Harry holds the tip of my fingers with his as we step into the pool. The temperature is tolerable and soon the water reaches up to my waist. The area is somewhat secluded but we are in clear sight of all his friends and management, so all PDA will be kept to a bare minimum, I’ll make sure of it.

“Piggy back?” Harry asks cheekily.

“Sure,” I shrug. Only I quickly realize it isn’t for me.

Walking further till the water barely reaches below my chest, Harry tackles me from behind with his spider-monkey legs and arms. His limbs spaghetti around my body, but it feels as though I’m carrying a giant. I can see the commotion of snap-shots while I try and wrap my arms under Harry’s thighs. The water helps with the weightlessness but why does he have to be so damn long and lanky?

“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. I hope you’re enjoying yourself!” I smile in awe.

“It’s not like I weigh a ton.”

“No but you’re huge! I could drown if we went any deeper.”

“That’s an idea!”

“Wha-?”

Harry climbs off and turns me around. “Hold your breath!”

He seems eager and I don’t have much time. I inhale the most I can before submerging our whole bodies. My eyes are going to pay for it later but seeing this merman underwater makes for an unforgettable image. He grabs my shoulders and our lips barely touch. The whole act makes me laugh, losing all the air I have left before I shoot to the surface.

“Let’s try that again?” Harry asks while pushing back his wet locks.

“Now that I know what we’re doing,” I roll my eyes and shake my head.

“1. . . 2 . . . 3!”

We sink down again, releasing just enough air to stay below, and Harry grabs my face as our lips connect. It’s more like connecting tubes so that our tongues can play for a while, but the action requires more oxygen than I considered. Why does it seem so easy on the TV shows? My lungs are leaking and I can feel a tickle in my throat. I abruptly push Harry off as I cough underwater, forming chaotic bubbles while our heads float to the surface.

“That isn’t as . . . easy as it looks!” I continue to cough and gasp for air.

“Are you aright?” He grins.

“I am now . . . now that I can breathe! No more water tricks, clearly it’s not one of my talents.”

“Come, it’s your turn,” Harry turns around to hunch his back.

Slipping my legs around his hips, I hold on to his shoulders, resting my head on the back of his. He takes long strides into the deeper side where the water touches the tips of his ears. It’s a bit cooler but his body feels so warm against mine. I close my eyes briefly and can smell the familiar scent of his hair mixed in with the chlorine. Within a few minutes, Harry carries us over to a more private area; finally a place where we can be alone.

“So . . . I bought the tickets,” he adds, turning around so that we’re now face to face. “Are you excited for your graduation?

“You know with everything that’s been going on, it’s just been in the back of my mind, but yes. I’m excited to be done!”

“I know we agreed on flying back tomorrow, so you could spend more time with your mum, but I have a favor to ask you.”

“Yes?” I hope it’s not work related. Please please, don’t let it be.

“There’s one place we have to stop by first, it’s very important to me . . . and long overdue,” Harry presses his forehead against mine and I’m still drawing a blank.

“Oh God, it is work related isn’t it?” I pout.

“No, freckles. There’s some important people I want you to meet.”

“Har-ry?” My thighs begin to tremble at the thought of who they might be. “Will they like me?”

“They’re gonna LOVE you! Especially Gemma, she’s been buggin’ to meet you for the longest time.”

“Oh my gosh,” my voice cracks and I instantly feel Harry’s lips comforting my forehead.

“There’s no reason to be nervous, Jude. They’re not so bad.”

“Alright. I’m ready . . . I suppose.”

“I’ve missed you. I jus-can’t imagine how far off I would’ve been without you here . . . Liam misses her ya know. He says how lucky I am, to have you on tour with me. And I know this, I’m so much weaker than he is.”

“He still loves Sophia?”

“Of course he does. Liam’s just not thinkin’ straight . . . but anyway, this week away will be good for us,” Harry seals the promise with a kiss and I could easily get carried away.

We swim for less than an hour before heading back to our hotel room. After we shower and dress, Harry helps me pack and informs me of our overnight flight. There’s no time to waste apparently, since we’ll also be leaving midway through the after-party later tonight. I’m looking forward to a week without assignments and my laptop. Lord knows, I’ll be using real prescription glasses by the time this is all over and done with.

“Are you ready to leave, babe. Zayn just text me to hurry up, they’re waitin’,” Harry looks at his watch and raises his brows at me.

“What about the bags?”

“Leave’em by the door, they’re comin’ for’em later,” he says as we hurry out the room. “By the way, Cal told me to tell you that . . . he wants you to do some research over the break.”

“You’ve got to be joking?!” I cross my arms and stomp inside the elevator, beyond annoyed. “You’re serious? What is it then?”

“You don’t seem very thrilled, I thought you loved your job.”

“I do! It’s just I was looking forward to the mini vacation, especially if I’m going to visit your family . . . then there’s my graduation and my parents, I won’t have any time-“

“Sh sh shhhh! Love, I think you’ll enjoy this research,” he grins.

