ᴛᴡᴇʟғᴛʜ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.

It wasn't a surprise that after all the talk I had with my mother and then all the information I received from Liam, I would be more than intrigued to see Harry again.

So, same as I had accustomed lately, I woke up before six am to get ahead and start all the morning duties.

By the time the crowing of the rooster  woke Lottie, Fizzy and my dad, I had already opened all the curtains of the house and a few windows to let the fresh morning air in, made the cups of coffee and tea for everyone, had a quick shower and went outside to the say hi to our chickens, pigs and horses.

I did not only say hi, I also fed them, I washed the pigs and brushed the horses fur.

Lottie came outside to join me once she finished her breakfast and her morning routine.
She was walking towards me while massaging her temple.

"I really don't know what has gotten into you lately." - She said, letting out a yawn.

I smiled at her and ran to wrap her in a hug.

"I'm just very positive that today will be a great day."

She hugged me back and sighed.

"If you say so." - She shrugged and got away from me. - "Are you going to tell me who the guy from last night was?"

"A friend." - I shrugged.

"Louis, you only have one friend and that's Oli."

"Well, Oli is on vacation. But I met Liam a few days ago, he's my new friend."

"Is he who made you so jumpy and active lately?"

"Nope." - I smiled.

"Then what is it?"

"I'll tell you soon, but I have to run."

"Where are you going?"

"To the beach!" - I said as I ran back to the stables to get Theodore out.

"Can I go too?!" - She yelled at me.

"Not today, Lot."

It was almost 8.30 and I needed to hurry if I wanted to catch Harry on his morning run.

Of course Theodore already knew his way through the forest, but this time I didn't enjoy the ride at all, I just wanted him to go faster and to get to the shore as soon as possible.

I didn't get off when we reached the beach either, I just made him gallop on the sand towards the city, knowing I would probably find Harry along the way.

I'm not sure about Mae anymore. If she loved me she would have helped me, right?
She would have fought for me.

I sighed in relief when I heard his voice in my head. I wasn't late. I still could catch him.

Well but I guess no one can really help me. Not Mae, not Gems, not even my mother.

I swear that Harry's thoughts were getting more confusing every time.

But they also made me worry. I started to feel a hole in my chest because I could sense he wasn't alright.
And somehow I felt like it was my responsibility to make him better, to provide him company, to help him through whatever he's dealing with.

I was so lost in my head that when I felt Theodore stopped, it almost made me fall off the saddle.

I don't know how he knew, but he stopped just a few inches of where Harry was standing.

I saw him, frozen on his spot, staring at me above my horse, with his furrowed eyebrows and his lips pressed in a line.

"Um, hi?" - He said, still a little confused.

"Hey." - I smiled.

"You have a horse?" - He asked with still a frown on his face.

"Yep." - I said, getting down from Theodore and letting him free to go to the sea and refresh himself.

Harry's frown hasn't vanished yet, he just watched Theodore galloping away towards the sea.

"Isn't he going to escape or something?"

"No, he's trained." - I laughed and shook my head.

Harry's such a city boy.

"What did you just say?" - He turned to me with an eyebrow raised.

"Theodore is trained, he's not going to escape. Don't worry."

"No, that's not what I meant…" - He looked at me as if he was analyzing me. - "I heard… I thought you said… agh, nevermind."

I frowned and then I understood. He heard me.
He heard my thought.

Oops?

Good start, you idiot.

I decided I should start making a proper conversation if I wanted to spend some time with him, because otherwise he would probably leave.

"Do you want company today?" - I asked, looking down at the sand below me.

"I was about to head back actually. This is my return point."

"Huh?" - I asked, looking up and finding his eyes.

"That… this is my usual limit. For running." - He shrugged, not taking his eyes off mine.

Okay, this is good, none of us froze under the other's gaze yet. We are getting better at this.

"That's cool, it's quite a long run here from the city."

"Yeah, it is. But you came from the other side." - He said, pointing at the direction I came from. - "Aren't you from the city?"

"No, not really. I live back in the countryside. I just like to do a daily visit to the beach, and Theodore is always a good company." - I smiled.

He nodded awkwardly.

Just ask him if he wants to sit down, Harry. It's not that difficult.
You could do with a bit of company yourself.

I bit my lips, trying to contain the smile forming on my face.

I decided to take off my sandals and sit in the sand without his invitation. Maybe if I took the lead he would do the same.

I turned to look at the sea, giving Harry my back, and sat down with my legs crossed.
Theodore was happy jumping around at the edge of the water and I smiled to myself.

"May I sit with you?" - I heard Harry ask from behind me and I smiled in victory.

"Sure, yeah." - I shrugged.

Once I felt his body on my side I turned to look at him again, his eyes locking with mine once more.
And this time, they took my breath away.

Seeing him this close was a completely different experience. It felt like we clicked, like we matched, like we had finally found the piece that fitted.

