Hot (Harry Styles Fanfiction)

18

Forty-five minutes later and I was nearing the end of my run; I pushed myself just a bit harder. My thighs were burning and I could feel the sweat dripping down my neck. I slowed to a panting stop in front of my house, my hands resting on my knees. As I was taking a moment to catch my breath, frustrated that all my stresses came rushing back the moment I stopped running, a pair of shoes walked into my vision.

            I sucked in a breath, looked up, and let the air out with a groan when I faced the person who had parked his car in the driveway.

            “No. No, not now. Oh God,” I griped, running my hand through my slick hair.

            “Ar-“

            “Seriously?” I interrupted. I spun slightly in frustration and squeezed my eyes shut tightly. When I opened them, Harry was still standing there with an apologetic grin. He had pushed his sunglasses back in the time I greeted him with my annoyed gestures.

            “Ple-“

            “No! I don’t want to do this, God. Harry-“

            “Please, give me a second,” Harry interrupted me this time, stilling me with his hands on my shoulders. I was shaking my head before he was done talking.

            “Aria. Please,” Harry asked again with a small smile. I shook my head and he tossed me a playful look. I widened my eyes in both annoyance and as an indication for him to continue. I was bewildered with his calm and teasing attitude.

            “OK. Well, I’m sorry about last night. I really didn’t think my uncle would come home so early,” Harry started. I narrowed my eyes and he sped up his explanation.

            “He and I don’t have the best relationship, obviously, and I just didn’t want you to see that. And I know it’s an excuse but I wanted last night to go well-“

            “It would have been fine Harry. We could have gone somewhere else. You didn’t have to kick me out though,” I said, crossing my arms.

            Harry peered at me through his green eyes, far more serious now than before. His thumbs rubbed my shoulders and I knocked his hands away with a scoff. He put his hands up in surrender before dropping them by his sides.

            “I know. I just didn’t know what to do and I didn’t think my uncle would ever say those things to you. He’s just mad at me,” Harry continued.

            “He knows about Lisa?”

            Harry nodded.

            He mimicked my defensive stance but had a pensive look on his face.

            “I walked home.”

            Harry grimaced.

            “I know. I’m sorry; I hate that. I went out looking for you but-“

            “I went through the park. It’s quicker that way.”

            “Thought so.”

            “You’re hiding something,” I said, trying to pull something from him.

            “Not hiding.”

            This time I gave him a look.

            “I don’t want to burden you,” he said.