Receiving Her (h.s. au)

XIII

Fear is gone. Nothing can hurt me now that I know I have a hero. I've been rescued by Harry and I know now, more than ever, that this boy is mine. He's proven to me how he cares for me and he told me I have him, so I gave him myself. But the lingering thought of how we don't have each other completely, in a sense, is still present. Sex is a lot of commitment to someone and that will always scare me.

I roll over in Harry's arms and climb out of bed, needing to use the bathroom, but my arm is grabbed quickly.

"What's wrong?" he quickly asks, his body sitting up and moving closer to me.

"I have to use the bathroom," I whisper, his head nodding. He lets me go and I walk to the bathroom, using the facilities before walking out to him. He stands from bed and grabs my hands, his head leaning closer to mine. I can't think about what happened last night; all fear will come back.

"What can I get you, baby?" he asks, the new nickname always making my stomach fill with butterflies.

"I'm okay, right now," I assure him, his head nodding. He guides me back to bed and I'm wrapped in his arms, his lips touching my forehead.

"I'm not going to leave your side," he tells me, my eyes closing as I stay wrapped in his arms.

"I know," I say, his hands coming to hold my back.

"Emma, I am horrified to let you into that school while I'm not with you," he admits, my fingers running over his stomach.

"It's okay. I'll be okay," I tell him, but he holds me closer. I know he was horrified as I sat beneath that desk, shaking with fear. But the only text I had sent him was I was scared. I heard the man's footsteps...and that noise will scare me for the rest of my life.

"I care but I don't care because I want to be right there for you if any danger poses itself. You have no idea how horrified I was thinking about anything that could have been the outcome," he tells me, my head looking up at him.

His eyes meet mine and I bring my hand up to his cheek, my thumb brushing just beneath his eye. He closes his eye, signaling his relaxation. I lean my head up and kiss his forehead, needing him to know I'm okay. It's all I ask for because he made me okay.

"I'm okay now that I'm with you," I tell him, his head moving so his nose brushes mine.

He presses his lips to mine and I kiss him back, his constant stolen kisses always leaving me curious as to why he wants them. Kissing isn't my strong suit but Harry clearly doesn't mind.

I pull away and he kisses my cheek after, moving his lips to my ear. "I'm not going to let you go today. We're staying here and together," he says, my head nodding.

I'm pulled out of our embrace when my phone rings, my body rolling over to grab my phone from my jacket. My lips release a sigh and I swing my legs around the bed, sitting up.

"Hello?" I sigh, unprepared for this conversation.

"Thank God you're okay. We expect you home in an hour to ensure your safety," my mother rushes, my eyebrows frowning.

"It's seven and you live in Springfield," I groan, her huff of annoyance heard.

"Dare you resent me? We are your parents and you had a gunman in your college! We demand your presence at home," she retaliates, my body pulled back. Harry moves me into his lap and he starts kissing my neck, his actions making it hard to concentrate.

"I'm exhausted. I don't have a car. I can't..." I trail off, waiting for her to yell at me.

"I will pay for a cab, young lady. First you switch majors, now you're refusing to come home. Who are you and where is my daughter?" she exclaims, my lips frowning at her words. I've done nothing to deserve this.