*three years ago*

The smell of chlorine from the pool water  still filled her nostrils as she made her way into the locker room. Swimming was fun and all, but she would be glad when they started a new sport in P.E., she thought as she quietly unlocked the lock on her locker and  enjoyed the moment of quiet and privacy before the other girls came in.

"Can you believe our luck? Kyle, Liam, Justin, and Harry in one gym class."

"Justin's off limits, Taylor."

"Calm Down, Slut! You can keep Justin, and Sophia can have Liam...Harry is all I care about. Have you seen his eyes?"

"Of course, and that hair, and those dimples, and that smile."

Selena teased her friend, mocking the way she described Harry's features. Taylor went on as though she didn't notice.

"He is beyond hot. Oh my god him in those swim trunks! He knows exactly what he's doing too. I am so done with him. There needs to be a new word for him..."

"Too bad he's in love with Cecilia."

Her ears perked up at the mention of her name, she let out a tired but silent sigh and quickly gathered her things.

"Yeah, Liam and Kyle say she's all he ever talks about."

"That's not a problem; Harry'll find out what a prude she is soon enough and then he'll ignore her just like all the other boys."

She bit her bottom lip and neatly folded her towel before pulling on her sweats and  T-shirt to wear home. She shook her head slowly, trying not to entertain what she heard.

"That's a little harsh Tay..."

"I don't care. It's the truth. Everyone thinks she's so perfect and she walks around like she's better than everyone else."

"She does not. She's just shy!"

She tied her sneakers and grabbed her bag. She tried to go unnoticed as she walked out of the room.

"You know what Selena? Maybe you should go find her and ask her to sit on your face since you love her so much."

Taylor's blonde hair was pulled up into a neat bun, her best friends Sophia and Selena sat on a bench in front of her, watching as she rolled her eyes. Sophia's laughter echoed through the room, but all eyes were on Cecilia as she passed by. She stopped in her tracks as Selena spoke to her.

"CeCe!"

She squeezed her eyes shut and turned around slowly, forcing as much of a smile as she could.

"Hi Selena, hey Sophia...Hi Taylor."

Selena smiled an embarrassed and sympathetic smile, Sophia smirked. Taylor glared.

"Hey, CeCe!" She spoke in a friendly tone, but her eyes were ice cold as she stared at Cecilia, who just wanted to run away. "Nice outfit."

She met eyes with Sophia and Selena and shifted her bag on her shoulders. She felt the warm blush of embarrassment flood her face before she looked down at the red and white checkered floor. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke.

"Thanks. Well I have to go. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Can't wait. Bye."

As she sped away she frowned to herself and wondered why Taylor hated her so much. They had plenty of mutual friends and had been fine before, or so she thought. As she walked past the pool her eyes were still down, her hand was at her mouth where she bit at her cuticles; her nails were long gone.

"Cilly?" She stopped and looked up, his face was happy, his hair was wet and slicked back. He pulled her hand away from her mouth and linked their fingers together as he stood in front of her, the grin he'd worn fading as he took in the dejected look in her eyes. "What's wrong, Baby?"

She shook her head and bit her lip, mumbling an answer.

"I'm fine...don't call me 'Baby', okay?"

She looked behind her to see Taylor, Selena and Sophia walk out of the locker rooms. They sat on the risers behind the pool and spoke to each other. Taylor glared at Cecilia again, then whispered into Sophia's ear. Sophia's gaze lingered on Cecilia for a moment before she burst into laughter. Selena looked like she wanted to be sick.

"What did they do to you?"

He asked, placing a gentle finger under her chin and turning her face back towards his. Their eyes met and Cecilia relaxed as his forehead rested against hers. She smiled and forgot the embarrassment of the moment before.

"They didn't do anything Harry, I said I'm fine."

He grinned at how sweet her voice was even when she tried to sound assertive. He took her bag from her hand and pulled it over his shoulder.

"I'm walking you home, okay?"

She nodded and bit her lip again, this time to contain the huge smile that threatened to cross her face. Harry lifted his head and brought his lips together, suddenly looking intently at her mouth. Her smile faded as she began to understand what he wanted. She knew it would be awkward and she supposed she wouldn't feel a thing, but it didn't matter; this beautiful, charming boy wanted to kiss her in front of their entire class - in front of Taylor - and best of all she wanted him to.

