Jane’s POV

“Do you wanna come in?” He asks innocently followed by a hard swallow.
Is he nervous? Well I don’t think anyone is as nervous as I am right now, so I guess it’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one.

I nod my head, a slight blush going to my cheeks as I place the pencils back in my bag.

“Yeah. Um sure.” I respond.

He suddenly moves to the side, letting me stroll along right passed him and his eyes follow me as if to make sure that I’m not going to leave.
I hear the door close and lock behind me and I just place one of my hands on the straps of my bag, not really knowing where else I can place it to make me look as normal and un antsy as I truly am.

My eyes roam the room and I smile softly at the fact that nothing has changed and everything is in the same exact place as before. I hear footsteps beginning to approach me from behind and I just hold on to my bag tighter when I notice how the book is on a coffee table beside a bowl of soup. He was reading it.

“So, if may I ask, why did you stop by? Not that I mind, because I really don’t and-”
I quickly raise an eyebrow and I shake my head when I turn around to face him.

“Wait, you didn’t know I was coming?” I question, interrupting his slight ramble.

As I turn around I notice how close he is to me and I guess he does too since he just clears his throat before stepping a little back, adding to the space between us.
We’re both so clearly nervous wrecks right now and all I want to do is break the tension so he can be Harry again and I can be Jane and we can just be HarryandJane.

His head tilts slightly to the side and this time he looks confused.

“No. I was never aware.” He replies, the air seeming thinner.
I feel my cheeks redden and I glance down at the floor. Maybe Louis actually did mean his friend and I just mistook all of the information, thinking he was just trying to be a slick ass about everything, actually meaning Harry, but now I know that I was wrong.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. Louis told me that he had a friend that lived in Virginia that wanted me to paint one of their rooms for them. I guess-”

I sigh, my eyes still remained on the floor from embarrassment. Maybe I just wanted to make myself believe so much that it was Harry so I could have an excuse to visit him. I’m the fool here, but then again I’m always the fool when it comes to Harry and I always will be.

“No. Don’t apologize.” I hear him say, feeling his hand place itself upon the corner of my shoulder.

I turn my head up and I can’t help but just stare at his hand and then him. This is the first time we’ve made any contact in ten months. The last time being when he cradled me in his arms as I cried into his loose fitting shirt.

I think he notices too, since his eyes land on his own hand and then at me.

“I live in Virginia you know.” He whispers and I chuckle a little, his hand still in the exact same place.

“Yeah I do.” I say.

He chuckles a little as well and nods slightly as a smile spreads on his thin cherry red lips.

“And I have a room that is just begging to be painted.” He adds, my curiosity beginning to grow.

“Begging huh?”

He nods again.

“It’s very very boring. Truly the most dull space I have ever been acquainted with.”

He places his hand back down on his sides, placing it in the pocket of his dark gray sweatpants and I turn my body more so that we’re now both facing eachother completely.
“Acquainted? What a fancy word. First bewitching and now acquainted. Hmm what word are you going to use next? Frivolous, ameliorate, or maybe even pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.”

He raises an eyebrow before revealing his teeth and dimples through one of his glorious smiles.

“Well I mean I can’t even pronounce the last one. Is that even a fucking word?”

I laugh a little before nodding.

“Yeah it is! It’s the longest word in the dictionary actually. It’s a type of lung disease.” I reply, receiving an impressed nod from him.

“But how do you even-”

I laugh again.

“My fans are really strange. One day a girl tweeted me randomly about it, saying how she learned it in class and I guess it just kind of stuck with me.” I answer, smiling at the thought of my fans. They truly are delightful people.

Harry’s smile softens and his eyes just begin roaming my whole entire face, observing every last bit of it.

I feel myself blush and I giggle.

“What is it?” I ask, ruining the moment because I am just a good moment ruiner for some freaking reason.

“I’m just glad I’m not the only one who sees how talented you truly are anymore.” He whispers, my lips separating at his words and my heart beginning to work again as I feel it actually beating. I’m breathing again and it’s wonderful.

