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

Chapter 48

DOUBLE UPDATE: Chapter 48-49

HARRY STYLES

Liam picked a winner. 

I am aware any car would do, but watching as I followed behind Liam's car, memorizing the way Elle had the window down, the wind whipping through the space to send stray hairs chaotically swirling around made my heart swell. She looked at peace. I imagine her listening to something upbeat, but still her style, maybe Brandy (You're a Fine Girl), Dance Hall Days, something like that, tapping her foot and singing along.

Elle stuck her hand out, palm down thrust through the open window while it swayed in tandem with the wind. The pressure pushing it lightly up and down with the curve of a wave, the ghostly motion reminding me of childhood drives with my mother. Seeing the way the wind would threaten to chill my hand too much and force me to bring it inside, but the nearly magic floating feeling would keep me alive enough to swallow the idea and suffer through it.

Moments with Elle felt so similar to that, melancholy moments that dance on the edge of memories like déjà vu but something entirely new at the same time.

Liam had offered to let Elle keep the car for now, and that helped us not need an extra stop. Elle only said she wanted to get back to her hotel to shower and get ready, promising me it would be quick despite my eager pleas to just join and get ready together. Quite cross she teased me saying I cannot come because if I do I will start to get sick of her.

With Elle, there is no getting sick of her.

I planned a full day of sight-seeing through the city. Since she disclosed to me before how much she wanted to do the normal tourist things, seeing cities for the first time while on tour, I was going to do just that. Show Elle London, the way a tour guide would, but instead on bikes and buses.

From Trafalgar, Big Bend, Hyde Park, a ride on the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, seeing the crowned jewels at the Tower of London, to watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham, we will be the number one tourist of the city by the time we are done with today. Not to mention that I refuse to let Elle leave London without some proper fish and chips, sticky toffee pudding, bangers and mash, and of course a real London tea party. How else is she going to be convinced to spend all of her time in Paris with me unless she sees I am taking our tourism very seriously, which I am.

Approaching the busier roads Elle finally recoils her hand, bringing it in to focus on driving while bringing up her window. I loved that at stop signs or lights I could catch her checking her own self and sometimes into my direction from the rearview mirror. 

I have no doubt in my mind, after last night, a date in Paris is only the beginning. What was meant to be a small fling for two emotionally unavailable people that were doubting if love was ever on the horizon, has blossomed so much quicker into something much deeper.

Counting down the days, knowing that there is only seven more shows for me, even less for Elle, her own tour coming to an end after four more classes. The possibilities are endless, but only if she wanted that. Who knew what else could happen, and what was in store for us. Would I be able to move to New York and handle a life there? Would Elle want to leave behind everything she has always known? Ideally I would love to get her as far away from Chase and his controlling grip he tries to hold onto her, but it's the place her mother was. After encouraging Elle to sever some of the ties of her life, like her father who knows if she would even consider leaving. Both sides of the argument are valid and it's not my place to make that decision.

Thinking too far into the future has been a problem I had in past relationships, allowing my heart to make the rules before my brain could, and thus getting hurt. Somehow, things felt different now. Was I older and wiser?