Curls [H.S. A.U.]

Curls: Chapter 11

Harry

Three Months Later

Arabella sleeps soundly on my frshly washed sheets. I drape my duvet over her naked body. Tomorrow is our six months anniversary and all she's been asking for is a Naked pallet.

The problem: I don't know which one to get her.

I stalk off to the living room where Lou and Zayn are cuddling on the couch. My roommate gags as soon as my presence is acknowledged.

"I heard the two of you all the way in here," he frowns but continues eating popcorn from Zayn's hand. He waves his popcornful hand around. "You must be good."

My eyes roll at his childish behavior. I grab my laptop from its charger and type in what she wants. Some are as cheap as fourteen dollars, others range in the one hundreds.

Why is makeup so expensive?

'Urban Decay Naked Vault Volume II 2 Eyeshadow Set'

That's exactly what she wants, and she even has money saved up for it. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I made her pay for it? It's only $339.99. . .

"I can do this," I mutter to myself as I type my debit card information in. Lou looks over my shoulder, wanting to see what I'm purchasing. He gasps like a teenaged girl.

"Are you buying this for Arabella?" His eyes bug out from his sockets. Zayn moves closer to see what the commotion is. He lets out a low whistle at the price. "She's going to love you. She's going to want to give you babies."

I chuckle and tuck my debit card away. I paid extra for one night shipping to her place. She better want to give me babies for buying her this.

A little moan catches my attention. Ara stumbles into the living room with nap hair and my t-shirt on. I smile at her pissed off face.

"You left me."

"I'm sorry, babe," I coo mockingly. Her dark brown eyes roll at me. Even in this state she's the most beautiful woman that's ever walked on the face of the Earth. "C'mere. You need kisses." She stumbles over just to drop herself on my lap.

A loud grunt is forced from my stomach but she doesn't care. She snuggles right into me, still frowning. I place my lips on hers softly and she grunts this time.

Her eyes roll at my shocked expression. "God, I don't want to be kissed. I need pain killers."

It all clicks in my mind. My poor baby is on her monthly. I stop with the mocking and look at Lou, who's equally scared. Arabella isn't the nicest person when she's in pain, either that or she cries a lot.

I stroke her very curly hair and she balls up, her arms around her stomach.

"Do you need anything? Besides Tylenol." Zayn stands up to get the pain killers she requested. Ara nods her head but doesn't say anything else. Typical irritated Arabella, I need to pull the answer out of her. "What else do you need?"

She looks up at me, her eyelashes wet with tears. She sniffles slightly and buries her head in my chest. "Some tampons and chocolate would be great."

I continue to stroke her hair. "Would you come to the store with me to buy you everything you need?" She nods again, but this time she presses a kiss to my chin, takes the pills from Zayn, and pads to my room to change.

Over the last month she's been slowly leaving clothes here, so I've been folding and putting them in my drawers. She doesn't sleepover because of Dig and Pinch, but we'd like for that to happen one day.

Better yet, I'd like to find a place for the two of us and it be just the two of us. Recently the thought of her moving in with me has been running through my mind. I know Lou wouldn't mind, as she basically lives here already, and the dogs would have plenty of space in the three bedroom apartment to roam.

It's her reaction I'm afraid of.

Moving in together is a big step, even if we're ready for it.

"I'm ready," she whispers from the doorway into the living room. She's in a pair of sweatpants and a fitted tank top. Her hair is loose and a pair of flip flops keep her from being bare foot.

I open my arms to her and she gives me a small smile. She walks into my hug. She finally gives me a legitimate kiss before leading the way out the apartment.

I can't help but let my gaze linger on the extra key that nobody owns.

I'll talk to Lou tonight.

➖✖➖

She holds a few boxes of tampons in her arms as she stares at the different kinds of chocolate. She shrugs and hugs the stuffed dog in her arms.

"You pick."

I sigh. "Baby, I can't pick for you. What are you craving for?"

She thinks for a long moment. She settles for Almond Joy, many of them. The check out boy smirks at the situation, and I know for sure he knows what's going on.

Arabella holds onto her dog the entire walk back to my place. The sun sets and I know she has to leave again.

Tears fall from her eyes as we say goodbye. She starts sobbing at the thought of leaving. "I just want to stay with you!" I smile at her and pull her small body towards mine.

"Listen to me," I say. "Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to pack a bag and you're going to sit on the couch. I will drive us to your apartment and I will sleepover. You'll wake up next to me and I can drop you off at work. Deal?"

She just nods her head and opens another chocolate bar. As I dump whatever clothes into an overnight bag Lou drops by my room.

His eyes soften when he sees how much of a rush I'm in. I've never seen him this serious, ever. He clasps a hand on my shoulder so I stop doing what I'm doing.

"Harold," he starts, "do you love her?"

His question is unexpected. I knew the topic of love would come up sooner or later. I was expecting later. Yes, six months is quite a while for two busy adults that dont live together and I understand why I shouldn't love her. Six months is long but not long enough.

But I love her.

I'm a hopeless romantic. Hence the engagement ring I packed along with my clothing.

"More than you know, Lou. More than you know."