“Um yeah I- Um thank you.” I mutter, not really knowing how else to respond without humiliating myself.

He chuckles.

“So will you end its misery?”

I glance up awkwardly at him and I smile.

“What room shall it be sir?”

He smiles back before pointing his chin up, motioning me to follow and I do.

We walk down the halls in silence, memories beginning to replay themselves in my mind. I
peek at the kitchen and Harry and I eating breakfast together and laughing over our terrible jokes appear. I pause it and avert my eyes to the end of the long hallway, the unopened door that leads to the balcony causing my whole body to shiver in a terrible reminition.

I imagine Harry running through the opened doors, yelling my name and falling to his knees as I stared down upon my own life, wanting everything to stop and never fast forward again.

“Are you okay?”

I shake my head and I force a smile as I look at Harry who has stopped in front of a door and is observing me again.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Just haven’t been here in a while. That’s all.”

He gives me a small smile before turning his attention to the door, his hand gripping the knob and turning it.

“This is it.” He says, walking himself inside and my eyes widening as I saunter myself right behind him.

It’s the white room.

I quickly shake my head, both Harry and I now standing in the middle.

“I-I can’t-”

“You can. I don’t mind.” He says, his fingers gripping around my wrist as if to get my attention.

His eyes are glowing, but it’s an odd kind of glowing. I can’t really decipher why, but it just-he just looks appreciative, as if he’s thanking me for just being here with him.

“I would be honored.” I whisper, wanting so badly to just hug him or hold his hand.
He smiles before realizing that he’s still holding my wrist and quickly lets go. He has never been this hesitant of any kind of contact with me and I just hope I’m not making him feel uncomfortable in anyway.

I sit myself down, and I pat the spot next to me so he could join along. He does as follows without question and I begin taking out a sketch pad and one of my many pencils.

“W-what are you doing?” He asks as he looks over at me, the lines being formed on the blank white paper with the black lead of my wooden stick.
I finish drawing the simple outline of the room and I turn my head to the left to face him.

“I’m just drawing the room. It’s kind of like a base in a way and um I- is there any specific design or just anything you would like painted on the walls?”

It feels weird treating Harry like a customer or client or whatever. I just really want to talk to him and just look at him as long as I can since I haven’t seen his prepossessing face in such a long time. Only seeing it in my dreams and daily hallucinations.

He looks down at the paper resting on my lap and his eyebrows scrunch together in thought.

“I really like trees and nature.” He states seriously, his eyes gaping at me intensely, in need of my opinion.

I nod and I smile widely.

“Yeah that would be quite magnificent wouldn’t it?” I comment.

His face remains in this intense gaze and I feel my smile falter, my teeth quickly biting the bottom.

“Okay. Well um I’ll just be on my way. I’ll get the paint and come back tomorrow morning?” I ask, already standing myself up, brushing some dust from my jeans with my free hand while my other is still holding the paper and bag.

He continues seated, his head averting upwards towards me.

“Where are you staying?” He asks.

I place the paper back in my bag.

“Kat’s. Haven’t done that in a while.” I say, followed by a nervous chuckle.

He nods before finally lifting himself up from the ground and leading me back to the front of the house.

No word, no breath, nothing is said or heard as we just walk side by side to the front door. I’m only aware of his presence and he only with mine. It’s not awkward at all but in fact the opposite. Just knowing that he’s actually here next to me is so very comforting.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” I break the silence, unlocking the door and giving him a quick smile. I feel a bit uneasy now. He looks kind of pained in a way and I don’t know if I’m the cause behind it, but I just want to hug him. I want to so bad.

He gives me a smile, forced of course, before saluting and watching me walk outside into the driveway.

I don’t hear the door close behind me, nor do I hear the sound of his footsteps so as I’m about to walk onto the sidewalk, I close my eyes before dropping all of my stuff and turning around.

He looks kind of shocked and bewildered by my sudden actions, but as I begin running towards him, he begins to catch on and begins running as well until we’re both enveloped in each other.

