Dedication: @penguinpineapples (who found the cast for Noelle- check the cast list!)

"And... done!" I turned to look at myself in the mirror, Emma standing eagerly behind me, mascara in hand and pride shining in her face.

And, god forgive me, I gasped, just like the way you read about in books.

I couldn't help it though. Emma had done my hair and make up perfectly, and for once in my life, I didn't feel ugly.

I felt beautiful.

My dress was sophisticated and elegant, and my mom burst into a round of applause from behind me, while Emma mimed bows.

I felt so powerful, finally becoming comfortable with how I looked. It felt like, I don't know, I had finally found myself, or like I was suddenly my favourite character or something.

"Thank you," I mumbled, grinning wildly. My mom chuckled.

"My little girl is growing up so quickly," she stood up, moving so she was slightly behind me. "It seemed like just yesterday when I gave you your first cotton candy."

I rolled my eyes. "Mom, I don't see how you have this huge obsession with cotton candy but- "

She shook her head. "I haven't raised you well enough."

I laughed, hugging her and turning back to Emma. She winked. "Harper will all over you, girl. Have fun."

I smiled and hugged her as well, thanking her one last time before my mom interrupted.

"Honey, we have to go pick up the Andrews'." I nodded, smiling at Emma- who winked- before heading to the car.

———————————————————————————-

I sat patiently on the sofa in Harper's living room, scuffing my foot on the rug. Maggie and Mom were talking comfortably and Lana and Jenna were busy trying to make cardboard objects. Lana, a sword, and Jenna, a wand.

Of course, decorated with My Little Pony figurines.

Everyone was waiting for my princess of a crush to get ready and get down there so we could leave. Even I didn't take that long.

Finally, the sound of footsteps padding down the stairs sent our heads snapping in the direction where the sound was coming from. Harper emerged from behind the corner, in all his hot glory.

Seeing Harper dressed casual is swoony enough, but in a tux-

Let's just say I almost died.

He was wearing a black tux, you know, black suit jacket and black pants and black leather shoes, and underneath that he wore a white button down shirt. Traditionally, he would wear a tie or a bow tie with it, but Harper had completely obliterated that rule and his neck was bare. Instead, he had unbuttoned the top few buttons of the pressed shirt. And of course, his hair was at it's usual disheveled state, which made all the girls go mad.

If it was even possible, Harper looked even better in a tux.

He didn't notice me as he walked down the stairs, and I saw Maggie roll her eyes. Instead, he was smiling at Lana and Jenna who were still playing with their cardboard objects.

"Alright everybody! Let's go to the car outside!" My Mom called out. Everyone started filing out the door, heading for the car. It was only when almost everyone was out the door did Harper look at me.

I felt so amazing when his jaw dropped.

I held my breath.

His eyes scanned over my body, from my black pumps- I refused to wear heels- to me dark blue dress, skimming over my collarbones, then finally to my face, where Emma had given me, I quote, 'natural make up'.

He stepped forward, ever so slightly, so that the scent of the lemongrass lingering on his skin washed over me. I sniffed a little, and he smirked, noticing.

"How are you, baby doll?"

I smiled, looking down at my feet. Our feet.

"I'm great." I whispered. How close he was to me was unnerving, yet electrifying. I smirked a little, glancing back up at him. "But I don't think you are, seeing as you took about two hours getting ready." I replied.

He grinned evilly. "Sorry if I want to look good in my romantic fantasies, baby doll." He paused and winked. "And yours."

I blushed bright red, before pushing past him to the car. "We have to go." I mumbled. Harper chuckled behind me. I walked to the car, pulling at my fingers.

"Noelle and Harper, I'm sorry but we don't have quite enough space in the car so you will have to squish up a bit!" My mom called out. I snapped towards her, giving her a disbelieving look. She winked and I groaned.

"Can't we take another car?" I answered, still stuck to the spot on the pavement. She shook her head.

"Sorry, I'm afraid Harper's is in repair and Maggie has let one of her friends borrow one." My mom winked. I glared at her, before slipping into the car, next to Lana and Jenna in the three seater. Mom was driving and Maggie was next to her. I moved along a little bit, so that Harper could sit beside me.

