Taste (H.S. / A.U.)

Chapter 38

DOUBLE UPDATE: Chapter 37-38

HARRY STYLES

Something plagued me, and I couldn't put my finger directly on it. The photo of Elle was off, despite the fact she was laid non-chalantly on the blanket that was smoothed over the sand. I assume Jade or Ricky took the photo, and normally I would be fawning over the way her body draped perfectly over the blue spread. A black one-piece suit decorated her body, the tender thickness of her creamy thighs spilled out and I remembered how good it felt to be buried between them. The way the suit cupped her breasts reminded me of just how delightfully perky and soft they were when I touched them last. I strained myself at the thought and view of Elle, but it dwindled quickly when I saw her smile. 

It's fake.

Her smile wasn't the usual wide toothed grin that was encased by smile lines, crinkled eyes, and layers of happiness hidden behind twinkled eyes. Instead there was some too side sunglasses, similar to ones that Jade would have worn, and a forced nature to her face. Her cheeks looked like she had puffed them out, a light layer of mascara was smeared across the back of her hand.

Had she cried? Was it from the water, I am highly doubting that.

Something felt really wrong and it made me realize the emotion wasn't there in the picture.

My heart began aching. It was longing for the girl in the photo, the girl who was hurt and sad, but here I was, hundreds of miles away, countries separating us and nothing could change what was happening. My heart and mind had made up the fact that I was clearly drawn into her, feelings had developed and despite the fact she didn't feel the same, I wanted to shower Elle with all the adoration she deserved until she got tired of me. However, here I was, aware that she was having issues and unhappy, yet I had zero powers available to help remedy her heartache, and was I even in the right position to be able to question her about it? We had talked behind closed doors, slowly revealing parts of ourselves to one another through sleepless nights since we met over a month ago, but was it enough?

It's worth a shot.

Pacing the floor of my hotel room I felt like a child again. After my first kiss down by the field, I remember feeling so nervous because how did I know if Haley liked me or not. Yeah we shared a kiss, but maybe she only did it for a prank or a joke. I was just a nerdy kid with a bit of acne, in a local band that played out of Sweeny's garage, and hung out with my mom for fun. This was the same feeling, not knowing where I stood with the girl, only this time, I had a few better tricks up my sleeve. With Haley I waited until the next day in homeroom to see just what was going to happen, but with Elle, I just had to wait for her to pick up the phone.

"Hello."

Her voice was soft, slightly shaky, and I knew I was right by over-analyzing the photo.

"Eloise." I breathed it out, not meaning to, but that's what she was, a refreshing breath to calm my own nerves.

"Harry, I... I'm surprised you called. Is everything okay?"

Instead she worried about me, and that was such a Elle thing to do. I noticed she puts anyone before herself, stacking the problems of the world and those around her upon her shoulders and neglecting her own needs. When I asked her about her menus, she always made sure every single person had anything they wanted, and that meant staying up all hours of the night redoing, re-planning, and changing things. Despite the fact her own sleep schedule became neglected, she would put the happiness of everyone else first. When I asked her about her father, she briefly told me how when her mother passed she was left with him and she continued to be strong for him. Despite the fact her father moved on far before Elle ever did, because the lack of her mother still disrupted her thoughts and it was obvious with the pained way she avoided speaking about her for longer than a passing moment. Eloise wanted to see the world become happy, but she didn't realize that included creating her own happiness as well.