Chapter 19 ~ Harry

“Let me give you a ride,” I offer when we’re walking out of the café. Hannah is still smiling and I don’t want her to lose that, I want to see her like that all the time.

“I can get home on my own, Harry. Don’t worry,” she answers politely, there’s no rudeness this time in her words.

“Please! That way I know you gave me the right address instead of a random house. Imagine I drive there tomorrow and some crazy old man opens the door and decides to kidnap me!” I dramatize and I see her laughing and shaking her head from side to side. “It could happen, don’t laugh!” That only makes her laugh harder.

“You have a wild imagination, Harry. But I gave you my right address, don’t worry. No one will kidnap you.”

I know I should just accept that she doesn’t want me to drive her to home, but I don’t want to part ways yet. The whole afternoon has been so great, we’ve had such a good time and she opened up to me today, sharing a part of her mind with me and I’m just not ready to let her go. I wish we could be like this all the time.

“C’mon. I won’t be able to fall asleep tonight if I don’t do this plus, you can never trust iOS maps to guide you. I can end up in Timbuktu!” Again, she’s laughing.

“You sure are a persistent lad, aren’t you?” I just nod with a big smile on my lips. “Okay, just let me text my dad to let him know he doesn’t have to wait for me.”

I have this urge to jump pumping my arm in the air while screaming ‘yes’. It seems like every time she’s giving in a tab bit more, warming up to me, and now the way we have to go through seems less difficult. It doesn’t seem like an impossible mission anymore and I have hopes she’ll let me in and help her. I really want to be there for her, offer my shoulder to cry on if she needs it or hold her tight when it seems like everything is falling apart.

I want her to need me because I’ll be there for her.

Her fingers fly over the screen of her phone typing a text and I can’t take my eyes off of her. I really like the way her hair falls around her face and I notice it’s shorter than the last time I saw her but I like it like this better, she looks cuter. Now it barely passes her shoulders and the ends curl a tad bit which makes her look adorable. I also like her hands, with long fingers and I remember the video where she played the piano, how those same thin fingers flew over the keys making a beautiful melody.

“Done. I hope he sees it.” She looks up at me putting her mobile back in her pocket again.

“Shall we, then?” I ask offering her my arm and she looks at it for a few seconds. I know she’s deciding whether to accept it or not and maybe I’m pushing too hard, but I have to try. I need her to get used to being around me until it feels natural for her.

Finally, with a sigh, she loops her arm around me and that rush of pride comes to me again. With every second that we spend together, I feel like we’re getting closer. I haven’t been much different from the last time we saw each other, but she is and I wonder why. When I came to see her, for a moment I thought it was going to be even harder considering all the time that had passed, that she would be even more closed off to me, but when she saw me she looked only gladly surprised.

What if she missed me while I was abroad? Like I missed her.

That thought makes my heart race with hope because maybe I’ve grown on her already, even if she tries to deny it. Maybe she can’t push me away any more like before because I’m already in the zone she didn’t want me to be in. At that idea, a wave of sheer joy runs through my body and I can’t stop the silly grin from playing on my lips.

“You’re smiling like a creeper,” she tells me breaking through my thoughts and I turn around to meet her curious eyes.

“But I’m a creep, I am a weirdo… what the hell am I doing here? I don’t belong here,” I sing for her instead of telling her why I was smiling like that.

Her lips curl up and she chuckles softly. “I like your raspy voice. Clearly, your balls have dropped,” she comments and I look at her with my eyes wide open. “I heard one of your first songs the other day, that song that was everywhere when you started with the band.” I assume she’s talking about What Makes You Beautiful. “Your voice sounds really different now.”

“Is that a compliment?” I tease her and she tenses up for a moment.

“To your voice, not to you. I consider you as separated entities,” she adds and I chuckle. Hannah really can’t accept she likes me somehow, even if it’s only my voice.

“Well, my voice is really flattered,” I tell her and she giggles.

I remember the first time I saw her, with her cold eyes and the way she pushed me away, when it seemed like nothing could reach her. But now she laughs at my silly jokes so easily and I wonder if she was like that before.

“I hope you don’t mind riding in my Range Rover,” I tell her when we get to my car and by the way her eyes sparkle, I know she doesn’t mind at all. She looks at the car almost like Moni does, but the latter has more adoration in her brown orbs than Hannah in her green ones.