"Mom, can't Lana sit in my lap?"

My mom shook her head. "She'll bang her head."

I huffed, watching as Harper slid in next to me, a smirk very evident on his face. It was so squished in the back of the car, that one of my legs was on top of Harper's knees. The moms chatted as the car started. Harper took this opportunity to whisper in my ear.

"Anything wrong with being so close to me, baby doll?" he muttered huskily.

This is exactly the reason.

Because you make me as nervous as a guy in a Victoria's Secret shop.

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, and every now and then, Harper leaned forward, as if to tell me something again, before leaning back in his seat reluctantly.

He was nervous.

Holy mother of chocolate biscuits.

Finally, I turned to face him. "What do you want to say?"

He widened his eyes, startled, before softening. "I didn't get to tell you that you looked beautiful. Amazing, actually." He smiled slightly, a heartbreaking grin that hit my heart.

I grinned, feeling even more amazing.

He thinks I look beautiful.

I turned to look at the front of the car again, a smile still on my face.

Finally, we arrived at the restaurant. Harper got out, and I expected him to walk away, but instead, he offered a hand to me. I raised an eyebrow. "When did you become a gentleman?"

He rolled his eyes. "I've always been a gentleman, babe. How do you think I get all the girls? Just with my astonishing, jaw dropping, mind blowing good looks?"

"Wow, Andrews," I drawled. "That must have taken a long time to think of. You know, big words."

Mental high five, Noelle!

I have to admit, getting him all riled up like that was funny. Harper's jaw dropped. I helped myself out of the car, dismissing Harper's outstretched hand. As I passed him, I tapped his chin, ignoring the sparks. "Close that. You'll swallow a fly." I giggled, before speeding up to catch up with everyone else. I heard Harper curse behind me, before his footsteps raced after me.

———————————————————————-

"So, kids," Maggie began. We all looked up at her. I tried to ignore Harper's hand which was dangerously close to mine. "We've been thinking."

Harper raised an eyebrow.

"And we've decided," my Mom continued. "That we'll be going on holiday together."

What?

I started coughing, choking on my first out of seven (yes, seven! Mom wasn't kidding when she said fancy restaurant) courses. Harper, who of course was not as bewildered at me and had somehow stayed completely calm with his signature smirk on his face, patted my back.

"What?" I stammered out, pressing my napkin to my lips.

"Yes, Noelle," My mom sighed. "We're going on Christmas holiday together. To Japan. For skiing."

Skiing?

Are you freaking kidding me? I can barely stand on my own two feet, much less ski!

And with Harper, who can make my legs tremble with a single touch. Great situation your stuck in, Noelle!

I was kind of looking forward to it.

"Um, I need a moment." I said, getting up from the table. "I'll be in the garden."

I rushed away, pushing through the big wooden doors to the moonlit garden outside. Sighing I sat on the bench fat the pond's edge, watching the ripples of the moon shimmer in the water.

I'm spending my whole Christmas with my crush who might just know I have a crush on them.

As much as I liked Harper, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go through with it. I mean, how awkward would that be?

And, oh my gods, the gossip when I would get back to school. People would think I was a slut, spending the holidays with Harper. You know, the holiday romance and whatnot. I groaned.

"Well, someone's not excited by the prospect of spending our holidays together," I turned, to see Harper sitting on the bench beside me, one arm slung around the back of the bench, resting behind my head, but not touching. He was looking at me, his green eyes almost glowing in the dark.

"No, it's not that I don't want to go on our holiday," I blushed at the word 'our', thanking the heavens that it was too dark for him to see the pink of my cheeks. "I just don't want to necessarily spend it with you."

I found myself immediately shocked by the way that came out. Harper groaned, running his hand through his hair and closing his eyes in frustration.

"Blunt, much, baby doll? That's even worse."

"No- no I didn't meant it like that," I stuttered out. "I do want to spend it with you." Harper smirked. "I mean, I don't mind." I hastily corrected myself. His smirk didn't change.

Great going, Noelle. He must definitely know that you like him now. Either that, or he's extremely stupid.

I really don't want to tell him now.

Well you got yourself into this mess, didn't you? Might as well continue. I mean, what could you lose apart from your first real crush and your dignity?

