The Fight of Ambivalence ~ Harry Styles

19 - Never

Leaving class early is one of the best feelings when you're in school. Time is a thief and a gift all wrapped into one. It's one thing that you can't change or buy, but you do get to decide what you do with it.

When Sheila gets out of class a bit early on Tuesday she sends a quick text to Harry to make sure his classroom is empty and rushes over to see him. It may only be a few extra moments she can have alone with him before their class starts, but she'll take it happily.

"Baby? Can I ask you something?" Harry asks, walking toward Sheila the second she's there.

"Yeah?" She asks, confused by the term of endearment in a public space even if they are the only two in the room right now. They've created strict rules for themselves so they can keep their relationship a secret. It's strange for Harry to refer to her that way when students can walk in at any moment.

"Can we try something tonight?" He asks as wraps his arms low around her waist. He leans down to look into her eyes, his back curving since he's so much taller than she is.

"Come on H, students are going to walk in here any minute," she gently scolds him, rubbing her hand up and down his back a few times before pulling away and putting a respectable distance between the two of them. "And what do you mean by something?" She asks skeptically.

"A movie night!" He says innocently like she didn't just think he was trying to proposition her.

She chuckles and says, "Yeah sweetheart of course we can."

"I mean like a proper one, where we can put all the blankets onto the living room floor and cuddle all night long," he elaborates.

"All night?" She asks. They've never done that, but she's certainly not opposed to it. She just wants to make sure that's what he's really asking before she makes a fool of herself.

"I don't want you to feel pressured, but you can stay the night if you want," he offers. "If I'm moving too fast and you feel rushed at all please tell me. I won't be offended. I just wanted to put it out there and see how you feel."

Before she can answer him, another student enters the classroom and they have to go back to their student/teacher relationship. She pretends like she had something to throw away so it looks less suspicious to be loitering around his desk and then makes her way to her seat. Her phone buzzes in her pocket and she sees a text from Harry: we'll talk after class xx

She sends back a thumbs up and the two pink hearts and puts her phone away to get ready for the upcoming lecture. This encounter excluded, Harry has been very good at separating their relationship and treating her as he would any other student. He doesn't allow her to be on her phone and he'll call her out on it if it seems like she isn't paying attention. Because of that she tries to give him the same respect and treat him how she would any other teacher.

She's not really listening right now though, she's thinking about how to answer Harry. Spending the night with him is not something she thought about all that much considering she could never bring him back to her place.

Now that he mentioned it though it would be nice not to have to walk home when it's late and she's tired. Of course he always makes sure she gets home alright and sometimes he'll even call her an Uber, but spending more time with him is an opportunity that she always likes to take advantage of.

She trusts Harry a lot. She knows he would never pressure her into something she's not ready for, but it doesn't feel like things are going too fast. It feels natural and she's excited to start taking next steps with him whatever they may be. With that sorted out in her mind she tunes into the lecture and starts taking notes.