The Chase (h.s. au)

Chapter 8

Lauren.

People watch as I walk into the party, my feet in sandals and my hair pulled up but a few curls reside around my face. My eyes scan the crowd of people, unsure of what to do with myself. There are people I've never even seen before here.

As I walk further into the party, people are kissing and lap-dancing others like crazy. There's a faint scent of weed in the air and I know that this is one of the more outrageous parties.

"Lauren," I hear, my lips curving into a smile. I turn amongst the people around me, Harry pushing his way towards me. His torso adorns a plaid shirt, jeans on his legs. He's so effortlessly...hot.

"How is your head?" I ask, his lips curving.

"Fine, fine. Thanks for asking."

I nod and he grabs my hand, walking with me as we move into the living room. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of something different and I look over. Immediately regretting it, I move closer to Harry suddenly.

"Is everything alright?" he asks, but a loud, obnoxious voice cuts him off.

"Ren!"

My eyes close as I heavily sigh, nervous about the upcoming events. Harry watches me with a confused expression and I turn, facing one of the most arrogant boys I've ever met.

"Hi Patrick," I say, his brown hair flowed upward perfectly.

"Why are you with this dipshit?" he asks, my head shaking.

"Don't say these things," I say, tightening my fingers around Harry's hand.

"What? Does your father know your with him?" he laughs, my head nodding.

"He surely can't approve of him. Look at him. You're telling me you would go for him and not me," he asks, clearly misunderstanding.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," I tell him, Patrick moving towards me. Harry steps in and presses a hand to his chest, Patrick glaring at him.

"Don't touch her," Harry states, my eyes looking up at the interaction.

"Don't tell me what to do, poor boy," Patrick say, Harry nearly losing it. I pull his hand back and away from the party, leading Harry outside.

"He was going...he-you two had a thing?" Harry stumbles, my lips sighing.

"He was one of the boys my parents set me up with."

"But I thought I was your first kiss," he whispers, my hands tightly held between his fingers.

"You were. Trust me, he tried but I wouldn't let that creep anywhere near me," I say, his eyes looking in mine. He's cute and I admire how he stood up for me.

"Let's take a walk," he suggests, my head nodding.

Our walk is silent and we share small cheek kisses every once in a while, both of us smiling. There's one time where we both went and ended up kissing each other, my heart fluttering. We ended up laughing and he pulled me closer, kissing my forehead lightly before we entered the house.

Before either of us register anything, Harry is shoved against the wall by Patrick and his back hits a picture frame.

"You think you can get with a girl like Lauren, don't you? You're a lame-ass," Patrick says, Harry shoving him off.

"Shut the fuck up. She's important to me," Harry says, shoving Patrick's chest. I don't want to interfere. This is serious, but Harry's words leave my heart beating wildly.