Chapter 25 ~ Harry

Apparently, she hasn’t seen the pictures from last night and that’s a relief. I know nothing happened, but I don’t want her to think I’m the womaniser the tabloids say I am. I don’t want to explain it to her either, not when I’m trying to get even closer to her. It’s not like I can push away all the women that approach me, I’m not the one hitting on people after all, but I can’t explain that to Hannah. So, the fact that she doesn’t know is for the best now.

Maybe one day, when the ground where we stand is not so shaky anymore, things like these won’t be a problem because she will know me by then; she’ll know not to believe what the media says. For now, I rather things be like this.

So far, things are going smoothly. I know she she’s not used to this because every time I touch her, she flinches, but I don’t stop. I keep making contact. I take her hands sometimes, or I brush a hair strand from her forehead, I poke her sides to tickle her and little by little, she’s getting used to that. She doesn’t look at me as if I’ve done something terrible anymore, just surprised.

After having lunch –and by lunch I mean eating a lot of pizza–, we play, trying all the arcade games the place has to offer. She’s not the best at games, but she is having fun. Hannah laughs all the time and hearing her gives me a warm feeling. Sometimes I find myself oblivious to the game and just stare at her, a stupid grin on my lips, mesmerised by her.

I know the lads would be laughing at me if they could see me right now.

“Uh,” someone coughs calling my attention and when I turn around I see two girls, probably both sixteen, looking at me with huge smiles and dreamy looks on their faces. “Oh my God, it’s you!” The tallest of them, the one with dirty blond hair, says in a high tone. She coughs again to clear her throat. “I’m sorry, I’m just so excited. May we take a picture with you? We’re big fans!”

“Please!” The short brunette adds holding tightly her phone.

I smile heart-warmingly as I leave the game forgotten and place myself between the two girls. In that moment I look to my right and I see Hannah staring at us with a straight expression. She’s forgotten about the game too. “Hey, Hannah. Can you take a picture of us?” I ask her and she blinks a couple of times.

“Uh, sure,” is her answer as she steps closer and the two girls hand her their phones.

I pass my arms around their shoulders and bring them closer as I smile at the camera. Hannah has lost her smile and her eyes are cold again, but a different kind of cold. She snaps a picture on both phones and then hands them back to the girls who can’t stop giggling. I smile at them the whole time and give each a hug before they go. When I turn around to look at Hannah, her eyes are sharp and I notice she’s not looking at me but at the girls who are still walking farther from us.

“You can’t stop being popular among girls, uh?” She mutters and I raise one eyebrow. She sounds cold and bitter and that wakes a sparkle of curiosity and mischief inside of me. “Though in these pictures you look better than the ones from the party. It was obvious you were drunk in those.”

I freeze at her words, realising she did see the pictures from last night, and she probably also heard the comments from the host, calling me a womaniser again.

Shit, I curse mentally as I ruffle my hair trying to find the words to explain it to Hannah.

“Uh, about last night I––”

“It’s okay, you have nothing to explain, Harry,” she cuts me off, but her tone and eyes tell otherwise. I know she’s not pleased with this situation. “I’m just glad I didn’t go to the party. It would’ve been awkward, right?” She tries to say it in a playful tone, but it sounds too sharp to get that effect.

“It’s not what you think,” I try again just the cut off once more.

“I don’t think anything, Harry. But it was for the best that I didn’t go. If I had gone, I would’ve stopped you from hooking up with those girls.” Hannah smiles at me, but it’s not an honest smile. I know when she’s faking, and that’s exactly what she’s doing know. Pretending she’s fine about this.

“I would’ve never––” 

“Yeah, you probably would’ve left me alone. That would’ve been awkward.” This time her bitterness is so evident in her voice that it feels like a slap across my face.

“Hannah, stop!” I exclaim taking a step closer and that gets to her. She catches her breath and tilts her head up to look me in the eyes. “Nothing happened with those girls. Yes, I was a bit drunk by then, but not that drunk. Okay?”

“You don’t have to explain––”

“Yes I do.” This time I cut her off and I grab her shoulders to give more emphasis to my words. “Because you’re mad about it. I can see it in your eyes and feel it in your voice. Don’t try to lie to me.”

