Beyond the Lights (h.s)

Chapter Seven: Harry

I stayed up late that night talking with my family and catching up on the past two months. It felt great to be back around them, especially my mum. We were close and we always had been. The same with Gemma. Most brothers and sisters weren't as close, but I was lucky to have a relationship with my sister.

When I woke it was nearly noon and I'd forgotten how great it felt to sleep in. As I laid there I thought of Sam and smirked to myself as I remembered her expression when I kissed her last night and left her wanting more. The other day she said it was all professional, but that was bullshit and we both knew it. I'd felt a connection with her since that drunken night and I couldn't shake it.

I rose out of bed and shrugged on a shirt and sweats before going out to the hall. As I rubbed my tired eyes, Sam emerged from the bathroom and glanced up, stopping when she saw me. I smirked at her and in two quick strides she was in front of me, slamming me into the wall just as she did back in New York.

With her fists clenching the front of my t-shirt, she looked up at me, batting her long lashes. Breathlessly she said, "I thought about it." Then she kissed me. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her close. Her hands slid up to my face and she devoured her lips with mine, sliding her tongue into my mouth.

Just as I was about to lift her up and switch us so that she was against the wall, a bedroom door opened. "Oh, God," my sister's voice rang. Sam was off of me, her chest heaving as her cheeks reddened and she looked anywhere but me. I looked over at Gemma and she was just smirking, her arms crossed. "Get a room." With that, she passed us and walked down the stairs.

When she was out of sight I broke into laughter. Sam swatted at me but joined me, breaking into a fit of giggles herself. "That was so embarrassing," she cringed.

I grabbed her hips and pulled her forward. She smiled and slid her hands up my shoulders. "So, you thought about it?" I asked her.

"Yes. No labels right now. I want to see where this goes. Everything is screaming in me not to do this, but I don't care. I've felt a connection with you since we locked eyes at that bar. Granted it's been just over forty-eight hours, but it feels right. It feels good." Her voice had lowered to a whisper by the time she stopped talking.

A smile couldn't help but stretch across my face. Yes, it was soon, but I wanted Samantha. I grabbed her face and kissed her, hard.

----

My eyes sprang open. It was only a dream. Fuck.

It was noon when I woke. That was the only part my dream got right. I rolled out of bed and did dress in sweats, but when I stepped out of my room, Sam didn't come out of the bathroom and my sister didn't come out of her room to tell us to get one.

Everyone was downstairs sipping tea on the couch and chatting, including Sam. She glanced back at me as I descended the stairs and looked away when we met eyes. Shit. That didn't look good at all.

"We decided to let you sleep," Mum announced. "I'll make you whatever want for lunch, just say the word."

I smiled at her and told her what I wanted. She went off to the kitchen to make it and I took a seat next to my sister on the couch. She fixed me a cup of tea and handed it to me. "Hate to admit that I missed my little brother," she teased, knocking her knee with mine. "But Sam is wonderful company, considering someone waited until the middle of the day to meet us."

Sam smiled sheepishly across from us, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I really can't thank you all enough for making me feel at home," she said.

"Don't worry about it. You're practically going to turn into family while touring with the boys, might as well start now. You'll consider everyone on that crew home, considering it will feel like you don't have one," Gemma explained.

Sam's face fell at the last comment, but she recovered quickly. "I'm used to not having a home," she replied and gave a tight smile. I gave her a confused and concerned look, but she down casted her eyes and didn't notice.

I piped up. "What do you mean by that?"

She looked up at me and sighed, staring at her tea. "I just haven't felt at home in a few years. That's all."

I would have to ask her later when she wasn't with my sister. She told me she was from Indiana and moved to Los Angeles, but I had just assumed it was with her family. Then again, she got very quiet when she mentioned Indiana. What secrets was she full of?

Gemma went on to give Sam more tour advice, as well as simultaneously asking me about our upcoming one. I explained the break to her and how we were going to write a new album. I talked about Zayn and his behavior lately due to Perrie.

"Always a mystery, that one," she commented.

"Really?" asked Sam.

I smirked. "Could you not tell in the twenty-four hours you were with him? The lad barely says a word, and that's on a good day," I replied.

She shrugged her shoulders, as if to say that she hadn't ever really noticed. "I knew he was quiet I just didn't know about the girlfriend drama."

Gemma stood, pulling her shirt down as she did. "Get used to the drama." She winked at Sam and made her way to the kitchen to help my mum.

Sam leaned forward and I noticed now that she didn't have a trace of makeup on her face and I barely noticed until I got a good look at her. She looked up at me and sighed. "I thought about it," she said in a low voice.

"And?"

Chewing on her lip she looked down and back up at me. "I like you, Harry. But I'm your assistant and... and as much as I'm attracted to you, I just feel like it's not professional for us to do whatever we're doing," she explained.

As much as I was expecting it, I wasn't prepared for the sinking feeling my stomach. "I understand."

My mum brought a plate of food into the living room for me and as she sat it down in front of me. Sam mouthed "I'm sorry."

Gemma, Robin, and Mum all sat back down and we continued talking and catching up. It felt like we could go on for days talking. It's like we always wanted to say everything we thought of before we didn't see each other for another few months. Throughout time on press tours and actual tour, there'd be times when I'd just have to deal with quick conversations with my family through the phone. After five years I thought I'd be used to it, but I wasn't.

"So, what do you want to do for your birthday?" Mum asked.

I had forgotten my birthday would be in a week. I'd celebrated in Los Angeles a few weeks ago early, but I had yet to just spend in with my family in England. "Honestly, nothing. I'd just like to spend the time with you all."

Gemma leaned over and kissed my cheek and I jokingly gagged, wiping off her kiss. Sam smiled. "Oh, what a sweet boy," Gemma cooed.

I shoved her on the couch and I realized that here, with my family and Sam, was better than anywhere else.