Fight to Die (Harry Styles)

Eighteen

Chapter 18

• Harry •

Previously...

"You are probably the most stunning girl I've ever seen," I tell her. I don't exactly know what provoked me to tell her that, but I just felt that it is something that she needs to know. A beautiful girl deserves to know she is beautiful.

The most vibrant blush I have seen from her all night floods into her cheeks, but she does not look away. She fights a smile; I can see that. Why she fights it, I don't know.

"What are you thinking?" I ask. Now that she hasn't responded, I am a bit nervous.

Julia shakes her head, "you intrigue me, Celt."

"Harry," I say without thinking. I was supposed to tell her my name anyway, so I guess this is a good time. "My name is Harry."

•••

• Julia •

Stunning. That is his adjective describing me. I never thought that he would be one to complement me in such a significant way. And the way he said it.... You are probably the most stunning girl I've ever seen.... His words replay over and over in my mind. I hear his strange accent laced around the words making them sound that much more beautiful. I never expected a complement from him, but the fact that it was him, makes my heart leap in my chest. He makes me nervous, not in an intimidating way, but in a way of admiration. I respect him and in the end, that is why he makes me nervous. It is a good nervous, too. It's that nervous you feel when the guy you like talks to you. You get those butterflies in your stomach and blush on your cheeks.

The second his name leaves his mouth, I am taken aback. I didn't expect for him to tell me, not tonight. It just wasn't something I was entirely worried about in the moment. But now I feel like I know something about him that no one else does. And I kind of like it.

Harry. It is an odd name, but I suppose it is a regular name amongst his people in Britannia..or it was.

"Harry?" I question him, testing out the name aloud. I like it; it kind of just rolls off the tongue fluidly. "Hmm, I like that."

I smile at him and he makes an attempt to return that smile; he is too weak right now, too tired. What the Celt- I mean, Harry- what Harry needs is rest.

"I should go," I tell him quietly.

His head snaps up towards me, "what? Wh- no."

"Harry, I have to; I'm not supposed to be here. You have no idea how much I had to bribe the guard just to let me see you. Someone, probably Felix, tried to make sure that I didn't come here."

"How much?"

"How much what?"

"How much did you bribe the guard?"

I shake my head, "it's not important, but for now, I really must go."

I stand from the cold, damp ground and walk towards the door.

"Wait," he says. "You have to take your cloak with you."

I turn and see him holding it outstretched to me. "No, you should- you should keep it."

"I can't. If you aren't supposed to be here, there can't be any evidence that you were." He holds out the cloak further and I can see that the action is straining against his limited energy. I quickly take it from him and drape it over my shoulders, tying it to lay across my neck. It smells like him.