Imperfect || h.e.s

4

4

Harry

Belle laughs loudly, almost falling off of her best as she leans back in laughter. I sit on the couch, a slight blush in my cheeks as I recall the story of my falling asleep on my first date.

"Oh come on, it's not that funny is it?" Her giggles echo through the room as she nods. "Did she really dump the water on your head," she gasps through her laughs and I reply with a short yes. It's hard for me not to smile at her contagious laugh, her wide smile sending electricity through my body.

She winces slightly, her fingers lightly holding her nose, pain filling her eyes. It hurts to see her in so much pain, especially since it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for me. "Why don't I get you some aspirin or something?" She nods shyly and tells me where to find the bottle. After she takes the pills she sighs and I try not to notice her conflicted look.

"We should probably study, you've got to make up that test soon." I watch her grab her bag and start to get things ready for me. "Why do we have to do that now? Is that really the only thing we can do together?" She looks at me in confusion.

"What else would we do together Harry? I doubt that you consider us friends so why pretend? You don't like me and I'm fine with that so you don't have to act as if you do." My heart aches for her, she says the words so quickly, so painfully, that it takes my breath away. She's wrong, so unbelievably wrong.

"Belle, I would never do something like that to you. Do you know how much you've changed me already? I'm a different man now that I've met you. I didn't deserve to be called a man before you came along but I want to be someone you can count on. Someone who can care for you. Why don't you let me take you out? Tonight." A blush covers her cheeks and she shrugs slightly. "Alright."

"Perfect, I'll pick you up tonight at seven. Dress to impress," I wink and she giggles as I close the door behind me. I'm actually doing this. We're going out and it's going to be amazing.

By the time seven comes around I'm outside her door with barely enough confidence to knock on the door. When she opens it she keeps most of the door closed, only her face sticking out. I'm immediately worried at the sight of tears streaming down her face.

"Belle, what's wrong? What's got you so upset?" She sniffles and wipes her eyes, avoiding all eye contact with me. "Oh Harry I'm so sorry, I can't go out tonight. Somethings come up and I just," she turns to look at something in the room and her tears flow stronger than before. "Please Belle I need to know what's going on." I put my hand on the door but she becomes hysterical, begging me to just leave but I eventually get the door open. Sitting on her bed is a small girl, probably around two years old, holding a teddy bear in her lap and tears in her eyes.

"I need to talk to you outside Harry," she wipes her tears and we step back outside. "Wait right here darling," she calls and almost closes the door behind her.

"Is she, I don't, I don't even know what to ask." I take a deep breath, deciding to give her time to explain before I become irrational. "I didn't want to become close to you because of this Harry."

"Please just tell me, you know how I feel about you and nothing can change it when it's nothing I've ever felt before." I grab her hand, shocking both of us, the change she's started in me is something I'm beyond thankful for.

"The summer before my junior year of high school, I went to a party to celebrate the start of the summer. I was pressured into drinking and it went too far. A boy, Nathan, took advantage of my drunken state and left my pregnant. Of course I kept her, I had to. She's my baby. But when I went off to college she stayed with my grandparents since my parents passed last year in a plane crash. She arrived with the social worker an hour ago, my grandparents were moved to a home and they can't take care of her anymore so she has to stay here. Trust me, I'm so happy to have her with me again, but not in this way. Not now." Her tears begin again and she hugs me tightly out of nowhere but I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around her small frame.

"Can I meet her," is all I whisper and she looks up at me with a smile and nod. The wind outside picks up, the noise causing the little girl to hobble out to us.

"Momma," she grabs a hold of Belle's leg with a frightened look on her face. But the look of comfort she gains when Belle picks her up is something I can't help but relate to. "Shh, it's okay love," she carries her into the room, gesturing me to follow and sit with her on the bed. "Elle, this is Harry, Harry this is Elle, my little sunshine." She kisses her cheek and Elle smiles, wrapping her arms around her stunning mother.

"Hi Hawwy," my heart skips a beat at the words, what a damn softy.

"Hi Elle, you're adorable but I'm sure you already knew that," she smiles and buries her head in Belle's neck. Before I can get a word out she whispers something into Belle's ear, causing her to gasp and blush. "No love, he's not I'm sorry." Elle pouts and I look at her in confusion. "What's the matter love," I ask and she shrugs.

"I thought you were gonna be my daddy, but momma says no." My face hold surprise I'm sure. I want to be a new man for Belle, but this is different. She has a daughter, how am I supposed to protect them both? But I put my hand out for her, her small hand wrapping around one of my fingers.

"I'll be whatever you want me to be," I look up to Belle as I speak, a smile now joining her tears. I can see the relief in her eyes.

"So, what are we going to do tonight?"

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Much love x