My arms are wrapped around his neck and his around my waist.

He’s holding me tight and I’m holding him with the same amount of power. I feel one of his hands move up to the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair and nuzzling his face into my neck.

“I’ve missed you. I’ve missed you so much.” I whisper.

He holds me tighter, his recognizable scent of mint and detergent polluting my senses.

“I’ve missed you too. God, I’ve fucking missed you.”

I smile and just begin laughing into his shirt from happiness, the realization that I’m actually with him finally kicking in. He laughs too and when we both finally pull away, we both seem to laugh uncontrollably for no apparent reason at all. My stomach clenches and begins to sore as I just laugh, his eyes shut tight and crinkling at the sides as he continues as well.

“I don’t know why I’m laughing so much.” He comments, wiping the tears that have formed in
the corners of his eyes and I doing the same.
I shrug, now smiling.

“I haven’t laughed like that in months.” I state.

His laughter soon subsides and he looks at me in an endearing way.

“Me too.”

…

Before I eventually left Harry’s home, I got his number and we just texted each other the rest of the day. I much rather would have wanted to just stay with him there, hearing him laugh, seeing him smile, and just enjoying his company, but I had to go to an art store and purchase all the supplies necessary. Harry told me that he wouldn’t really mind what color I chose that it would turn out great either way so I bought every shade of green spray paint known to man. So about twenty five cans.

I purchased cardboard as well and after having a welcoming and long conversation with Katherine about everything I’ve been through in the last couple of months, repeating some of the stories I have told her in the past, she assisted me in helping me make the stencils.
I traced out about six trees on very large pieces of cardboard, Katherine helping me cut them out with her very steady hands. I guess making all those cookies gave her that ability. I pretty much draw all the time and my hands still shake a little every once in a while.

Harry notified me that I could come at any time I pleased that he wakes up early anyway, so we both finally agreed on nine o’ clock.

Now I’m standing here in front of his door again. I decided to wear one of my very over worn gray shirts that are stained with paint, my equally stained dark jeans, my white converse that are sadly covered in paint as well, no longer white and my necklace hidden inside. I don’t think Harry noticed the ring since like I said, it’s hidden in my shirt and always is. I actually was going to leave it at Kats today, but it slipped my mind and I don’t think the bus driver would’ve been so polite on the idea of driving me back, so oops I guess.

I just really hope he doesn’t spot it, since it would be really awkward. Maybe I’ll go to the bathroom and take it off or something.

I kick the door with the tip of my toes lightly since my hands are not at all free, too busy holding the many pieces of cardboard and bags of paint and he soon comes out in a different pair of sweats and a rolling stones T-Shirt, his hair pulled back by a thin headband.
God, can he ever not look amazing.

“Oh, let me help you out there.” He quickly states as he grabs almost everything out of my hold.

I laugh a little as I try grabbing some things back.

“I can hold some things silly. I’m a big girl.” I joke, causing him to blush a little before laughing along.

We both place everything down in the white room floor carefully before we both just laugh again.

I don’t know why we’re both always laughing suddenly when ever we’re near each other, but I’m guessing it has to do with the fact that I haven’t really laughed in months and I’m guessing neither has he. I’m only ever this happy when I’m around him, so I guess after not being with him for ten months, this overwhelming joy just takes over me like laughing gas, so I just laugh. And trust me, it’s much more amazing laughing with him then crying over him.
I bend down to the pile and I grab two surgical looking masks, handing him one as I stand back up. He looks at me confused.

“Why are you handing me one?” He asks, still taking the mask either way.

“You need to put this on so you don’t breathe in the paint.” I retort, beginning to place it on.
His eyes look down at the mask, and his thumb grazes over it.

“You want me to paint with you?”

I raise an eyebrow, before pulling the mask slightly up over my mouth.

“Yeah. Of course. Why? You don’t wa-”

“No. Yeah. I-I do. I just didn’t think you-”

He takes a deep breath before meeting my eyes and I can’t help but stare at the scars on the bare skin of his wrists.

