the moon [h.s.] - EDITING

twenty-five.

Harry doesn't know how long he'll be gone. He knows Beth will freak, but he has enough vacation time to be gone for a while. So, he's packing. He's filling his duffle bag with warm clothes as Luna is waiting for him in a cab outside his flat building. He rushes while packing and probably forgets something. He's only hoping Luna won't change her mind and take off without him.

He finishes in about ten minutes, just as he promised. He has the bag strap over his shoulder and he double checks if he has his wallet by patting the pocket of his coat. He sees Levi in the living room cuddling Jade on the couch. "So, um... I'm gonna be gone for a few days. Maybe a week? I'll let you know if anything changes." He tells his flatmate.

Levi looks over at him and sits up with Jade. "Okay, but where are you going?" He asks him.

"Iowa," he says while walking towards the front door.

"Iowa? Isn't that like in the middle of nowhere?" Jade speaks up.

"I think that's where his girlfriend is from," Levi whispers and it makes Jade giggle.

Harry opens the door and looks back at them. He doesn't bother to tell them that Luna isn't his girlfriend. "I'll see you guys..." He waves before walking out. He closes the door behind him then makes his way down.

He lets out a breath of relief when Luna is still there. He walks towards the cab then gets in. His duffel bag rests in the middle between them. "We can head to La Guardia now. Thank you," he tells the driver.

Luna's arms are crossed and she's looking out the window. She's no longer crying, but her eyes are red and puffy. She's quiet as the driver is heading towards the airport.

He doesn't know what to say. He doesn't know if he should say something. He just reaches over to put a hand on her thigh as a way to let her know he's there. He's there for her.

She looks over at him after a moment and meets his eyes. She lets her arms uncross, then lets a hand rest on top of his. "You have a chance to back out," she speaks up. "If you decide not to go then I'll consider this as you dropping me off at the airport." She's playing with his rings, tracing his initials as she looks down at them.

"I'm going," he assures her. He watches her fingers on his rings and it amuses him. The lights of all the flashing billboards they pass by reflects against her glossy white nail polish. She stops tracing at his rings and Harry looks up to see her looking at him again. He sees her nod at him. "Let me just let my boss know I won't be coming into work."

She nods again just as Harry pulls his phone out of the inner pocket of his coat. He looks down at his screen then begins to compose an email to Beth.

'To: Beth Randolph

From: Harry Styles

Subject: Time off for emergency

Beth,

I am writing to request an urgent time off for the entire week starting tomorrow. I am dealing with an emergency and will be out of town. I hope you understand.

Thanks,

Harry'

It took him a while to write a short email. He kept trying to figure out how to imply that he doesn't want to be bothered. He knows Beth might reply quickly and will probably mention the online advice column he's supposed to start on soon, but he puts his phone away out of respect for Luna and what she is going through.

»»

It takes Luna and Harry all night to get to Des Moines, Iowa. The only flights available for the night were connected flights with economy seating. They were also the only ones they could afford. They boarded the first flight a little after midnight and arrived in North Carolina two hours later. From there, Harry and Luna waited almost another two hours to board their final flight to Des Moines. They didn't talk much through all that travel. Well, she didn't talk much and he gets why.

It's five in the morning and their flight is about to land. They lost an hour over the different time zones. Harry didn't really sleep when they boarded the final flight. He stayed awake for another two hours because of the amount of coffee he consumed during their layover in North Carolina.

Luna is sleeping. Her head is resting against his shoulder and he doesn't want to move her. She finally looks comfortable, but he knows he has to wake her. He takes a moment to admire the light freckles on the bridge of her nose. Her eyelashes are so long and he wishes to see those eyes. He then shakes her lightly.

"Luna," he whispers. "We're landing."

She takes in a breath then opens her eyes. She sits up and looks at him. "We are?" She then yawns. She covers her mouth and then stretches in her seat by the window. She lifts up the visor of her window to look out.

Harry catches the view outside the airplane window. No sunlight is peeking through. It's dark, cloudy, and he sees pillowy white land all over.

"Shit," Luna says under her breath.

"What's wrong?" He asks her.

She shakes her head. She's massaging her hand then switches to massage the other. "Nothing... I think I just slept wrong so they hurt."

Harry watches her hands then reaches out to take one. "Oh, maybe you leaned against it while you were sleeping," he says. He knows what it's like to sleep on an arm and feeling it hurt the moment he wakes up. He uses both hands to give her a hand massage. His thumbs move in circles over her skin.

She's letting him. Her head rests back against the seat as she watches the way he's making her hand feel better.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please buckle up? We are now landing in Des Moines, Iowa. I do ask you to remain seated once we reach the ground and wait till we come to a complete stop. Thanks for choosing us. We hope you fly with us again soon."

Harry and Luna listen to the flight attendant speak through the intercom. They look at each other. Luna's the first to talk. "You really came along, didn't you?"

Harry smiles small at her. "Of course I did... That's what friends are for."

Luna takes her hand away from his. She's buckling up and she's messing with the strap of the belt. "I don't plan on talking about it, by the way. At least, not right now. You know, about your kiss with... you know." She's not looking at him.

Harry looks down and nods slowly. He still can't believe himself. Maybe it's better they don't talk about it. "Okay," he whispers.

She doesn't say anything else. She only nods and then looks out the window when they're reaching the ground.

The plane shakes as they're landing then finally, it's smooth. They made it safely and now Harry doesn't know what's next to come.