No Regrets

I was stirring some macaroni, which was practically the only thing left in my pantry, as Harry sat on my counter. We had his iphone plugged into my speakers, and I had to admit, he had really good taste in music. It was mostly indie-rock, but it seemed to fit our night perfectly. Even though I was only eighteen, and Harry was also only eighteen, I poured us two glasses of red wine. Honestly, the drinking laws around here are pretty relaxed. I was getting pretty comfortable, and we were having a nice conversation about his childhood in England when I decided that I wanted to go change.

“Would you mind watching the noodles while I go change into something more comfortable?” I asked him as I handed him the big stirring spoon.

“Sure thing love,” he said sweetly as he hopped off the counter. I went to my room and slipped on a big shirt. I figured since it was longer than most of my dresses, I could get away with not wearing shorts. However, when I walked back into the kitchen, I was greeted by a surprise. Harry had stripped down to his white undershirt and dark blue boxers. And he just stood there. Stirring the pasta like him being half-naked was no big deal. I couldn’t help but bust out laughing at us.

“What?” he asked innocently as he turned around. “You got to change into something comfortable, so I got more comfortable too.” he added with a smirk at the end.

“Wow this date went downhill fast.” I responded, still laughing, as I reached to take the spoon from him.

“Oh no. Chef Harry has taken over the kitchen! I saw what you were doing to these noodles, and they were practically crying for my help,” he jokingly acted very concerned about the noodles.

“C’mon Harry! Just give me the spoon! I said that I would cook! I won’t mess up the macaroni.. if I’m lucky..” as I spoke he just held the spoon higher and higher above our heads. I was practically jumping at this point trying to get the spoon from him. I grabbed his arm and tried to lower the spoon to me, but that was probably the worst thing to do because it prompted him to start tickling me… which was my weakness. I immediately jumped back as a reflex.

“Oh.. what do we have here?” he asked mischievously as he raised an eyebrow. “Is someone ticklish?”

“No Harry… Don’t do it!” I began to warn him, but it was too late. He took one step forward and I sprinted out of the kitchen, but he was faster than me. I screamed as he scooped me up in his arms and laid me down on the couch with him straddling me. He was tickling me and I was begging him to stop, but he kept going.

“Please! Ha-harryyy! Stop I can’t.. breatheee!” I gasped as he continued to tickle me. He was practically laughing just as hard as I was. I swear to god I don’t know what I would have done if the noodles hadn’t boiled over causing him to stop and run to the kitchen.

“Shiiiittttttttt!” he exclaimed as he quickly turned the stove off and sank along the cabinets to a sitting position on the ground. I walked over and sat across from him on the tile floor (which, by the way, was very cold on my butt). “You know,” he said as he looked at me laughing, “we really suck at this dating thing.” I laughed at his comment and jokingly kicked him before I replied.

“Well…. If you think about it, we have alcohol, we’re already half-naked for no reason, and we’re probably going to end up re-heating left over pizza for dinner. So, in my opinion, I think we’re frickin’ dating champions.” I told him with a smile. He was chuckling softly as he reached forward, grabbed my hand, and pulled me towards him. My lips were just a few centimeters from his as he looked into my eyes. I was about to open my mouth to say something, but he took the opportunity to press his lips up against mine. He moved his hands down my back and I hovered on my knees on the ground in front of him as he still sat with his legs spread and his back against the cabinets. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but kissing him was worth it. I pulled away before it became more than just a kiss.

“So, Styles,” I said as I stood and extended an arm to pull him up, “how’s that pizza sound?”

“Delightful,” he answered with a smile as he took my hand and stood up too.

It was a few hours, a couple slices of pizza, and one bottle of wine later when Harry and I were sitting on my couch talking. I had really opened up to him- I told him everything about my family, which particularly intrigued him because not many eighteen-year-old high school seniors were living alone here in New Orleans. I kept it short and sweet though. I told him very simply that my mother had died during child birth, my father and I didn’t get along so I moved out- with his support- when I was seventeen, and when I turned eighteen this past September, I was no longer being supported by just my father, but I received other monetary support because my late grandparents’ trust fund that they left for me was also activated. After I told him all of this, he was quiet for a moment.