* * *

“You’re a terrible driver, Harry Boy-band!” Cries out Hannah when we get to the car dealer. “The yellow light doesn’t mean speed up like you’re in a bloody race!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I promise I’ll be more careful next time, okay?” I tell her approaching her after leaving my car as well.

She sighs deeply closing her eyes for a few seconds before nodding still avoiding my gaze. I can’t stop smiling; I’m just really happy she’s here with me and that she didn’t make up an excuse to cancel this. And she looks so lovely today, and I’m not talking about her outfit –though she looks gorgeous with the black jeans, the tall boots and grey coat hugging her figure–, it’s something in her eyes today and in her flushed cheeks when she looks at me, almost as if she has a secret she doesn’t want to share because she’s embarrassed.

“Okay, let’s get this over with and pick up your new car. Though you must know I won’t let you pick a sports car, you have enough with the R8.”

“But I like sports cars, they are amazing!” I protest following her inside.

“But they are made to reach high speeds and in a city, you’ll only hurt the engine. I still don’t understand why you need another car, Harry.”

I don’t really need a new one, but it seemed like a good way to spend time with her and I love cars, so it’s a win-win situation. But, of course, I can’t tell her that, so I just shrug and she rolls her eyes.

A car dealer approaches us with a rehearsed smile that he struggles to keep when he sees how young we are. He probably thinks we’re only going to make him waste his time. I don’t blame him, after all we’re just couple of teenagers to him.

“May I help you?” He asks politely, his smile still on his lips.

“Yes, he wants to buy a new car,” Hannah answers and I see the flicker of incredulity in the man’s eyes. I read his name on the pocket of his jacket: Steven Black. “May we see what you have?”

“Sure, follow me,” he instructs but I still see how he doesn’t believe I’ll actually buy a new car.

Hannah turns to look at me and I see amusement in her eyes, she probably also sees what I’ve noticed in Steven’s expression and she’s dying to see his reaction when he realises that I’m actually going to buy a car and with no need for a loan whatsoever.

“What do you want, Harry?” She asks me when we’re walking side-by-side and following Steven. “Sedan, SUV, coupé?”

“A sedan would be nice. I don’t have one of those and they are useful sometimes,” I answer and from the corner of my eye I see Steven jerking, clearly paying attention to our conversation. “If Moni was here, she’d take me to see the Volvos immediately.”

“Volvo is a good idea, taking into account the way you drive. They’re the safest models. An S90 could work for you, though I also see you in a BMW from the series 6.” I look at her impressed at how comfortably she speaks about models and designs. She would really get along with Mila and Moni. “Do you have something in mind? At least the brand?” She asks me and I think for a moment.

“Not really. What’s your favourite?”

“Hmm… one of my favourites is the Lexus LS 460 and I think you would look good in that car,” at that answer Steven really stops and stares at us, shock written all over his face.

“Pardon me for this question, but can you really afford a car like a Lexus?” Hannah looks at me and I chuckle, Steven’s face is just priceless.

“Yeah. May we see the Lexus?” I ask back and I swear I see the symbol of pounds in his eyes when he looks at us, this time his smile is honest and very interested. He now knows he’s not wasting his time.

“Please, follow me. I’ll take you to the Lexus section so you can see the model with your own eyes. It is an excellent car, Mr…”

“Styles,” I answer. “But just call me Harry and she’s Hannah,” I add and cue to my words, Hannah smiles politely, amusement still shining in her green eyes.

“Excellent. You will definitely love the Lexus LS 460, Harry.”

“I bet, but Hannah has to approve the car, otherwise I won’t buy it. She’s the expert here.” Steven looks at Hannah incredulously and she only grins cockily at him, in her eyes now shines the desire to win this challenge.

I chuckle, dying to see how she’ll make Steven regret whatever he’s thinking right now.

 -:-:-:-

Dedication goes to @Maleeha_13, @emlemony because her birthday is today Sunday and to @HarryStylesIsMyIdoll because her birthday was yesterday Saturday.

Bel, xx

PS: The Lexus LS 460 is my new husband.
PS2: Don't forget to read LB! There's one chapter left in that story (: