Chiot - H.S. (on hold)

.6 better swim before you drown

a/n : this is going to be a long chapter.. also this is my fourth time trying to write this part to just stay with me folks

***

The lift music was never as cinematic as it was as I made my way down to the first floor. It wasn't quite clear to me why I was so nervous; I had met many celebrities before him, and I would meet many more after him. 

He was just so..

Personal?

Human?

Does any of that make sense?

As the lift doors opened, I saw him sitting in the lobby, staring down at his hands, his arms resting on his thighs. 

"Um, Harry?" I walked towards him slowly. 

"Nancy!" He smiled, getting up from the lobby bench. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I have my sketches." I laughed shyly, patting my tote-bag on my hip. 

"Okay, let's go! I know this bistro only two blocks down, the food's pretty good." He started out the tall glass doors of the Gucci building. 

As we walked down the pavement I tried my hand at small talk. "So, you've been here before, then?" I asked. 

"Oh, yeah." He let out a small laugh and looked towards me with a smile on his face. "I'm a pretty big fan of Gucci. Worked with 'em a few times and love 'er clothes." 

I nodded and tried not to match his eye contact. "Yeah, they're pretty cool."

"How long 've you been working there?" 

"About a year and a half, two years, maybe? I'll  be honest though, 've never really explored the shops and restaurants around our building." 

He stopped walking suddenly, hands on his hips. "You're telling me that even after two years,  you've never explored around where you work?" He smiled and laughed, shaking his head while pretending to be sassy. 

People were starting to stare at us. "No," I started quietly, "I haven't. Now can we please keep walking? People are looking at us."

He looked around him, hands still on his hips. His smile turned to a grin. "Well, since you don't know these roads very well," he extended his arm out for me to take, "I should show you 'round. Don't want you to get lost now." He winked. 

Hesitantly, I took his arm. I felt a rose cloud wash over my face as I continued to avoid looking into his eyes. Gisselle had spent hours talking about his green/blue/grey eyes. Lord, if Giselle knew what I was doing..

"Hi, Harry! I'm a big fan!" 

While I was contemplating the placement of my arm in relation to the angel walking beside me, a young girl had pranced up to us. 

"Can I get a picture?"

"Em, yeah, of course!" He said, letting go of my arm. "Nancy Townes, would you take our picture please?"

I couldn't help but smile, even though I was confused and a bit uncomfortable. "Yeah, sure." I smiled. The girl handed me her phone and wrapped her arm around Harry's waist. 

He smiled and held up a peace-sign. I tried to take a picture without my photographer's mind taking over. It didn't have to be perfectly framed, follow the rule of thirds, show the subject in an interesting yet flattering way..

It was just a picture for a fan.

"Thanks so much!" She exclaimed, looking at the picture I had taken. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you! I love you so much!"

"Thank you, love. Have a wonderful day, treat people with kindness!" With that, Harry held out his arm again for me to take. 

"Why did you call me by my full name?" I asked through a laugh as we started walking again.

"You have a nice name, really just rolls right off the tongue," he answered, making dramatic motions with the hand on his other side. 

"You know," I started, "a lot of people just call me 'Townes'." 

That was true, ever since I was a teenager teachers started calling me by my surname. Soon after, it stuck with my classmates too. 

Before long, it started to feel like another first name. 

***

"Lovely place, isn't it?" Harry asked as we sat down at a small booth towards the back of the restaurant. 

I looked around, suddenly very aware of the non expensive clothes I was wearing. "Yeah, it's lovely."

"So does your family call you 'Townes' as well?" He asked, setting down his menu. 

"Oh, em, yeah. My grandmum has called me Townes since I was born. She didn't like the name Nancy, and I'm one of the only Townes kids anyway, so it worked out." 

He looked rather puzzled, yet kept an inquisitive smile on his face. 

"Two teas, one green and one herbal." The waitress, coming out of nowhere, set our drinks down in front of us. 

Green tea is underrated. 

"Thank you." Harry told her kindly. 

"Not a problem. Your food should be out shortly." With that, she disappeared back into the dining room. 

"Tell me more about your family, they seem interesting," he said, taking an apt sip from his tea.

"Well.." I started. I looked up from my own drink to meet his eyes for the first time since we stepped out of the building. He was listening attentively, his small smile making a return yet again. "I was born in France, but like days after I was born my parents separated. My dad moved to the states and my mum and I moved to the UK."

***

We talked for hours, it seemed. He asked more about my family, and told me about his own. I told him about how I had never been to North Carolina to visit my father, and how much I missed him. It wasn't until we finished our meals that I realized I had never talked about that with anyone before. I'm sure Giselle knew how much I missed my family in the states, but she'd never heard me say it out loud. 

He laughed a bit. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing.. I just.." I trailed off. 

I've never felt more at home than when I'm with you.

***