When Beatle Met Lennon // h.s

Chapter Ten - Like Every Bell for Miles and Miles is Ringing at Once

Ten - Like Every Bell for Miles and Miles is Ringing at Once

“Truth or Dare?”

“Truth.”

“Do you like Harry?”

“As in more than friends?”

“Yeah. So do you?”

“Yeah. I think so, at least. Not sure yet.”

“He does.”

“Does what? Like himself as more than friends?”

“Shut up, you know what I meant. He likes you. Maybe even loves you. Definitely more than friends, whatever it is.”

“Do you think it’s love?” I whisper. Niall looks at me, eyes sparkling.

“I hope so. He’s changed since he met you.”

“Is that a good thing?” I say, feeling unsure and insecure.

“Definitely a good thing. I think he was jealous of me that first night, though.”

I cock my head, confused. Niall notices and elaborates.

“When we first met and the lads walked in on us? And then when I was holding you and kissed your forehead, Harry got all grumpy and stormed out?”

I nod and Niall continues.

“I think that’s when he realized he was starting to like you. Maybe even before that moment. He was definitely jealous though.”

I smile slightly and Niall notices and laughs. I blush and whack his arm. He snickers.

“He smiles a lot more now.” Niall suddenly says and I glance over at him. My fingers play with the ends of my shirt, tugging at the loose ends. I nod again, showing I heard him, though I have no idea what to do with this piece of information.

“Yes.” I decide, Niall looking over at me, startled.

“Pardon?” He replies, his Irish accent coming out thickly in his confusion.

I look Niall Horan in the eyes and repeat myself. “Yes, I do. And I’m pretty sure it’s love, though I have no idea what that would feel like for anyone other than a family member.”

He grins and jumps on me, picking me up from our sitting position on his bed and spinning me around. He sets me back down and pulls me close to him.

“I’d say be careful, but I have no doubt he’ll protect you. And even if he does do anything to hurt you, he knows the lads and I would put him six feet under. You’re practically a little sister to all of us now.” He grins. “Well except to Harry.” He adds, a smirk playing on his lips.

I roll my eyes and wiggle out of his grasp.

“Should I tell him?” I ask nervously, chewing on my bottom lip as was habit. Niall thinks about it for a moment before nodding.

“Yeah, seems like the best thing to do.” He responds and starts leading me to Harry’s room. Niall knocks and opens the door when Harry calls out. I swallow thickly, my heels digging into the floor, halting all movement.

Niall rubs my back comfortingly. “Hey, it’ll be alright, okay?”

I swallow again and look up at him, thanking him with my eyes. He nods and pushes me inside, closing the door lightly behind me.

I see Harry lying on his bed, facing the wall opposite me. He sighs tiredly and shifts slightly, still not facing me.

“I don’t want to talk, Zayn.” He says, turning and burying his head into his pillow. “There’s nothing else to say. I like her, mate. Maybe even love, but she likes Niall. She’s with him now in his room, doing God knows what. I never stood a chance.” He whispers the last part and I smile giddily. He likes me! Maybe even loves!

I step towards his bed quietly, and crawl under the covers with him, curling up against his back. He stiffens and slowly turns to face me. His eyes widen when he sees me beside him and he swallows.

“How much did you hear?” He whispers nervously, wrapping an arm loosely around my waist, while I prop myself up on one arm, hovering above him.

“I maybe even love you, too.” I whisper as a way of answer, and then lean down and press my lips lightly against his, before drawing back to gauge his reaction.

He blinks slowly, and then grins, before clasping a hand behind my neck and bringing my face down to his once again.

He sits up, still holding me close to him, and finally something shifts. He doesn’t have to say it, I feel it too; it’s not subtle - like every bell for miles and miles is ringing at once, loud and clanging, hungry ones and tiny, happy, chiming ones, all of them sounding off in this moment. I put my hands around his neck, pull him to me, and then he’s kissing me hard and so deep, and I am flying, sailing, soaring.

I know the expression love bloomed is metaphorical, but in my heart in this moment, there is one badass flower, captured in time-lapse photography, going from bud to wild radiant blossom in ten seconds flat.

“I think I love you, Harold.” I say, once we both pull back for air. And he smiles. He smiles and says, “I think I love you too, Kitten.”

And for the first time since my father left, I felt loved. I just hoped it lasted. 

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Hi guys, sorry that this chapter is fairly short, I didn't really know what to write. I suppose this is more of a filler than anything else. The next chapter is going to be pretty short as well, but only because I'm making chapter twelve really extra super uber long. And something might even happen, not sure whether it's good or bad yet ;) 

Ellspeth xx