Let's Pretend It's Love

So far everything about preparing for Penny's wedding has been a drag. I'd trudged though mailing out invitations and sorting out R.S.V.P's and cringed during the discussion of flowers and venues. But Penny was finally getting to the part I was look forward to: the food. Forget about the vows or the flowers or the dress. On the rare occasion I'm dragged to a wedding, the highlight of my experience is the food. Mum had agreed to having one of the finest restaurant in London cater Penny and Liam's wedding and I don't know who was more excited, me or them. It had been a while since the bridal party's last meeting so Penny had planned a night out of food and wine tasting for everyone. Sure I hated them all but when there's booze and gourmet food involved I couldn't complain.

"How on earth did you ever snag this restaurant, Pen? I heard they're always booked with reservations!" Ailsa announced as Penny passed the bottle of Chardonnay around the table. We all probably looked like thirsty, starving mad women but we didn't care. At least I didn't.

Charlotte flipped her shiny blonde hair. "Penny's the bride. She can make magic happen. You're one lucky bitch." I rolled my eyes as she brought her glass to her mouth.

Penny chuckled. "As much as I'd love to take all the credit I have Mum to thank. She wouldn't stop calling until something came available. Amazing, innit? Presley's helped out a lot too."

Penny sent a smile in my direction and I smirked at Charlotte who's face held a scowl before lifting my own champagne flute to my lips.

"I'm the maid of honor. I could've done it ,you know."

"I was just more available. No hard feelings though, Char. We're all adults here." I shrugged casually before going back to my drink. Libby and Ailsa seemed too engrossed in the wine to comment. I'd been pulling all of Charlotte's weight. I rightfully deserved all the credit and I'm not sure if I would ever stop reminding her of that.

"Relax Char, I'll let you know next time I need help with something. Presley deserves a break anyways." Penny smiled politely just as the waiter came out with a tray of food informing us about the starter salad that Penny had chosen and giving us instructions on which forks to use. I wasn't really listening I, was too eager to start eating.

"Well look at that, I'm just in time." A familiar voice rang diverting Penny's attention away from the food. Liam was standing there brushing new fallen snow from his coat and smiling broadly at Penny.

"Babe, I thought you wouldn't come." Penny announced standing from her seat and ushering Liam over to the table.

"Who the hell tries food for the reception without the groom?" He asked his eyebrows furrowing deeply as he pulled a chair next to Penny.

"My sister did. Her fiancee was stuck in traffic. Wasn't willing to wait on 'em." Came another familiar voice that made me grin.

Harry appeared in all his glory tugging his beanie from his head and giving his hair a generous shake. It was nearly like watching a L'oreal Paris commercial.

"Oh, hey there Harry. I wasn't expecting you either." Penny replied.

I stopped forking my salad. "Me neither." I replied honestly. I thought this was just a gathering of the bridal party not the whole entire wedding party. But this time I wasn't annoyed with Harry popping up out of the blue. I knew for sure he'd make dinner more bearable for me.

He shrugged. "Liam invited me. Figured you ladies needed more male opinion."

"Like we need you to tell us what taste good. Shut up and get over here." I smirked standing from my chair and tugging Harry in the direction of my end of the table.

"You're not going to introduce us all?" Charlotte asked giving Harry a once over.

"How rude of me. Girls this is Harry, my boyfriend. Harry, meet Libby, Ailsa and.. Charlotte." I introduced with a smirk.

Harry smiled revealing a dimple. "Pleasure meeting everyone. I'm sure you'll all look lovely in the wedding."

Libby and Ailsa murmured polite greetings but Charlotte just eyed the both of us suspiciously.

Even if Harry and I weren't in a real relationship I couldn't have loved it more if it made Charlotte shut up.

He took a seat in front of me before unraveling his silverware. I wasn't sure if the waiter would come back with another round of salad for he and Liam to try so I pushed my plate in front of him urging him to try.

"You sure know how to make surprised entrances." I grinned whilst poking a tomato with my fork.

"I text you but somebody wasn't checking their phone. We've talked about this." He replied in a mock lecturing tone.

