Between Pretend And Reality

"What's got your knickers in a bunch this morning?" Penny raises an eyebrow at me from across the table as I poke my fork into a crispy piece of bacon.

I'd woken up to an empty bed this morning and left the flat in the crummiest mood to meet Penny for a Saturday brunch. Apparently, a mimosa and fluffy pancakes with bacon wasn't enough to lift the grey clouds that seemed to loom over my head.

"It's the boyfriend," I groaned, tossing my hair over my shoulder.

I hated to admit it but I'd been feeling so much pent up aggression towards Harry lately. Almost everything he did rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn't tell if I was PMSing or I was just beginning to realize how annoying he truly is.

"Ooo," her brown eyes widen. "trouble in paradise. Spill all the details,"

"It's just…" I sighed. He's been acting so weird lately,"

"Like, running in traffic naked or weird or distant boyfriend weird?" the corner of her lips curve up into a slight grin and I don't know if I should be offended that she seems to be getting some weird pleasure from this.

"Distant boyfriend weird. He seems so detatched lately. Whenever I have try to have a decent conversation with him he zones off and he fell asleep on our true murder mysteries Tuesday! He wasn't even in bed this morning."

I huffed, folding my arms across my chest as Penny nibble at her bottom lip.

"Those are red flags, Presley,"

"I know," I sighed. "I'm afraid I've just begun to bore him. There's only so many netflix shows and sex positions to keep a man's interest before he's gone,"

Penny rolled her eyes.

"As much as you've invested in Harry and you're just gonna give up like that? You're more pathetic than I thought." she spat.

I rolled my eyes, unbothered by her statement.

"Was it ever like this with Liam when you guys were just boyfriend and girlfriend? Is it like that now?" I questioned, going to take a sip of my mimosa.

"All I can say in when a man gets distant from his gf one of two things are happening: either he's got another woman that he doesn't want you to know about or he's thinking deeply about the future,"

I sighed heavily, suddenly loosing my appetite.

"I didn't asks for any type of speculation, Pen." I retorted.

"I'm not confirming anything, just putting a bug in your ear, 's all,"

After brunch Penny and I did a little light shopping around town but I was much too distracted to enjoy it. The idea that Harry could possibly be cheating on me was heartbreaking to say the least and in typical Presley fashion, I decided to let myself suffer, brooding on the thought for the rest of the afternoon. I'd even postponed going home for as long as possible in fear of what I'd find but after a while I grew tired, wanting to go home, curl up in bed and cry my eyes out.
I heard the tune of Fleetwood Mac's "Sara" before I can even turn the key to the door, a clear indication that Harry is home. My stomach sinks and I slowly push the door open, the smell of something cooking hitting my nose.

" 'm in the kitchen, babe!"

His voice sounds surprisingly giddy but only raises my suspicion.

I kick off my shoes at the front door and hand my jacket on the coat rack before padding into the the kitchen. There are candles lit and Harry's got his back turned to me as he hums over a skillet.

"I haven't seen you all day, babe? Where've you been?"

He spins around to face me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close so that his forehead rest on mine. He leans in for a kiss and somehow my crabby mode is reactivated.
"I think the better question is where have you been all day? You weren't even in bed this morning," I huff.

He bites the corner of his lip.

"Couldn't sleep, needed to get outta these four walls,"

Red flag #1: Harry is the heaviest sleeper I know. He could fall asleep anywhere.

"Well, if you must know, I went out with Pen today,"

I wiggle out of his grasp, ready to saunter past him when he gently grabs my arm.

"Where are you goin'? I made dinner, don't you wanna eat?"

Red flag #2: Making dinner to distract me from his new side item.

If the spaghetti boglonese didn't smell so good and I wasn't so hungry I would have resisted. But who knows, maybe he'll crack during dinner.

Dinner passed surprisingly well. Harry was actually listening to me talk and being really sweet. None of his behavior seemed to spark any other red flags but I knew better than to be completely relieved. He was a good actor. After all he did pretend to be my boyfriend for months before we actually got together.

"D'you want dessert?" Harry drawls, whilst clearing the table.

