“I love weddins.”

I look up from my lap and see Harry’s glee expression as we approach the private estate in Tynemouth. A monumental canopy sprouts from the center of the infinite patio, backyard to the manor of our dwelling for the next fortyeight hours.

“Love is in the air, everyone’s happy. . .” Harry continues. “Romance reigns. . . get it?”

His cheerful smile makes me look forward to the event even more. I was 14 the last time I had been to a wedding and remember dancing with my dad; although slightly bored as there was no one my age to engage with. My perspective has changed now after 8 years.

We climb out of the car, collect our bags and saunter over the marbled floors. The air smells like a faint vanilla and lavender. I can hear every footstep bounce off the bone marbled walls as we approach the split stairwell.

Harry leads the way reading his text for directions to our room. This is unlike any I’ve stayed in before. Stunned by the high ceiling and porcelain white furniture, teal accents decorate both pillows and curtains. Light beams through the spread windows revealing a balcony overlooking the river.

“Not bad,” Harry says dropping his bags and heading for the glass doors.

He takes in the view while I’m tempted to glide my hands over the silk bedding and smooth furniture. At first what I thought to be a large painting is only the exaggerated television hanging on the wall opposite the bed. I find a slip of paper on the dresser with a list of activities and time of the rehearsal dinner.

“Paint room, golf course...bouncy house?” I read a few aloud.

“Zayn planned them at the last minute, somethin’ fun to do while we’re here.”

There are more options like go-karts, pedal boats and spa room. It’s only 9:30 in the morning and I’m thinking why not do them all.

“Where do we start?” I erupt.

“Good question! Did you bring your trainers?”

“Luckily I did! Along with the outfit you got me for my birthday.”

“Good girl,” Harry shoots a thumbs’ up. “Let’s change then decide what to do first.”

I slip out of my sundress and into my workout clothes and sneakers. Harry looks like he’s about to tackle a triathlon with his Nike gear from running shorts, bright t-shirt and orange sweatband encasing his wild hair.

“Shall we start with the go-karts?” Harry rubs his hands charmed by the idea.

I play follow the leader as we take a path outside the house and realize Harry’s clueless on where to go. I’m tying my hair in a high pony tail when we spot the tiny cars. Niall is there with a dark haired girl strapping themselves into a double kart while Harry and I pick single seats.

“There’s two trails marked in red and green, Harry,” Niall yells over the motors. “Winner picks next.”

Harry and I shrug our shoulders and agree to the plan. My seatbelt is secure as I get a feel for the engine. Stepping lightly on the gas, I watch as Niall goes down the red path. Harry shoots another thumbs’ up and we drive thru the other course. The competition isn’t over.

We’re cruising down the walkways, separated for this sole purpose. I take advantage of the tour as we circle around the property. I get a glimpse of the wedding canopy as it simulates a descended cloud contrasting a midst the green landscape. It swallows tables and chairs fed by the many laborers.

Driving under the tree tunnel I then notice how far behind I’ve gotten. No matter how I floor the gas pedal, I can’t catch up with Harry. He not only beat me but Niall too, leaving me in last place.

“Hey slow-poke, thought you were right behind me.”

“I got distracted.” I smile back.

His lengthy arm swings over my shoulders and we walk away from the noise.

“Where to next, mate?”

“I’m thinkin’. . . bouncy castles.” Harry wiggles his brows.

Our small group tracks to the farther side of the property where we find an inflatable obstacle course and a few jumpy houses. Niall nudges Harry and signals ahead. The challenge is set when both boys take off in a race to finish first. Again.

I walk behind with Waliyha, Zayn’s younger sister, as we attempt to push through the blown-up poles and climb over unstable mounds. Laughter weakens our core and holds us back from finishing victoriously. I make it out on my hands and knees while my new friend army crawls her way to sturdy ground.

The boys are nowhere to be found yet they are heard. A riot of laughter, identifying Niall, is but a few feet away and in moments we join them while tumbling all over the place. A game of tag emerges in the bouncy castle and I’m not the only one struggling to run away. Harry is consistently flopping and tossing around meanwhile Niall dodges the tagger, Waliyha. He’s an expert when it’s his turn, lunging at you from 5 feet away.

Golf is suggested next but us girls take a pass. Instead, Waliyha and I jog towards the paddle boats and agree to get a massage after. I feel spoiled with each activity, this is the most fun I’ve had since the last time I’ve been to an amusement park as a child. Later we coincidentally run into Gemma in the spa room and stick together for the rest of the afternoon.

Back in the room, after my shower, I sit on the bed wearing my robe when Harry comes in.

“There you are, I was just about to text you. How was the game?”

“My game was strong,” he says and comes close to kiss my cheek.

“And so is your smell.” I tease.

“Heyyy.” Harry frowns and removes his shirt, walking towards the bathroom.

Logging on to my Twitter, I see unread messages from @truekat1D. I’ve been smart to avoid her but it’s time I finally block the account. The subject line to her last message read ‘IMPORTANT’ in bold letters, but that isn’t enough to entice me. Tossing the device aside I grab the navy blue dress I had laid out and carefully slip it on. The back has a fragile lace pattern which has me terrified of tearing a hole before actually wearing it.

