running through the shadows (harry styles)

Chapter 4

"Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Harry awkwardly asks while shifting his feet.

"I'm good, thanks." I respond, carefully studying my surroundings.

His apartment is far from what I expected. Neat, tidy, and quaint. Books upon books line the walls. I notice old records, tapes, and CDs, as well, with a recurring Fleetwood Mac theme. 

"Not what you expected?" he smiled nervously, following my gaze.

I shook my head, flipping through the titles on the massive bookcase.

"You seemed like the college dropout type." I confessed.

"You're not wrong," he admitted. "I can't deal with that shit. I do what I want. I can't listen to some asshole professor who thinks he can be a pretentious prick because he's wasted 30 years of his miserable life teaching and studying the same shit. Pisses me off." he huffs, plopping down on the couch. 

"Mmm. I had a feeling." I giggled to myself. Why did he invite me here? Why did he threaten my brother and then do a complete 180, not even able to maintain eye contact and nervously shifting while he talks? And why on earth would this beautiful man want.... Fuck. Lacey, get ahold of yourself. He's older than you, by at least four years. He doesn't actually-

"Listen, I'm sorry." Harry blurted out of nowhere.

"Sorry?" I asked, turning in his direction.

"Fuck, Lacey. Something about you has always intrigued me. I don't know what. I just needed to know you. I know I'm a dick and I don't know how to act. I shouldn't have asked you to come out alone at night, it's not even safe," he rambled, cracking his knuckles and gazing at the worn down hardwood floor.

I look at him, making contact with his anxious eyes. I don't even know how to respond. I don't know what to think, how to feel.

"You don't have to say anything, I get it." he sighs.

"I'm sorry for trying to smash your brother's face in, too." he admitted, rolling his eyes. "He just pisses me off sometimes. It's like he's got all of his shit together. He's got everything that I want. He's happy, and content, and sure of himself, and he knows how to not be a fucking idiot."

"That's still not an excuse to try to kill your best friend." I grumbled. "He was just defending me. All we have is each other. Mum is so busy and withdrawn from everything, and we don't have our dad anymore. No extended family except for grandad who is in America, and probably not going to live past tomorrow..." I trailed off. It's always been Liam and I against the rest of the world. We piss each other off constantly, but we're all we've got, and that's how it's always going to be. In a way, it's our job to protect each other.

"Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm a dick. Let me take you home before Liam wakes up and gives me a well deserved ass beating." He groans.

I know he's right, but I don't want to leave. Something about this place is mesmerizing, and hints that there is so much more to this man than anyone else has taken the time to try to see.

"I don't want you to go, either." He admits. "I hate being alone in this place."

"I never imagined you to be someone who appreciated oldies.. or classic literature. Any type of art for that matter." I admit once again, noticing the guitar leaned against a chair in the corner of the room. "....do you play?" I ask.

"Hardly," he scoffs. "I'm honestly shit. I don't even know why I bought that. I mean it's fun and all, but I probably make the neighbors' ears bleed whenever I pick it up."

Why is he so insecure?

"Oh come on," I roll my eyes. "That's definitely a massive exaggeration. You'll have to show me sometime."

"Under one condition," he teases.

"And what might that be?" I giggle. 

"Don't tell Liam you were here, please." He almost begs. "He'll kill me for practically kidnapping his little sister in the middle of the night after trying to bash his face in."

"I'd be in just as much trouble as you," I reassure him, "and you didn't kidnap me." I roll my eyes, stifling a laugh. "I promise you, I came here willingly. And I didn't have a half bad time."

He looks away and faces the wall, but not before I spot the most ridiculous smile on his face, that he is clearly trying to hide.

"Let's get you home, Lace."