“Well, on with it! What’s with all the suspense?” I stare at the floor and clench my jaw.

“You need to look up the Pretzel Dip, the Face Sitter, Waterfall,” Harry counts with his fingers as I begin to scowl and bring my hands to my hips.

“Waterfall?”

“The Slippery Nipple and . . . the classic sixty-nine,” Harry finishes showing off a bright innocent smile.

“Oh my gaaaaawd Har-ry!” I’m blushing hot red and I begin to smack his arms and chest as he giggles. “You-you’re such a horny little boy!”

Soon we’re both laughing as the elevator doors open and an elderly couple steps in, they have no clue to what's being discussed. Thank goodness! I cover my face, walking out with my eyes glued to the ground. Harry isn’t far behind; he tries to comfort me by squeezing my shoulders but my cheeks are still very hot.

“Were all of those . . . you know . . . positions?” I clear my throat and attempt to find Harry’s gaze.

“You can either do the research or wait for the surprise.”

Harry wears that smug glow so well. I chuckle on the way to the car where one of his security guards awaits. There’s no conversation on the ride over only faint Spanish music from the radio. Harry pops in a strip of gum and offers me a piece but I shake my head. I’m too deep in thought, extremely tempted to Google every name he just mentioned on my phone, but I don’t want him to catch me. Still, his confident wink and sexy smirk confirms he knows exactly what I’m going through.

“It’s eatin’ you up, isn’t it?” He leans over to whisper and then shoots me a venomous glance.

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” I shake my head in this fat lie, shrugging my shoulders.

He inhales and bites his bottom lip. “You’re gonna look’em up, Jude. Might as well do it right now.”

“You think you know me soooo well,” I fight a smile. Whatever you do, don’t smile!

Harry peeks over at the driver and covers my ear as though he were about to tell me a secret. I wait for the words but the wave of hot air warns me otherwise. Instead, I feel Harry’s tongue begin to trace the rim of my ear. It hides for a second and comes out wetter as he continues to work his way inside. Finally, his tongue plunges and the sounds along with the texture make my heart pound unsteadily.

“You’re such a tease,” Harry whispers after he’s done and sits up.

“I didn’t do anything!” I complain, wide-eyed.

Harry shakes his head and reaches for my hand, he glances toward the front once more before placing it on his protruding zipper. My eyes grow larger at the sensation of his excitement beneath my palm. His lips press together as we realize his dilemma and we’re only minutes away from the stadium.

“Sometimes all it takes is one good look at ya.”

I can’t help but smile. I remove my hand and take his upon my lap. I can feel him watching me as I draw circles on his palm. I write the numbers six and nine, the only position I recognized from his list, and peer up at him.

“Do that again,” he demands.

I rewrite the same numbers over and over again, just to be sure. When I stare back at him, biting my bottom lip this time, I see his grin resurface.

“When?”

“Next time.” The words glide out with confidence and I wear the smug grin now.

---

The stadium is roaring and clapping like never before. The fireworks are spectacular as I watch from my seat and start to head backstage. I’m not aware of the rest of the boy’s plans but in less than two hours Harry and I are going to catch a red eye flight. I’m more anxious about what awaits me tomorrow, so to ensure that I get plenty of sleep, I’m taking a sleeping pill.

I find everyone huddling back in the dressing room, hugs and high fives being tossed about. Everyone’s ecstatic, even Kaycee. Lou and Niall share a hug with me as well until I see Troy and make my way over.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” He asks and steps closer to the door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong!” Troy assured me but his hands were clasped so tight that his knuckles were turning white. “I just really wanted to tell you . . . Kaycee said she needed some space from Zac and . . . she wants me to go explore Ireland with her.”

“For the break, just you two?”

“Yeah!” He smiles but I can tell he’s still in shock.

“Are you going to fess up?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or say. This is the first time I’ve ever felt so nervous about being alone with her, and for that long.”

“I’m kind of excited for you though. What if she finally opens her eyes and realizes she likes you?”

“I doubt that will ever happen. I’m not her type in the least. I’m just glad she asked me, you know? She could have asked Billy, but she didn’t.”

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow afternoon. Zac doesn’t know yet, and if he asks, he would have nothing to be suspicious about. Everyone sees us as brother and sister, including Kaycee.”

“I’m still crossing my finger-“

“There you are!” Harry sneaks out to the hallway. “We’re gettin’ ready to head to the party. You comin’ mate?”

“Yeah, I’ll head over shortly with the rest of the guys,” Troy nods.

Harry bumps fists with him and heads back inside. I give Troy a quick hug and wish him luck on his trip. Something tells me things won’t be the same when we all see each other again.

Notes

A/N: Chapter Playlist

"Love" -Matt White

"Runaways" -The Killers



Alas an update :) I think I'm more excited than Jude to meet Harry's family and more frightened of these new *ahem* experiments.

Hope you enjoyed it regardless ;)

xoxo