her to see if she was actually serious, but that ended soon because she had an outburst of laughter.

"Wow Harry, you really believe in that kind of stuff?" her laughter filled the room once again and I felt my cheeks burning in embarrassment.

"Of course I don't! But yeah, let's make fun of poor Harry for believing anything that comes out of his best friend's mouth" I made my best hurt expression and puppy eyes only to gain a frown from Helen; definitely not what I was going for.

"Harry needs to stop being so naive because he doesn't know everything about his best friend" she looked away after saying it, busying herself with serving both of our breakfasts on plates.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked with maybe a little bit of an edge on my voice.

"Nothing" she said evasively while she placed my plate in front of me.

The amazing smell of the food distracted me for a moment but then I focused on the conversation again while she poured orange juice on two crystal glasses.

"Helen" I said her name softly and her chocolate brown eyes found my green ones. 

"Do you trust me?" I asked without removing my gaze from hers.

"I do. With my life" she said quietly.

My heart started beating faster and louder at her words and I took a slow calming breath and then let it out again.

"Really?" I questioned, trying to control the turmoil of emotions going through me. To hear her say those simple words had a big effect on me and I needed to figure out why.

"Of course. You're my best friend" my heart sunk at her words and while I debated on why I felt disappointed, Helen leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.

I couldn't stop the grin that spread on my lips as I looked at her.

"Good. Then remember that you can tell me anything, no matter what it is about, no matter what time it is or where I am. I will always be there for you just like I promised ten years ago" the words felt truer than ever and the sweet smile that tugged on her lips was payment enough.

Helen's POV

I had been so close to confessing my love for him; but his words stopped me. He still remembers the promise, after ten years he still thought about it and was still set on keeping his word. I was his best friend, he didn't need me to screw that up for him.

Then that adorable cheeky smile he gave me, that formed those two sweet dimples on each side made me rethink everything. 

Do I really want to mess up our friendship after all this time?

Do I want to force him into pushing me away because he has a girlfriend and he can't reciprocate my feelings?

Of course not.

I need Harry as much as he needed me. We were each other's anchor.

This morning when I woke up in his arms... it felt so amazing and it will probably the most cherished memory I will ever have... but that's all it will ever be, a memory of a night where we both got drunk and I slept on Harry's bed and he cuddled me in his sleep.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Harry's question pulled be back into the present and I looked up at his worried eyes.

"Uh nothing, I'm just a little sleepy still" I lied.

"Well eat up so you can get your first energy boost" he said this with a wink and I grinned in response.

Then the weirdest thing happened, Harry stared at me straight in the eye and I felt as if he was looking deep into me. As if he knew I was lying but he was letting it go. As if he knew there was something else, something he understood but wouldn't discuss unless I brought it up.

This freaked me out and I let my gaze fall to my plate, took my fork and dug it in my eggs.

There's no way he knows, that would be crazy. He would say something if he knew. Unless... he feels it too?

Ha! yeah right. Harry Styles would never be in love with someone like me. Ever. We're like two opposites of the scale. Like the north and south pole. Like white and black. Like water and oil. Like fire and ice.

There is just no way, at all. 

Maybe in an alternate universe. Maybe not even then.