I rolled my eyes. "I was distracted, H. There so much good food and expensive booze being dispersed at one time you can't possibly expect me to receive your text." I replied.

"How's your day been, love?" Harry smiled before forking through the lettuce on his plate.
I sighed. "Boring? Jess hired a new employee and I've been training him for the past few days. He's practically a kid. Not to mention he's so jumpy. On the plus side I did get some snuggling in with Ollie before coming here. You?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Interesting as it'll ever get. But, I do have a side gig in Wales next weekend at a friend's wedding."

"Take me with you?" I whined. The waiter was beginning to ladle out soup in everyone's dishes as Harry chuckled.

"If I could, I would. I'd stuff you in my duffle bag but I reckon you won't fit and that's rather inhumane, innit?"

"I'm kidding, of course. Fill me in on the details, yeah?"

"Deal. You're using the wrong fork by the way. That's the fork for the main course. You need a salad fork." Harry declared matter of factly pointing to the fork in my hand as I tossed a few tomatoes about the plate.

I kinked an eyebrow. "And just how would you know?"

He grinned, dimples denting his cheeks. "You're looking at a former best man at my mum's wedding and groomsmen at my sister's. You have to learn these things, otherwise you'll look stupid when everyone else is using a different fork from you."

I rolled my eyes before grabbing my spoon to taste the soup. "Don't be a smart ass."

We made small talk and playful banter while we waited on the main dish to come out. I have to admit that I was enjoying myself much more with Harry around than I would have if he weren't here. I probably would have stayed to myself and spent most of the rolling my eyes whilst listening to Charlotte's endless chatter if it weren't for him. I wasn't sure if I should tell him how much I've appreciated his company tonight.

"Does it bother you?" Harry asked after sometime.

I furrowed my brows and the waiter suddenly came, sitting the main dish in front of us before I had a chance to reply.

"Does what bother me? I asked before going for a sip of wine.

"That your sister is getting married before you? Don't you want to settle down eventually?" His green eyes met mine for a second before adjusting is silverware.

I sighed. I'd never been asked that question before. Well yeah, I'd been asked it before by relatives and Mum but none of them ever put it that way.

I stuck my fork in the pasta on my plate with another sigh.

"If it happens then it happens, I guess. But God bless the poor bastard, whomever he may be, that gets stuck with me." I laughed it off with a shrug. "What about you?"

Harry had just finished forking a mouthful of pasta in his mouth and he whipped the corner of his mouth with a sigh.

"I mean, bachelor life is pretty proper but there's always that desire to grow old with someone someday. It seems to grow every time one of my mates gets married. I want to settle down and have a family but there's the chore of finding the right one and then there's the fear of being alone. I don't wanna be alone."

His green eyes softened and I couldn't help but feel an ounce of sympathy. Harry was really likeable. Sweet even, when he wanted to be. I was positive he'd find someone. Me on the other hand, I'm a riot.

"Hey, having someone isn't everything. You can always just get some cats. They're great company." I replied.

The corner of his lips turned into a small smile. "Gee, thanks for that."

His eyes looked watery and red. Was he crying?

"This is really goood." I exclaimed twisting a few strands of pasta on my fork.

Harry only coughed violently in response. "Makes my mouth itch." He eventually replied.

I shrugged taking a sip of wine. "Taste fine to me."

We went back to eating in silence which was short lived by Harry's constant coughing.

"Is it too spicy? Do you need water?"

I looked up at him. In a short amount of time his usually clear skin had broken out into little red hives. My eyes widened in shock.

"Shit. Harry, you don't look good at all." I exclaimed.

He frowned. "I don't feel so good. What was in that stuff?"

Hell if I knew.

"Penny!! What do you call this dish?!" I shouted frantically to the other end of the table.

"Lobster pappardelle. Do you like it?" Penny replied giddily.

Liam looked down at our end of the table and his eyes grew wide.

"Holy shit, Presley. Your boyfriend is blue!!" He exclaimed.

Instantly everyone's attention turned to Harry and I. I stole another glance at him and sure enough Harry's normally tan complexion had this odd blueish tint. He ran a hand through his curls in disbelief.

"Shit. Shit. Shit!"

"Are you allergic to lobster, Harry?" I asked frantically.

