Only You- A Harry Styles Fanfic

Chapter 23: Fly back to me, Little Bird

"We will find a way through the dark."

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Chapter 23

In the weeks after Christmas, Harry and I spent every free, waking moment we had together. Now that we knew our time was limited, each moment was that much more precious. I missed countless days of school skipping with Harry to walk by the grey beach or eat at some hidden local dive. But each time I got in trouble for not focusing on school or got behind on my assignments, it was all worth it. Every second we had together was worth it.

We tried to avoid his imminent departure by not talking about it. And for good reason; every time someone brought it up I got emotional. I hadn’t ever realized how difficult being away from my boyfriend would be, and he hadn’t even left yet.

But as much as we’d hoped it would go away, it didn’t. All too soon, it was the night before Harry’s departure. I was sat on his bed helping him pack up his suitcases. He wasn’t doing too well with it. Honestly, it was like the boy had never packed a suitcase before. All his clothes were clean and laundered, and everything was lined up to be packed, but he couldn’t make it fit.

“Harry,” I giggled, watching him trying to sit on a suitcase to make it close. “I told you to fold it all!”

“I did,” he said through his teeth. “But it won’t close!”

“Here, let me see.”

Harry climbed off the suitcase and relinquished it to me. I pushed the bursting luggage open and started to pull out the crumpled up articles of clothing. Instead of folding the shirts in half, I neatly rolled them so that they’d all file in perfectly. Once all his shirts were folded in, I set in on his pants. Then, I went to the other suitcase and fixed that one. By the time I was finished, there was room to spare in both suitcases, which didn’t require Harry to carry and extra pair of shoes in his carry on.

“Wow, I can’t believe you made it all fit!” he said, whistling. “That was quite the task.”

“It was actually quite easy,” I teased, poking him. He smirked at me and pulled me on top of him, laying back on the mattress.

“Really? Easy?”

“Very easy,” I continued, leaning down to kiss him. Our lips met for what was probably the hundredth time in two days, and yet it still wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough.

After we broke apart, I slid off of him and nestled into his side. His arms wrapped around me, and mine found their way onto his strong bicep and into his hair. We laid there, lost in each other, for what felt like eternity. But like everything with Harry had been these past few days, it wasn’t enough.

I would never have enough of him.

Louis came to tell us it was time to go to the airport, and immediately a lump formed in my throat. But I forced myself not to cry. I had to hold it together and make this easier for Harry. He didn’t want to leave any more than I wanted him to.

We all climbed into the car, Harry and I in the far back of the SUV together. All of their other rental cars had been returned to the airport a couple of days ago, and all of their affairs were set. And as much as it pained me, they were leaving. They being my best friends, and they also being my boyfriend. I couldn’t believe it; he was really leaving.

When we arrived at the airport, we all climbed out together. The boys met their security detail for the trip, who immediately took their bags and went to check them in. A crowd had gathered outside the airport to see the boys, mostly comprised of teenage girls waving signs. It was like a routine, though. The boys lined up, single file, and harry pulled me by my hand behind him. One security guard stood in front, and one behind, and there were three or four on the sides, leading all of the boys into the airport.

Once inside, the boys were immediately ushered towards and through security. I followed Harry the entire way, up until the private gate that led to their private plane. The other boys quickly came to hug me and get on the plane. The crowd was loud and obnoxious, pressed up against the glass walls surrounding the private area. Security was posted everywhere, but they didn’t seem to help with anything except keep the crazy girls back.

I turned to Harry, smiling bravely. He frowned, and his expression clouded. Before I knew what was happening, he’d pulled me towards him and into a bone crushing hug. I wrapped my arms instantly around him and hugged him close to me, breathing in deeply and relishing the feeling of his touch, the sensation of being in his arms. He pulled back slightly, and then our lips met in a hard, passionate kiss.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” he whispered in my ear. “You have no idea how hard it’ll be to be away from you.”

“I know, baby. I know,” I said, the words barely coming out. “I… I don’t know what I’m going to do every day without my handsome boyfriend to entertain me.” My brave attempt at humor was pointless. He knew. He always knew.

He pulled me into another hug, and I closed my eyes and buried my face into his shirt. His hands stroked up and down my spine in a rhythmic, hypnotic way. I didn’t want him to go… Not at all.

“Look,” he said, pulling back and taking my hand in his. He held up the wrist that held my exquisite diamond bracelet on it and twirled it absently. He looked up and met my eyes again, his full of raw emotion. This new look from him was unfamiliar, but whatever it was, it sent pleasurable chills down my spine. “Don’t forget about me, okay? Look at your bracelet every day. And when you do, call me.”

“I will. But you’d better call me, too,” I smiled, biting my lip. He chuckled and nodded.

“Every chance I get.”

We hugged again, and after one last, chaste kiss, he pulled away for the last time. He gave me a cheeky grin and took a step backwards.

“We’ll see each other very soon, okay?” he said, grinning. I nodded, trying for a smile.

“Yeah. I know. You’ll be on my mind, baby,” I said. He nodded.

“And you’ll be in my heart. Always.”

My voice caught in my throat, and I nodded. I couldn’t cry. Not right now. Not right here.

“Fly back to me, little bird.”

He blinked at me, and then with one last nod he started to slowly walk away. He walked backwards until our hands had to separate, and mine immediately wrapped around my small body. Watching him walk away was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. When he reached the door, he turned around one last time, staring hard at me. I reached up and blew a kiss at him, and with a small smile he reached up to catch it. Even from twenty feet away I could see the worry for me etched all over his face. I nodded once at him to tell him I was okay, and his mouth twisted. He gave me one last smile, and then turned around and walked through the door and down the corridor to the plane.

As I watched his back retreat away from me, it hit me. This was real. Harry was really going to leave. Tears stung my eyes, and sobs threatened to overtake me. I turned around walked briskly away from the gate, wrapping my hoodie tightly around me. Someone from the boys’ security walked behind me as I practically ran for the car, keeping my head firmly pointed to the ground. Photographers snapped photos and paparazzi screamed things at me, but I ignored them. I just barely made it to the car and inside before the sobs took over, shaking my body violently.

He’s gone. He’s really gone.

It wasn’t a new realization, but the reality of it was that much harder to take in. My entire heart hurt, and even though I knew I’d see him again sometime in the near future, that time seemed so far away. What was I supposed to do without him for so long? I was absolutely lost.

Leaning heavily against the steering wheel, sobbing my eyes out, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out slowly and unlocked it, checking to see who had texted me. To my immense surprise, there was a text from Harry. I opened it and read it quickly, smiling genuinely for the first time in what felt like forever.

Just remember, Lex. Every minute I’m gone is one minute closer to being together again. Keep your head up, baby girl. I miss you already. More than you know. Stay strong, and I’ll fly back to you very soon. Xx Harry