Lights (2019)

Lunch Date

My bed dips in the night, a hand lightly strokes loose strands of hair away from my face, and I flinch awake. The touch continues repeatedly tucking hair behind my ear, I hum lightly but keep my eyes wound tight. I know it's Harry. I know how his breathing sounds, how his footsteps sound, the smell of him, the way his touch feels against my skin. I know him. The soft breeze rustles through my room across my face.

My eyes flutter open and I see Harry. His curls rustle with the wind and his lips turn up in a small smile, his dimples showing ever so slightly. I sit up this slowly, looking around my room. The window is thrown open, the curtains billowing in the breeze. I am so glad that Lottie was at a sleep over tonight.

"Hi," he says softly. He leans forward and kisses my forehead.

"How the hell did you get in here?" I question, my voice rough from sleep. I squint at him in the darkness and rub the sleep out of my eyes.

"I climbed."

"What?" I ask, still trying to form a coherent thought.

"You've never noticed the ivy on the side of the house?" He chuckles. "That is how I always get in."

"Can't you just use the front door?" I grumble, laying back into my pillows. "How long have you been here?"

"Fifteen, twenty minutes." He tells me. I hear his shoes hit the floor and feel him lay next to me. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls my back closer to his chest. He buries his face into the crook of my neck and inhales deeply.

"You need to quit this Edward Cullen shit," I huff, shutting my eyes once more. He chuckles and presses a kiss behind my ear. Even in my sleepy state, Harry's touch sends adrenaline through my veins and brings me to life.

"I finished Mockingjay." He mumbles into my hair.

"Yeah?" I say sleepily, into the pillow. "Did you expect the ending?"

"Yes."

"Really?" I question in surprise. "Tell me the truth."

"It was obvious Peeta loved her more," he whispers against my skin. "Even in his deranged state."

"Deranged is a strong word." I say flatly.

"So is love." He tells me in a soft.

I roll over and look at him. His eyes are tired, his hair is a complete mess. I touch his face lightly and he leans into my touch. He presses a kiss to the inside of my hand. I snuggle closer to his chest and his grip tightens around me.

"I love you," I whisper.

"I love you so much," he tells me. He buries his face into my hair. "Please don't ever forget that."

"Did you have a good time with Luke?" I ask timidly.

"No," he says quickly. "I had much more fun with you."

"I am sure you did," I laugh.

He squeezes me lightly, "I like being close to you in that way."

I smile softly. "I like it too."

Harry the top of my head. "Go to sleep," he whispers. I nod into his chest. I shut my eyes once more and take comfort in Harry being so close to me. I listen to our breathing. His breath slows with mine, as we both fall asleep.

When I wake up, Harry's gone.

Where was he? Was it a dream? Did I take some wild mushrooms last night that made me lose my shit? I roll over and check the time. It's just past eleven. "Shit," I breathe and tumble out of bed, ransacking my dresser for clothes. My eye catches on a folded piece of paper on top of the dresser and I snatch it, carefully unfolding it.