To Reach

Chapter Five: Confessions

            Sabella was ignoring Harry. She hadn’t said a word since she woke up and avoided touching him at all costs. It was grating on his nerves. She was being stubborn and disobedient simply because he moved his flight time table up a day. She left him in haste to attend her classes without him and hadn’t said a word to him since she returned. Harry’s patience was running out.

“Sabella, stop ignoring me and talk to me.” Harry demanded, voice booming through the quiet room.

“Doesn’t feel nice, does it?” Sabella calmly responded, eyebrow raised.

“No, it does not. I’m sorry I changed the time table without consulting you. I’ll come back to you, Sabella. You have a break for a few days so fly home.” Harry responded with a sigh.

            Sabella hummed noncommittally and placed the files back on her desk. She rose to saunter towards where Harry was seated. Her hands rested on his shoulders while she stood between his spread legs, feeling his hands slide up the backs of her thighs. She looked into his face and smiled softly.

“I love you, Harry. I just want you to be safe. I’m also worried about us and about Niall. Harry, what are we doing? I’m taking advantage of you.” Sabella confessed, voice soft and laced with pain.

“Oh, my love, we’re fine and you aren’t doing anything of the sort. We’ll get through this and we’ll bring him home. I promise you.” Harry swore as he tugged her to stride his lap.

“I’m dancing a fine line here, Harry. We haven’t talked about this. I guess it will have to wait until this Scotland issue has been resolved. I want you to be safe, Harry. Come back to me.” Sabella sighed, lips pressed to his neck.

“Always.” Harry promised, hands rubbing her back.

            The couple continued to embrace each other and hold fast to the moment. Harry knew he’d have to be making his way towards JFK airport soon but for the next few moments he was just holding the one person who made the world move for him. He was stroking her hair, feeling her lips against his neck, indulging in the smell of her hair to ingrain it into his memory for the cold days to come.

“I still don’t want you to go, Harry. I need you to be more careful than usual when you are in Glasgow.” Sabella whispered before kissing him.

            Harry hummed to alert her that he heard and understood her request. He kissed her fiercely, conveying things words couldn’t begin to explain appropriately. Moving his mouth to brand her neck and shoulder, Harry slipped both hands up her back to support her leaning back. He was adoring her with the last few private moments he could allow himself with her before he had to leave.

“I love you with every fiber of my being. You make the word move for me. I cannot breathe without you and I cannot fathom a world without you in it. End of.” Harry promised, pulling away from her to look into her face.

            Sabella opened her eyes to look into his darkened emerald colored eyes. He was announcing all she needed him to. With a nod, Sabella pulled out of his hold to stand. She walked over to where her baby pink UGGs were placed and yanked them on. Harry watched her with guarded eyes as he knew she was preparing to take him to the airport and figured she would become distant and cold to further protect herself from the heartbreak that was to happen upon his departure.

“Let’s go, Harry. We can’t afford you being late.” Sabella ordered as she shrugged on her Burberry pea coat.

            Harry stood silently, slipped into his coat, and grabbed his packed suitcase. He nodded his head to motion for Sabella to begin to head out. He watched as she turned the handle and exited the room. Inhaling deeply, he followed her actions. The walk towards the car was silent, not that he hadn’t expected it.