Dedicated to: @blarkey

"So... any crushes since the last time I saw you?" My cousin, Samara, asked wiggling her eyebrows.

Samara was going with us on the Japan trip. Her parents didn't want to come but she had jumped at the opportunity. She was my age, senior year in Florida, and we had just boarded the plane which hadn't taken off yet. We were on the same flight as Harper, but I hadn't seen him yet.

I couldn't help the small blush that tinted my cheeks. "No." I answered quickly. I rummaged through my mind frantically.

Have to change the subject before she catches on to me. Who knows what crazy things she'll do if I tell her?

"There's a spider in your hair!" I yelled, quickly turning round so she wouldn't look at my face and know I was lying. Samara screamed, instantly thrashing around her very dark brown hair, shaking it in utter panic.

I looked around at the other passengers who were looking at her as if she were crazy. I giggled a little. I looked up at Florence who was sitting next to Samara at the window who smirked a little.

Samara froze.

"Haha, very funny," Samara drawled sarcastically, sitting back in her seat and glaring playfully at me. "You're hilarious. I will only forgive you this time because now I know you like someone." She winked at me and I groaned.

Why was everyone so obsessed with my love life?

"Tell me who it is, then!" Samara half yelled eagerly, shaking my arm. Before I could respond, an ever so familiar voice spoke from behind me in my aisle seat.

"Who what is?"

I turned to see Harper grinning down at me, wearing a tight fitting black t-shirt and dark jeans. His green eyes were bright and his hair was messy.

Hopefully he doesn't remember our little drunk incident from last night, or that will be beyond awkward.

I glared at Samara, ready to signal to her to shut up, but she was completely frozen, staring up at Harper in awe.

Oh, right, he's basically a magnet for the entirety of the female population.

"Nothing," I mumbled to him quickly, glancing away from his eyes, blushing again. Harper chuckled, bringing two fingers under my chin, practically forcing me to look at him. I shuddered at his touch.

"What did I tell you last time, baby doll?" Harper mumbled huskily. "Don't hide your blush, because you look fucking adorable."

Oh, gods.

"That's it!" Florence cried out. She snapped her Hi! magazine shut and stood up. "You're teenager public displays of affection are sickening me. I'll be leaving now." As she was getting out, sliding past Samara, still completely awestruck, and I, she prodded Harper on the shoulder.

"You. You're coming on the trip with us, right?"

Harper nodded.

"Where's your seat," she demanded. He quickly pointed to a seat a few rows in front.

"Okay. Bye!" She waved her fingers sarcastically at us and strutted off. I awkwardly slapped Harper's hand away from my face.

"It look's like I'll be sitting with you, baby doll," Harper winked. I groaned and nudged Samara to move up a seat so I could move. Harper sat in the seat by the aisle. She finally awoke from her senses.

"Who are you?" She asked. Harper smiled smugly.

"I'm Harper Andrews. Future boyfriend of Noelle."

I slapped Harper's arm. "Yeah, right, jerkface." I grumbled. Harper laughed.

"Trust you with the stupid insults, baby doll."

"Samara," I whined, turning to face her, who was watching us amusedly. "Can we swop seats?"

She grinned, a grin so terrible that it would only be described as a face of a shipper formed on her face. "No way. I ship it."

"Why does everyone ship it?" I mumbled.

Shut up, Noelle. You very well know that you ship it as well.

"Maybe because we're a match made in heaven, baby doll." Harper smirked, settling his arm around my shoulder. I blushed at the proximity.

"Or not." I shoved his arm off.

Harper quickly caught my hand in his, intertwining our fingers slowly. He inched closer, so that my leg brushed against his. He lowered his head so his lips were just by my ear. "Oh, I think we are," he breathed, the warm air making me shiver. And with that, he kissed my cheek softly, letting his lips linger before pulling away, making me turn bright red.

Harper smirked a little, settling back in his seat, hand still intertwined in mine as I gaped at him.

This is going to be a long flight.

--------------------------

It happens sometimes.

Random panic attacks.

Terrible moments in the night when I would wake up panting and crying, not able to breathe because it feels like everything is closing in on me.

Those were the worst times.

So I wasn't surprised when it happened in the middle of the plane ride, immediately when I woke up, everyone still sleeping. Terrified, yes, but not surprised.

I tried hard not to scream as I delved into the panic attack. I prefer not calling it my panic attack.

I'd rather not call something so terrible mine.

I whimpered, grabbing onto the side of the armrest, now panting very heavily. My vision went blurry, and I glanced frantically at Samara. I was just able to make out that she was sleeping, her body bundled in an airplane blanket. I felt the panic rise in me, and the tears started running down my face. I grabbed my left wrist, holding it tightly, something I always did when having panic attacks.

I forced myself to glance at Harper, trying to block out the ringing in my ears.

He was clearly awake, watching a movie on the screen intently. He hadn't noticed my current situation.

I wanted so badly to reach out- to have him help me through this-

No, Noelle.

He can't help you through everything.

But this is a panic attack, Noelle!

You'll have them for your whole life- Harper won't be there for your whole life. As much as you hate it, you know it's true.

My panic attack raged on, and I pulled my knees tightly to my chest, hugging them desperately as I closed my eyes, trying to block everything out. It wasn't working, I normally had to hide from things around me.

This panic attack was like running from myself.

My body racked with sobs, and I gripped my wrist tighter.

I let out and unbelievably loud sob, and I saw the faint blur of Harper's head turning towards me. He immediately ripped of his headphones, not even stopping to pause the movie.

"Noelle," he muttered frantically, yanking up the armrest between us so there was nothing blocking our bodies. He laced his arms around me, pulling me into his chest, so that I was half in his lap.

"It's okay, baby doll, you're fine." He whispered into my hair, pulling me so close, I could feel the steady beat of heart.

I tried to slow my breathing, but it didn't work. None of my effects were ceasing, but they were becoming more bearable as Harper held me tighter and tighter.

"'We won!' yelled Ron, bounding into sight and brandishing the silver Cup at Harry." Harper said softly.

Is he-

He's quoting Harry Potter.

And I know exactly what this scene is.

I felt my breathing slow down.

"Harry looked around- there was Ginny running towards him- she had a hard, blazing look in her face as she threw her arms around him." He continued.

I held my breath, knowing the part that was coming next. Harper pulled away from me slightly, the ringing in my ears calming down, the tears beginning to cease. Even though we had moved apart slightly, our faces were still only a few inches apart.

"And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her."

I held my breath.

Harry and Ginny's first kiss.

The ringing stopped, the tears stopped flowing, and the only thing I could think about was how beautiful Harper's eyes looked. How they seemed to glow in the darkness as they bore into mine, assessing me slowly, firmly.

I couldn't breathe.

"Harper," I whispered. He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against mine.

"Noelle," he breathed. I closed my own eyes. He moved forward, and I parted my lips almost instinctively.

Just before his lips could touch mine, he stopped. I let my eyes fly open, to see what happened. He had pulled away, so that we were at least a foot apart.

"I'm sorry." He muttered softly.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm sorry for being a dick. I was an idiot, I know. I have been an idiot for the past few months. I'm sorry for being so controlling, and- "

"Shut up, Harper." I said gently. "It doesn't matter."

"But it does," he groaned, leaning back on his seat. I realized I was still in his lap and I awkwardly got off. Harper almost winced as I did.

"You could have got that perfect first kiss you probably have always dreamt of, and stuff. A boyfriend. I know a guy who might have given that to you." He chuckled darkly. "And I ruined it by pushing away every guy who came near you."

You're the only one I want to kiss. I have only ever dreamt of kissing you.

Well, unless you count fictional characters.

I couldn't say that, though.

"Harper, I don't care. I don't want a relationship. And you're not a, uh," I coughed, refusing to swear. Harper chuckled.

"Dick?" He offered.

I glared at him. "Um, yeah, because you have helped me in so many ways. And thank you for that. Panic attacks, bratty girls who hate me- " I yawned and Harper's eyes softened.

