Here Without You

Chapter 24:

Chapter 24

"Your eyes are wider than distance, but this love is sweeter than fiction."

I bend down to slap hands with a few fans as I sing, motioning out at the crowd. Neon lights blink in a strobe order, lighting up each and every unidentified face. The group of fans that had won tickets to this preformance screams the words back at me which is unlike the reporters and press. My eyes meet Harrys while the last line of the last setlist song of the night slides off my tounge.

Immediately after I finish, cheers explode from the crowd. I give a wave and a smile, slapping more hands before I exit the stage. Ellie stands next to Harry at the bottom of the stage, their claps turning into open arms. I embrace Harry first and Ellie after. They mutter a bunch of congratulations spontaneously.

"Cmon, kareoke is on now!" Ellie cooes, gripping both Harry and I by our wrists and back on stage after she requests a song. Harry laughs, being pushed on stage first to the sound of screaming girls. A twinge on jealousy sparks. I cringe.

The beginning of Both Of Us by myself and B.O.B. booms over the loud-speakers. Ellie grins as she sidesteps down the stairs offstage. Next song, I will personally drag her up.

"I wish I was strong enough to lift, not one, but both of us. someday I will be strong enough to lift not one but both of us"

I sing, stepping up farther on the stage with my nails digging into the microphone.

Harry jumps up, lands just behind me, then does this odd kind of low walk up as he takes over B.O.B's part.

"Ugh. Ever thought about losing it? when your moneys all gone and you lose your whip. You might lose your grip when your landlords tellin' that you're due for rent. And the grass so green on the other side, make a nigga wanna run straight through the fence. Open up the fridge like 20 times but you still cant find no food in it. That's foolishness.

And sometimes I wonder why we care so much about the way we look and the way we talk and the way we act and the clothes we bought how much that cost. Does that even really matter? 'Cause if life is an uphill battle, we all tryin' to climb with the same old ladder, in the same boat with the same old paddle.

Why so shallow? I'm just askin'. Whats the pattern to the madness?"

Harry raps quickly as he can with the raspy voice he has. I keep my composure so I don't end up bursting out into laughter that would domino affect onto Harry.

I walk closer so I'm face to face with Harry. He leans his lips in and I pull back a little before they touch and sing, "Yeah, I wish I was strong enough to lift not but both of us.."

I let our lips touch momentarily before he continues his rap solo and acting like a dork

••

I yawn, stretching back on the couch. Harry places a pan full of pumpkin bread I had baked earlier on the coffee table, sitting next to me. "I think," I pause to bite into the bread. "I think we should talk."

His face turns stern quickly. Too quickly at that, causing me to stifle a giggle that i act as if I'm struggling to swallow the bread. "About what?" He asks, running a hand through my hair. I sigh.

"The baby.." I mumble just loud enough. My eyes trail down to my stomach thats been a bit more noticeable lately. He follows my eyes, his large hand covering my heart. I meet his eyes, confused.

"What about it?" He smiles, the hand over my heart slowly raising to my chin. I look back down to my hands that are clasped in my lap. I want us to be married. I don't know how to tell him though. I'm sure he knows.

"Well, I just wanted to make sure that whatever happens with it- I just wanted to, um, say that... I love you, Harry." I stutter. Not what I originally wanted to say but its true. If I'm having a child, it will have a dedicated father. I'm sure Harry will be exactly what I think he'll be but no matter what, love is the biggest factor. Of course I wouldn't just give myself entirely to someone I didn't love for sure. His fingers trace my neck line down my collarbone.

"Babe, you know how much I love you." He smirks, his fingers lingering down my stomach. I give him a look. "Okay, okay. But seriously, I really truly love you more than I have loved anyone or anything ever, Taylor. I will never leave you stranded, if that's what you're worried about. Not again. Never again."

I don't wait for us to lean in and ponder off time staring into eachothers eyes, I mash my lips into his with a fierce passion that hadn't been there before. I'm ready for this baby. I'm ready to be married. I may not be ready to be a parent but I am ready to face the world with Harry. I love him and he loves me. That's all that really matters in my mind.