“You’re wrong. I don’t care about that. It’s not like we’re dating or anything. I don’t even have those kinds of feelings for you. The most we can be is friends and if you want to hook up with two bimbo girls, I don’t bloody care!” She raises her voice by the end of the sentence.

I should say something else, but I only take pleasure in her words and reaction, in the fury in her eyes when she speaks. She claims not having those kinds of feelings for me, but it’s obvious she does. Her voice betrays her, her eyes too. She may as well say she doesn’t care, but she does. She bloody does and I can’t stop smiling at that.

“Why are you smiling? I’m not insulting you!” She hisses and I can’t stop from bursting out laughing.

Before she realises what I’m doing, I bend down my head and press my lips on her forehead, softly kissing her while my hands slide down her arms. “You may choose not to believe me, but I’m telling you anyways. I’m not what the media says. I’m not just the flirt of the band, the womaniser who can’t be stopped and nothing happened with those girls last night. And I mean nothing.” She doesn’t say anything; she can only look at me with surprise widening her eyes, her breathing heavy and quick. “Since I met you, I’ve turned down every woman I’ve met and that tried to hit on me. Grimmy is impressed,” I add in a light tone, hoping she will smile but her expression doesn’t change.

“Why?” She asks and I take her hands in mine.

“Because I met you. Isn’t that enough?” She seems so confused. I may as well be talking in Japanese. “I’m not playing with you, Hannah. I’m serious; I’ve been serious from the very beginning.” I stare into her eyes, trying to tell her not only with words that I really like her.

“But I don’t see you like that,” she whispers and I stroke her knuckles with my thumb.

“Keep saying that if you want, but we both know it’s not true,” I say surely, raising her hands to my lips so I can kiss the back of her hands. “I hope someday you’ll accept it. Until then, I can be patient.”

She only looks at me; her eyes wide open with surprise, confusion and disbelief.

“Now, I won’t push you any further and I’ll let you think about what I’ve just told you. I dare you on Pac-man.”

I won’t try my luck with Hannah today. I don’t want her to snap at me for insisting she has feelings for me, but I’m sure she does. Somehow, I’ll get her to accept that.

If she were any other girl, I could just kiss her until she gives in and accept what is happening between us, but she’s not any girl and no matter how much I desire to hold her in my arms and taste her lips, I just can’t. Not unless I wish for her to push me away forever.

“And let’s make this interesting,” I add stepping back just to make her feel more comfortable before I say the rest. “If I win, you have to ask me on a date. This is a big opportunity for feminism, so be careful.”

She chuckles lightly, I feel the moment her mood changes.

“And what if I win?” She inquires and I shrug.

“That’s your choice. You pick the price to pay if I lose,” I instruct and her smile turns mischievous.

“If I win…” She muses, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “If I win, you Harry Boy-band, have to drive a pink car with the windows down while playing Barbie Girl!”

I burst out laughing at the mere thought of doing that. I can perfectly imagine all the headlines claiming I’ve just come out the closet. Management would kill me, and chaos would rise among our world. It would be hilarious! And painfully humiliating.

“Deal!” I exclaim holding out my hand and she takes it laughing as well. “But I must warn you, I’m really good at Pac-man.”

“So am I, and I’m very competitive.” Her smile is confident, but I will win this.

“We’ll see. Though, how do you plan on getting the pink car if you win?” I ask, very curious but not missing the fact that I haven’t dropped Hannah’s hand.

“Oh, don’t worry. I know the right person.”

“Do you know Sharpay Evans?” I question and she raises her eyebrows inquiringly. “What? You never watched High School Musical?”

She burst out laughing even harder this time, she even hugs herself. “You’re full of surprises, Harry Boy-band.”

My eyes fly wide open, shock written all over my face. “Are you actually saying something nice to me?”

She laughs again, shaking her head from side to side. “Not exactly, but close, I guess.”

“If you’re trying to make me cry so I’ll let you win, you’re mistaken.”

“Crazy,” she whispers. “I’ll win.”

“We’ll see.” I state, full of confidence.

Finally, I release her hand and we both go to the Pac-man machines, ready to give everything. I have to win, I don’t want to drive Sharpay’s car and I really want Hannah to ask me out, to think of our outings as dates. So I give everything in this game.

And I win.

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Dedication to @nicoleisfabulous23 becuase her birthday is this Saturday but I won't update that day so yeah. Have a lovely day!

Bel, xx