“Liz, I think you’re incredible. Honestly, you seem to have everything together, I’m in awe.” He spoke softly as he looked at me with those piercing eyes.

“Yeah that’s what it would seem like… but you’d be surprised…” I whispered as I trailed off, not wanting to continue.

“You know what, let’s change the subject,” he said as he smiled and reassuringly squeezed my hand. “Do you have any other alcohol besides this wine?”

“Oh boy do I… why what are you thinking?” I cautiously questioned him unsure of what he was getting at.

“I’m thinking you get a bottle of some hard liquor and we play a fun game I like to call Flip, Strip, or Sip.”

“Alright Harry. I’ll grab some tequila and be right back.”

When I walked back into the room with the bottle, he had cleared off the coffee table and was sitting on the ground with nothing but a penny in his hand. I sat down on the ground across the table from him.

“So how do you play?” I asked as I placed the bottle on the table.

“Well, it’s quite simple, basically you just flip the penny and call it in the air. If you call it right, then you pass the penny on back to me; if you’re wrong, then you decide if you want to take a shot or remove an article of clothing… your choice of course” he said with a wink. “Winner is the one who finishes the game with the most clothing still on.”

“You’re on, Styles,” I said- attempting to sound intimidating. “So now tell me, what do I get if I win?”

“Hmm.. I think the question that you’re looking for is what do I get when YOU lose and I win?” he said. “But it’s okay. You can think about that and decide later.” He winked again and tossed me the penny.

“Oh in your dreams sweetheart,” I said as I made the first flip of the game.

Several miss-called tosses later, Harry and I were sitting in odd fashions around the table. Both of us in just our underwear. I had taken off my bra earlier in the game in hopes to distract him, and it was working. Plus, my hair was long enough to cover my boobs. I couldn’t handle anymore drinking, and the part of me that wanted to beat him was slightly smaller than the part of me that wanted to put on my bra and get in my bed, so I made a rash decision.

“Wellll, Harry, I forfeit!” I exclaimed as I threw the penny across the room.

“OOhhh Liz can’t handle my maddd drinking skillzz” he said, even though he looked pretty grateful for my decision. I laughed and attempted to stand up, which was a bad idea because I immediately fell back down.

“Harry, you can’t even handle your drinking skills.” I said as I attempted to put my bra back on.

“Waitwaitwait what are you doing?” he said, gesturing to my bra.

“Harry I’m putting my bra on and going to bed!” I said as I stood up slower this time.

“Okay well don’tforgetmeeee” he slurred. “If you didn’t know, I’m inviting myself to spend the night.” He stood up and leaned back on the couch. “Now take me to the bedroom,” he said half laughing, half smirking at his own mention of the bedroom.

“Let’s go misterrr,” I grabbed his hand and we leaned against each other as we walked into my bedroom. I pulled back the covers and collapsed on the bed. I was moving over to my side of the bed when Harry tapped my shoulder. I rolled over to face him.

“Uhm excuse me, you’re forgetting something. I need a goodnight kiss.” He whispered in a very rough voice. It was such a turn-on. I propped myself up on my elbow and leaned over. He met me half-way with more force than I expected. He rolled over on top of me without breaking the kiss. His trailed his tongue across my bottom lip, begging for entrance, but I didn’t grant it. He got frustrated so he bit my bottom lip, causing me to gasp, at this time he pushed his tongue into my mouth. I ran my fingers through his curls and pulled and he moaned. He moved down and began to kiss my neck, working his way to a special spot that I have right in the curve at the base of my neck.

“Harr-” I gasped, “we really need to go to sleep!” He pulled back and his face was right above mine. Even in the low lamp light, I was getting sucked into his green eyes.

“All right love,” he said as he planted one last kiss on my lips, “but don’t forget that you lost, so you still owe me.” And with that he rolled off of me and back to his side of the bed. I turned to my side, and within seconds Harry was wrapped around me, with his face pressed into my neck and his arm tightly around my torso, I fell asleep. I was the happiest I had been in months, and it was all because of Harry.