Fame (1D)

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter 22

"Alison? It's me, wake up." Harry's voice woke me from my sleep. I groaned, and buried my head deeper into the soft pillow. "Come on, I planned a whole day for us."

"Why don't you tell me about it while I lay here?"

"I'd rather show you."

"I'm not really feeling cameras today."

"Nobody would know where we are."

"Okay. I'm exhausted, I threw up once or twice this morning, and we've been parading around California for two days straight. Don't get me wrong- they were the best two days anybody could have ever asked for, if they knew what to ask for. But the heat, the exercise, the emotions... It's all too much for me. I want to lay this warm, comfy bed all day and not move once."

"I get it, love. I'll leave you to your lazy day, then." He said, and turned to leave my room. I sighed, before rolling out of my bed and rushing to beat him to the door. He pulled on the door handle, and I gently pushed it back closed. He raised his eyebrows and stared at me, confusion obvious in his eyes.

"Stay." I said simply. "I mean, I know you know that I'm sick. And I get it if you don't want to risk it. But I can only think of one thing that I would want on a day like today, and that's my comfy bed." I said, and then rolled my eyes mockingly. "And you, I guess. So please? Stay?" I asked, and then let him tow me back to where I slept. I laid back down on the bed, and he reached over to shut the blinds before stepping out of his slippers. He laid himself down on the other side of the bed, and folded his arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling.

"Stop staring." He mumbled.

"Hold me." I said, and then rolled over so that he couldn't see my red cheeks.

"You are a piece of work, Alison Diana Richards. And I don't know where all this forward-ness is coming from, but I like it." He said, moving closer to me so that my back was pressed against his stomach and chest while his arm draped lazily over my waist. I sighed contently.

"Thank you." I said quietly.

"For what?"

"For staying. I like it when you're like this."

"When I'm not talking?"

"No." I answered automatically. "Well, I may have to reconsider that. But what I'm talking about is you, when you're the real you." I admitted.

"You mean sometimes I'm not me?"

"Well, you're always you, underneath some layers. It's kind of how I decide how I'm going to be with you. Snappy Harry, for instance, I make sure that I'm snarky right back. With angry Harry, I keep my distance. But when you're really Harry, I know that I can be myself. Because being with the real Harry is as effortless to be with to me as breathing."

"That was a big speech."

"It was." I agreed, laughing. "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I..." I trailed off awkwardly. I could feel him shift behind me, silently begging me to continue. "I'm really glad you're here with me."

"I'm glad to be here." He said shortly, and I could tell by his time that he was annoyed.

"Can I sleep now?"

"Nobody's stopping you."

"Okay. Uh, night, Harry." I said, half jokingly, and I could almost feel him rolling his eyes at me.

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"Morning, sleeping beauty." Harry said in my ear as my eyes fluttered open. I gasped and cursed, before realising what was going on. I hit him lightly in the shoulder, and he started laughing. "Scared you a little bit?"