As You Are // H.S

Twenty.

Harry Styles.

Whilst I drove us back home, it was silent. The only sound being the rain hitting the windscreen at a fast pace, I wasn't sure if this silence was comfortable or not, we hadn't exactly admitted our feelings for one another but what just happened implied that they were definitely there, and it wasn't something we could ignore. We'd known each other for a little over three months, it was hard for me to not like her, we saw each other almost every single day, she'd become a huge part of my life and I couldn't imagine it without her, to say the least. 

Alexis was shivering beside me, her arms wrapped around herself for some warmth, I reached over to turn the heat on, she turned and smiled at me and mumbled a small 'thank-you' before turning back to look out the window. I internally sighed because I wasn't really sure what was wrong with her, it made me anxious to think she was sad, I don't like having those thoughts. 

I pulled into our complex and shut the car off, climbing out and locking the doors after Alexis climbed out as well. She followed me to the elevator and once we were in I was glancing at the floor numbers and back at her; silently asking which persons apartment we'll be going to, as it was already quite clear we'd spend the rest of the night together. She leaned over me, pushed her floor number and that answered my question. 

The elevator dinged, showing it was at her floor, we both got out and I followed her to her door, waiting quietly as she unlocked it and left it open for me, instantly walking down her small hallway to her bedroom. I closed her door behind me, kicking off my shoes, and sat at the kitchen bench with my head in my hands, she came out shortly after in pajama pants and a black pull over hoodie, she had her head cocked to the side, drying her drenched hair with a small towel. 

"Coffee?" She offered. 

"Yes, please." I accepted. 

I now realized that the silence was in fact awkward, and that small talk was not making this any better. It was almost like it was only now we had just woken up besides each other after having sex the night before; not like when we'd woken up together just hours before, where we acted normal and almost like it didn't happen, it was now that it had dawned on us that last night did actually happen, and we were both coming to terms with the fact that we have hopeless crushes on one another. 

We talked just hours before about last night, but I wasn't sure if that's because we were both ignoring the awkwardness that was happening right now, and I knew that we should talk about it again - properly. She handed me my coffee and I took a sip, clearing my throat right after. 

"Alexis." I said, my voice raspy and low; almost like I was frightened to talk to her. 

She looked up at me, staring into my eyes as I stared right back into hers, she had a questioning look on her face as if to tell me to go on. 

"I know we talked about this earlier today, but please, now we've established we don't want to forget it happened, and it was a complete dick move on my part to say that earlier, can we talk about it again, properly?" I questioned timidly. 

She chewed her bottom lip slightly, still not breaking eye contact and slowly nodded, I gave her a half smile and followed her into the living room where we sat on the couch next to each other, cross-legged; as always. 

"I meant what I said earlier," was the first thing Alexis said, "about not regretting it, because I don't, I really don't, Harry." She confessed. I held back a smile, happy to hear her say those words, but not necessarily wanting to give her the wrong idea. 

"I don't regret it either, I promise." I told her honestly. "I guess, I have to admit, that I actually really like you, Alexis, and I have for a while now, and last night was kind-of perfect to me, even though we were drunk out of our minds." I said, Alexis smiled and breathed out a short laugh. 

"U-uh, me too Harry, I like you, too." Alexis admitted, and I instantly felt myself grin widely. Alexis continued. "I just don't know how to do this anymore, it's hard for me to trust after everything that happened with Andrew, I'm not saying I don't trust you, I'm just saying I don't know how to do all this - crush stuff?" She admitted shyly. 

"It's okay Alexis, we don't have to push this, at all. I'm here for as long as you'll have me." A smile broke out on her face, and she gave me a tight hug. I hugged back just as tight, after I pulled away from her I gave her a chaste kiss on the mouth, shooting her a smug grin and leaning back down into the couch. 

"Smooth." She said. 

"As butter." I added, causing her to shake her head at me, followed by a loud laugh. 

-

I woke up a few hours later, it was late I could tell, but Alexis was still awake. I had my head in her lap, just above her knees, and she was running her fingers through my hair, I wasn't facing the TV but from what I could hear she was watching 'Spider-Man 2' she hadn't realized that I woke up yet, and I was quite content with that considering her fingers in my hair felt so nice. I had a blanket draped over me, which I figured was Alexis' doing, I smiled thoughtfully to myself at that. 

Another five minutes passed by, and I decided to let Alexis know that I was awake, so I mustered up the best yawn I could do and let it out, stretching my arms by the side of me the best I could on a couch.

"You're not very sly, you know. I know you've been awake longer than you're letting on." Alexis said, startling me, making me jump slightly, stopping her actions to my scalp.

I nestled my head lightly. "Keep doing that, please." I requested, she sighed but went back to running her fingers through my hair anyway. I smiled widely. "What's the time?" I asked her. 

"Twelve thirty." Alexis told me.

"Why are you still awake?" She shrugged. "Would you like to go to bed?" I offered. She nodded her head, telling me yes, so I pulled myself off her lap and grabbed the TV remote, turning it off. I grabbed her hand and pulled her up, not letting go until we entered her bedroom. I stood in the doorway as Alexis jumped into bed.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked sheepishly. 

She lifted the blanket on the empty space behind her. "Don't be silly, Harry." She mumbled tiredly. "Get in." I pulled my jumper off, leaving me in a white shirt and jeans.

"Um, is it okay if I take my jeans off? It's not very comfortable." I asked awkwardly. 

"It's not like I haven't seen you naked." She told me smugly, I chuckled and then shrugged, popping the button to my jeans and pulling them down, sitting on the bed to pull them down my calves properly, Alexis laughed at me due to the fact that my jeans were so tight I couldn't pull them off properly. 

Once my legs were free from their restraints, I laid down next to Alexis, pulling her closer to me, her back to me chest and my arm around her waist. Comfortable was an understatement. The moonlight shone in from a small gap next to her blinds, shining a small bit of light to the back of her neck where I noticed a tattoo; a symbol. I freed my arm from around her waist and traced it lightly with my finger.

"What's this?" I whispered. "I didn't know you had a tattoo." 

"It's the Aries symbol, my star sign." She whispered back; I don't know why we were whispering, we were the only ones in here, it was as if we didn't want to disturb the dark silence of the room, or it was just the domino effect of that fact that I had whispered first, so she did too, whatever it was I wasn't complaining, it was nice. 

I wrapped my arm back around her and placed a small kiss to the tattoo I'd discovered, she grabbed my hand and squeezed it lightly, as if to give me appreciation to my small gesture.  I squeezed her hand back, and whispered my goodnight to her, and she whispered hers back.

//

I really did want to make this chapter longer, but I felt it was nice to end it at that. 

I enjoyed writing this chapter, let me know what you think.

Alexis and Harry's relationship? 

Also hit over 400 reads; I'm ecstatic.