College Boy [h.s]

Thirty Eight.

Teagans Pov

"Have you gotten any interesting calls this week?" I ask Louis innocently, trying not to sound too curious.

It was a Tuesday night, and I was wondering if Shawn had been in contact with Louis just yet.

"Teagan you can stop doing that, I know about you talking to Shawn."

"Oh... you do?" I ask.

"Yes."

"So he called you?"

"Yep."

"So are you two-"

"I don't know," he shrugs.

"I'm sorry Lou," I apologize. "I just felt so bad and don't blame Harry, I practically begged him to tell me."

"I'm not mad," he says, gripping onto my hand gently. "Thanks, Tea, you're a good friend."

I offer him a kind smile that he returns.

"So really? You aren't mad?"

"Of course not. I understand. I just love you and Payton so much I never really wanted you to be involved in it," he admits.

"You still could've told me."

"You know why I didn't," he frowns.

"I know," I sigh. "You're a good man, Louis. Thanks for always lookin out for me and Pay."

"Always will."

•Four Weeks Later•

"Kiss?" I ask with an innocent smile as we sit on the couch.

Harry rolls his eyes with a chuckle, leaning in to press a peck to my lips.

"Don't roll your eyes, mister," I tease, tapping his chin.

"I would never, love," he says with a hint of playful sarcasm.

I bite my lip at the expression. It was something simple that everyone here said, but it still made me feel some kind of way.

We hadn't exchanged the words in over three years. But I loved Harry. I love Harry, present tense. I just couldn't quite muster the courage to say it aloud.

I think we both knew it though without having to state the words.

"You make me so happy," I murmur, laying a kiss to his jawline as we snuggled.

"Yeah?"

I nod, "yeah."

"You make me happy too, babe."

We had started seeing eachother again over 2 months ago now. We never announced ourselves as anything official like boyfriend and girlfriend, but that doesn't matter.

He made me happy, and I made him happy. We were exclusive to one another, and labels weren't the most important thing to us like when we were younger.

He looks over at me and our eyes connect. Something about the way we were looking at eachother in the moment was like none before. Almost as if he was contemplating something, but I'm not sure what.

He then coughs gently, looking away from my gaze and back to the television screen that was currently playing Modern Family.

I sit there, simply watching him in his relaxed state, my legs crossed with his in a comfortable manner, our bodies smuggled closely on the couch, and my mind suddenly wanders to the first time I'd accidentally said those three words.

It was back at church camp. We had known each other about 2 months when I started to realize how deep my feelings really ran for the curly headed boy...

How many girl friends have you had?" I ask.

"None."

"None? Like never ever ? Come on..." I quizzed, squeezing his hand a bit jokingly.

"No I'm serious," He chuckled, looking down at me with a smile.

"I just don't get it," I muttered in complete confusion.

"Get what?"

"How the heck has no one claimed you before, it makes literally no sense. If you were a book character you'd probably be some bad ass boy with a shady yet incredibly heartbreaking past who fucks multiple women when they get upset over something stupid, and it takes you until the very last chapter to finally magically learn how to treat the girl who changed you for the better.  But you're actually like super nice, and completely adorable and lord I just fuckin love you." I laughed, trying to make sense of the whole thing.

Wait what did I just say.

Play it cool Tea, play it cool.

I coughed somewhat awkwardly. "You know? Ha..."

Way to go.

"Guess what." He whispered.

"What?" I whispered comically back.

"I heard you, and I don't care because obviously you didn't mean it. And I'm not someone who flips out over a word- smooth sailing. I effing love you too." He said, and my cheeks reddened at the words.

I snap back into reality as I realize where I am right now. Three years later, in that same place I was then. Knowing how I really feel and yet being so damn terrified of rejection that I don't just say the simple expression of effection.

So with a sudden boost of self confidence, I raise his knuckles to my lips, kissing them softly,

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

He smiles warmly, his mind drifting back to the summer of 2010, before he replies, "I effing love you too."