Emma's POV.
I zipped up my coat as I walked towards Harry's house. My heart was beating so fast for two reasons. One Harry and I were gonna hang out and I'm so excited and two, we were going to the park and I had social anxiety so being around people in a public place, not my idea of fun. I always had social anxiety, ever since I was little. I don't have any other friends besides Harry actually, not because I don't want other friends, I'm just not good with people. I don't talk unless I'm spoken to, not even to the lunch ladies at school, Harry orders for me everyday. It took me years to warm up to Harry but he never gave up on me, I'm grateful for that. I softly knocked on the door, and patiently waited. The door slowly opened and Anne stepped out. "Oh hi Emma, how are you? I instantly looked at my shoes. "I'm good Anne thanks." I felt bad not making eye contact with her. I mean she's my best friends mum after all, but Harry found out about my anxiety disorder when I did and he told Anne. She's very understanding about it. "Come on in honey" Anne smiled. "Harry will be down soon." I nodded and slowly stepped into the house. I went over and sat on the couch and looked down at my hands on my lap. "Would you like something to drink Emma?" "N-no thank you" I whispered. "Ok just let me know if you need anything" she smiled at me. I nodded while brushing my braids behind my ear. She left the room and I waited patiently for Harry. I thought about knocking on his bedroom door because he said I could whenever I come over but I decided against it, besides I didn't mind waiting. "Ready to go Em?" Harry said stepping down the stairs. I got up and nodded while tucking another braid behind my ear, I do that when Im nervous. He engulfed me in a hug and I squeezed him back while breathing in his scent. He let me go and led me to the door. "Be back later mum" he yelled walking out of the house. He wrapped his arm around me as we walked. I like when he does that, it makes me feel safe. "So where are we going" I asked. "I was thinking the park, it's only a couple of blocks away." I nodded and we walked in comfortable silence towards the park.

"So are you nervous?" I asked while swinging as Harry pushed me. "Yes very nervous" he chuckled. "Don't worry, nerves are just a sign telling you that you're ready to face the challenge ahead of you." "Did Katie say that" I smiled. Katie was my therapist, Ive seen her once a week for almost three years. She's really helped me, well her and Harry. "Well yes, but it's true. You are so ready for this, I know you are" I smiled. He took a deep breath. He stopped pushing me and my swing came to a halt. I turned around and gave him a confused look. "Thanks Em" he said with a genuine smile. "No need to thank me mate, I'm just being honest" I said, and he chuckled. "No not for the advice, for always supporting me. You're such a caring, sweet, and kind soul and I don't deserve your friendship." I stared at him in awe. "Haz, why are you saying all this" he took a deep breath. "I don't know, there's a chance that I'll never see you again after I leave and Ive been thinking of all my big moments lately and, you're in all of mine" I smiled. "You're in all of mine too." "Really, is it because I'm your best friend?" " No, it's because you're my only friend" I chuckled. He rolled his eyes at me. "Em" he said nervously. "Yeah" he looked in my eyes and his eyes got glossy. "If I don't come back, I want you to know that um, you are my best friend forever" he said in a shaky voice. Tears slid down my brown cheeks. "Thanks Haz, and you're mine" he hugged me so tightly I almost couldn't breathe, but I didn't care. We both stayed like that for a while just hugging and silently crying in each other's arms. He finally let me go, and wiped my tears away with his thumbs. I smiled "see this is why I don't wear makeup" I laughed. He smiled and looked down then back up at my eyes. "You honestly don't need it Em" he smiled. "Thanks Haz" I blushed. "Hey wanna go on down the slide" he asked. I nodded smiling widely. "Race ya" he said and I hopped off the swing and ran towards the slide. I climbed up the steps until I reached the top. "So what are you gonna sing, do you know yet" I asked. "Um I think I'm gonna sing Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder" I smiled. "I love that song" I beamed. "I know me too, so you wanna go down the slide together?" "Heck yes" I smiled. He wrapped his arms around me and my heart was pounding against my rib cage, I couldn't help but blush. I always blush around Harry or when I'm embarrassed. Harry knows that I feel embarrassed very easily so he doesn't think anything of it. We went down the slide together and laughed when we slid off the slide and landed on the ground. "So, when exactly are you leaving" I asked trying to catch my breath from laughing so hard. He looked down "the day after tomorrow" he said . I hugged him tightly. "Haz you should be excited, this is huge" I whispered. "I-I am, but I'm just worried" he said. I pulled away from him and gave him a confused look. "Why, Haz you're gonna blow them away. You're such a good singer" I gushed. "No not about that Em" I tilted my head not understanding. "Then what are you worried about" he sighed and