"Go to sleep, baby doll," he said. "You're tired." A small smirk grew on his face. "Unless you want to sleep with me."

I groaned and hit his arm. "Shut up," I mumbled, cuddling up into my blanket.

And just as I was about to fall asleep, I glanced at Harper's screen, an un-paused scene of Harry Potter playing.

----------------------------

"I call this room!" I screamed, hurtling myself onto the bed of the 'chalet', which turns out to be a large wooden cabin on the mountains in Niseko in Japan. The chalet was huge, to accommodate all of us- Samara, Florence, Harper, me, Mom who had to share a room with Lana (poor her) and Maggie who was sharing with Jenna. We had just reached the chalet.

"Then if you're having it, then I'm sharing, baby doll!" Harper yelled flinging himself next to me on the bed. He half landed on me and I groaned in pain.

"No way!" I yelled back. "Get off me you fat pig!" I tried to push Harper off and he chuckled, rolling over so he was on top of me.

"I don't think so, baby doll," he grinned, pinning his arms over my head and tickling me, his hands running over my sides.

I'm not ticklish.

Let's ruin this cliché moment.

I pretended to laugh for about ten seconds, and I saw Harper smirk devilishly. Then, quickly, I used my upper body strength to flip us over, so I had my knees on either side of his hips, my elbows pinning his arms to the bed.

Ha, you forgot I did karate, pig.

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow slyly. Harper opened his mouth to reply before I heard screaming. I spun around quickly to see Florence screaming and covering her eyes.

"MY EYES!" She yelled. "EW, TURN DOWN THE PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION IT IS DISGUSTING!" I quickly jumped away from Harper, landing on the other side of the bed. Florence finally opened her eyes before pointing an accusing finger at Harper.

"Get away from my sister, slave. I need to have a word with you."

Harper nodded quickly, a scared look in her eyes, before jumping of my bed and walking out the door.

"Florence- " I protested and she held out a finger. "I'll be back." She smiled sweetly before grabbing Harper by the ear and dragging him out of the door and slamming the door shut, just after Samara slipped into my room.

"Were you doing anything with him?" Samara smirked, sitting down next to me on my bed.

I shook my head truthfully. "No!"

"You know... " Samara drawled. "He's really hot. I swear my ovaries were about to explode."

I scrunched up my nose. "Ew."

She grinned. "Well, I give you the go sign. If you like him, go for it."

I smiled sadly. "He doesn't like me, though." I responded.

Samara stared at me incredulously for a moment before bursting into laughter.

I looked at her in shock. "What?" I asked. "Did I say something funny?"

She only laughed harder, waving her hand around. She got up, her face red with laughter as she walked out of my room.

Well, that was weird.

--------------------------

The next time I saw Harper was at dinner in the dining room of the chalet. He was about to sit a few seats down the table from me but Florence shoved him into the seat next to mine. I blushed a little.

Samara sat on my other side and Florence sat next to her. Opposite all of us were Maggie, Mom, Jenna who was using crayons on her plate and Lana who was trying to set fire to the table cloth.

I really worry about her sometimes.

Mom brought out the food and we began to eat.

"So, kids," Mom began. "Tomorrow we'll start skiing. I think this is the first time for all of us. We'll have trainers who will come and pick us up in the morning then we'll head off to the skiing area. Afterwards we'll come back and just relax, okay?"

Everyone nodded. We sat in awkward silence.

"So you're Valentine's Day dance is coming up soon, isn't it?" Maggie asked Harper and I.

I never went. Not because I didn't want to. I just was never asked out. I would normally spend the night having a little pity party for myself or skyping Samara or someone. I'd rather not go.

"Mom, it's in February," Harper commented. Maggie rolled her eyes, gesturing to Mom and herself.

"We don't care about that," she gave Harper a 'duh' face. "We care about who you're taking."

I blushed.

"Mom, I have no idea," Harper said, picking at his noodles.

"Who's Noelle going with?" My Mom piped up. I groaned.

"Mom, it's in two months. And I don't even want to go."

