One Plus One

Chapter Sixty-One

HARRY'S POV

My racing mind kept me awake most of the night. Marlie had continued to astound me. Her strength was something to be admired. I had continuously curled her hair around my finger tips hoping it would take me away from consciousness but it only made me think of her more. This amazing girl laid in my arms. She had become my world.

My mind jumped back to the first time I had laid eyes on her. She looked reluctant to join the party her friends were dragging her into. She was unimpressed by the amount of drunk people already inside the house. I was stood in the garden with Brody. I didn't pay attention to a word he said, I knew I'd found my new pursuit for the night. It was the curves of her body that had caught my eye first. The way her jeans hugged the curvature of her bottom was something unbelievable.

The petite brunette obviously wasn't looking for male attention judging by the way she tried to escape the blonde guy trying to put his hands all over her. Once she was free of him, I knew I had my chance and it was the best move I'd ever made.

"Harry...don't leave...stay." Marlie whispered in her sleep.

Her hands fisted at the duvet, almost as if she was trying to clutch onto me in whatever dream she was having. Suddenly, she shot up, breathing erratically and brushing her hair back from her face. I sat up and took hold of her, bringing her back down to lie with me.

"Shh, angel, it's alright."

Within seconds, she was back into a sound sleep. Her fingers were tightly entwined with mine. I could see all the scars that adorned her wrists so perfectly. I couldn't understand how a girl could be so perfect and yet have so many problems at the same time. But it didn't bother me, I saw past it all.

I kissed her forehead as she lightly snored. My feelings for her bubbled inside of me, heightening significantly. I began to wonder if what my mum had said was true. Was I falling in love with her? Surely it didn't happen so fast. Then again, most relationships hadn't been though what Marlie and mine had. Maybe my mum was right.

MARLIES POV

I groaned as I felt soft lips pressing to my cheek in an effort to wake me up.

"Come on, sleepy head. It's time for you to get up." Harry whispered, beginning to tickle at my sides.

"No." I whined, rolling over.

"Don't make me do this, Marlie." Harry playfully warned.

"Do what?" I mumbled into the pillow.

"This." 

I turned in time to see the liquid hurtling towards me. I shrieked as the ice cold water drenched me. Harry's raspy laugh filled the room as he doubled over in laughter.

"Harry, you little shit!" I screamed.

I dived out of the bed and began to run after him. He made a quick dash for the door and practically flew down the stairs. I was hot in his heels, catching up with him at the bottom of the stairs and jumping onto his back. He grabbed me by my upper arms and hauled me over his shoulder, flipping me over easily, ending with me on the floor and him pinning me down.

"Did that wake you up?" he quirked.

"Let me go." I demanded, trying to keep the growing smile from my face.

I pushed him off me, standing up and running back up the stairs to get ready for work.

*****

"So did you and Harry make up for lost time?" Lily asked during one of our only breaks.

"Meaning?"

"Oh come on, don't act all innocent, Marlie."

"Lily, you know the answer to your implicit question."

"Well when are you finally going to?"

"When I'm ready."

"You have no idea what you're missing out on."

Lily began quietly giggling to herself, obviously referring to the awful noises I had finally escaped from hearing.

"If he's anything like Danny, you are in for one hell of a time."

"Lily!" I squeaked, slapping her on the arm.

She began to giggle even more. When her giggles subsided, she turned to a topic we'd both been excited about for ages. Brody's party.

"Shall we go dress shopping tomorrow?"

"Well, Harry's already bought me my dress, but I'll go with you to pick yours."

"Ok. I can't wait to get drunk."

"You never change." I joked.

"But you love me." 

"Sometimes."

Lily playfully nudged me on the arm.

"I've just had the most amazing idea. Stay in mine the night before Brody's party. We'll get ready together and you can surprise Harry with how amazing you look."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

*****

Harry and I sat on the couch as he aimlessly played with my hair. I played with the fingertips of his free hand, pulling them up to my lips to press kisses to them every now and then. I glanced around my living room, one thing in particular catching my eye. The picture of me and my mum. She was close to being gone for four years now. That one day was always the hardest, yet it was the easiest at the same time. That one day I didn't have to face anyone, I could be alone because nobody else knew she was dead. But it was the one day every year that I had to admit she was gone and was never coming back, all my guilt would come flooding back. I felt a warm tear roll down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away before Harry realised, but I should have guessed he already had.

"What's wrong?" he asked, green eyes full of worry.

"Nothing, I'm fine, honest."

Harry nodded, not fully convinced of my answer. He reclined back into the couch as I let my emotions settle. I knew this year would be the hardest. My mum would have loved to see me with Harry. She would have been able to help me with my jumbled up thoughts about my feelings for him. She would have loved him.