Addiction. (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter Thirty One.

He drove me to the field that he took me to on our first "anti date".

It was different this time though, less romantic and more... I don't know really. More peaceful? More gentle? More personal maybe?

This time we weren't having a picnic, I wasn't so nervous to be driven to a random field with an intimidating tattooed stranger.

This time we were relaxing, talking like we'd known each other for years. But don't get me wrong, my stomach still fluttered like an infestation of butterflies was in there, my heart pumped so fast and loud that I could hear it in my head, and he still scared me a little. But nothing like before. I knew exactly where he was taking me the second he turned down a certain street about 10 miles back. And this time I wasn't scared that he was gonna hurt me or kill me. I knew we were coming to his safe place meaning I'd be safe too.

We didn't get out of the car this time either. Well we did but not quite.

Harry sat on the bonnet of the car while I sat cross-legged on the gravely floor in front of him.

Harry's legs dangled down over the front of the car, his knees bent at the edge and his hands casually playing with the tears at his jeans while he daydreamed. He went from studying me to staring into the clouds above us. We had the cars radio playing quietly in the background and occasionally I caught him softly singing a random few lines of the songs being played. I wanted to compliment him on his voice but I was afraid that if I mentioned it then he'd stop doing it and I didn't want to take that risk. It was a quality about him that I had come to adore over the few hours we'd been here.

Me, on the other hand, I borrowed a sheet of paper from Harry's notebook and I've been sketching from the moment I sat down.

Just as I finished off my drawing Harry spoke up for the first time since we got here.

"This isn't awkward right? I mean, we haven't spoken the whole time so I understand if you're bored"

His hand rubbed the back of his neck as he avoided my eyes, the sight of this tattooed and pierced bad boy suddenly getting all mumbly and nervous was a sight I couldn't help but smile at.

"What? What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing I just... This is perfect Harry"

Well it was perfect. I was peaceful and relaxing and I wish I could spend an hour of everyday this way.

"So what have you drawn?"

"A picture"

My patronising comment was either gonna piss him off or make him laugh.

And my heart could continue its beating pattern once the brunette in front of me crack a cheeky smile and raised his eyebrows at me, clearly amused with my response.

I think a lot of people are simply too scared of him to give him cheeky replies, everyone just tends to stutter and tell him whatever he wants to know before he can hurt them. Much like me when I first met him. I was a stuttering mess. And most of the time I still am, but in a different way. I'm less scared and more nervous.

I can tell from his face exactly how this is gonna end..

"Show me"

"I don't want to"

I held to paper to my chest as if to guard it with my soul, even though he hadn't even reached for it. And ignoring the fact that he couldn't actually reach it from the bonnet of the car.

"Oh come on, I just wanna peak"

His voice was as playful as his cheeky smile, almost melting my insides.. But not quite.

"Sorry, but this isn't an art gallery"

"I know it's not, cause if it was then your naked body would be the main attraction"

As the flirty comment hadn't caught me off guard enough, the wink that followed definitely did. My cheeks were burning like the sun was just centimetres away and I couldn't think of a single thing to say in response. All I can think about is the fact that he was clearly thinking about me naked to have come out with that comment and if he wasn't before then he was now.

The smug silence from Harry didn't last long, he hurled himself off the car and towards me where he snatched the paper and held it above his head so it was simply impossible for me to reach it and steal it off him. He was studying the drawing as I got to my feet in front of him and after I brushed off any dirt from my jeans I caught his eye sight. Locked there for a second before a word was said. I was nervous, I didn't intend for him to see my drawing but now I desperately wanted his approval.

"Francesca.... This is amazing"

I broke the eye contact and looked down at my own fingers as I twirled them amongst each other shakily.

"I'm serious, you're an amazing artist. Bit strange that you drew my hand on my knee mind"

His index finger went to the underneath of my chin and forced my head up again, forcing me to keep his eye sight locked with mine. His cheeky grin causing a smile to attempt to appear on my face but I pulled it away after a millisecond appearance.

"I'm nothing special Harry"

My voice came out as a whisper, I didn't believe a word he said. I was a crap artist and I'd been told it all my life.

"Listen to me Francesca. You have a real talent here, ignore everyone who's told you differently. I wouldn't lie to you"

That what really hit me. Those last few words that escaped his mouth.

I wouldn't lie to you.

Except he was lying to me. He was hiding something from me and I had let him take control of the situation for far too long.

"What aren't you telling me Harry? What was Niall talking about?"

That's when I ruined the sweet moment. My heart began beating too loud for me to hear much else. Harry stepped back, away from me. His hand dropped from my chin and the drawing fell to the ground beside him. His hand ran his fingers through the front of his hair as he tried to think of what to say next. My legs were gonna collapse of he didn't say something soon.

"I'm not trying to hurt you, it's for your own protection"

"How am I meant to believe that?"

"Can't you just trust me?"

My mind raced for an answer. Do I even trust him? Should I trust him? Should I trust Niall and leave Harry out of my life? What the hell is even going on?!

"How am I meant to trust someone who's getting beaten the shit out of but won't tell me why? How am I meant to trust someone who my best friend doesn't trust? How can I trust you when you're involved in something that involves me yet you won't tell me what it is?"

My voice had gone from quiet and vulnerable to loud and strong. I was angry. My blood was beginning to boil and images of possible answers to my questions were clouding my mind.

I lost sight of Harry and I lost strength in my legs. My knees went from beneath me and I fell to the ground. My head was spinning and I could feel sick raising in my throat. All I could see was Harry's terrified face as he rushed towards me.