Alleviate // H.S

XVIII

A/N

This Gucci campaign will forever be the death of me. It's like I've forgotten how to breathe, he's so beautiful.

-

He has been ridiculously affectionate for the passed week, rarely not in close proximity to me when we see each other, which is pretty much all the time when I'm not in school or dance.

He has suddenly grown this dire need for us to spend every waking moment together, convincing me to sleep over every night for the last four days.

I don't hate it either. If I did, I wouldn't be agreeing to partake, to relish in his attention.

He reminds me of Harry when he was younger, more care free. Sure, he's still protective and grim, but he is a more affectionate version. It's not clear what his motives are and I am slightly bewildered by his sudden tender transformation, but I like it. His hard exterior is hindered by his indignant devotion to hang out and watch movies or sing along to our favourite songs and completely neglect the load of homework and study he needs to help me with.

And it's all that I could ever need.

"It was only two weeks Harry," I point out as I drag his duvet blanket onto the floor in front of the television, where we've set up a little feast in time to view a chick-flick that he has insisted on watching.

"Two weeks is too long. I never want it to happen again." He tugs on my arm to sit, causing me to land alarmingly close to his side.

"Is that why I'm sleeping over all the time? To make up for the time that's been lost, huh?" I smirk, teasing him. This is the first time I address his week of sentiment.

He clears his throat and frowns in dissatisfaction. "Is it so bad to miss you?"

"No. I missed you too." I frown, realising the insensitivity of my words.

He hums in response.

***

He is sneaking back into his flat again.

It's four a.m. on a Friday morning and I have specifically woken myself to inspect something I keep on mistaking as a dream.

Every morning for the previous four nights, Harry has woken me up at stupid o'clock whilst trying to quietly re-enter his flat. It's usually a momentary disturbance and I'd go back to a comfortable slumber immediately after, nearly completely forgetting about it by morning.

You know those dreams that you have, and you really etch at your brain to try and remember them because they felt significant? That's what occurred every time I re-woke for school, except I suspected that since these 'dreams' were reoccurring, maybe they weren't dreams at all. Therefore, I constructed a plan to wake up in the early hours, hopefully in time to see Harry return home.

I try to be subtle whilst watching him rove around his kitchen area, removing his jacket and beanie and setting it on the dining table. He then hastily pauses, focusing on nothing particular as I view the side of his frame with squinted eyes.

Suddenly his head begins to turn towards me, forcing me to shut my eyes immediately in hopes that he won't realise that I'm awake. A moment goes by as I seal my eyes shut. I can feel the burn of his gaze, and for a moment, I think that he may have caught me.

But I'm surprised by the sigh that he lets out instead of calling me out, and I hear him starting to travel around his unit again. Bravely, hoping that he isn't looking my way, I open my eyes again to watch him.