Harry's POV
"Do you not listen to the radio or anything?" Miley asks, looking out the car window.
"There's nothing good on."
"What do you like listening to?"
I scratch my chin and think.
what do I like?
"Everything, really. just not rap."
"What? Rap is amazing," Miley gasps.
I laugh and shake my head.
"If it had meaning and somewhat good lyrics, I'd probably give it a listen. Rap these days is shit," I truthfully say.
"Whatever."
I look over at Miley and smile.
Her arms are crossed and she's staring ahead.
..
"Okay, here are your keys! Hope you enjoy your new home." The woman I purchased the apartment from smiles at me then leaves Miley and I in the empty space.
"It's so cool," Miley breathes once the woman is gone.
She glides her hand across the brick walls, her feet drag on the hardwood flooring.
"You like it?" I ask.
"Yeah. It's beautiful."
I admire the way she finds interest in the smallest things.
She's picking at a crack in one of the bricks, slightly smiling.
I walk over to her and my arm slides around her waist.
Looking up at me, Miley opens her mouth. I think she might say something, but she stays quiet.
"You know I like you, right?" I question, leaning against the wall.
"Mhmm," She quietly replies.
"Do you like me?"
Miley nods.
"Then why don't you be with me?"
It's been a couple of weeks since her and I met. I knew I liked her when I'd constantly stare at her during Religion. It sounds creepy, but I just couldn't keep my eyes off of her.
"It's complicated," Miley says.
"What is so complicated?" I step toward her but she steps back.
"I just don't want to be built up all over again just to be knocked right back down."
"I'll keep you built up," I promise. "What, are you afraid of heights?"
"I'm not afraid of the height, Harry. I'm just afraid of the fall."
I bite down on my lip and stay quiet.
I know she's right. Who could blame her?
"I know how you think this will end but it doesn't have to be that way," I whisper, stepping closer to Miley.
"Everyone I could possibly love gets taken away from me. If I begin to love you, We're just going to fall apart. Everything that has been built will fall apart, including love."
"And even we will fall apart one day. But that day won't be any time soon. You can keep things from breaking too soon, Miley. And nothing will ever take me away from you." I wipe my hand across my forehead. It's getting hot.
"I just can't have a relationship."
I look away from her eyes and look out the window across the living room we're standing in.
I want to tell Miley that I really, really like her. I want to tell her that I'd never let her fall. Alone, at least.
I'll be here till the end, whether she likes it or not.
She's too good to let go.
"Why do you even want to be with me?" Miley's voice is small.
"Because you're Miley," I say, continuing to stare blankly through the glass.
"What's so good about Miley?" She half laughs.
"Everything is great about Miley. I sometimes wish she could see herself the way I see her." And that's the truth. She's fascinating in the most destructible way and I love that.
"I wish Miley could see that too." Her eyes are now glossy and I don't know if I should comfort her.
She clearly doesn't want me, so I think I'll keep my distance.
"You'll see it one day."
-
Miley's POV
After Harry drops me off back home, I go straight into my room and change my clothes.
I look into the mirror.
Why do I have to be this way?
So pathetic. I'm a loser. I'm so caught up in my past that it's damaging my future.
I wish I could just let it all go.
If only it were that easy.
"Miley?" Shay knocks on my door.
"Come in."
"So how was your time with Harry? Do you like him?" A smirk takes over her face and I can't help but smile.
"No, we're just friends." I look at the floor.
"But friends don't look at each other like that."
I look at Shay who is now sitting on my bed.
"We don't look at each other in any way."
"Stop being in denial... Do you really not know how he stares at you?
They way he looks at you isn't the way he looks at other girls. And the way you two laugh with each other.. It's unbelievable how oblivious you are. He's falling for you hard and I think you're doing the same thing."
"I just don't want to get attached to him. He's just going to slip through my fingertips just like everyone else did. I-"
"Damnit, Miley! You need to drop what happened! It was an accident! Accidents happen! Do you think Peter wanted to die that night? Fuck no! Just let it go! Move on!"
I cover my face with my hands.
Shay is right.
She is so fucking right.
I just can't let go.
"Miley. No one left on purpose. Not everything has to be like this." Shay reaches out to hug me and once my head touches her shoulder, I lose it.
Tears are rapidly flowing down my cheeks and my hitched breaths make it hard to breath.
"Can you call harry?" I sniffle.
"Of course."
Shay lets go of me and I lay on my bed. She's right.
I need to shove the past away and live for now.
And that's exactly what I'm going to do.