She was happy when his lips met hers and pressed gently against them although her grip on his hand tightened, signaling her discomfort. She could appreciate the softness of his lips, how his breath smelled like Juicy Fruit, how he massaged his lips against hers and kissed her bottom and top lips individually then together. He didn't try to force his tongue into her mouth or grope her body. He simply held his lips against hers, passionately and playfully, and although her body felt numb, her mind registered that it was good. When he pulled away he kissed her cheek and smiled.

"That was my first kiss." She smiled up at him, but again she had no idea of what was appropriate to say and do next. "It was nice. Thank you."

"You're so bloody polite," he teased her and they started to walk out of the gym, ignoring the eyes of their classmates who stared at them, "just like a princess."

"I'm not a princess!"

"You're my princess." He placed a kiss on her forehead and grinned as he waved to Taylor across the gym. "She's just jealous Baby. Don't worry about it. Come on."

Cecilia's cheeks hurt from smiling so hard by the time they reached the doors and stepped outside.

*Now*

Kick hopped out of the cab and hugged me before hopping right back in. She wanted to see the shop too for some reason and I'm more than happy for her to come along. Harry is charming and all but I'm in no way prepared to deal with his flirtation, not that Kick being around would deter him, but it's better than nothing. She looks out the window and sighs.

"It's been a long day already, huh Boo?"

I ask resting my head on her shoulder. She kisses my hair and I know she's smiling.

"You said it, Baby."

We get out of the cab on the tiny side street and look up at the shop sign, covered in a white sheet. Harry's tall skinny frame shows up at the door, a huge grin on his face as he looks at me.

When his eyes see Kick the grin disappears, his skin pales and his hand flies to those incredible brown curls. I frown at him; I know nervous Harry instantly, because I'm the one who brings him out most of the time. Now he's freaking out at the sight of Kick?

We approach the door to the shop and stop. Kick opens up her arms with a girlish grin on her face, motioning for Harry to hug her as Harry's expression becomes terrified and he awkwardly holds out his hand for her to shake. Her mouth twists to the side, she's obviously confused as she shakes his hand, and I raise my eyebrows, wondering what the actual fuck is going on.

"Hey, Kick, long time no see." His voice sounds normal, but his body language gives him away. "Hey Cilly."

He kisses my cheek and grabs my hand, quickly pulling me inside. As Kick follows, I glance back at her and notice her biting her cheek, something she does whenever she's upset.

Theres no furniture in the shop at all yet, even the floor had yet to be laid right now its just a slab of grey concrete. He points to a wall painted all in black with white trim and moulding. Framed in and painted in white on the wall is an image of a creature, half beautiful woman, half monster looking man. An angel's wing grows from the female side, while a bat like wing grows from the other. I bite my lip and study the picture, trying to believe what I see.

"Look, Cilly. Tell me what that is."

"It's the Aemon."

"I knew you'd remember." He smiles at me as I turn to face him. He looks incredibly proud of himself; I playfully punch his shoulder. He should be proud. It's beautiful "It's still the best thing I've ever drawn."

"How could I forget? It was the subject of your first paper in English after I started tutoring you. You got an A." I grin at him. I can't help it. "It's beautiful, Harry."

"It's been my good luck charm ever since I left." He holds out the back of his right hand and shows me a miniature version of the picture on the wall stenciled in blue ink. "I'm getting this as soon as Liam gets here in a few."

"Can Liam tattoo now?"

"No." He looks solemn as though the idea of Liam tattooing is truly absurd. "He's going to watch the place while I go home and tatt myself."

I nod and take his hand, looking closely at his drawing.

"You're still an amazing artist." I look up at his embarrassed blush. "It's true Haz."

"I could give you one too. It's only fair that you should since its half yours."

I shake my head vigorously. Tattoos are too much of a commitment. I can take my piercings out whenever I want, but tattoos are forever.

"You sure? I'd love to do it."

"No thanks."

"Well if you change your mind, let me know, okay?" I nod again, taking my lip ring between my teeth as I look around the room. "I'm serious, Cil, don't let me find out you let somebody else give you a tattoo."

I giggle at his tone and glance over at him.

"Possessive, aren't we?"

"One hundred percent." He takes my hand again and pulls me towards the back of the shop. "Come see my office..."

I look back at Kick, who stands awkwardly in the corner scrolling through her phone.

"Come on, Kick."

"I'm good here....or actually, do you mind if I go home? Zayn wants to go out."

I see her eyes linger on Harry for a moment as she speaks, but he doesn't seem to notice it. He's too busy staring at me and bouncing up and down like an over eager child.

