Lights (2019)

Skipping Rocks

I break Harry's gaze as the door slams. I sigh deeply. I don't want to go home tonight. Home means confrontation and I cannot handle that right now. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I can feel Harry's eyes on me, his eyebrows furrowed as he assessed me.

"I've never heard you speak that way to anyone," Harry says.

I look down. "He needed to hear it. He can't control my life."

"Can I tell you something?" Harry asked. Harry crosses the room to me. He looks at me, his expression unreadable.

"Of course," I tell him. He is so close I have to angle my eyes up to actually hold his eye contact. I feel his fingertips tracing my arm.

"If it were my sister in your position I would be doing exactly what Louis is doing," Harry tells me. "He just wants to protect you."

"He is not my brother, Harry."

"Not by blood," Harry begins. "The one thing I can respect about Louis is that he is fiercely protective of his family--and that is what you are to him." I feel guilty. Harry is right, Louis is trying to protect me, but he does it so often that I feel smothered. Louis needs to understand that I am not a little girl, and that I can handle myself from time to time. "Why don't we just save a step and have you stay here tonight?"

"What do you mean, save a step?"

"You'll be coming over in the morning, anyway. Let's...save a step. Like we used to. You know, stay up until one in the morning and get second wind." He smiles at me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I don't have pajamas," I say. "Or a toothbrush. Or anything for that matter."

"You can use mine."

"Ew, use your toothbrush? Nasty."

"You just exchanged saliva with me, I'm pretty sure using my toothbrush would be more sanitary." He flashes a grin at me and I flush.

"Please never say that again!" I wrinkle my nose and shove him. "You're disgusting."

Harry catches my wrist and pulls me closer to him. "Of course, you could always choose the less sanitary option," he breathes, his eyes mischievous.

"I'm fine, thank you." I say in a higher pitch, pushing past him and walking to the bathroom. I end up using Harry's toothbrush, much to my disgust and to Harry's amusement. Harry finds sweatpants and a t-shirt for me to wear, which I quickly change into. I put my hair into a ponytail.

I come out of the bathroom to already see Harry sprawled out on his bed. I pause in the door way, looking at him. I remember when we were little, we would stay up for hours looking up at the ceiling making shadow puppets. He is scrolling through his phone now; I clear my throat. Apparently it scared him, because he dropped his phone on his face. I would say I feel bad, but how can I do that through laughter?

"Come to bed," he mumbles, massaging his jaw.

"Why Mr. Styles, at least buy me dinner first." I mock.

"Oh shut up," he laughs. I linger by the side of his bed.

"Can I ask you a question?" I ask. Harry raises an eyebrow. "How often do you wash your sheets?"

His eyes light up in mischief. "Never," he says with a wicked grin.

"Ew!" I laugh as he grabs my arm pulling me into his bed. His sheets smell like fabric softener. He tickles me which results in fits of laughter. Harry slide out of bed and goes to the door.  "I don't know how I'm going to fall asleep," I say as Harry locks the door. "I can hear the party out there."