looked in my eyes. "You" he whispered. "You're worried about me, why" I asked shocked. "Em, you have a panic attack if someone smiles at you" I sighed and closed my eyes. "You can't even tell the lunch lady what you want for lunch, what are you gonna do? What if-" " whoa whoa whoa Haz slow down" I placed my hand on his cheek. " I'll be fine" I smiled at him. "Will you" he asked. Will I be ok? I mean I knew he was leaving and there's a good chance he wouldn't come back but I never actually thought about it. He's my only friend, who am I gonna have movie nights and sleep overs with now? Who am I gonna go to when I'm alone almost everyday after school when mom and dad are at the office working late? Who's gonna want to put up with my awkwardness and panic attacks? Will I even be able to open up to someone else? I didn't let it sink in about what all this means, but this is his dream. I can't be selfish, I have to support him no matter what. I looked deeply in his eyes and took a deep breath "Harry, listen we both knew this would happen sooner or later right? Plus I'm working with Katie on my anxiety, I can't always depend on you for every little thing, I know that now. I'm gonna be ok I need you to believe that." He looked deeply into my eyes and bit his lip. "Promise me that you won't worry about me and you'll just focus on your singing" I pleaded. I need him to know that I'll be ok then maybe I'll start believing it myself. He shook his head "Em" "promise me" I said not breaking eye contact. "I promise" he whispered. I hugged his chest tightly "I'm gonna be ok" I whispered more to myself then him. He let out a shaky breath "we should go" I said pulling away from him. "Do we really have to?" He asked softly. "Yea" I whispered. "We got the GCSES exams to study for" I chuckled. He groaned loudly. "All the more reason to stay here" he smirked. "Yea, no come on exams are in exactly ten hours." "Of course you would be counting down the minutes till the exam" he said rolling his eyes. "Hey you're the one who wanted to go somewhere at five in the morning" I chuckled. "Yeah to clear our heads and relax before taking the exam" he said defensively. I smiled "yes and it worked but we still need to study so come on" I said standing up and pulling him with me. "Alright aright you're such a stress head" he chuckled. I smiled "only when it comes to the important stuff" he smiled and wrapped his arm around me as we started walking back home. "So are we going to my place or yours" I asked. "Um, let's go to mine, so I don't have to carry my books very far" I rolled my eyes at him. "Aw don't worry love, I'll carry your books back to my place no problem" he smiled. I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder, he was such a gentleman. "Thanks Haz" "hey Em?" "Yeah," I asked looking up at him. He stopped walking and asked "why don't you date" he asked. I just rolled my eyes. "I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count" I said sarcastically. "What your anxiety?"he asked surprised. "Yea, Harry you're the only one I can actually talk to without being totally awkward." " Yeah I get why you want to be single but you shouldn't let your disorder control your happiness Em" I sighed. He was right, I just can't talk to other people. It's very hard for me. "Haz why are you telling me this?" I asked pulling him towards me so we can continue walking. "I don't know" he said and pushed his tongue against his cheek. He always does that when he's lying or upset. "Haz I know you, why are you telling me this" he sighed and watched his feet as we walked. He only did that when he was embarrassed. " Are you trying to set me up so I'll forget about you when you go or something?" I asked. "Well  it sounds terrible when you put it that way but...yea" I sighed. "Ok Haz, two things. One, it doesn't matter if I get a boyfriend or not, I will never ever forget you ever. I just hope you don't forget me either" I said looking down. He stood in front of me and lifted my chin with his fingers so I could look at him. "Em I could never forget you. Never ever" he said and pulled me into a hug. I smiled "two, I'll be fine. I'll find my own happiness here I promise, but that happiness will not be a boy" he shook out his curls. "Yea I know, I know" he chuckled. "I'll be fine. "Ok Em" "don't worry about me" I smiled and we continued walked towards my house. He sighed and tightened his grip around me. "Can we have a sleep over the night before you leave" I asked hopefully. "Yes of course" he smiled as we walked into my house. "Go on, get your stuff so we can study" he said and I ran upstairs and into my room. I grabbed my books and and stuffed them into my bag. I turned around about to exit my room when I saw a picture of Harry and I at the park. He had is arms around me and he was looking right at me while I held his arms and looked at the camera. I took that, last year, I gave Harry a copy and he got me a frame for my copy. I put it on my bedside table so I could see it every night before I go to sleep and every morning when I woke up. "Em let's go" Harry yelled from downstairs. "Yea I'll be right down" I yelled back knowing I wouldn't wake anyone, my parents were already gone for work. I sighed, how am I gonna survive this?