Red String [h.s] (Completed)

Chapter 49

"I can't seem to shake these vultures off of my trail
Power is made by power being taken
So I keep on running to protect my situation"

Amy wakes up the next morning to Harry gently stroking her face with his hand. He is sitting, dressed on the edge of the bed next to her.

"Morning beautiful," he says softly to her.

"What time is it?" Amy asks sleepily.

"Six."

"Why are you up so early?"

"Will you come with me? For a quick walk?"

"Baby, what's going on?" a touch of panic in her voice.

"Just please," and he gives her his best puppy dog eyes.

"Okay. Okay," she says begrudgingly.

Amy throws on a pair of shorts and grabs one of Harry's hoodies. They get in the elevator and go down to the lobby. Harry is silent the whole time, just smiling at Amy mischievously and she wonders what he is up to. She is too tired to really process all of this, as her and Harry hadn't fallen asleep until after one in the morning.

As soon as they step outside, Harry grabs Amy's hand and walks. She is surprised at his bold gesture but happily lets him lead the way. The sun has recently come up and the streets are eerily empty. They walk next to the cove that the hotel is on, enjoying the morning sunshine and the near quiet. When they get to the lookout at the end, Harry puts his arms around Amy and slowly kisses her lips. Amy doesn't even close her eyes, too scared that someone might be watching them.

Harry feels her reluctance and pulls back for a minute, smiling at her.

"Every year on New Year's Day, for the past five years, I've gone out for a walk really early in the morning before everyone is awake. I never bring security. It's the only time during daylight hours that I know for sure that no one will disrupt me. This is the first year that I have brought someone else."

Amy stares back at him in awe.

"I just wanted to share this moment of freedom with you. Makes me feel 'normal' for once. I never realized how anxious I feel most of the time in public until I started doing this. The feeling of constantly being watched. I want to protect you from that. I don't want you to leave me because of all the baggage I come with."

Harry looks down at his feet and then back up at the horizon, scared to meet Amy's eyes. This is one reason Harry hasn't really dated anyone who wasn't in the industry like him. He could never figure out how you got to know someone during the dating phase and not have the overwhelming pressure from the outside. But somehow, Harry and Amy had managed to do it. Almost accidentally. Harry realizes it's the distance apart that allowed them to get to know each other. While communicating via FaceTime isn't his favorite (he would prefer the real thing) it gave them a fighting chance at developing their relationship privately.

"I was scared you were ashamed of me," Amy admits to him.

Harry snaps his head towards Amy at her words. His eyebrows raised in shock.

"Ashamed? Of what?"

"I don't know," she says nervously. "You're this famous, mega successful person. Who am I?"

"Are you kidding?" he stares at her in shock. He sees that she isn't joking as he has never seen her look so insecure. In fact, looking back, Harry can't think of a single instance since Vancouver that he thought she seemed insecure. She has always seemed so sure of herself. He thinks she must do a good job of hiding that part of herself. Harry takes both of Amy's hands in his and looks at her.