And just like that I knew I was going to fight to get him.

I tried to remember my mother's words from last night.

Do I like him? Definitely yes.
Does he treat me right? He's getting better.
Do I feel like this is meant to be? Hell yes.

Because the sea couldn't have gotten this wrong.

Harry cleared his throat and looked back at the horizon.

"What are you thinking about?" - He asked softly, but avoided looking at me.

"What am I… thinking?"

"Yes."

"Nothing really." - I lied.

"Uhm, Okay."

"Why?"

"Just curious."

"Okay. What were you thinking about then?"

"Nothing."

This conversation is heading nowhere, Louis.
Just change the subject already.

And then I remembered the other thing my mother said. Just talk about yourself.

"Do you happen to know the countryside? I've been living there since I was born."

"That's nice. No, I have never been there."

"I have a big house with a farm, my family is also huge. And we all work there to keep it clean and working." - I smiled. - "Well that is until my younger siblings start school again. They are still on summer break. After that the only ones working on the house would be Lottie and I."

"Lottie?"

"My sister. She's the older one after me."

"How many siblings do you have?" - He asked.

"Six." - I smiled.

"Wow, that's a lot." - He whispered.

"I got used to it eventually." - I shrugged.

He nodded slightly and shifted in his place, now watching Theodore who was running towards me with his soaked fur, watering all around him.
I laughed when some drops hit Harry and he huffed.

Theodore laid down next to me and hit my hand with his nose so I could caress his head.
I smiled to myself, and caressed him behind his ears, before turning to Harry again.

"Harry, can I ask you something?"

"You can."

I swallowed thickly when I saw he wasn't going to look at me again.
I somehow knew he was going to try to avoid the staring for the rest of our talk.

"I got the feeling that you don't like this place. Do you?"

"No."

"Can I ask why?"

"Family stuff." - He shrugged.

"Oh, okay. Where are you from then?"

"London." - He sighed.

"Did you like London best?"

"Yes. But I don't belong there either now, so I guess it's the same." - He shrugged again, still staring at the water in front of us.

"Do you have to stay here for the hotel?"

He tensed a bit and then turned to look at me.

"Why are you asking?" - He asked with a serious expression that I couldn't quite decipher.

"I don't know, I'm sorry." - I said and this time I was the one who turned around to avoid his death stare.

I heard him sigh and his voice turned lower and calmer.

"I'm here because this one is a touristic place and has a lot of movement of people, so it's one of the busiest hotels my father owns. And it was sinking, so they needed someone to take it over. They sent me."

"But isn't your sister here too?" - I asked, copying the same lower volume he used before, not wanting to break the mood.

"She dragged me here with the excuse of going on vacation, but it was a lie so I would come. Now she's teaching me how everything works and eventually she'll leave me on my own."

"She didn't ask you if you actually wanted the hotel?" - I asked him, concerned.

He shook his head, looking down at his feet buried in the sand.

"I didn't have any other choice anyways." - He whispered.

"Why?"

He lifted his head up and looked at me once again, analyzing my face and frowning a little.

I really wanted to run my fingers over his fringe to erase that frown.
He is much more beautiful when his features are relaxed.

"Why are you doing this?" - He asked instead.

"Huh?"

"Talking to me."

I smiled to myself and let my body rest completely on the sand, laying down with my hands below my head, facing the sun above me.

"I think you're interesting."

"And what do you get from this?"

I swallowed.
Okay, you got me.

"Nothing." - I lied.

"Then why do you bother?" - He asked with an annoyed tone.

"I just don't know." - I said and closed my eyes, enjoying the sun hitting my already tanned face. - "Why? Do you dislike me? Do you want me to stop talking to you?"

"No, it's just that I believe you're not telling me everything."

I opened my eyes and turned my face to look at him once again.

"What would everything be?"

He frowned for a second and then let it go, turning again to look at the water and leaving me hanging.

I chuckled and rested my head back on my hands with my eyes closed.
It took him a moment to talk again.
This time he did it with a less demanding tone, almost a soft one.

"Louis, I really don't understand why you are here. But thanks I guess."

Oh my God.
What did he just say?

"Thanks for what?"

"For the company."

"You're welcome." - I smiled and sat up.

He smiled softly and put a hand on my shoulder to catch my attention.

"Are you going to be here tomorrow too?" - He asked.

"Probably." - I smiled.

"Then I guess I'll see you." - He smiled back and let go of my shoulder, standing up and wipping the sand off his legs.

"I'll see you."

He nodded and started running back to the city once more.

Once he was out of sight I let myself fall on the sand with an stupid smile on my face.

I'm definitely going to fight for him.

______

GUYS! 200 votes already? Thank you very much ❤️

I'm so happy!
Thank you really.

Also I'm sorry for  the late update, I've been really bad lately and not in the mood for writing.

I hope you liked this one though 🙈

Love you all!
Mag 🦋