The Encounter |H.S|

23

I knock on Harry's room door while awkwardly standing in the hallway, wearing grey sweatpants and a white oversized sweater and holding a glass bottle of whiskey that I brought from the hotel bar.

Harry opens the door with his eyebrows pulled low, his eyes coldly gazing at me while I look at him pathetically with a timid smile. "Hello Evelyn, don't you think it's quite late?" 

"It's almost midnight so I'd say no." I mutter, showing him the bottle I brought with me and he eyes it with narrowed eyes before taking it away from my hand and stepping aside so that I could come in.

I enter his room silently, watching as he closes the door hurriedly. "So uh, where is Charlotte?"

"She has some friends here, they went out or something of the sort." He states, walking past me and setting the bottle on his bedside table before turning to look at me with raised eyebrows.

"Oh, well that's actually good." I mumble, looking around his room and frowning at the fact that it is way bigger than mine.

"Very delightful I'd say."

I merely nod, glancing at the balcony and pressing my lips at the sight of it. Why does he have one and I don't? It's rather unfair.

"So, wh–"

"May I take you to the balcony?" He interrupts, gesturing to the big looking balcony with his hand and I hesitantly nod, grabbing the whiskey before he had a chance to and stepping into the balcony.

The balcony is a concrete ledge, square rough edges and a rusty rail, below the city flows in its tense way, bustling and honking. But ten floors up I am far enough removed from it to be a passive observer, not troubled by its strife.

I notice a small round table on the corner and I decide to set the bottle I am holding on top of it, turning around and revealing Harry already staring at me attentively. "I wish I also had a balcony."

"I can change your room." He frowns, leaning his back against the railing, the city lights illuminating his face, in fact, it is the only source of light we seem to have.

"Oh no, there's no need, I was just telling you." I awkwardly scratch the back of my neck before sighing and deciding that it is time to start drinking.

I open the bottle and immediately bring it to my lips, not caring about Harry for a brief moment, feeling the sharp burn on my tongue and throat.

I put the bottle where it was previously and stare at what is in front of me, the pitch-black curtain draped over the sky and the twisted, warped shapes that the stars make against the blackness and the way the city seems to shine brighter than the sky.

"Come here."

I let my gaze fall on Harry, who is looking at me with a surprising soft look on his face, his arms crossed over his chest made me believe that maybe he didn't speak at all, but the look on his face told me otherwise.

I take slow strides towards him and he surprises me by wrapping his arms around my waist, intertwining his fingers behind my back so they don't fall to his sides. "Look, about what I said in the car today about regretting th–"

"I understand," He interrupts me in a quiet tone, "I would probably say the same, I recognize that you still don't fully trust me."

"You do?"

"Yes, and it's understandable. It's fine." He murmurs, his eyes piercing into mine and his eyebrows pulled low. I move my arms, sliding them up his arms and settling them on his shoulders, catching a glimpse of his lips twitch upwards in the slightest.

"I just need time, you know?" I mumble, watching as he slowly nods his head before resting his forehead on mine.

"I'll give you anything you need."

My heart flutters helplessly at his words, letting them sink in for a few seconds before grinning at him while he keeps his forehead pressed to mine.

In a swift move, he straightens his back, looking around the place before grabbing the bottle of whiskey I had forgotten about in the black round table. He brings it to his lips, his gaze not once leaving mine before he offers me the container of the alcoholic beverage once again, which I gladly accept.

I take a large gulp, savouring the taste as much as I can before setting the bottle in its prior place. Before I could process anything else, Harry dips his head down and begins nuzzling my neck with delicate kisses, so faint that it made me wonder if they were even real.

Warmth radiates from the spot where his lips just touch my neck, slowly spreading through the rest of me. Although it doesn't feel euphoric, that burning sensation of want is almost non-existent, it feels soft and sweet and the want is substituted by a tingly feeling in my stomach and where his lips touch. 

His fingers gently run up and down my spine and I take the chance to let my hands wander through his messy curls. He swings us from side to side as if we are dancing, and I let out a quiet laugh at his actions before he draws his head away from my neck with a little smile.

"I know I just said that I need time to get used to this, but the truth is that I could get used to this." I snicker, watching as he flashes me a charming looking smile.

"Yeah?"

"Yes, I like it when you're not a moody asshole." I state truthfully, trying my hardest not to laugh as he rolls his eyes playfully.

"I'll try to contain it."  

I open my mouth to speak but he shushes me by pressing his lips to mine, it’s soft and gentle and chaste and there might not be any fireworks or sparks, but it’s better than that – it’s a wave of warmth that fills me up, spilling out from my heart and the warmth of Harry's lips on mine and rushing to every corner of my body, a feeling that makes me smile into the kiss.

Surprisingly, a knock on the door is heard and we slowly pull away from each other, both frowning at the door. "Stay right here, I'll go there."

He leaves one last kiss on my lips before stepping out of the balcony. I watch attentively as Harry opens the door and reveals Megan looking more anxious than ever.

She starts speaking and I can see the hurry in her movements while Harry's back visibly tenses up, I can't see his face, and all of this interaction is making me feel fearful and worried.

He suddenly leaves the room with fast strides, leaving a nervous looking Megan standing there. I decide to make my presence known by running over to her side with a frown, watching as her eyes widen at me. "What's happening? Where's Harry?"

"I just caught Niall and Charlotte fucking." She blurts out and I widen my eyes like hers, feeling my heart drop at her words.

I hope you're enjoying the story!♡