Sweet Tooth [HS]

SIXTY TWO

When they got back to the house it was still dazzling outside. The air was shimmering from the sun that was still high in the sky, and Max's happiness had been completely restored.

Despite the encounter with Camille and everything that came with it - all those feelings and all that fury Max had felt was simply rolling off her. Was washed away.

Because Max still could not get the song out of her head, was unable to forget Harry's voice and the way he had looked at her, how he had called her his best friend. She was happy.

And as they got out of the car and walked around the house, hand-in-hand, to sit down beside the pool, dipping their toes in, leaning backwards - Max thought this might be the happiest she had ever been. The best she had ever felt.

The only sadness there was, was that Max could not tell Lexie about it. It was second nature now to babble to her about this - to send her updates, pictures, to show off this beautiful place she was in. And it was a strange silence where Max was missing her little quips - her attitude and her I told you so's. Max missed her, undoubtedly. And it was making a little hole, a hollowness within her.

"So," Harry said, breaking the silence. "Weird day, huh?"

Max smiled, blinking back to reality. She looked over at him, at Harry, and felt revitalised.

Yes. This was all she needed.

She raised a hand to stroke across his cheek. "A good day."

"You think so?"

Max nodded and pinched his cheek lightly. "Your song was beautiful, Harry. I love it."

Harry grinned, "It's about you, you know."

"I know," she grinned back. "Thank you."

He grabbed her hand from where it was on his cheek, resting it, instead, against his chest. "In here," he smiled as he pressed her palm against his heart. She could feel it beating. "You're in here, always. And everything I write and probably everything I will ever write comes from here, because I carry your heart, Max. I carry it in my heart."

Max did not know what to say back - had no sounds that could come out in tones and melodies as beautiful as Harry's, no words to equal his. So she leaned forwards and she kissed him, not removing her hand from his chest, feeling the way his heartbeat picked up.

"I love you," she said, "I love you I love you I love you."

She could feel his smile as she kissed him, could feel him stop when he deepened the kiss. He pulled her body towards his, his hands roaming up underneath her t-shirt, his tongue sliding down her neck. And as much as Max wanted to bow to the feeling - to the burning sensation igniting in her stomach and between her thighs and across her skin - she pulled back.

"Harry," she whispered, taking in the delicious colour of his lips, the way his green eyes had darkened.

"Baby," he breathed, moving in to kiss her again. And despite how wrong it felt - how much her body was bending towards him, begging to let him do anything to it - again, she pulled back. "Baby?" Harry repeated, this time looking at her curiously.

Max bit her lip, taking a deep breath to compose herself. "The party. Later. I need to go shopping."

Harry groaned as he leaned forwards, hanging his forehead onto her shoulder in despair. "No you don't," he said, his voice muffled by the fabric of her t-shirt. "You look beautiful in everything, just wear something you have."

And despite how sweet Harry's words were, Max could not agree. She needed to look good - to look better than good. She was meeting Harry's LA friends for the first time so she wanted to make a good impression... plus, it wouldn't hurt to humble Camille.