Tonight I thought it would be a good idea to introduce Evelyn to the lads; she's been here for a couple of days already and I haven't seen the lads in a while - considering I've been sleeping at Odette's. We've all arranged to stay at mine tonight, watch a movie and perhaps play a few board games. I planned to leave early this morning to go shopping for some nibbles in preparation, but was stopped in my tracks by Evelyn who wanted to tag along as well.

After waiting a few minutes for her to have a shower and get changed, I left a note for Odette before we headed in pursuit of the local shops. Thatched cottages pass our view and I can't help but idolise them, I love the idea of living in one of those; Odette seems to pop into my mind at the thought, what if you lived with Odette? Silly subconscious, it's always seems to draw up random conclusions like this one, Odette and I aren't even dating yet, how could we possibly even begin to think about buying a cottage together.

What are we? Now that's a good question, we've been on one date, kissed multiple times and I've slept at her apartment; I haven't asked her to be my girlfriend yet, although I have no doubt in my mind that I will at some point, I'm falling for her more and more everyday, but I don't think now is the best time to ask. Odette is pretty flustered because she's trying to make Evelyn's stay the best it can possibly be - perhaps I'll wait until after Evelyn's gone, then take her on a few more dates. It seems like my best option.

I brush the thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the present, we park up at the shop and head inside, going straight for any source of junk food we can find. Crisps, pizza, ice cream, literally anything that I know will most likely be consumed within an hour of the lads arriving. They eat everything. My phone blares and I attempt to juggle the food contents in my hand, "hello?" I answer, my phone squashed between my ear and shoulder.

"Hey Harry it's Zayn, guess what?" He rushes, his voice cheery and hopeful, I'm assuming it's good news then.

"What?" I use my excellent balancing skills, expertly catching a family size pack of crisps that was sliding out my grasp.

It suddenly occurs to me and my eyes flit frantically around the shop, attempting to find the ten year old girl that I seem to have lost, shit. "Perrie and I got a house!" Zayn's voice is drowned by my hectic mind and I fail to act enthused about his news, it's not that I don't want to be happy for him, it's just that I've potentially lost my 'future girlfriends' sister. Well let's face it, she's not going to want to be my girlfriend now...

"Panier." A voice mutters behind me and I swivel on my heel, a sigh heaving from my chest as I close my eyes thankfully. "It means basket in French." Evelyn clarifies and holds the basket out for me to place the juggling items in.

After thanking her I take the basket from her grasp and scold her gently, "don't ever do that again, I though I had lost you. I could already hear your sister planning my death." Evelyn simply laughs at my over exaggeration. I'm glad someone finds the situation funny.

"She wouldn't kill you she likes you too much." Evelyn's speech is more like an on going chuckle but I don't disregard it. I feel like a teenage girl finding out that their crush likes them back.

"Wait she likes m-"

"Harry!" Zayn shouts, oh I forgot about him.

"Sorry mate, yeah." I think back to our previous conversation and smile, "I'm so happy for you! Where is it, when are you moving out?"

"It's in London mate." He sighs, clearly not too happy that he has to tell everyone the news.

"London? Like, four hours away London?" Of course I'm being stupid and the answer is obvious, although he's one of my best mates and I hate the fact that I won't be able to just walk up to his apartment and see him.

"I'm moving out tomorrow, but I'll be back for your birthday." I can't believe it, that means that tonight is our last night as a big group. My heart aches at the realisation, one of my best mates is leaving.

"Well, I'll have to make tonight even more special."

After our goodbyes, Evelyn and I continue the shopping as planned - the ten year old giving me advice on which foods her sister likes and which foods she hates. Apparently she doesn't like salsa dips - although I know that Niall loves them so she'll have to just stay away from it - I'm not risking Niall's cold shoulder when I turn up with no salsa dip. Last time, he didn't talk to me for three days.

Arriving back at my apartment, Evelyn kindly helped me unpack the shopping bags ready for this afternoon. I made her breakfast considering we haven't had any yet; similar to her sister she loves crêpes and pancakes so, being the chef I am, I happily obliged. Halfway through our laughing and story telling, a familiar fragrance fills my senses and my eyebrows furrow - that smells like Odette's perfume...

