Unlikely (H.S.)

twenty-one*

~Harper~

As we walked back to my apartment, the cool night air wrapped around us, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of the evening settling in. The jazz bar had been wonderful, right up until the moment it wasn't. Harry's anxiety about being recognized had seeped into me, making me question every glance in our direction, every whispered conversation that wasn't quite loud enough to hear.

But now, as we walked hand in hand through the quiet streets, the city beginning to wind down for the night, I felt some of that tension easing. There was something about being with Harry, about the way his hand fit so naturally in mine, that made everything feel a little less complicated.

We didn't say much as we walked, and I was okay with that. The silence between us felt comfortable, like we were both processing the night in our own ways. I kept sneaking glances at him, trying to gauge what he was thinking. His face was mostly unreadable, focused on the path ahead, but every now and then, he'd squeeze my hand just a little bit tighter, and I'd feel a flicker of reassurance.

When we finally reached my apartment, I hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door, suddenly feeling a bit uncertain. The night had taken some unexpected turns, and I wasn't sure where we stood now. But I didn't want to end things on a sour note.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, Harry followed close behind, his presence filling the small space in a way that felt both comforting and a little overwhelming. I flicked on the lights, the soft glow illuminating the familiar surroundings.

"Do you want to watch a movie or something?" Harry asked, his voice breaking the silence.

I turned to look at him, a bit surprised by the suggestion. "A movie?" I echoed, trying to read his expression.

"Yeah," he said, his smile a little tentative. "I thought it might be nice to unwind, you know? Just be...."

There was a vulnerability in his voice, a subtle plea for something normal and comforting. I could feel my own insecurities bubbling up, the fear that maybe this was all too much for him, that maybe he was regretting tonight. But the way he looked at me, like he genuinely wanted to spend more time together, made me push those doubts aside.

"Sure," I agreed softly, offering him a small smile. "That sounds nice."

He seemed relieved, his shoulders relaxing just a bit. "Great," he said, his smile growing a little more confident. "What do you want to watch?"

I shrugged, suddenly feeling shy under his gaze. "I'm not sure. What are you in the mood for?"

He thought for a moment, then suggested, "How about something light? Maybe a comedy?"

I nodded, grateful for the idea. "Yeah, that sounds perfect."

We settled onto the couch, the remote in my hand as I scrolled through the options. I could feel Harry's presence beside me, warm and solid, but there was still that undercurrent of uncertainty between us. It was like we were both trying to figure out where the boundaries were, how much to let each other in.

"Here," I said, stopping on Roman Holiday. "How about this?"

Harry leaned closer to look at the screen, his arm brushing against mine. "Yeah, that's good," he said, his voice a little softer now.

I hit play and set the remote down, trying to focus on the movie instead of the way my heart was racing. As the opening scenes played out, I felt Harry's arm slowly wrap around my shoulders, pulling me closer. I hesitated for just a second before leaning into him, letting my head rest against his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat against my cheek, calming my insecurities, for now...