"It's just when we come back to school and everyone finds out that we went on holiday together... " I trailed off sadly, hoping that Harper knew what I meant. Thankfully, he did, and his eyes widened, and hurt shone in his eyes, as evident as the fact that his hair was black.

"Noelle, is that how you feel when you're around me? You feel like you're just one of my flings?" He asked softly, his voice vulnerable and raw. Despite his expression, he didn't sound hurt.

Just hollow.

As if how I felt really bothered him.

Mattered to him.

I shook my head quickly. "No!" I exclaimed. "I don't feel like I am one. I just feel like everyone else thinks I'm one of your flings."

"No," Harper shook his head. "They don't. They see the way I act around you. You're definitely not one of my flings."

I held my breath as he edged closer to me, pulling my head down to rest on his shoulder. I held myself back from sighing, feeling the sparks from his side rush into me, and I tensed when he moved his arm slightly.

"You know," Harper leant down to whisper in my ear, the playfulness in his voice returning. I could almost imagine his cocky smirk. "Every girl would kill to be in your position right now."

I groaned, looking up at him. I was right, he was smirking down at me. "Well, I'm not every girl, am I?" I countered back.

Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.

I am like them, I like you as much as they do.

But I like you for the right reasons, not just because of your looks.

Though the looks are definitely a bonus.

I stood up, ready to go back inside, when I lost balance for a terrifying moment. My foot slipped in the dew dropped grass by the edge of the pond, and I found myself whisking through the air, tumbling into the water.

For a second, everything was dark, before I finally emerged from the water, wiping my wet hair out of my face in shock. Harper was standing at the edge of the water, laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach.

"Baby doll," he said between laughter. "If you wanted to be wet you could have just asked me."

I widened my eyes in shock. "You- you pervert!" I accused, blushing very hard, shivering in the cold. "And stop laughing at me!"

He reduced his laughter to chuckling, before kneeling my the banks of the pond, his shoes getting covered in mud. "How did you even manage to do that?"

I shrugged, frustrated. "I don't know!" I whined. "It's so cold." I shuddered, reaching for the bank of the river to pull myself out.

"Wait a second, baby doll," Harper held his hand out. I stared at him as if he was crazy.

Well, he is. He just told me to stay in a freezing cold pond.

"Are you crazy?" I asked, voicing my thoughts. "This water is freezing! I'm going to get frostbite and die, and it'll be all your fault- "

I paused when I looked up at Harper. He was taking off his tux jacket, dropping it onto the bench. I stared at him, dumbfounded. Soon, he began unbuttoning his white shirt. I gaped.

Harper glanced over at me, winking. "Take a picture, it'll last longer."

I shook my head quickly. "What the hell are you doing?" I demanded, getting more and more panicked as more and more plastic buttons became unbuttoned. My eyes widened, as I looked around for any other person.

No.

"Oh my gods, are you going to hurt me?" I squeaked, slowly paddling in the water away from him. He stopped, bewildered, before bursting into laughter again.

"No, I'm not going to hurt you, babe." he chuckled. "I couldn't ever do that to you."

I glared at him.

"What are you doing, anyway?" I demanded again.

"I'm joining you, of course," he answered simply, dropping his white shirt on the bench, answering my question as if he were just talking about the weather.

"What?" I asked. He grinned devilishly at me before leaping into the water.

My mouth hung open as Harper emerged from the water, shaking the water out of his hair. He looked completely sexy, I hate to admit, whereas I knew I more likely looked like a drowned bat. With red hair. However, I could see a tiny blue ember of sadness in his eyes.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked. "You know, this isn't allowed! We could get arrested for swimming in the pond in the garden of a fancy restaurant!"

"Shhh, baby doll," Harper muttered, looping a defined arm around my waist, before leaning down so his mouth was near my ear. His wet hair tickled my cheek. "We won't get caught."

"You know," I murmured back. "That's what every person says in those cliché teen romance movies. And they always get caught."

Harper smirked. "Are you saying this is romantic?" He arched an eyebrow.

My eyes widened, my word dawning in on me.

"No!" I exclaimed. "Of course not!"

