Broken Charms

Alone in Berlin: Part One

“Some people don't understand the promises they're making when they make them," I said.

"Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.” 

― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

----Harry----

“Come on, get up!” Anne said giving a light kick at my leg. 

“No, I can’t do it anymore.” I protested, groaning as I was lying flat on the ground.

“You asked me, you know. Now you have to do what I tell you to do.” She argued. “Get up. We have so much to catch up on.”

“I’m knackered. Can we just take a break?” I pleaded.

“No, we took one almost ninety minutes ago. Come on. Lying on the ground is a waste of time for both us.” she said.

 I sighed and stood up. Almost ten days ago after that night at the club in Paris I asked Anne to give me dance lessons. That night I had seen how Astrid and John danced and I wanted to dance with her like that. Anne was the only dancer who knew how Astrid danced and she could teach me how to dance with like John did. Of course, at first Anne had disagreed teaching me, stating that it would be simply a waste of time since what made John and Astrid dance like that was their connection that they had built over the years dancing with each other and not the dance moves and the technique. I insisted of course but it took a lot of convincing from Niall’s part for her to help achieve my goal. Of course, she said that the only thing she could teach me was the dance moves and the techniques and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing for ten days. Endlessly. If Astrid was strict, Anne was ten times more. I used to think that she was being like that on purpose so that she could make me quit my goal but now I knew that she was just strict.

We spent almost two to three hours a day practicing that technique of Latin styles of dance. I had idea there were so many. Even though they all had similarities it was difficult to learn them all. She was currently teaching me the basic steps of rumba while giving me tips how to distinct the several styles. My head was mess. It was like I was in school all over again. So many things to learn, so little time.

“Again.” She instructed, groaning out of pain. I had stepped on her feet again. I wondered how she put up with me. Maybe Niall had convinced her that I was only doing that to be closer to Astrid. I had to thank Niall for helping me. I couldn’t bear the thought of asking John or Alex for help. I doubt if John would have helped me. Alex would but every time I saw him even without speaking to him I could sense how much he had loved Astrid and I didn’t want to be reminded of Astrid’s past.

I had stepped on her feet for the fourth time, when Anne decided that it was enough for today. We were practicing wherever we could so that we wouldn’t get caught by Astrid. As soon as we had arranged what time we would practice tomorrow Anne left so quickly to get ready to meet Niall. I left a few minutes afterwards thinking of how to plan the rest of my day. I was walking lost in my thoughts when I bumped into someone.

“Hey, sexy. Lost in your thoughts again?” Astrid said with a cheeky grin on her face.

“Hey, angel. Yeah, kinda. Where were you going?” I said. I had started calling her angel after I saw her tattoo. I had thought she wouldn’t be that kind of person but well, who was I to judge? A tattoo so big though must have hurt a lot. I couldn’t bear the thought of someone hurting, even intentionally.

“I was looking for you.” she said simply.

“So, here I am. What do you want me for?” I said sheepishly. I have no idea of why she might want me. Her cheeks turned bright red. We have been together for almost three months and she was still blushing like that first time I met her. I loved that color on her cheeks. I leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Immediately her hands came around me and she started kissing me harder. In seconds my breath had quickened and my heart was going crazy with wanting her.  It took all my willpower to pull away from that passionate kiss. She pouted. After Paris she had become more and more passionate with me. But not in a good way. Well, she was kissed me like she was saying goodbye, like every kiss we shared would be our last. I hated that. I hated that feeling of her saying goodbye. Why would she ever say goodbye? I loved her. Please, don’t leave, angel.