He’s been through so much and the man that would leave everything is now afraid to be left.
I quickly go over to him and I wrap my arms around him again.

“I do. Who else is going to make sure I don’t spray myself in the eye.”

He wraps his arms around me as well and laughs.

“Has that happened before?”

I pull away and look up at him wide eyed, nodding in an exaggerated way.

“Yes. I can’t even begin to explain. It hurts A LOT.”

He laughs even harder and I just nudge his shoulder.

“Are you laughing at me? I could’ve gone blind!” I say, biting my lip and trying to hold back my own laughter.

“It must of been a bewitching thing to see.”

I snort and I roll my eyes.

“You’re not even using the word correctly.” I state, turning around and walking back to the pile, beginning to grab the stencils.

“Yes I am.”

He bends down next to me, gathering the paint and I glance at him, shaking my head.

“So you’re saying that me getting sprayed in the eye takes control of you completely?”

He opens his mouth but quickly closes it.

“I thought so.” I add.

I stand up and he as well and while I’m walking to the end of the room, I feel him tap my shoulder and I turn around. I raise an eyebrow before he leans his face close to mine, my heart stopping. Well so much for breathing.

“You being here with me, smiling and laughing...well that’s bewitching me completely.” He whispers, my grip around the supplies loosening as I lose total concentration on everything other than him.

“Um I-”

He laughs a little before smiling.

“Did I use it correctly?” He asks.

I nod, my words sticking themselves in the middle of my throat and refusing to escape.

“Good.”

…

Harry and I have been painting for a few hours now. We’ve only really gotten one wall done and it looks absolutely amazing if I do say so myself. I may actually use these stencils again.
I showed Harry how to spray correctly, him practicing on some extra cardboard I bought before doing it on a wall. He’s pretty good. He has steady hands as well, not as steady as Katherine's, but good for a beginner I guess. And besides, the more I’m thinking about it, the more I’m beginning to think that Katherine is just a mutant because I still can’t decipher how she can just cut so still like-

I’m taken out of my thoughts as I feel paint spray itself upon me, causing me to gasp.

“Oh shit! I’m so sorry! I was just trying to open it and I guess I pressed it by accident an-”
I look at Harry with a death glare and with a can of spray in my hands, I scurry to him, his eyes regretful.

“I’m seriously sorry Jane lik-”

I begin to laugh uncontrollably as his pants now have a long green line on them.
His mouth drops and his arms spread wide open in disbelief as he looks down at my masterpiece.

“You did not just do that.” He comments.

I smile devilishly before placing my mask back over my mouth and spraying him again.
He let’s out a breath of air and when he places his own mask back on, I begin to run.

“You can’t get me!” I try announcing, but due to the huge covering over my lips, it comes out like a mumble.

There is no place really for me to escape, so Harry and I just run in circles around the room, me laughing and yelling whenever he does get me.

I spray him back and when I feel his arm snake around my waist, I yell.

“AHH!” I scream as he begins spraying all over my clothes, staining them even more.

“STOP!” I add as my laughter echoes through my room, my mask beginning to heat up due to my warm breaths.

He takes off his mask.

“Only if you do something for me.” he states in between his own laughter.

He begins to tickle me like the sadist he is and I quickly take my mask off, trying to take in a breath before I hyperventilate from laughter.

“ANYTHING. I’LL DO ANYTHING.”

“Anything?”

“YES STYLES ANYTHING.”

“Stay the night here.”

If I wasn’t being tickled violently, I would most likely blush and explode, but right now my mind is somewhere else, so I just nod, not being able to make a coherent sentence.

“What? I can’t hear you.”

“YES. I WILL.”

“You will what?”

I’m going to kill him.

“I’LL STAY THE NIGHT.”

He finally releases me and I instantly fall to the floor, taking the deepest breath I probably have ever taken.

“Was that so hard?” He asks, smiling down at me.

I scowl at him and he just continues laughing.