"Really?" Harper asked. He smirked, looping his other arm around my waist, pulling me infinitely closer. "Because I think this situation is pretty romantic."

Oh, gods. Harper will definitely be the death of me.

I felt myself heat up, and I pulled myself away from Harper, taking a step back, refusing to look him in the eye, not wanting him to see me blush.

My heart is racing.

Although we weren't touching anymore, I had not pulled back enough to feel the lack of his heat, washing over me like a wave. I didn't feel cold anymore.

Suddenly, I felt a surge of water splash into my face. I gasped, looking back at Harper, who was laughing his head off, his hands held up. I glowered at him.

"You did not," I said, attempting menacing. Harper smirked, reaching a hand up to his hair.

"You're cute when you try to be scary, baby doll," he winked. I glared at him, before leaping towards him, letting out some sort of animalistic growl. The action sent a tidal wave of water flinging at Harper, drenching him completely. He laughed through clouds of water, catching my hips and preventing me from moving any further.

"Jerk!" I shrieked, pummelling him with my fists and hitting water at him. He didn't seem to notice, picking me up, out of the water, holding me bridal style. I was suddenly warm, not submerged in the freezing cold water. I relaxed a little, basking in the warmth. One who was overlooking might have mistaken the action as romance, but I knew what was coming.

"No," I shook my head, widening my eyes with fear. "No!" He grinned.

"Only if you hug me." he winked cheekily. I groaned, miming disgust.

Shut up, Noelle. We all know you would kill to be hugged by him.

"Promise?" I glanced at him pointedly. He nodded his head. I sighed, looking down at the water that was just brushing my toes, no longer in my flats that I had surely lost in the pond.

At least they were cheap.

With that, he carried me up to the bank, setting me softly down on the grass. I stood there, looking around frantically to see if anyone had caught us swimming in their pond.

"Well?" Harper asked, eyebrow raised.

"Oh, right," I replied, before awkwardly stepping towards him. As soon as I was within three inches of him, I didn't have to will myself to move anymore.

It was as if I Harper was a magnet and I was immediately drawn to him. My body moved on it's own, yearning for his touch as I wrapped my arms around him. He sighed contently, burying his face into my neck. He clutched onto me tighter, as if I were his only life source.

I think maybe I was.

"Are you okay?" I asked tentatively, shocked at his sudden change of mood. He nodded slightly. Hesitantly.

I sighed sadly. "You're not, are you?" I asked again. A longer wait, before he shook his head. My heart hurt for him.

"I can't tell you though," Harper said, pulling back slowly, his arms gently holding my wrists. Normally, I would blush, but the situation was too serious.

He can't tell me. That's okay, I guess, right?

Wrong.

I felt a weird sense of betrayal, but I ignored it.

"It's because of a girl."

I held my breath. Does he mean me?

Kate.

I was suddenly overwhelmed with a flame of shame. It was selfish of me to think that the reason for his heartache was because of me. It's Kate, obviously, his sister. Not his friend who has a giant, hopeless, crush on him.

I couldn't look him in the eye.

As if noticing my sudden change, I felt Harper change. "What's wrong?" he asked in a soft voice.

"Nothing!" I answered quickly. "We should be heading back."

He nodded, before reaching to grab his shirt. I awkwardly looked away as he put on his shirt and shoes.

Mom is going to be so mad at us.

I could only imagine her face as we would walk back into the restaurant, me, dripping wet and shoeless. At least Harper had his dry shirt. I shivered, realizing how cold it was and running my hands up and down my arms to get rid of the cold feeling. My dress was wet and sticking to my skin, and the slight breeze was not helping. Suddenly, I felt something draped around my shoulders. I looked down, only to see Harper's black tux jacket. I looked up at him.

"It's okay, Andrews," I said, trying to hide the obvious chattering of my teeth. "I can survive."

He grinned. "I know you can, baby doll. This is just a matter of feeling good about myself for this random act of kindness."

I laughed, before grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the doors of the restaurant. "Ready to face the infinitely torturous wrath of mother's?" I asked Harper.

He nodded.

Together, we pushed the doors open.

A mixture of relief and shock settled in my body. Good and bad. The good was that our mom's weren't angry. The bad was that they were not there altogether.

