Ever Since New York // H.S. - ON HOLD

CHAPTER 20 - SHUT UP

A/N - That's how I picture Harry throughout this chapter...do what you will with that info...

. . .

"Can I ask questions now?" He has a smirk plastered across his face, forcing his dimples to burn holes into the sides of his cheek. Biting down on his lower lip slightly, he fights back a toothy grin. Shaking my head, my heart races like it's competing in the Tour de France. Closing the piano cover, I pull my sweaty hands into the sleeves of my sweatshirt and gather my mess of song notes.

"This was stupid...You can leave, it's fine." My voice is sharp as I shoot daggers at him with my words. Standing up from the piano bench, I make a start toward the kitchen. I need water or else my body is going to overstimulate very quickly.

"Amber..." I ignore him as my feet keep carrying me forward. Before I can cross the threshold into the kitchen, a strong, forceful hand pulls me back by my elbow. My bones turn to ice as I freeze mid step. I have been in this exact situation way too many times before, yet this feels different.

Harry pulls me back and turns my body to meet his gaze. Those emerald eyes are bright, and even in the dim lighting, I can still see the glow radiating from every unique fleck of green. His features are soft, completely free of anger and full of so much admiration. He's not going to hurt me.

"It wasn't stupid." Biting down on the inside of my cheek vigorously with my brows knitted together, I can't fight the swirling whirlpool in my stomach. He lets out a brief, airy laugh, shaking his head slightly in response.

"I know how hard that must have been for you...I write songs for a living, you know." The slight sarcastic tone in his voice causes a ripple of relief to wave over me, releasing the tension in my facial features. Rolling my eyes, I lick my lips and bite down on my lip as I keep my eyes locked on his.

"Sometimes it is easier to let the music speak for you. Yet still, it's really hard to be vulnerable in that way...I could never think anything you write is stupid. I have countless amounts of unfinished songs that are bloody nonsense...Please don't think you opening up is stupid." There is so much genuinity in his voice and my heart rate quickens still, but for a much different reason. How is it that someone can be so supportive? I thought only Lisa said things like that.

I didn't even realize, but Harry had slowly pulled the two of us back into the living room. Words have escaped my mind, rendering me speechless in this moment as Harry continues to lead me toward the couch. With our gaze completely intertwined, not once have our eyes left one another. I watch him intensely as he sits down on the sofa and tugs gently on my hands to encourage me to sit with him. Folding one leg under the other, I sit comfortably while also slightly on edge. He takes hold of the papers, releasing them from my firm grasp and places them on the coffee table in front of us.

"You know...I've had plenty of songs written about me before, but yours is by far my favorite." He speaks softly, his words erupting swiftly from his lips and his voice truly is like music to my ears. He pulls my arms forward to his waist as he wraps his arms around my small frame. The familiar vanilla scent fills my lungs, sending tingles down my spine as I release a breath I didn't know I was holding. Every ounce of tension erases from my body as I relish in the warm comfort of his arms.

We sit wrapped in each other's arms for a few minutes, basking in the moment. I feel his breath on my face as my head rests on his shoulder. For once, my mind isn't clouded with thoughts and it is as if Harry's embrace completely eased my mind. All feelings of anxiety and irritation have withered away. With one hand on my lower back and the other just above my knee, I feel him start to draw slow circles into my skin. The action sends goose bumps across my entire body as the tingling feeling returns to my spine.