Trace

Chapter 48

     Before returning to Harry's dorm room, we had spent a few more minutes at his party. Harry had wanted to come straight back to his dorm,  but I made him go in the bar and thank everyone, especially Sean, for the party. He had also been handed several gifts, and he took them with a thank you. 

   Sean informed the two of us that he would crash in his friend Ryan's dorm for the night to give the two of us privacy. I had argued with red cheeks saying Sean was more than welcome to sleep in his own dorm, but Harry pulled me back and thanked Sean for the "much needed" space and privacy...making me blush even deeper.

   "Some night, yeah?" Harry mumbles, removing his shirt and tossing it into his basket. 

I sigh and agree as I walk over to my suitcase. Carefully, I pull the zipper around to open it up. 

   I retrieve the small bag with tissue paper and walk over to Harry. 

 "Um...here you go."

******

   HARRY'S POV

I shift to a sitting position with my legs over the edge of the bed. 

   "What's this?" I question, taking the blue bag from her hands. 

She looks down and fiddles with her fingers nervously. 

  "I got you..uh..a gift..."

Her shyness intrigues me and I can't help but laugh at her cuteness. 

    I pat the space next to me on the bed and she sits down, but looks away. 

"El?"

  She turns and blinks at me.

"Why are you so nervous?" I chuckle. 

    "I don't want you thinking the gifts are stupid," she admits, covering her face with her hands. 

"Aw, come on!" I protest eagerly, tugging at her hands. "Baby, why the hell would I think your gifts are stupid?"

   She sighs and motions to the blue bag on my lap. "Just open it," she grumbles.

I carefully pull up the green tissue paper and lift up the first object. It is a picture frame. 

  I smile broadly as I hold the frame up in my two hands, looking at the picture. It is from the last full day El and I spent together before I left for Liverpool when we went rampaging around the city of London. The picture is taken of the two of us on top of a double decker. El's hair is blowing to the side as she smiles a huge smile, and I stand behind her with my chin on her shoulder. My eyes are closed and I have a large, cheesy smile. 

  "It's so stupid," she complains, burying her face in her hands once again.

I ignore her and get off the bed to place the picture frame on my nightstand. 

  "I love it, baby. Thank you. Let's see what else we have here," I say as I take my seat back on the bed.

   I pull out a Starbucks giftcard and iTunes giftcard, along with a new phone case that I had mentioned before I wanted to get.

   "Why do you think these gifts are stupid? They're perfect, El. Thank you so much," I tell her, pulling her waist towards to me.

  I plant a kiss on her cheek, then turn her face to meet mine and kiss her softly on the lips.

"There's one more thing," she murmurs against my lips.

  I furrow my eyebrows and reach over to the bag which I had assumed was empty. I look down, and indeed, there is a white envelope that blended in with the inside of the bag.