Jaws hanging, Harper and I both scanned the restaurant, searching for our families. There was no sight of them.

Still gaping, Harper and I both turned to look at each other. "Did they ditch us?" I asked.

Harper's eyes widened. "Shit," he muttered.

———————————————————————————

"Are you serious, Mom?" Harper demanded. "We had to get a ride home from a waiter!"

That was true. From the restaurant we had to get a ride home from one of the boys in our year at school- the distance was too far to walk. Harper and I had finally got home and found our Mom's sitting at my kitchen table laughing.

Least to say, we weren't very happy.

"Why did you even leave us anyway?" I demanded to my mom who was currently chewing on a cotton candy cupcake. She shrugged.

"The ship had to sail sometime soon," she replied, winking at Maggie. Harper and I groaned. My mom narrowed her eyes. "Wait... why are you two wet?"

We glanced at each other. "Long story."

I sighed. "I'm going up to my room."

Mom nodded and Maggie frowned at Harper. "Shouldn't you be heading home?"

Harper nodded. "Yeah, I'll just go through Noelle's room."

"Don't do anything!" My mom called out. I blushed.

Together, we went up the stairs, before we were finally in my room. I sighed, flopping back on my bed. "That was... interesting."

Harper nodded. "No kidding."

He turned to me. "Are you excited for Japan? It's only in two weeks, right?"

I nodded hesitantly, despite my earlier thoughts.

I can cope.

"Yeah." I nodded. I looked at Harper suspiciously. "Are you?"

"What, to be spending the holiday's with a completely gorgeous girl? Definitely." Harper winked, smirking, as if he knew the effect he had on me.

I blushed and pressed my cheek to my pillow, closing my eyes.

"Noelle, you have to change." Harper said softly. "You'll catch a cold." He brushed back wet, knotted hair from my face. I groaned, before sitting up and grabbing something random from my wardrobe. I slipped into the bathroom.

"Aw!" I heard Harper cry from my room as I peeled the wet fabric off me. "Why can't you change here?"

I rolled my eyes. "Because I'm not changing in front of you, idiot," I replied. "Do you want a towel?"

"No, it's okay. And why can't I see you naked?"

I flushed as I pulled on the giant sweater I had grabbed. "Because we're not dating!" I called back.

"I can change that!"

I laughed.

You have no idea how much I want it, you idiot, Harper Freaking Andrews.

I looked at myself in the mirror. The sweater was huge, almost reaching my knees.

Damn it, this is Harper's sweater. The one I borrowed from him when I was running through the rain.

I quickly towelled off my hair, before slipping out of the bathroom just wearing the sweater that was like a dress, to find Harper leaning against my wardrobe. His eyes widened as he saw me.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I forgot to give this back. I can change and give it back to you- "

"No." Harper stopped me. "I like you in it. Keep it." His voice was dangerously low.

"Harper, really- "

"No, baby doll, you look cute in it. Keep it." He smiled at me, a real, genuine smile. Despite his wet hair and ruined dress pants, he looked handsomer in that moment than I had ever seen him. I nodded slowly.

"Good." he replied. "Now get in the bed."

I obeyed, lying down and gently sliding into the covers, yawning when I realised how tired I was. I felt Harper sit next to me and pull the covers of my shoulders.

"Goodnight," I whispered, feeling my heart tremble and my eyelids fall.

"Goodnight, baby doll," he replied. I looked up at him sleepily, my heart clench at how beautiful he looked. "Are you going to stay with me?" I muttered, hope lacing my voice. He simply smiled, taking my hand softly, his thumb rubbing against my palm soothingly.

"Always."

Hiiiiiii...

Sorry that this chapter was bit of a filler, I just wanted to give you some more Harpelle moments and an update... however, I assure you, that next chapter will DEFINITELY have some action in it... ;)

JUST A QUICK NOTE:

Okay, to all the people who have been constantly telling me that my story is too cliché (not naming anyone, don't worry) I just want to say that I'm sorry, this is Teen Fiction/Romance, so there WILL be some cliché moments at times, okay? And I assure you, this story's future event will not at ALL be cliché...

DEDICATION WILL GO TO: the person who comments their favourite part of this chapter :)

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-A xx