"No problem, Boo. Call me later; I love you."

"Love you too."

She waves and I blow her a kiss as Harry drags me away, down a short hall of all exposed brick with small rooms off of either side of it, to one door in particular. Inside the room the walls are creme colored and the furniture looks like black leather, but it's wrapped in plastic so I can't really tell.

"You hate the wall color right? I told them light grey, how they got beige out of that I'll never know."

The smell of mold overwhelms me, I shut my eyes and try not to breathe too deeply or allow myself to let the memories the scent evokes overtake me. I speak slowly and in a matter of fact tone; I don't want him to worry.

"There's mold in the building, Harry."

"What?"

"I can smell it."

He takes a deep breath and sniffs the air.

"I don't smell anything Cilly...they inspected the place before we took it, I'm sure if there was mold we'd know."

I follow the stench to the corner where it's strongest and gesture for him to come over. He sniffs the air again as he stands beside me.

"That's really faint...how the hell did you smell that from over there?"

"Sometimes, he would take me in the basement. I'd be laying on the floor down there, waiting while he....anyway, I'd be staring at the wall in the dark and I could smell mold, just like this."

I can feel his eyes lingering on me; pity and sympathy in his gaze. I stiffen in his arms as they wrap around me. I lean against his body in spite of myself. He's familiar and strong, and he understands as much as anyone could. I trust him; he squeezes my body tighter, as though he knows what my mind is on.

"Stop it, do you hear me? Calm down." I nod my head as he holds me close and whispers in my ear. "You're fine. All of that is over now."

I rest my head against his chest and shut my eyes; my shoulders fall and I unclench my fists. I lift my arms and place them around him, nuzzling my face against him; I manage to relax.

"You can't let people in here with mold in the walls."

"We had the place inspected and yet they missed the damn mold. Unbelievable." I can hear his frustration, but I dare not interrupt him yet; it's nice being in his arms and I want it to last for a while longer. "We got duped and now we're out thousands of dollars, now I have to tear up walls and shit....wait until my Dad hears about this, that'll be the end of it right there."

"You're renting, right?"

"Right."

"Then it won't cost you a thing to get rid of it. It's the landlord's responsibility to have it removed at his own expense...your dad doesn't need to know anything about it unless you tell him.

"I guess so. How do you know that stuff about the landlord?"

"Di's getting her real estate license so she has to study real estate law and renters rights and all that crap...it's all she talks about."

He chuckles but I can feel his apprehension.

"I guess I better call him then. Liam's going to freak the hell out."

"He'll be fine."

"This is going to set us back, I don't have time for this shit." He kisses my forehead and takes my hand again. "Anyway, come with me, I have a surprise for you."

He leads me back outside of the shop and stands me on the sidewalk in front of it. I look up at the covered sign as he leaps into the air and grabs the bottom of the sheet, pulling it down and revealing neon and glass hung letters that read:

'Cilly Hazzard's Tattoos Inc.'

My eyes go wide in shock and awe.

"You named it after me?"

I hold a shaky hand to my forehead as he grins.

"After us; Cilly and Hazza." He stands behind me and places his arms around my waist. I lean my neck to the side and let him kiss me on it, place my hands over his and stare up at the letters. "I hope you like it. You're the reason I fought so hard to come back, you're the reason I had the nerve to ask my dad to let me try this...so it's fair I'd name it after you."

"After us!" I correct him with a giggle as he gently bites my neck. "I can't believe you."

"I just want you to know how much you mean to me."

"Mean, or meant?"

"Mean. Now." I sigh as he turned my face to his. "Always, Cil."

I nod as his lips press softly against mine. I break the kiss and shake my head.

Of course I can't just go with it. That's not my style and this is too fast.

"But Harry, it's too much. You have to change it."

"I'm not changing a damn thing." He says with a smirk. "This is the plan, remember?"

"Why do you keep asking me if I remember? Of course I remember, Harry."

He goes on as if I said nothing:

"We said New York, together, I'd open my tattoo shop you'd work for the Times."

"The only thing that worked out was you getting your shop."

"So far; the rest is yet to come."

He rests his forehead on mine and I close my eyes. The wind blows again and suddenly I'm freezing.

"It's cold out here."

I'm more than glad to change the subject; his optimism is as bad as Mrs. Carter's. I squirm in his arms and he sighs again, accepting defeat for the moment; taking my hand and leading me back into the shop.