"I don't know! I never tried it before." He cried.

"He needs CPR!" Charlotte shouted. By now everyone was stood from their seats and gathered around Harry watching him as if he was some show at the circus.

"He'd still breathing!" I shouted. Idiot.

"Everyone back up! We have to call the ambulance!" Penny shouted feverishly reaching for her mobile.

"Wait, no! I don't wanna go to the hospital. I'll be fine." Harry begged. He really didn't look good and I was beginning to panic. I'd heard about how dangerous food allergies could be but never had I witnessed it first hand. I didn't know what to do.

"We have to get you help, mate." Liam declared placing his hands on both of his shoulders.

Harry moaned loudly in dismay. "Everybody back up or I swear I will projectile vomit on all of you!" He snapped.

The circle quickly dispersed. You didn't have to tell us twice.

I wasn't used to seeing Harry this snappy and grumpy but I knew he was in pain and would probably apologize to everyone later. My stomach dropped and my throat grew dry but I suddenly got an idea.

"He's going to be okay. I'll take care of it, I promise." I announced to the group as I feverishly began gather mine and Harry's belongings. He looked so bad and I couldn't help but want to help him.

"C'mon Harry. We don't have a lot of time." I urged extending my hand to him that he gripped too tightly.

Whenever we're together things just always seem to go awry.
***
"Presley, I'm hot." Harry murmured whilst snuggling deeper into the blankets I'd brought him.

After making a run to a nearby Tessco, talking to a pharmacist and excessive googling, I decided to take Harry back to my flat to rest up for the night. His food allergy wasn't as bad as everyone thought and with benadryl, sleep and hydration I was told he'd be back to himself by tomorrow.

"If you take off one more article of clothing, Styles, you're going to be naked. Suck on some more ice chips. It will help reduce your fever." I instructed extending a cup to him. Ollie had jumped on the couch and curled up into a ball in the crook of Harry's arm. I'd told him to get down but Harry insisted that it was okay.

With a deep sigh I sat down on the rug bringing my knees up to my chin and closing my eyes. It had been an exhausting day and I just wanted to go to bed now.

"You can't go to sleep now, Presley! You have to stay up with me. Come cuddle with me. I'll let you be the big spoon if you let me be the little one." He whined and I couldn't help but giggle.
I knew he was drowsy and delirious at the moment and I wouldn't hesitate to remind him of it later.

I grinned. "You have Ollie to cuddle with. He's a great cuddler. Plus, I don't think the both of us can fit on this couch."

Harry frowned. "We could try."

I smiled standing up from my spot on the floor.

"You're such a baby. How about you try and get some sleep, yeah?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Please stay. At least for a little bit. I don't wanna be alone."

His last words echoed in my head again. I don't wanna to be alone. Sure he was under the influence of sleep inducing allergy medicine but he'd said them before when he was completely fine and something about it alarmed me.

I sighed. "Scoot over a bit then." I squeezed myself at the end of the sofa and stretched his never ending legs across my lap.

"Happy?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yeah, much better." A slow dimpled grin spread across his face and I could feel him sloppily reaching for my hand.

"You're so sweet, Presley. So sweet and so beautiful."

His grip on my hand tightened and I felt sort of uncomfortable. I could see his green eyes begging to droop.

"Thanks for taking care of me." He rasped.

I grinned. "That's what friends do, right?"

"Yeah."

I trapped my bottom lip between my teeth.

"Harry?" I asked in the silence.

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to be alone."

Notes

First update of 2016! So more cute moments between Presley and Harry! What exactly do you think he means when he says he doesn't want to be alone? How do you think it makes Presley feel? I love to hear what you guys think!

I will be starting the semester next week and so far I've managed to get three updates in this break! That's stellar. However, I can't predict what the update flow will be like for the new year.

I'm kind of in a bad place in my life right now and I really need to sort things out. There's some stuff I really need to do for myself. I haven't really been feeling writing lately but I managed to get this chapter out. I won't be taking a hiatus from this fic. There will still be updates so no need to worry about that.

I love to hear what you guys think! Thanks for the constant support. Feel free to leave a little review! Thanks for reading!

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