I look up from my glass of wine, my eyebrows furrowing.

"You made dessert?" I questioned.

"It's cake. I used to a baker, y'know,"

I rolled my eyes.

"Why are you doing all of this, Harry?" I questioned.

He grins, revealing his dimples.

"Cause I adore you, and you deserve it. I'll go get the cake, yeah?"

He pads into the kitchen, taking the dirty dishes with him only to return later with the chocolate cake , sitting it in front of me. There's just enough light near our table that I can make out the blue writing embedded on the frosting and my heart literally drops to my stomach.

I like it so can I put a ring on it?

The corner of my eyes start to sting with tears and I open my mouth to say something but nothing really comes out.

"H, are you asking me what I think you're asking me?"

He grins.

"I was trying to find a way to asks you this for the past few weeks but I've been puttin' it off. I knew you wouldn't want anything too dramatic or over the top but I still wanted it to be special," he rubs the back of his neck nervously and suddenly I feel stupid and elated at the same time.

"You little shit," I grin wiping away the tears that spill down my cheeks "I thought you were cheating on me,"

"Now why would I do that? You're the love of my life, Pres."

"It was a stupid thought I know," I reply.

"Presley Anne, " he cooes, sinking down on one knee.

"I've loved you for a very long time. I know we've been together for awhile but the love I felt when we first started out is no different from the love I feel right this second. You're my very best friend and couldn't think of another person I'd rather be with. Through out the years we've spent together it's always kind of felt like we were married but I want to make it absolutely official,"

I can feel my heart swelling with joy and I rush my fingertips against my cheeks brushing away the tears of happiness. Never in a million years would I think this would happen to me. Never in a million years would I think I'd end up with the sweetest man in the world.

"So with that being said," he reaches in his pocket, removing a small velvet box. "Presley Anne Taylor, will you be the Beyonce´to my Jay-z and marry me?"

The words can't get out of my mouth fast enough and my head is bobbing in every direction.
"Yes. Yes. Yes! A thousand times yes. Yes, I'll marry you, H."

I'd don't think I'd ever seen Harry smile so genuinely, the corner of his eyes crinkling with happiness and dimpled grin nearly consuming half of his handsome face. He slowly opens the velvet box revealing the ring. It's simple and elegant but also extremely beautiful, the gem glittering in the candle light as Harry slides it on my finger.

"C'mere,you," I coo, moving closer to kiss his mouth and at that moment I was more than positive that these were the lips I'd never get tired of kissing.

My hands pull at his hair and my teeth graze his bottom lip before we've pulled away.

"I don't want dessert anymore," I speak, breaking our breathless excitement.

His eyebrows furrow as his fingertips brush against my torso.

"Why not? I worked hard on that cake, love"

I grin,

"Because, I'd rather have you instead,"

Notes

Hi guys! I'm back!

Sorry I've been gone so long. I was busy with finals and finishing up the semester plus I haven't really felt like writing(It's been hell being in this fandom recently) but alas, here I am.

I'm thinking I'll do one more drabble and that will be it. I'm also pretty much indefinitely doing a one shot about Harry and Presley in the future that will replace the crappy epilogue that you may or may not have read(I hope you didn't) I'm kind of in a rut with writing lately and it's hard to explain. 1dff.com, the main site where I post has been down for two months or more and there's still no hope that it will come back so that's def a downer. Plus, I'm still trying to come to terms with the ending of LPIL. It's like a writer's depression or denial of some sort. Like when your favorite TV series has come to an end. I felt like LPIL was the prime of my writing and now that it's over I'm not sure I will be able to write something as good or widely appealing. So it's probably best that I stop writing about H&P completely. I do plan to pick back up Hey Jude so maybe this rut won't last long.

In other news,Harry's album is finally out and it is without a doubt fantastic! I could listen to it for the rest of my life! My top three faves are "Meet Me in the Hallway". "Kiwi" and "Woman". Let me know if you enjoyed the album and which one are your faves.

I'm sorry this note is so long, as you can probably tell I don't have anyone to talk to. Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Untill next time!