Always.

“So you haven’t said yes or no yet?” Danielle asked as we walked together from the band room, where we had to meet after school for a little bit to go over the music for our next parade.

“No, I haven’t yet. I don’t know what to say.” I shrug, pushing through the locker room hallway door to get into the empty cafeteria. “I mean, sure I’d love to move in with him, but we haven’t even been together a month.”

“You’ve been together more than a month. You said you’ve been best friends since he moved here. It’s not like you don’t know him. You know more about him than anyone.”

She had a good point. “I know that, but now we’re actually together. I know he said we’d have separate bedrooms but it’s still hard to agree. How could I sleep in a different bed than him?” I pause and look and Danielle as we walk out the front door, and not to my surprise, since we carpooled this morning, Harry was waiting out front. “Was that too much information?” I ask, stopping where we are.

“No… I think you should do it if that is where you really want to be.” I nod, it definitely is where I’d rather be.

“But I can’t legally move out.” I say, not sure why I am fighting so hard against this.

“You’re 18 next week.” Dammit.

I sigh again, I know she’s probably getting sick of it. I think I’ve talked to her more about this whole situation than I have to Harry. “Yea…”

“Just, go with it Kelly. In the end it’s not me making the decision, you have to think about what would be best for you.”

“What if we get judged by other people, you know, for living together?”

“Since when have you cared about what other people think about you two? Your happiness is all that matters, in a couple years everyone isn’t going to be sitting at home thinking about how you moved in with each other at 18. You’re both adults, it doesn’t even matter.”

Harry whistled at me, and I looked at him as he gazed at me from the side of the car with a smile on his face. “I should go.” I say and look back at Danielle. “Thank you for your help. I’ll see you after break.” I gave her a quick hug and said my goodbye’s to her before walking over to Harry.

Harry pecked my lips and then pulled me into a hug. Every time he sees me he hugs and kisses me, even when we’re in school. It’s so adorable and has honestly become something I look forward to everyday. “Hey, baby.”

“Hi.” I close my eyes as he gently kisses my forehead and then pulls back, reaching to open the passenger side door. I smile at him and step inside, sitting on pulling my legs in so he can shut the door.

Harry walks around and then sits in his seat, pulling his seatbelt across his body before reversing with a huge grin on his face. “Why are you smiling?” I ask him with a smile on my face as well because he is so adorable and his smile is contagious.

“I just… Listen, have an open mind, okay.” His smile had faded a bit, but I could still tell that he was excited or happy about something.

“You’re kind of scaring me.” I look from him to out the window and I notice we’re going a different way than where our houses are.

“My dad and I found a couple places.” He began, clearing his throat for the rest. He grabbed my hand and rested them on my left leg. “I wanted you to come look at this one with me.”

“Harry, I-”

“Kel, I know you’re not ready to make a decision. I know you know I want this and I think that if you saw it maybe it would help you.” He focused his eyes on the road as he spoke to me. “You know I want to live together but I really don’t want to pressure you even if it seems like it.” He says. “I want you to make a decision and be happy with it. I want what’s best for you.”

I took a couple of seconds to comprehend everything he had said and finally nodded. “Thanks.” I whisper to him.

“I love you.”

I lean over and kiss him on the jaw before moving back to my seat. “Alright, let’s go look at this apartment.” I said, and that got him excited.


“As you can see, the floors are tiled, making them easier to clean, and harder to mess up like wood floors would be. They can get scratched easily. You can fit a couch and a love seat or chair into the living room and still have room for a coffee table. The kitchen isn’t the biggest but comes with nice equipment.” An older, short, pudgy guy with gray hair shows us around the apartment. It is beautiful, to say the least. “It’s a one bedroom, and it’s down this hall and across from both bedrooms for easy and equivalent access. Here you can see that the rooms are side by side and both the same size. A queen bed could fit comfortably into both. I know your father had come by, Mr. Styles, and says it’s well in your price range. So, what do you think?” The old man pushes up his glasses on the bridge of his nose while he waits for Harry’s answer.

“Uh, I think I need to have a minute with my girlfriend, if you don’t mind, sir.” He says, squeezing my hand with his while using his other hand to swipe across his lip.

“Of course.” He nods at us and smiles before he makes his way back to the front of the apartment while Harry and I stand together in one of the bedrooms.

Harry scratches the back of his neck while looking around the room, avoiding eye contact.

“Harry, you’re making me anxious. Quit it.” I move my hands to either side of his face so he has to look at me.

He sighs and closes his eyes. “I didn’t think it would be this awkward. Part of me feels bad for bringing you here and now I don’t know what to say to the man. I want your opinion but I want you with me so damn bad.” He leaves his eyes closed as his arms wrap around my waist. At first he puts his forehead against mine, pulling my upward so I’m on my toes and my back is arched, then he drops his head to my shoulder and I wrap my arms around him.

So many thoughts gather in my mind. Part of me feels like I know the answer. Do I want to stay with my dad? No. Do I want to be with Harry? Yes. It just feels so quick, and I’m scared that it isn’t going to end well. That we aren’t going to be happy. Then I feel like I want to live with him because I’m not sure if this will last and I want to spend as much time with him as possible now, with my first love, so in the future I won’t have any regrets. I know with Harry I won’t have any. I love him too much. It kind of fucking sucks, no amount of school could prepare me for the internal struggle of this situation.

“Hey, Harry.” I whisper, still in the same position although now I realize it is getting a little uncomfortable.

“Yea.” He mumbles against the sensitive skin on my neck. I hate it when he does that and causes a sensation to flow through my body.

“I love you.” I squeeze my eyes closed and hug him tighter.

His breath comes out a little shaky and I just want to kiss the life out of him and role my eyes at him all at the same time. “I love you, Kel.”

“I’m really sorry but…” I take a deep inhale and feel his grip around my waist loosen and his back tense. “Look at me.” I tell him, and he slowly raises his head to meet my gaze before closing them again and resting his forehead on mine. “Harry.” I whisper and he opens his eyes again and breathes in and out of his mouth, each exhale hitting my lips. I keep his eye contact, jumping from one eye to the other before looking down at the ground. “I need you to know that I am sorry and I really love you,” again he closes his eyes. “but I’m gonna have to have this room. I know he said they’re the same size but I think this one looks bigger don’t you think?” I say, smirking up at him when his eyes shoot open in surprise. He looks to see if I’m joking or not and then grins.

Harry lifts me up in his arms and spins me around the room causing me to let out a small scream. He puts me back on solid ground and holds me close to him. “You’re serious? You’ll move in with me?” he smiles.

“I’m turning 18 soon, I love you, and you love me. Why not? I’d be over here all the time anyway.” He wide smile get even bigger as he pulled me in to kiss me.

“I love you.” He said and then pecked me again. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” He said between kisses until the last one he didn’t pull away and I had to because I was out of breath and running my fingers through his long hair wasn't distracting enough from my lack of oxygen.

“Alright, big boy.” I hit him on the shoulder. “We’ve need to go home and really talk about this, okay? We need to make sure this is what we both want.”

“You mean we need to talk to my parents about it.”

“Exactly.”

He ran his fingertips down my jaw, moving close to me once again and then kissed my one more time gently before intertwining our fingers. He turned to walk out the door, and I followed behind him, too happy for my own good.

"Hey Harry... Can I french braid your hair?"

Notes