GREEN (RL Harry Styles fanfic)

12. Fluorescent

"I feel like I should warn you that there might be paparazzi," Harry said in his deep voice thick with accent as he raised his driver's seat back to an upright position and buckled his seat belt.

"Okay," I said nodding but not really sure how to respond.

"They probably won't show up until we are ready to leave, so you have some time to prepare," he continued as we pulled from the driveway.

"And how exactly do I prepare?," I asked raising an eyebrow.

"It's usually best to ignore them and not say anything. Don't provoke and don't engage," He paused and I watched as the muscles in his face tensed and the corners of his mouth straightened ever so slightly. "And we should do our best to act as just friends." His words sent a rush of heat to my chest. Harry's acknowledgement that we were more than friends had caught me off guard. Clearly we had crossed the line past friendship when we entered into his bed, but hearing him speak of it was different. I wondered why he seemed tense and serious though. "And I think you should leave with your friend, so we aren't seen leaving together." Harry turned to get a read on my expression. I watched as his Adam's apple bobbed with a hard swallow while he anticipated my reaction and response.

"Oh, that's probably best," I said, trying to hide my confusion. It was a logical plan, but I couldn't help but think that this was his way of getting rid of me. I found it odd considering how much he insisted I couldn't leave before now. "I should get home and shower and back to life anyways," I added, not even convincing myself that's what I wanted.

Harry didn't respond. He just stared at the road ahead of him, not even blinking. Suddenly Harry turned down a side street and pulled to the curb, putting the car in park. His eyes were dark and his brows dropped slightly. He leaned in and pulled my lips to his placing his right hand behind my head with his thumb rubbing the side of my neck. Stunned at his impulsive actions, but delirious with his taste I returned his kiss and met his tongue. Having been unprepared, I was short of breath. Sensing my need for oxygen, Harry pulled from my lips. As I sucked in a breath he moved his hand from behind my neck onto my thigh and rubbed it.

"I'm sorry if I startled you, but I needed to kiss you," Harry said with his features now softened. He stared directly into my eyes, still only inches from my face. "I never meant for you to return to yours. I only meant if we were papped leaving together it would be problematic." I smiled at his honesty. "I don't want this to end, and the paparazzi have a way of destroying my relationships." There it was again, Harry's reference to us being something. I wasn't sure how to interpret it and I felt my thoughts roll off my tongue without hesitation as they only did for him.

"I don't want this to end either, but I'm honestly not even sure what this is."

"It's whatever it can be. I'm open to wherever things wants to go. I'm quite enjoying our time and enjoying you Liv." He raised his jaw and planted a kiss on my forehead before returning to the wheel. "Is that alright with you?"

"Yes," I reassured him with a smiling nod, not sure of what else to say. "And Harry," I paused. "I'm enjoying this as well." He smiled as he put the car into drive and returned to our route.

"You know, if we want to appear as friends, you really should fix your hair so it isn't so obvious you've been properly fucked." Harry's smirk widened across his cheeks as mine began to redden.

I flipped down the visor mirror to assess my appearance realizing I hadn't really done so before we left Harry's. He was right, I had full on sex hair. Flat in the back and wild around the edges where hair was once wet with sweat but dried again. I ran my fingers through my hair bringing the longer portion to the right and smoothing it as best I could. I wet my fingers to work the kinked strands straight and caught a glimpse of Harry adjusting himself in his jeans and clearing his throat at the sight of my fingers on my tongue.