Receiving Her (h.s. au)

II

Leah and I sit outside and she brings her drink to her lips, my eyes looking around at the people here.

"I still can't believe you told him you had to go to the bathroom. Instead you came to me," she shakes her head. "He's so hot, Em. You should just go for him."

"I can't just do that. I can't be with him in that way," I explain, recalling Harry's strong green gaze.

"And why not?" she asks, her fingers setting her drink down.

"Because...I don't know," I admit, her fingers grabbing my hand.

"You'll never know what he's like if you don't give the poor guy a chance," she explains, my lips releasing a sigh. I turn my head to look into the gala and I see Harry standing beside a few of his teammates. But he turns his head to look out and our eyes meet, my eyes quickly looking away.

"Do you at least find him cute?" she asks, her lips curving at me.

"He's very attractive, which is why I'm nervous. That never happens to me," I explain, her hands letting go of mine when her boyfriend approaches.

"We're going to get going," Owen says, looking at me before smiling at Leah.

"Great, then I can talk to you," I hear Harry say, my head turning to look at him. He approaches us and I send a worried look to Leah, her lips curving at me. She wants this to happen between us, but I'm left so unsure.

A broad stature comes to stand beside me and I look up, Harry's eyes meeting mine.

"May I talk to you?" he asks, my stomach filling with butterflies. I nod, but my hesitance is high.

"See you tomorrow, Em," Leah grins, Owen lifting her up as they walk to his car.

I sheepishly look back at Harry and he holds his hand out, my fingers sliding into his. My hands are bigger than Leah's but compared to Harry's, they're so incredibly small.

"So you're avoiding me?" he says, my heart racing because of my nerves.

"No. I'm just...nervous," I admit to him, his warm hand callused but gentle.

"Well, may I take you somewhere?" he asks, watching me closely. If I'm nervous, why would I go somewhere?

"I-I don't..." but he cuts me off.

"Please. It'll be chill. Get to know me so you don't feel so nervous," he says, my eyes meeting his. As he's talked, I've noticed a faint accent but I don't want to ask.

"How often do you do this?" I ask, the question the first thing that comes to mind. I can't go somewhere if he's expecting to go all the way. He'll be disappointed and I'll be left embarrassed.

"What do you mean?" he wonders, my hand unable to break free from the tight grip.

"Make girls go out with you just so they know you before going further?" I ask, his feet stopping.

"If you want to ask me direct questions, just do it. Don't worry about being blunt and stop assuming that kind of stuff," he says, moving me to stand in front of him. I look up at him and he keeps his eyes on me, his lips in a straight line.

"I don't want to be a girl who only has a one night stand," I whisper, his hand letting go of mine to shove into his pocket.

"Listen, I don't know what you've seen but I don't do that," he says, my eyes looking away from his.

"I've seen you at parties before. You always leave with a girl," I say, his eyebrows frowning.

"To walk them home or to their car. I offer it so they don't get hurt. Now, how do you see me?" he tells me, my embarrassment clear as I flush. How could I have assumed such a thing?