…

The rest of the day we just really caught up with each other. He told me about the world tour and how amazing the fans were, how he met Skylar and her family, and everything else about the past ten months for him, leaving out the cuts and marks on his skin. I don’t dare bring it up since I know how sensitive that subject is and how he has obviously tried avoiding it. He told me that right now Liam has bronchitis, so the doctor prescribed bed rest and no singing for at least two weeks. The rest of the boys are staying at hotels and I was kind of surprised at the fact that Niall is no longer going to live here.

He says the room is empty and I feel sorta sad for him. He’s going to be living in this big house alone. Who’s going to be there when he has nightmares? When he’s sick? When he’s lonely?

He assured me that he’ll never truly be alone since in fact he only really uses this house when they’re in America and in break and that since him and his family are at good terms now, he is going to spend more time with them.

I’m happy to hear that, but I’m still not pleased with the idea.
I explained to him everything I have been through including meeting Spec at the graffiti walls, the political billboard event, my new place in New York and everything as well. He didn’t speak the whole time, but instead listened and nodded his head at all of my words. He looked completely interested and it just warmed my heart.

I questioned him about his charity and my invite and he told me how he didn’t really expect me to go and that Louis was the one that persuaded him to even send me the invite in the first place. I just nodded, not really knowing how to respond and we began discussing random things over our lunch that consisted of toast and peach marmalade. That was all he had in his fridge and he even offered to order something for me, but I declined. And besides,

Peach marmalade is the best I reminded him and he smiled and nodded in agreement.
We painted a little more, spraying each other from time to time and just enjoying everything.
My mind is not racing or freaking out about the future like it usually is. As I stare at him and take in all that he is, I just forgot about life, about the world and it’s negativity that comes along with it. I saw my future right when I peeked at him from behind that tree in the park that day. I saw my life, and even though my mind is trying to tell me that he may not feel anything at all for me, I ignore her and just look at him again. He always seems to smile when my eyes meet his and I know that he may not feel strongly for me, but he is human as am I, and humans feel. So he must, whether it be friendship or a stronger relationship, there’s love in it somewhere and mine will always be on my sleeve for him. And I hope he knows that. I truly do.

I’m now laying down in one of the couches in the TV room, his arms around me, and his snores whispering in my ear. We’re still in our clothes, both of looking like little kids that just finished finger painting and I grab his hand and kiss the roof of his hand at the comforting thought.

I’m tired. I am exhausted, but I can’t sleep without the necklace which I have misplaced and I
don’t want to wake him up.

I kiss his hand one more time and rub my thumb over it before moving his arm up slowly and sliding myself off the couch.

I grab a wool maroon colored blanket that’s laying on the other couch and I place it on him before tiptoeing out of the room.

Where are you necklace?

I know it’s ridiculous that I can’t sleep without it, especially since I have Harry with me, but it’s just been apart of my routine for so long now, that I just can’t not have it with me.
I check first in the white room of course, moving things around and rummaging through the cardboard.

Nothing.

I walk back to the kitchen checking everything, even the fridge. It happened to me once before. Don’t ask.

But again, I groan when I see nothing.

“Something wrong?”

I flinch a little, taken off guard by Harry.

I tangle my fingers through my hair as I see him yawn.

“I didn’t mean to wake you. I’m so sorry.”

He laughs tiredly.

“It’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

I bite my bottom lip, rubbing my hands together as his eyes follow mine.

“Looking for something?”

I nod.

“Yeah. Don’t worry though. You should go back to sleep I mean I-”

“I said it’s fine. Anyway I can’t go back to sleep knowing that you need my help.”

He gives me a reassuring smile and I force one back, blushing.

God, I have to find this before he does. If he sees that I have it, then he’ll think different of me for sure. He may feel embarrassed himself and drift himself away.

“What did you lose?” He asks as he begins checking the drawers even though he still doesn’t even know of the lost item.

He’s so adorable.

“M-my necklace.”

Oh dear Lord, I have been good. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything wrong. Please spare me this humiliation.

His good mood drops immediately and before I can question it, he clears his throat.

