searching the stars // h.s.

13

"don't open the door." madison urges me from the other side of the phone.

"what are you talking about?" i ask, not knowing what she's talking about since i just woke up.

"just trust me, okay?" she sounds stressed out and i shake my head.

"madison, i just woke up. i don't have time for thi-" i begin to hang up the phone when someone knocks on the front door.

"maryah..." madison whispers and i feel my heart sink.

"madison," i slowly walk towards the front door. "who is at my house?"

"don't kill me," she sighs. "or him."

"him?" i ask, looking out the window beside the front door and seeing harry standing on my front porch. "madison."

"we told him not to show up because we know you've been exhausted and you don't want to talk to him but he-" she begins to ramble and i stop her.

"no, it's okay. i'm gonna go." i end the call and open the door.

"maryah." he stares at me in shock and i smile softly at how nervous he is.

he's wearing a fine line sweatshirt with baggy jeans and white vans. his hair is a mess and it takes everything in me not to reach up and fix it.

"hi," i whisper softly. "you can come in if you want."

i move out of the doorway and he walks into the house, sitting on the sofa as i close the door.

"i'm sorry i showed up unannounced." he apologizes and i shake my head.

"no, it's okay." i sit beside him. "i was thinking about texting or calling you."

i honestly was, it didn't matter to me if it was just aimless small talk, i just wanted to hear his voice more than anything.

"do you want some water?" i ask, beginning to stand up when he grabs my arm gently, pulling me back down.

"it's alright." he shakes his head and i nod. i stare at the floor before speaking again.

"i don't think that we should be around each other. when you're in the room you get my eyes." i break the silence, shaking my head. "you open your mouth and i'm hypnotized."

"i can make you laugh until you cry." he tries to change the subject and i roll my eyes.

he's never been good with confrontation.

"well, you've got all of my attention." i sigh and he places his hand on my leg.

"and you you've got all of mine."

i nod softly, and look down at the floor again.

"baby..." he whispers, his voice raspy and i turn to meet his eyes. "i can't help but call you that."

"even though you shouldn't say it." part of me wanted him calling me that to be intentional. god, maybe even all of me.

"you were my baby girl..." his voice sounds like silk and it almost makes me cry. i miss how things used to be.

"we'll never get us back." i shake my head, i attempt to pull both of us back to reality but he stops me.

"well i don't mind being patient." he shrugs and i almost laugh at how insane he sounds. he has millions of people falling at his feet, that would kill to be with him and he's choosing me.

"what..?" i furrow my eyebrows, not believing his previous statement.

"i broke up with camille."

what? there's no way. he was head over heels in love with her. i was there, i saw the way he looked at her.

"harry..." my voice cracks.

"can you let me call you mine?" he asks and it feels like the world has stopped spinning.

time is frozen right now.

"you don't have to." he quickly reassures me as i look away. there's no way he's seriously asking me out.

not only did he call me a home wrecker, but he just ended things with camille and he didn't reach out for a few days.

"i just miss us..." he speaks again and his words cause me to face him again.

he misses us.

not just me. not just who he used to be. us.

"maryah, can you say something?" he asks, backing away a bit as i stare at him like a puzzle i can't figure out.

all the pieces are there and the puzzle is finished, it's just blurry. i can't figure out what it's supposed to be.

"maryah. talk to me, please."