𝙄𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙩 || 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮 & 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙤 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙤𝙮

CH #10

Holly's POV:

I nodded, and the silence enveloped us, stretching out as if time had decided to pause. The only sound in the air was the soft rustle of the wind through the trees and the distant hoots of owls calling to one another. My heart was hammering in my chest, each beat louder than the last. The weight of everything unsaid hung heavily between us, but still, I couldn't bring myself to break the silence.

Draco blinked, as though trying to shake off whatever thoughts were plaguing him. Then, without another word, he turned away, his movements slow and deliberate, like he was already preparing to leave everything behind.

I watched him, my throat tight with something I couldn't name. For a moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis, and I realized that if he walked away, I'd lose whatever fragile thing had begun to bloom between us.

I didn't want that. I didn't want him to walk away.

Before I even had time to think, I found myself stepping forward, my feet moving on their own. "Wait." The word came out more desperate than I intended, but it was enough to make him pause. He didn't turn around, but I could see his shoulders tense as he stood there, waiting for whatever came next.

"Holly?" His voice was low, uncertain, like he was afraid of what I might say next.

I swallowed hard, trying to collect my scattered thoughts. "I don't want you to go," I said quietly, almost a whisper. "I just-"

I stopped, my words trailing off. I didn't even know what I was trying to say. It felt like everything was stuck in my chest, a jumble of confusion and longing, and I had no idea how to make sense of it.

Draco finally turned, his eyes searching mine, his expression still guarded but something flickering behind his usual mask. He took a step closer, but I could tell he was hesitant, unsure of how to navigate whatever was happening between us.

"You don't have to say anything, Holly," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I don't want to make this harder for you."

The way he said it made my heart ache. He was trying to give me space, trying not to push me too hard, but I could see how much it was costing him. And that realization-seeing him so vulnerable-was enough to break through the fog in my mind.

I took another step forward, closer than we'd ever been, my breath catching in my throat. "You're not making it harder, Draco. You never have."

His eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, I thought he was going to pull away, but instead, his gaze dropped to my lips, his jaw tightening as he fought whatever impulse he was battling.

I could feel the pull between us now, undeniable and magnetic, like the universe had bent just enough for this moment to happen. Everything else faded away-the night, the owls, the world beyond us. All I could focus on was the space between us and how badly I wanted to close it.

I moved before I could stop myself, reaching out to touch his arm, my fingers brushing his skin gently. The moment my hand made contact, his eyes flicked back to mine, and in that instant, it was like everything that had been holding us back unraveled. He leaned in, slowly, giving me the space to pull away if I wanted, but I didn't. I couldn't.

And then his lips were on mine, soft at first, like he was testing the waters, unsure if I was ready. I responded immediately, my hands finding their way to his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt as if I needed something solid to hold onto. The kiss deepened, tentative at first but quickly becoming more urgent, as though both of us were racing against the clock, afraid that if we stopped, it would all disappear.

His hand found my face, cupping my jaw gently, the touch sending a spark of warmth through me. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, not with the feeling of him so close, so real. It was as though everything I'd been too afraid to admit to myself crashed over me all at once.

When we finally pulled apart, my breath was shallow, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I could see the same confusion and something else-something softer-flickering in Draco's eyes. He didn't pull away, didn't retreat. Instead, he stayed close, his forehead resting against mine as if he needed the contact to stay grounded.

"I don't know what this is, Draco," I whispered, my voice unsteady. "But I can't ignore it anymore."

He let out a quiet breath, his thumb brushing over my cheek in a slow, comforting motion. "I don't want you to," he said quietly. "I don't want to ignore it either."

And for the first time, in that fleeting moment, I felt like maybe we were both on the same page. Like the storm inside me was finally starting to settle.

"Then don't walk away," I whispered, my hand still pressed against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingers.

"I won't," he promised, and I believed him.

In that moment, nothing else mattered.

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Note:

If you're dying of cringe, you should probably imagine how I felt writing this...