Saving the Hero (a One Direction fanfic)

Encounter

Erin’s point of view

I look up at Harry, cuddling the tiny puppy in my arms and go on staring at him uncertainly. Harry pulls on a smile, dimples deeply engraved on his cheeks.

“Niall…,” I say, looking at the Irish boy who was petting the puppy.

“Yep?”

“Could you um…give me and Harry a moment?” I ask, not wanting to sound like I wanted him to leave because I didn’t. I actually really want him to stay but I had to talk things out with Harry.

“Sure. Do you want me to take the dog so you two can talk properly?” he asks. He didn’t seem offended that I asked him to go which was good.

“Yeah, thanks,” I smile and hand him the dog. He takes it and leaves the room. Once he was out Harry reaches out to touch my arm.

“Come on Erin, you know I trust you, I just want you to trust me too. Trust that I CAN handle a relationship along with all of this. Trust me enough to allow me to get to know you better,” he says, his eyes pleading, holding my gaze with determination.

I sigh and look away towards my feet; I could never think clearly seeing those eyes.

“I don’t know Harry,” I say quietly and he leans his head down, forcing our eyes to meet, his hair flopping to the side as he did so.

“Why not?” he asks.

“Because!” I say, turning my head towards him again. “It’s not only about you and this whole mess. It’s about me too. I don’t think I can…I’m not ready for something like this. I just…I can’t, Harry.”

“What is it that you’re so afraid of?” he whispers, his eyebrows furrowing.

“The past repeating itself,” I reply.

It’s Harry’s turn to sigh lightly, looking away, thinking. After a few seconds he fixes his green eyes back to mine.

“I’m not asking you to date me right away. All I want is for you to let me get to know you. I want you to let me in. I’ll handle everything fine, I promise. I just want you to let me into your life.”

“My life is already yours, Harry. I owe it to you,” I say. It may sound corny but every word was true. He saved me.

“Then break down your walls and let me in? Please,” he insists. It was ironic. My life was his but it wasn’t a life I wanted him to know about.

“I-“

“A chance. That’s all I ask. Please,” he says.

I look at him and see his sincerity and a brick falls off the tall wall around me.

“Fine, I’ll try,” I finally say, feeling completely vulnerable, scared. It was the first step to being open and the fear crept in.

I had a feeling Harry noticed it as he places a hand to my cheek and plants a kiss on my forehead comfortingly. 

And suddenly the fear is gone.

Harry’s point of view

“That was so much fun!” Eleanor trills, looping her arm around Erin’s, taking Erin to her side away from me. Suddenly I wanted to grab Erin away from Eleanor and have her to myself but that would be mean.

I was with Erin, Emma, Rien, Eleanor, Andy, and Zayn out for shopping. Niall was with Liam, fetching Danielle from the airport and Louis was god knows where. We invited him to go shopping with us but he didn’t take the invitation, no surprise there. Eleanor said she wanted some girl time with Erin and wanted to get to know Emma and Rien more so Louis let her come. Plus she was dying to shop. Zayn as well. Me on the other hand, I was here for Erin.