in the ring / harry styles

9- In His Reach

I felt the weight of the day starting to ease, the comfort of heading back to my dorm finally sinking in when my phone buzzed.

I reached for it, half expecting a reminder from Emilia or Lynn. But when I saw the name on the screen, my heart skipped a beat. Harry.

Harry: I'm outside your dorm. Come out.

I stared at the message, feeling my pulse quicken. There was no "Can you?" or "Are you free?" Just a direct, to-the-point command. Somehow, it was exactly what I'd expect from him, and it made me feel both unsettled and oddly thrilled. He hadn't asked if I'd be there—he just assumed I would. The weight of that assumption hung in the air, challenging me.

For a moment, I hovered there, torn between heading back to the quiet safety of my dorm and following this pull that I wasn't sure I understood. But before I could second-guess myself, I was already typing back.

Me: I just got out of class. I'll meet you there in a few minutes.

The moment I hit send, I felt the shift in my chest—a strange anticipation that was already building with each step as I walked back toward the dorm. With every passing second, my mind raced, replaying the sharp intensity of last night, the way he'd looked at me, how his words had felt almost like they were claiming something. A part of me wanted to pretend none of this affected me, but even I couldn't deny that it did.

When I rounded the last corner, there he was. Harry was leaning against the low wall just outside the entrance, his stance relaxed but still somehow commanding. He wore a dark leather jacket over a plain shirt, his dark jeans fitted just enough to emphasize his build. His gaze drifted over the passing students, unhurried, until it landed on me. The faint smirk that tugged at his mouth was subtle, like he'd known all along that I would come.

My steps slowed as I neared him, the air between us feeling heavier than it should. His attention had a focus that was impossible to ignore, like he was marking this moment, imprinting it.

"Didn't expect to see you," I said, my voice softer than I'd intended. I tried to keep it light, but my pulse betrayed me, thumping in my chest like it could give everything away.

He tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening as his eyes stayed locked on mine. "I don't need an invite to come see you, Lucy."

The quiet confidence in his voice left no room for questioning, no room for me to deflect. He was here because he'd decided to be, and it was as simple as that for him. I could feel my chest tighten, caught between wanting to challenge him and being drawn into the steadiness of his presence, that unflinching way he looked at me like I was already his to claim.

"Come on. I'll sign you in," I said, hoping my voice sounded steady as I gestured toward the front desk.

Harry moved beside me, his footsteps unhurried, his presence a solid, dark weight next to me as we stepped into the dorm lobby. The familiar hum of voices and clinking coffee cups from the common area filled the air, but I felt the shift of attention as we walked past. A few people turned to look, their curiosity visible. I'd seen plenty of people bring friends in before, but Harry had a presence that made people notice, like he wasn't just passing through but making an impression that lingered.

Megan, the desk attendant, glanced up from her computer, her expression shifting the moment her eyes landed on Harry. Her eyebrows rose slightly, surprise mingling with curiosity, and her gaze flicked between us, lingering just a moment longer than it usually would.

"Hey, Megan," I said, offering a small smile as I handed over my ID. "I just need a guest pass for him."

Megan nodded, her attention sliding back to Harry, her cheeks pinking slightly. "Sure, no problem. I just need his ID for a second." Her tone was polite, but her eyes took him in a bit too closely, curiosity and a flicker of envy barely concealed.