Trace

Chapter 12

Harry's emerald eyes instantly darkened and his smile dropped at once.

   "Gretchynn?" he scoffed, turning to face me completely.

"Um..I w-was just..yea...Gretchynn...I d-dunno, j-just a stupid question, really," my face feels hot as I am at a loss for words. Clearly, I had been reading Harry's messages and I was somewhat terrified at what he would think of me.

   "El...did you look at my phone?" Harry asks me gently, reaching his hand to my chin so I look at his eyes again. "Did I get a text from Gretchynn?"

"Well..yeah," I whisper, feeling like a small child, caught in my wrong doing.

Harry looks at me and his mouth goes into the shape of an "O".

    "That's okay, baby. I'm not mad. Did you think I would be?" Harry wonders.

"I'm not sure.." I say, quietly, still. However, I try not to reveal to him that a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

   "She's my ex," Harry begins to tell me. "I dumped her."

That's all Harry says to me, and I leave it at that. I snuggle up closer to my boyfriend and he gladly wraps his arms around me, making me feel warm and safe.

   "El?"

"Mm?"

    "Have you ever had a boyfriend before?"

I look down at our hands that have been entwined and nod slowly.

   "When?" Harry asks.

"He broke up with me last year, we only dated for four months. I'm not sure if you would have called us boyfriend and girlfriend per say, but we were considered together- if that makes any sense?"

   I look up to see if Harry understands, and his gorgeous eyes have a glint in them- and I can tell that he wants me to go on.

   "Well, he never actually gave me a real reason to break up with me, but I was relieved that he did. The relationship wasn't fun at all, it always seemed dragged on and forced," I continue.

     "Do you think this relationship seems dragged and forced?" Harry asks me nervously.

"No, no!" I reassure him, giving his hand a small squeeze.

    "I have never had a real boyfriend before," I say, not sure if I am directly talking to Harry, or just speaking aloud.

   "I don't see why, you're the most beautiful girl I have ever seen," says Harry.

"Liar," I mumble.

   "Liar? Did you just call me a liar?" Harry demands, looking down at me.

"Yes, I did Harold."

   "I would not lie to you, El," he confirms with a low chuckle.

"Never?"

   "Never ever," he promises, this time it is he giving my hand a light gentle squeeze.

"And if you do...?" I ask him, waiting for a negotiation.

    "Then you can do whatever you want with me," he replies darkly and there's a hint of excitement in his eyes.

   "Hmm, I see," I give him a brief nod.

I roll away from Harry and strecth my arms above my head, and yawn dramatically.

   "Now, is that a sign that you're tired or is it that I'm boring you?" questions Harry.

"Tired, very very tired. You could never bore me, Styles," I reply half heartedly.