Absolution ➺ H.S. AU

Chapter 25 ➺ Harry

I lay in bed next to Paisley, feeling emotionally drained, but yet so energized, a confusing juxtaposition within my mind. This entire time, it's been her. It's always been her.

Fate brought us together that night, and now I understand. This was all meant to happen and all meant to work out.

I still fell jittery from the second kiss that she initiated. I was surprised, to say the least, but nonetheless it had me feeling a lot more assured that she feels somewhat of the same as me. And here I am smiling like a fucking fourteen year old boy who just asked out his crush because she's laying in my arms.

I don't know what's to come after this, and I know we're going to have a lot of stuff to work out, but right now, all I want to focus on is the feeling of laying next to Paisley, her head against my chest and her small body engulfed in my arms and how much she means to me.

* * * * * * *

"Harry."

When I opened my eyes, I was momentarily confused as to where I was, because Paisley's room was somewhere I'd only been once or twice. Soon enough, however, the events of the night came back to me and I felt a huge weight seem to come with it. Not that I was upset, but I knew Paisley and I had a lot to talk through. Last night, it was easy to just not worry about it, but in the light of day, our problems were not so easily pushed aside.

I looked to my left to see Paisley sitting up in the bed beside me. She smiled wide and giggled, probably at my appearance, which I hadn't yet seen but would guess is probably not too amazing. She was still in her pajamas, her hair in a bun atop her head and fuzzy socks on her feet as she sat criss cross beside me. She looked so adorably cute, and I just wanted to gather her in my arms and kiss every inch of her face, but I didn't.

"What's so funny?" I asked, my voice deep, as I had just woken up.

"Your hair, Harry." She laughed, bringing her hand to my hair and ruffling it so it probably looked even worse.

"You're not helping." I grumbled, moving to sit up beside her.

"Oh shush." She said. I looked over to her and her eyes met mine, neither of us saying anything, both knowing we had so much to talk about.

"Good morning." She finally said, breaking the silence and leaning forward to press a hesitant kiss to my cheek. The heat of her lips burned against my skin where they made contact.

"Morning. How are you?" I asked. She looked at me and nodded her head, as if she was contemplating how she actually felt.

"Good. And you?"

"Good." I replied. "We have a lot to talk about." She nodded at my remark, but averted eye contact.

"My mom is probably making breakfast. Do you want to talk after we eat?" She asked.

"Sure." I said.

"Alright. I'll head downstairs. The bathrooms right over there and there's an extra toothbrush under the sink. And feel free to use my brush to fix up those lovely locks of yours." She joked.

"Shut up, Pay." I joked back. "I'll be right down." She smiled back and turned around to go downstairs.

I went into the bathroom and used the said toothbrush. I made my hair halfway presentable by wetting it down and smoothing it out a little bit. I was very nervous about eating breakfast with Paisley's family, but her mom did seem somewhat more welcoming last night and hopefully spending time with her will get her to understand me more.

After shrugging at my appearance in the mirror, I exited the bathroom and from the stairs I could hear voices coming from the kitchen. When I got down there, Paisley's Aunt Kara was standing at the sink and her mother was setting the table. Paisley looked up immediately when I entered, waving me over to the table.