The Chase (h.s. au)

Chapter 5

Harry.

"What are you studying?" Lauren asks, sitting across me in the booth. I took the biggest risk telling her she's beautiful, but she hasn't left. She's still smiling and laughing and talking with me.

"Engineering. It was the best offer I got," I tell her, her fingers holding a spoon that still swirls ice cream. I just want to hold her and I have had to stop looking at her perfectly sculpted pink lips every other second.

"Is it for your auto shop? To help more?" she asks, my eyes taking her in. She actually knows about the shop.

"Y-Yeah. I want to help my dad out," I explain, feeling washed in a sense of happiness.

"That's so cool. I'm studying to be able to help those in need. I want to change my life around; stop doing everything my dad wants."

"I give you credit for that," I grin, her lips parting as she lets out a soft laugh.

I reach out and brush a strand of her hair behind her ear, taking her hand and standing up. I guide her into the group of people dancing, this restaurant know for the music and dancing. Spinning her around, I wrap my arms around her and she maneuvers her arms around my neck.

"You are a good dancer," she smiles, her eyes so bright. The brown color gleams and I think about spring when I see her. The refreshing and beautiful scene something that comprises everything Lauren is made of.

"I try," I say, moving her carefully. I learned everything from my mum.

We move in sync, perfectly moving as I keep her in my arms. She laughs so much at my attempt at singing and I smile at the sound. She's happy; so free and natural.

I keep dancing with her until she grabs one of my hands, leaning up to my ear.

"Will you...come with me?" she asks, my head nodding. The music fades out as she walks outside, my fingers digging in my pocket to pay for our ice cream. I rush out after her and see her standing against the wall.

"What's wrong?" I ask, walking to her and grabbing her hands.

"The smoke was getting to be too much. Can we just get out of here?" she asks, my head nodding.

"Yeah, of course. Don't worry," I say, holding her hand as we walk to my car. Once I open the door for her, she grabs my forearm and turns to face me.

"I don't want to go to my house," she says, her shy behavior something I adore.

"Where do you want me to take you?" I ask, her eyes meeting mine.

"Anywhere except my house," she says, my head nodding.

My father isn't home for he's out picking up new parts for the auto shop. If I take her to my house, we can have a more private time together. There isn't anything to hide from her.

As I drive her to my home, she looks around and smiles. The people in my neighborhood all get together and have bonfires on Sunday nights. Everyone around here likes to be together.

"Lance's family has bonfires. We can go there if you'd like," I say.

"I-I kind of just want to be, uh, with you," she says, my heart beating faster. She's reassuring me that all my days of admiring her and wishing she'd like me were for nothing for she's felt nearly the same way.

"That's fine," I smile, pulling into the driveway to my house. The lights are off and I park the car, walking to her side immediately. Once I open the door, I reach my hand out to her and she takes it. We walk in and I immediately face palm. Our house is a mess and there is a ton of papers everywhere. My dad and I refer to our household of being 'rustic'.