JUST ONE MORE DAY... (H.S)

31

Harry was casually leaning against the counter, asking me how was my nap, but when he looked up at me, his green eyes pierced right through me. He noticed the tension in me and the way I seemed distracted. "I just came down to make dinner," he said softly, trying to ease my nerves. "What do you want to eat? I can whip something up quickly."

I didn’t respond immediately; I was too lost in the memory of those green eyes from my dream. But Harry’s voice brought me back to the present. I blinked and forced a smile. "Anything’s fine," I finally said, my voice a little shakier than I intended. "I'm not too picky."

Harry nodded, sensing that something was off but choosing not to press me about it. "How about some pasta? It’s quick and easy."

I nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah, pasta sounds good."

As we cooked together, I found myself relaxing little by little. The rhythm of chopping vegetables, boiling water, and stirring sauce provided a comforting routine, something tangible to focus on. Harry was his usual self—calm, focused, and effortlessly charming. His presence helped to ground me, reminding me that I was safe, that the nightmare was just that—a nightmare. I sat down at the kitchen table, my thoughts drifting back to the nightmare. It wasn’t the first time I'd had it, but it was the first time it had been so detailed. The man’s words, the boy’s desperate attempt to protect me—it all felt too real. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself.

"You okay?" Harry asked, glancing over his shoulder as he was finishing the pasta, "You’re awfully quiet tonight. Are you sure everything's okay?"

I forced another smile, trying to mask my anxiety. "Yeah, just a bit tired, I guess. Today was... a lot."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, it was. The whole thing with the professor, the performance, it was intense." He paused, then added, "But you were amazing out there. I couldn’t have done it without you."

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words. "Thanks, Harry. You were incredible too."

As we ate dinner, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. We talked about the day at the university, how our friends had reacted to our song, and what we thought the professor might say when he reviewed our performance for the fest. The more we talked, the more I began to relax, the nightmare slowly fading to the back of my mind.

But the memory of the green-eyed boy lingered. I found myself stealing glances at Harry throughout the meal, wondering if it was just a coincidence that the boy in my dream had the same eyes as him. I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought as silly.

Dreams were just dreams, after all.

After dinner, we both cleaned up the kitchen together. Harry washed while I dried, our movements synchronized in a comfortable rhythm. Despite the initial tension, I found myself enjoying Harry’s company more than ever. He had a way of making me feel safe, like nothing bad could happen as long as he was around.

When we finished, Harry turned to me with a smile. "I’m thinking of watching a movie or something before bed. You in?"

I hesitated for a moment, the fear of another nightmare tugging at me, but I nodded. "Sure, that sounds good."

We settled on the couch, choosing a light-hearted comedy to help them unwind. As the movie played, I found myself leaning into Harry’s side, my earlier anxiety melting away in the warmth of his presence. I felt safe with him, like the horrors of my dream couldn’t reach me here.

Halfway through the movie, my eyelids began to droop. The exhaustion from the day, combined with the comfort of Harry’s presence, lulled me into a peaceful sleep. Harry noticed me dozing off and gently pulled a blanket over me, careful not to disturb me, but was still conscious of what was happening.

He watched me for a moment, a soft smile on his lips. There was something about him that drew me in, made me want to stay with him, just like the boy in my dream. He brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, my heart swelling with an unfamiliar but welcome feeling.

Narrator POV

As the night wore on, the movie played on, but Harry’s thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about the connection he felt with Ellie, how natural it felt to be by her side, to support her. It was like they were meant to be partners in more ways than just music.

When the movie ended, Harry gently shifted Ellie so that she was lying comfortably on the couch. He placed a pillow under her head and tucked the blanket around her before turning off the TV and the lights. He stood there for a moment, watching her sleep peacefully, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of protectiveness over her.

"Goodnight, Ellie", he whispered before heading to his room.

As Harry lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts kept drifting back to Ellie. The way she had been so spooked earlier, the way she seemed to relax in his presence—it all made him want to be there for her even more. He knew that whatever happened next, he wanted to be a part of her life, to help her face whatever fears or challenges came her way.

Little did he know, Ellie was thinking the same thing. As she slept, her dreams were no longer filled with nightmares but with the comforting presence of a green-eyed boy who had always been there to save her. And now, she had Harry by her side, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like everything was going to be okay.

AN: Hey, Thank you for reading. If you find any mistakes please do let me know. Comment your thoughts. TPWK 😇