Blind // H.S.

fourteen

We ride for around 10 minutes, hand in hand, until we finally come to the front of a restaurant in the west village. We are immediately met with flashing lights, so bright I think I may go blind if I look at them for too long.

"Shit," I hear Harry mumble. "How the hell did they find out this is where we would be."

I stare at him, I know I have a look of sheer terror in my eyes. I never have been one for flashy relationships. I mean, obviously I've never dated anyone famous but even in my other love affairs I have always wanted to keep it on the down low. I'm a private person, I have always liked to keep to myself. But I guess this just comes with the territory of being close to someone who the public adores as much as they do Harry. I was naive to not have thought of this as a possibility when being seen with him.

"We don't have to do this," Harry says. "We can head back to my place, or yours, or where ever you feel most comfortable. I know this is a lot and I'm sorry we even have to have this discussion-"

"It's okay Harry," I cut him off. "It's really okay. I'm okay." I say with a soft smile.

"Are you sure?" he says as he takes his hand and brushes a strand of hair that has made its way in front of my eyes. I nod my head and again give him a soft smile for reassurance.

"Okay. Stay there. I'm going to come open your door for you, when we walk in keep your head down. Don't listen to anything they say, they're going to scream and shout questions that are irrelevant and we'll go inside and it'll all be over." He says in a rush and starts to open his door.

I take a deep breath and shut my eyes for just a moment. 'How is this real right now' I think. 

I hear the door swing open and see a hand reach forward to grab mine. I take it and duck as I crawl out of the car and into the blaze of bright lights. I keep my head down, like Harry instructed, and he leads me through the swarm of paparazzi that has now surrounded us.

"HARRY WHO IS SHE?"

"NEW GIRLFRIEND?"

"AH SO YOU'VE MOVED ON FROM KENDALL I SEE?"

"NO MORE SUPERMODELS? JUST A REGULAR GIRL NOW?"

Harry pushes through the crowd as he holds my hand tightly until we make it through the door of the restaurant. I can't believe that just happened honestly. I'll admit, some of the comments stung. I can't compare to the supermodels that Harry has been with before and I know it. I'm just a normal girl from North Carolina. No fancy clothes, no famous family, and honestly nothing special to bring to the table for Harry.

My thoughts are interrupted as Harry wraps his arm around my lower waist and pulls me in close to him. He leans down and leans close to whisper "I told you not to listen to them, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." His words send a shiver through my spine. I'm sure he sensed my shift in mood from the car to inside the restaurant. I never imagined some stupid comments from people who don't even know me would effect me so much and so quickly. But it's nice to hear Harry reassure me, even though it's hard to believe right here in this moment.