I tuck my hair into a side braid before applying the last of my makeup then pause at the first sight of Harry. His scent is triggering my tastebuds and endorphins, prompting me to draw close and inhale his neck.

“How do I smell now?” His smile is wicked as he leaves me in the middle of my second whiff.

“Delicious.” I turn around to continue with my eyeliner.

Walking hand in hand we enter the main room and I’m surprised to see Sophia next to Liam. Thrilled in fact, I steal a quick hug from her and wave at Eleanor standing a few feet away. Niall is huddled around unfamiliar people but Harry kindly introduces me to the rest of Zayn’s family and the bride’s. They have yet to arrive before we can continue to the rehearsal.

Due to Perrie’s father’s poor health, both bachelorette and bachelor parties have been postponed in order to focus on the family. This frees up everyone’s plans as Louis and Liam throw out suggestions after dinner. Gemma stays with Lou when the rest of the group disappears outside leaving Harry and I still at the table.

Zayn and Perrie look happy surrounded by so much love and support for their union. I can’t wait to see the decorations and above all her wedding gown. My eyes fall on Harry’s hands as he plays with a napkin on his lap. He’s torn a piece and rolled it into a thin band. Before meeting my gaze, he takes my hand and slips the ring on.

“There. It’s an authentic handcrafted piece.”

I fight the smile that’s desperately applauding his thoughtfulness. Spreading my fingers to admire the white band, I reward him with the brightest smile I can muster.

“You two are adorable, you know that?” Gemma adds. “So when am I walkin’ down the aisle to your weddin’?”

I look to Harry and await his response; anything will do. His grin and rosy complexion give him away. He looks to me then answers his sister with, “Next week, on stage mid-concert. How does that sound, Freckles?”

“Oh I don’t know, a ceremony in the dressing room sounds more intimate.” Harry chuckles at my answer.

“How and where would you like me to propose to you?”

“Take her to the top of a castle, Harry, and ride off on a white stallion. For goodness sakes do something creative!” Gemma shakes her hands in the air.

“I know you can be very creative.” I squeeze his hand.

“Come, let’s go for a walk,” he whispers for only me to hear.

I wave the ladies goodbye and strut in my nude heels to where Harry desires. We’re not going outside but further in the house to a different sector. I admire the sculptures through the halls until I see Harry’s lost gaze again.

“I believe it’s this one.” He secures my hand and pushes the door.

We stumble upon an empty room covered with white tarps on the floor. There’s two easels and many canvases of assorted sizes, some new and others used. There’s paint splattered by the easels, dried colors layered in that area while the rest of the tarp appears untouched, minus a few shoe prints.

Harry removes his shoes before further observing the room. He finds a towering roll of white paper and rips a large blanket size sheet. Laying it over the clean area, he searches through the pints and lines them in front. Harry signals for me to come over but we’re not dressed for such an activity. I place my heels by his and curiously walk over to the selected paints.

“Are we going to make our own Pollock painting?” I ask and scowl timidly when Harry turns me around.

“We’ll do better.”

His fingers brush down the lace on my back and up towards the zipper on my side. The dress is carefully removed from my body. Then Harry proceeds to remove his shirt, pants and socks. Folding them, he places the pile back by our shoes.

Grabbing two brushes on his return, I’m handed one and the liberty to color as I will. But I’m stumped. Harry wastes no time tracing deep blue arcs from corner to corner. Next he splats yellow daubs and smears a few with his fingers. Dipping his hand into the grey pint, he stamps it in different spaces. I’m entertained just watching him until I’m caught.

“Don’t just stand there, it’s a collaboration!” He scolds with a smirk.

I kneel down and dip my brush into the yellow paint. I draw circles and poke the centers. Without thinking I make black stripes over the yellow targets and am quickly distracted into a new pattern of red drops. A fingertip glides down my arm and when I look, I see a black smear.

“Harry?!” I gasp. He’s smiling and wiggling his brows.

Kneeling beside me, he trails another line and finishes with three dots. I get an idea and raise my brush over one of his sparrows to color in. He gazes in amusement and allows me to do the other as well. I fill in the the green leaves on his lower abdomen, paint waves below the ship and use the brightest colors for his butterfly.

“I think it’s time you got a tattoo on your back.”

Harry sits with his back towards me and I begin to sketch an abstract figure, not focused on the shape as much as I how this makes Harry feel. His head hangs forward and little moans echo in our solitary room. The thought of someone walking in doesn’t worry me any longer as I focus on this beige canvas.

It’s too bad I can’t show him my artwork with my hands too dirty to retrieve his phone. It’s my turn. Harry turns to face me and pulls out my hair tie. Unraveling my braid, I watch his eyes as they study my shoulders and neck. I zoom in on his lips as they smile coyly. He has an idea.

In the next thirty minutes or so Harry has made it his goal to cover my entire body, undergarments and all, in every pigment. Agreeing to leave my face alone, I admire my new skin and hope it doesn't stain or give me toxic poisoning.

The fun doesn't end till we sneak back to our room unseen and into the bathtub. There's paint in my hair, on Harry's face and ears.This colorful mess turns our bathwater into an unpleasant brown shade but we linger in it, giggling while washing each other off.

Notes

A/N: Chapter Playlist

Love is a Fire - Courrier

Mess is Mine - Vance Joy