therapy [h.s.]

Twenty-nine

Still sitting at the kitchen counter, I watched Harry descend the stairs. He sent me a small, warm smile which I returned.

"Everything okay up there?" I asked as he stepped into the kitchen.

"Yea, I think so. Gemma and Ashton are settled in the guest room, and my mom's in yours. And unlike someone, she said doesn't mind the color of the walls. She likes yellow."

I smiled and rolled my eyes as I watched him reach into the cabinet and take out two wine glasses.

"I hope you don't mind staying in my room with me," he said, a small smirk on his face. My cheeks heated.

"I think I can manage."

He smiled at me as he opened a bottle of red wine, and poured it into the two glasses.

"Ever have a glass of wine, Steven?"

"No, I've actually never drank before," I answered honestly.

He looked genuinely surprised, but didn't comment on it. I was glad though; I didn't want to spend my birthday talking about how much of a dork I was.

Harry walked over and handed me a glass before taking a seat on the chair next to me.

"Well, I'm honored to share your first legal drink with you. Cheers."

We raised our glasses, and brought them together, resulting in a clinking sound. We then brought them to our lips, drinking slowly. The unfamiliar liquid burned my throat at first, but actually tasted quite good. However, I must've made a face, because Harry had begun to laugh.

"Don't like it, love?" He questioned, amusedly drinking from his own glass.

"It's definitely different," I commented. "But it's a good different. I like it."

We sat in silence for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. I knew most people my age would be out partying on their 18th, but I was perfectly content sitting in a quiet house, drinking wine with someone who meant so much to me.

"Emma?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

He rolled his eyes, while I just sat smiling at my own joke.

"Can I ask you an additional question? It's kind of important."

At this, I perked up a bit. I carefully placed my glass down on the counter, and gave him my full attention. I tried to look calm, but on the inside I was extremely anxious.

"Yea, go for it."

He placed his own glass down, and place a hand on top of mine.

"Your mom brought you to see a therapist. That's all it was, that's all it was supposed to be. But after all we've been through, you've grown so much, and to be frank, I think I've grown too. And now that you're legal...well, how do I put this," he trailed off, the anxiety bubbling in my stomach.

"Go on," I spoke quietly.

"You make me so happy, Emma. I've never felt this happy with anyone. You're so important to me, I mean it. And well, this may seem like a stupid thing to ask, considering everything, but I'm going to. God, why am I so nervous?"

He chuckled to himself as he wiped his palms on his jeans. I smiled, still nervous, as I watched him intently.

"Emma, will you be my girlfriend?"

At these words, I began to laugh. I couldn't contain myself. A worried look spread across Harry's face.

"What? W-was it too soon? Do you not want to? It's okay if you don't-"

I cut him off, taking his face in my hands and pressing a kiss to his soft lips. I let them linger, even after we pulled away.

"You are so perfect," I whispered.

"I don't understand."

"After everything we've gone through, the hugging, the kissing, the words we've shared, the almost having sex, you still feel the need to ask me to be your girlfriend. You are a true gentleman, Harry Styles. Your mother raised you well."

At this, he smiled and exhaled heavily.

"So I'll take that as a yes?"

I giggled once more and nodded.

"Yes. I will gladly be your girlfriend."

We both grabbed our wine glasses and took another drink. The bitter taste had begun to grow on me, and I enjoyed it more with every sip.

"You know," he began, "you've got something about you, Emma. Something different from anyone else out there."

"You're just saying that," I mumbled, drinking more of my wine.

"No I'm not, I swear. I think it's your past."

"What?"

"Your past, and all the people and events in it. It was incredibly hard for you, it probably still is, but if those things didn't happen, you wouldn't be the same girl that's sitting here with me tonight."

Out everything Harry had ever said to me, this meant the most. The fact that he didn't look past my problems, but embraced them, made me feel like I was doing something right for once. Like I'd seen the light as the end of the tunnel, somehow.

So I sat there, smiled, and raised my glass.

"To my fucked up past."

He did the same, and clinked his glass with mine.

"To my beautiful girlfriend, and her fucked up past."

***

THE END

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