My mom gasped and stood up immediately. "No way, young lady! There is no way you're not going to this school dance full of hormonal teenage boys!" She slid a small unnoticeable glance to Harper. I raised an eyebrow.

"I mean," she coughed. "You're going."

"I'd really rather not." I winced. I saw Harper smirk from the corner of my eye.

"You should, baby doll. It'll be fun." He winked at me. I slapped the back of his head.

"I thought you were on my side!" I yelled. He grinned and caught my hand, holding it away from him.

"Now, now, Noelle. Listen to your mother." He smirked.

"You." My mom pointed at Harper. "I like you." She turned to Maggie. "You raise your children well."

I sighed, picking up my empty plate before heading to the kitchen.

"Goodnight!" I yelled, going up the stairs.

"Toodles!" My mom called out.

Silence.

"Lana! Get that candle away from the table cloth!"

I chuckled and went up to my temporary room.

--------------------------

I was startled away by booming thunder. I groaned, turning over in my bed.

I squinted my eyes open to see it was still dark.

I got into another comfy position, ready to drift back to sleep again before another clap of thunder. I didn't hear any rain, so it must have been a dry thunderstorm.

Seriously, Japan? I just want to sleep.

Just as I closed my eyes again, I heard my door creak open. Startled, I sat up and looked around frantically.

Intruder! Intruder! I need a weapon! It's a murderer!

Are there even murderers at the top of mountains?

Nevertheless, I grabbed the my hardcover book copy of The Blood of Olympus from my bedside table, ready to throw it at the intruder.

Finally, Harper stepped into my room.

I sighed with relief. Harper stared wide eyes at the book I had in my hands.

"Were you going to hit me with that?"

I shook my head. "I thought you were an intruder." I narrowed my eyes, glaring suspiciously at his pyjama clad self. "What are you even doing here?"

Harper smirked, but it wasn't enough to hide the hint of nervousness etched into his face. "I wanted to spend time with you, baby doll."

"Yeah, sure," I drawled sarcastically. "Because you definitely woke up in the middle of the night to come to me and talk about Harry Potter over tea and cookies- "

A jolt of thunder interrupted my rant, and Harper jumped.

Is that-

Is that it?

"Are you- " It was my turn to stare at him wide eyed. "Are you scared of thunder?"

"Pfft, no," Harper answered quickly. "How can a manly bad boy like me be scared of something as little as thun- "

Another clap of thunder sent Harper jumping a foot in the air. "Fine, yes! I'm scared of thunder, okay? Can I just sleep in your room tonight?" Harper said quickly. I grinned.

Aw, that's adorable.

Harper stared at me incredulously. "What are you grinning about? I just told you my practically secret fear and you're laughing at me?"

I giggled and shook my head. "It's just that- you're scared of thunder. Harper Andrews, bad boy of Lockwood High is scared of thunder."

"Yeah, yeah," Harper grumpily huffed. "What's your point?"

I shook my head, smiling, before patting the space next to me on the queen sized bed. He smiled slightly, before sliding into the bed, pulling the covers over himself and me. I lay down, turning so I faced him. I smiled and he smiled back, sighing deeply and closing his eyes.

A strike of thunder.

"Are you okay?" I whispered. He nodded, eyes still closed.

Another strike.

I felt him move closer to me, so our legs were touching.

Yet another strike, louder than the rest.

I wove my fingers through his and he pulled me closer so that our bodies were touching, his chin resting on the top of my head.

And that's how I fell asleep, wrapped in the arms of my first crush.

OH MY GODS MY UPDATES ARE SO FREQUENT- THREE UPDATES IN FIVE DAYS LIKE WHAT

I think my updates are getting more frequent as I get closer and closer to the interesting parts of the story ;)

That's right, we're nowhere near the end... hee hee

WELL...

IM SO HAPPY IDK WHY

GOAL: 60 votes... maybe... hopefully...?

Dedication will go to: top couple in Falling Too Far except Harpelle?

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH OMGGGGGGGG I REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN I WAS LIKE #763 IN TEEN FICTION *sniff*

WE'VE GOT SO FAR

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-A xx