almost || h.s

August 19 1963

He began to get a little braver around me. Instead of his proper bedroom attire, he slept shirtless with white cloth underwear covering his man pride. But as I awoke this morning, we were entangled just as the morning before.

My dreams were filled with him. Everything about him was brought into my dreams, as if putting together the pieces of a beautiful puzzle. Wonderment at how the final picture will turn out.

"Good morning, love."

"Good morning, Edward."

"I may be half asleep but that doesn't mean I will get you for that."

He shot up, grabbing ahold of my wrist before I could get up myself and run. He held me down, his body on top of mine.

"Are you ticklish, Ms. Cooper?" He asked in a very posh British accent, one our parents would likely use in the presence of greater wealth.

"Ticklish is for the weak, Mr. Styles." I mimicked, letting a laugh slip.

"We'll see about that Ms. Cooper."

He began his great attack on me and I couldn't help but give in, for my lip was now withdrawing blood from my efforts to hold it in. In truth, I am beyond ticklish and I can't help myself from the erupt of giggles leaving my mouth, but Harry doesn't stop, noticing my lack of breath.

"Ms. Cooper, you should of thought of the consequences once you called me the name of the Devil."

"E- Edward." I managed to squeak out, my sides now in pain from the excessive amounts of laughter leaving my lips.

Although my breathless pleads, Harry refused to summon his attack on my sides, causing me to try to pull his hands away but failing.

After about another minute of him tickling me to death, he remained straddling me, a toothy grin present.

"Bastard."

"No foul language in my house, Ms. Cooper."

I simply rolled my eyes before attempting to throw him off of me. But to my dismay, he refused to even budge.

"You're not going anywhere until an apology is put forth."

"Harry, can you come closer?" I signaled him with my finger, him clearly confused and my plan in tact.

"Closer." As he inched lower and lower down to where there was only inches apart from our lips, heavy breathing escaping his nostrils.

"I'm." I whispered, getting his full attention. By the look of his face he was enticing a kiss but really he wasn't getting anything.

I quickly pushed him off of me, noticing a sign of weakness before him. I hopped out of the bed and shot for the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

"Elizabeth! Open up now! You'll pay for this!" He pounded against the door repeatedly, while I felt a relief of accomplishment setting in.

"Oh Edward. To think that you were expecting a kiss! A fool you are!" I shouted from behind the door, a grin never leaving my face.

"You can't stay in there forever, love!"

"Watch me, love."

I remained in the bathroom for ages, it seemed. My bum becoming sore from sitting on the tile for too long. I became tired of hearing Harry's boring stories he told himself. He wouldn't move from his position against the door, but I was done playing childish games.

I opened the door quickly, watching as Harry fell flat on his back from his previous position. I simply laughed in his face before steeping over, shock still implanted in his pea-sized brain.

"Elizabeth."

"Harold."

He appeared behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Why is it that you didn't kiss me?"

"Plenty of reasons."

"Tell me one."

"A kiss is a sign of love towards your significant other. Although I am grateful to have you in my presence, love is a fantasy in our wild imagination. If I were to kiss you, that would mean I love you."

"Why would you believe such rubbish?"

"It's not rubbish, Harry."

"But what if I love you?"

"You couldn't."

"Says who?"

"Me."

"Kiss me."

"In your dreams."

"Or now?"

"You're a cheeky bastard, aren't you?"

"I prefer extremely handsome."

"You're so odd."

Harry a name so common in my time. But this Harry was something so uncommon, so unique. I was fascinated by his every move, the way his arms flexed beneath his tan skin as he went to grab a drink. Something about Harry drew me closer to him. I adored his every gesture and remark (some rude I might add).

I had ran away from a forced love but only hate existed there. I ran into nothing forced but everything felt. Love seemed possible around him.

It may have been the way he told me good morning and good night or the way he would hold me in his arms each night or simply the way his smile could make the world brighter. He was just another wonder of the world. Something I longed for but was troubled to find.

I had three days left with him. I intended to make the best out of them, holding back from the idea of love. I just wanted to be with Harry. He made me dull life, bright and hopeful. And I admired him for that.

...

"Goodnight Elizabeth."

"Goodnight Harold."

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Do you think it's possible to fall in love?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Goodnight Mr. Styles."

"Goodnight Ms. Cooper."

I already have the ending planned for this book and trust me, you all will hate me for it. I don't know how long this book will exactly be, but I expect to only write a few more chapters. Thank you for all the votes and a lot of you are adding it to your reading lists, so thank you again!