Before She Falls

Chapter 40

It's getting a lot darker outside now. The once warm sky, full of oranges and yellows has turned into a deep blue. Harry and I are walking in his backyard that seems to stretch out for a mile. It's a huge grassy plain with tall trees scattered around it in random places. It's quite peaceful back here, besides a couple of little kids running around towards the woods. There is also a small stream running cutting across the open field.

"I used to come down here a lot when I was younger" Harry says in a reminiscent voice.

We continue down the path in the long grass and the sun is almost completely gone now.

"By yourself?" I ask as Harry randomly plops down on the ground. I stop in my tracks and laugh.

"Yeah" Harry responses, patting the spot next to him. "If I was bored, or angry, or just wanted a fresh breath of air."

"Back when you had little teenager angst?" I tease him and sit down on the patch of grass.

"Yeah, kind of like you" Harry fires back with a smirk.

"We're the same age, Styles" I immediately grin when I see his green eyes to my left, looking up towards me.

He shakes his head, "I'm a couple months older."

"A couple months" I roll my eyes.

"Another month older, another year wiser" Harry chuckles at his own joke and sits up in the grass to be level with me.

"Yeah right" I push his shoulder with the intention to knock him over onto his back, but he resists my force and his body barely budges.

"S'cute when you try to be strong" Harry laughs. "It's getting dark, let's head back up."

Harry lifts himself off the ground and stands tall, towering over me. He holds both of his hands out to help me and with one swift motion, he pulls me to my feet. He lets go of one of my hands, but keeps the other in his, interlocking our fingers together. He leads us back up to towards the house through the stomped-on, grassy path.

"Kat" he calls for my attention and when he sees my face turn to his, he continues. "What do you want to happen with us?"

"What do you mean?" I ask and lower my eyes to the ground.

"What are we going to do when you leave tomorrow? What do you want to do?" He asks bluntly.

I can't decide on what to say to him. It's a hard question to answer. Of course I want to be with Harry but is it really going to work out with our busy schedules? In two weeks the two of us will an ocean away from each other. I'll be studying and adjusting back into college life while Harry will be hitting the road again and performing just about every single night.

I like him, a lot and I know he likes me back. And I don't know when there's going to be a time again where I have a guy that really likes me and shows me every time he's with me. I'm so comfortable with Harry, and he makes me happy... we make each other happy. I don't want to give up on this that quickly and I hope Harry doesn't either.

"I don't know" I mumble softly.

"You can't say you haven't been thinking about it" Harry tighten his grip on my hand.

"Oh, trust me I have been" I tell him and finally bring my head back up to give him a little eye contact.

"And?" His eyes search my face for an expression, some sort of answer.

"Well, what do you want?" I counter with another question.

Harry gives me a half-smile, "I asked you f-"

"First, I know" I finish his sentence before he can. "But just tell me what you want to do, please."

"Oh there you go, begging me again" Harry teases me.

"Harry..." I roll my eyes.

His half-smile turns into a full grin before he answers, "Well, I don't know how you feel, but I would like to continue what we have and see where it takes us because I really do like you."

A giddy smile forms on my mouth and Harry's fingers tap against the back of my hand.

"Even though you'll be on tour?" I ask.

"Mhm" He pulls our hands closer to him, causing my body to gravitate in towards him.

"Even though I'll be in Boston for school?" I ask again.

"Yep" He pops his lips together on the last letter.

"You really want to?" I ask, surprised and a little anxious that maybe he's not being serious.

"Do you?" He asks me back.

"Yes, yes. Of course I do" I say quickly, a little too quickly, making my cheeks blush.

"Then it's settled, we're staying together" Harry's words cause my stomach to flip. We're together.

It's a good feeling; having someone who obviously cares about you. It is also feels great to have Harry finally say that we're together as a couple.

"So is this going to be a public thing?" I question, but automatically want to take it back as soon as the words leave my lips.

I didn't want to interfere with Harry's public image. It's a big deal when Harry orders a burger during dinner or whether he decides to wear sneakers instead of boots. It'll be a massive media explosion if he steps out in front of the paparazzi with my hand wrapped around his. Especially with all these stories out in the news about me already.

"Do you want it to be?" Harry's tone is more serious now. "It's kind of up to you. It doesn't have to be if you don't want to deal with it all. I'll do whatever you want to do."

"I think I'll be fine with it" I smile and Harry's lips form a smile right back at me. "Will management be okay with it?"

Suddenly worry washes over me. "What if they don't allow it? Do you think it'll affect my internship?"

"Sh" Harry hushes me as we finally reach the back door to his house. "It'll be fine. They can't stop me from seeing you. It will all work out, I promise."

"How can you be so sure?" I say taking my shoes off as we step into Harry's home.

"I can convince them if they have any problem with it. I've been told I'm pretty charming" Harry smirks at me, his lips pursed.

And I can't control my urge, so I lean into him and kiss his lips while they're still smirking. He attaches his mouth to mine and pulls away.

"Enough of that, save it for the paps" He winks and strolls out into the kitchen where Gemma and his mother are sitting.