Footsteps || h.s.

Chapter Eight

Harry's POV

I woke up the next morning, and found myself walking out to Scarlet before I could even process my thoughts. I saw her sleeping body on the couch, and she looked so peaceful, so beautiful.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she jumped when she saw me next to her.

"Hi." I said with a faint smile.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Hey." She whispered.

I watched as she yawned and stretched her arms. I was confused about last night. She knew she didn't want to kiss me, so why didn't she push me away again? I was so confused, and angry at myself for doing that to her.

She looked me in the eye.

"Thanks for letting me stay." She said.

"It's alright." I smiled down at her. I leant down and kissed her cheek, causing her to push me away.

"Sorry..." I said, backing up until my back hit the wall.

She stared at me blankly. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, tugging at the strands.

"Fucking hell, pull yourself together." I said to myself and slid down the wall until I hit the ground.

I looked over to Scarlet. She was looking at me worriedly, a tear rolling down her cheek.

She sat up, her lip between her teeth. I watched her as her face twisted in pain from the pressure she put on her ankle when she stood up. She slowly limped over to me.

"Harry..." She started.

"No, Scarlet. I scared you... I'm no good for you. You need to get away from me." I cut her off.

"Harry-"

"Scarlet I mean it..." I cut her off again. She rolled her eyes and hovered over me.

"Harry, listen to me." She demanded. A tear rolled down my cheek. Christ, I was turning into such a pussy. This girl was truly doing something to me.

"Yeah, I know you're not perfect and I know you'll make mistakes," She started, "But it doesn't mean I have to stay away from you, Harry. No body is perfect. But I'm taking baby steps. And all I want right now is your support." She explained.

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, "But... I want you to be mine. I can't go on hiding my feelings for you. I want to take you out and spoil you and hold you and kiss you and fall crazily in love with you. But I can't, not until you're ready and pretty soon I'm going to go insane for you and..." I trailed off before I said something I would regret.

She sighed and looked at the ground.

"I know." She answered.

I took her hand and held it. She flinched, so I took my hand away.

The silence was slowly eating away at me.

"I'm sorry, Scarlet... I'm sorry he did this to you." I whispered and couldn't help the anger that built up inside of me.

"Harry... You don't have to be sorry. He's an asshole, he did this and it's not your fault." She said.

I shook my head in amusement and studied her features as she knelt in front of me, "You're so fucking perfect. You're everything I need."

Her bottom lip trembled.

"Harry..." She softly cried and rested her head in her hands.

"Harry, Harry, Harry..." She cried and I heard her sniff the tears away.

She looked up at me. Her cheeks were wet with tears. I reached up and wiped them away with my thumb and this time, she didn't flinch. She just leant into my hand.

"God, I want you. I want everything about you." I bit my lip and she nodded.

"I know. I'm sorry."

I shook my head.

"Harry..." She looked me deep in the eyes and grabbed my hand, holding it between her two small ones, "I know you're already doing everything you can and I appreciate that..."

I nodded slowly.

"So... That's why when I ask you this, I mean it." She said and my heart rate sped up.

I didn't move. I just waited for her to answer.

"I want to be your girlfriend."

Her words shocked me. I was taken aback, but I couldn't help the smile that came to my face.

"But," She said, "You know we'll have to take it slow. Until I'm ready."

I nodded, "Yeah but... Are you sure you want to do this?"

She just laughed softly, "I'm not sure of anything, Harry. I just listen to my gut."

I smiled at her, running my thumb over the back of her hand. "So, you're my girlfriend?"

"If that's what you want." She just sent me a small smile and stood up, kissing my cheek, before she walked out of my hotel room.

Leaving me to sit alone, with the biggest smile on my face, and my head pounding with confusion.