Secret embraces || harry lewis

40

fourty

I stopped in front of a tall building. "This is me." Harry looked up, furrowing his eyebrows. "You moved." I nodded, feeling anxious. "Yeah, uh with Harrison." I muttered, playing with my keys. Hearing Harry take in a deep breath, I was prepared for him to start shouting again. I wouldn't have blamed him. But he didn't. As I looked up I saw him smiling. "That's great. I mean, that you have a place to stay. That's good." Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I nodded. "Yeah, it just happened. I didn't really plan on moving in with him, you know." I started trying to explain myself but was stopped by Harry wrapping his arms around my body and pulling me closer. He rested his head on top of mine and for the first time in what seemed to be forever, I felt my body melting away. Taking in the familiar smell, I couldn't help but smile.

I wrapped my arms around hin, pulling him closer. I was scared that he'd be disappearing any given moment now. That this was all a dream, a fantasy. "You don't have to explain anything to me, Joan. I'm-I'm just glad you didn't leave." The way my name came out of his mouth made me shiver. The words he said brought tears to my eyes which I quickly whipped away before getting out of the hug. "Yeah, me too."

He kept his hands on each of my shoulder, again giving me the unfamiliar look. "You should go upstairs." I nodded, still looking him into his deep eyes. "I should." Our voices were quiet, nearly whispers. "Harrison is waiting for you." My eyes hovered over his face as he was speaking. I could hear every word but didn't process any of them. "He probably is." My breathing got heavier as we didn't move a single muscle.

Both of us staid there, looking at each other as if it was the first or last time. "You won't leave?" He suddenly asked. "What?" He lowered his head a little so I could hear him better. "London. You won't leave, right?" I felt slightly disappointed in the question, thinking he'd ask something else. "Oh, no, no, I don't think so." He furrowed his eyebrows before lifting my head with his hand. "What's wrong?" I shrugged, a little embarrassed about the thoughts I had. "Thought you were about to ask something else." He gave me a short, quiet chuckle. "I was. But I respect your decision too much to put you on the spot." Feeling my eyes grow, I took all of the little strength I had left. "What were you really going to ask?"

And there I saw the smile I've been missing for more than two months. The shinny teeth, the small dimples creating itself in the corner of his mouth. The way he liftes his eyebrows even just for a few small inches. "You won't leave me, will you?" I felt my voice disappearing and could obly shake my head. "I love you, Joan. I really do." With his thumb, he started stroking over my cheek. But before I could enjoy it any longer, he dropped his hands and took a step backwards. "Goodnight." I watched him turn his back towards me and walk away.

Still shocked about the interaction, I stepped out of the lift and walked up to my front door. Unlocking the door, I could already hear the music coming from Harrison's home studio. I couldn't say I was annoyed at it, because I really enjoyed watching and listening him work. But right now, all I needed was a quiet place. "I'm home!" I shouted, placing the key on the small table next to the entrance. I took off my shoes and coat before walking down the long hallway. The door wasn't fully closed so I could hear Harrison and someone else talking. Walking through the door whilst putting my hair up, I smiled at the view in front of me.

"Marsh, Hi." They turned around I could see Harrison's tired eyes. He probably wanted to be in bed already but him and Marsh have been working on the new songs each night. "Jo, how are you, love?" The tall, dark skinned man came up to me and greeted me with a hug. I smiled at him, taking in his tired face as well. "Shall I prepare the guest room again?" He smiled a little which I took as yes. He's been staying in the guest room for at least three nights a week the past month. "How was it?" Harrison placed a small kiss on my head whilst wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer to him.

"Nice. We were a little disappointed about you leaving so early." I muttered whilst leaning my head against his shoulder and looking up to him. "I'm sorry. I actually tried to go to bed early tonight." We chuckled and I got out of the embrace. "That's what you say every night." We laughed and I could see Marsh working on the computer again. "How's the song going?" Harrison leaned against the table, shrugging. "Something's missing. But we'll figure it out." I nodded and grabbed the empty glasses standing around the room. "Sorry for not picking you up." I smiled at his tired voice. "Don't worry, I walked home." His eyes grew a little and I could see Marsh turning towards us in his chair. "Did Ethan and Faith take you home?" My heart dropped a little. "Yeah, yeah, they did." I quickly lied, not wanting to upset him with the fact that Harry was walking me home.

Even if I did, I knew he'd ask many questions about it and I wasn't ready to try and explain it to him. I'm sure he'd understand that nothing happened, Harrison wasn't the jealous kind of guy, but knowing myself, I'd end up saying too much. "You guys need anything?" Walking up to the door, I looked at them but both of them shook their heads, again deeply focused on the music they were making. I sighed a little, but smiled, before walking back outside, closing the door behind me. I placed the glasses in the sink before cleaning up the mess that was left from breakfast this morning.

After finishing up, I walked back past the studio, up to the guest room. I used to stay in it for the first two weeks, not feeling all too comfortable with sharing a room with Harrison yet. He was understanding. He gave me the space I needed until being comfortable enough to move my things into his room. The guest room was now mostly used as a storage space for all the moving boxing I haven't touched yet. And my streaming set up. It always brings a small smile to my face whenever I see it. I haven't used it in what seemed to be for ever. Grabbing a fresh set of bedding, I changed it with the old ones and made sure that Marsh had a fresh towel on the pillow.

But then the set up pulled me back in. I was staring at the black chair, reminding me of the day Harry helped me set everything up. How he fell of the chair after a drunk night out. The microphone which nearly exposed Harry and I to the whole stream. Pulling back the chair, I sat down on it and smiled. With a swift move, I turned on the computer and was met by the bright screen only a few seconds later. Without thinking, I looked up twitch and was surprised to see Talia live. I joined the stream and felt my face starting to hurt from smiling so much. I quickly donated to send a 'Hi x' and waited for it to appear on the screen. "Joan! Oh my god, wait, wait." I saw her picking up her phone and received a message not much later.

Talia🧸

no way
you're back on twitch

surprise haha

come join me babes

i don't know..

please
xx

not for long though, I have some laundry calling my name

i love you!