“The necklace is important to you huh?”

Please God. Maybe you can just kill me now. It’ll be better. I wouldn’t mind.

“Yeah. Really important.”

He avoids my eyes and just nods to himself as he licks his lips.

“Just continue checking here and I’ll go search over there.” He points towards the hallway and I shrug. I already checked there so he won’t find anything.

He scurries off and I begin practically running around, trying to find that darn necklace.

Empty drawer.

Damn.

Empty table.

Double damn.

Nothing on the floor.

Triple damn.

“Jane I think I-”

My eyes widen immediately and my breath escapes my whole entire body. No. Please.
I walk over to the hallway, noticing Harry walking out of the bathroom holding the piece of jewelry at the tip of his finger.

The bathroom. Of. fucking. course. God, I’m an idiot.

I just remain still in place at the beginning of the hall, feeling my eyes well with tears from utter humiliation. I want to run, but I just sorta want to hear his response first. I don’t want to jump to conclusions.

He’s still as well, frozen in place with his eyes locked on the ring.

“Jane.” He whispers as he now holds the band in his fingers, reading aloud the engraving.

“It says Jane.” He adds and my lips just separate, trying to form words for me. Oh bless them. At least they’re trying.

“This is the ring I bought for you. The one you’re-” His head tilts up and I can’t breathe.

His eyebrows are furrowed together in concentration and I can’t decipher where he’s getting at. Can’t he just get this rejection over with?

“You always wear this necklace.” He says, staring at me as if I’m the only thing in the room.
My lips close, giving up and I mentally thank them for their attempt.

He begins stomping himself up to me and I don’t step forward, nor back. My feet just remain cemented.

Maybe I never should’ve come.

“Has this ring always been-”

He doesn’t finish his sentence, but instead takes a deep breath, his intense gaze chilling me to my core.

“Fuck. Answer. Please answer.”

His hands grip my shoulders and he shakes me a little, his voice sounding needy and begging.

What? Why does he want me to say this? Does he want me to humiliate myself?

“That’s what I bought the necklace for in the first place.” I answer, surprising myself.

Wow. Now I can talk.

His lips separate and he just closes his eyes and shakes his head.

“Have you been with any other...any other man?” He asks, his eyes still closed.

“No.” I breathe out.

“Why?”

I don’t say anything and his eyes open again, his hands shaking me as well.

“Why?” He repeats with so much emotion in his voice that I may suffocate soon.

“I made a promise to you.”

His eyes widen and his breathing begins pacing faster and faster.

“Harr-”

Before I could finish, he places his lips on mine and I instantly feel my concerns disappear.
His lips are slightly chapped, but still warm and his, meaning they are perfect. It’s not a slow kiss, but instead pleading and overpowering. My hands begin trembling, yet still having the ability to go to his hair, tangling themselves and pulling a little.

His arms are wrapped around my waist, and he’s just pulling me closer before pushing my lightly against the hall’s wall.

I love you my lips say.

I need you forever they express.

And by the way he begins slowing down, wanting to savor everything, I feel that he’s telling me the same thing.

His kisses begin separating as he takes deep breaths in between them and when he finally places his forehead against mine, he begins leaving butterfly kisses over my face, causing me to chuckle a little.

His arms are still wrapped around my waist and mine are now placed on the sides of his face, my thumbs beginning to trace over all of his features. I take in his beauty with his bright green eyes, flushed cheeks, and now slightly swollen lips.

“I love you.” He mutters, both of our breaths still uneven.

“I love you so much.” He adds, his eyes closing again for just a moment before stealing another quick kiss.

I smile a little, an overjoyed chuckle releasing from my lips and I continue tracing my fingers over his eyebrows.

“I think the tea’s ready.” I mutter.

He kisses the tip of my nose.

“Did you make any?”

I shake my head as I continue looking at him and he at me.

“No.”

And at that he smiles widely.

“Well then. We better make sure it doesn’t burn.”

And at that we both laugh like fools before our lips meet again.

Notes