"Ahh!" I jump in my seat as warm fingers tickle my sides; Evelyn sits across the counter in hysterics, probably because of my expression. Familiar lips land on my cheek with a smile and I pull the mischievous woman towards me. "Was that funny, yeah?" I ask, my fingers already residing on her hips.

Odette's nod is silent and cute, her eyes sparkly and full of happiness, her smile so bright it could light up the night sky; just looking at her I forget my tickling intentions. I want her here in my arms, and by my hips, holding on to my shoulders. I want her as close as I can possibly get her, to just embrace her because I can. Evelyn's laughter fades away and she goes back to eating her pancakes as Odette and I stare at each other, a comfortable stare - almost like we're having our own telepathic conversation.

A large blush forms on her face and she glances away from me, tearing her eyes from mine and pulling away from my grasp. Her reaction startles me and I'm slightly worried, did I do something? Did I go too far? A shy smile is all I'm left with as she turns to sign to her sister. 'Sorry about that.' She apologises to Evelyn before leaving the room.

"Don't worry, she's just embarrassed." Evelyn finishes her pancakes and wipes her mouth with a red napkin that I left beside the plate setting earlier. The maple syrup nonexistent on her plate now, it almost looks clean, I'm guessing she liked her breakfast. "Odette isn't really used to showing her feelings, and I know that she doesn't want to take away the attention off of me because I'm here." She explains, baffling me completely. Not because I don't believe her, but because I've no idea how she can possibly know all of this.

"How do you know all of this? It's like you're inside of her head." I retort, asking the question in my head only moments ago.

"She told me yesterday that she didn't want to take any attention off me, but she said things were different here and that she's changing." Evelyn confesses.

My thoughts ponder and questions run through my mind, unanswered questions. "How do you get her to sign all of this to you. She rarely tells me of her feelings."

"You're forgetting that I have known her for ten years," Evelyn giggles at my silly question and I can't help but to agree. "And she doesn't sign to us all of the time."

"What do you mean she doesn't sign to you all of the time?"

"Just because she's deaf Harry doesn't mean that she doesn't have a voice." Her words stun me and it takes a few moments for them to truly sink in. Odette has a voice? My quiet little French girl has a voice - a perfect voice that I'm yet to hear. I need to hear her speak, to say my name or even a simple word; just so I know that it exists and that it's there, to know that she can speak to me. I bet her voice is so beautiful and delicate like her, I bet it's like an forbidden song that I am yet to listen to and only I have the privilege to hear.

"Odette is very cautious Harry," Evelyn informs me, her voice less joking and more serious now. "She's been through a lot and you can't just expect her to open up to you straight away. It's true that you bring the goodness out of her, but don't take advantage of that." Was that a wise piece of advice from a ten year old?

I jump off my seat and walk around to Evelyn, embracing her in my arms, "You know I won't." She nods into my chest and I feel happy knowing that I have her trust, she has no doubt that I will take care of Odette, Everyone knows that by now, except Odette herself.

•••

"Who brought Buckaroo?" Eleanor asks, Liam's face turning a tell-tale shade of crimson. I laugh at my friend and his fetish for board games, I think Monopoly is his favourite but bringing Buckaroo clearly seemed like a better idea tonight - considering that Evelyn's here.

The lads loved Evelyn the minute they walked through the door, their facial expressions as she spoke were absolutely priceless. I wish I had taken a picture actually - it's clear that none of them had heard a strong French accent before now considering how fascinated they were when she spoke; occasionally asking her to say certain words, just so they could know what it sounded like.

Evelyn shook it all off with a small giggle and was able to choose the film due to her being our 'guest of honour,'  as Niall said. She picked a classic Disney film and sat with the lads and girls on the floor or the couches, all happily watching the PG rated movie. The food and nibbles that we picked up this morning went down an absolute treat! Everyone loved the variety, Odette included; however, she did scowl once the salsa came into her view but shrugged it off seconds later.

Evelyn fell asleep about an hour ago, after our third film, and the lads have yet to switch it off - if anything they seem to be enjoying the child aimed animation. Odette and I moved into the kitchen after film number two and just decided to talk, we found Buckaroo about ten minutes ago so we've been playing that to entertain ourselves. "I wouldn't put that there if I were you." Moments after I utter the words, the donkey bucks and Odette's body jumps at the startling action, clearly not suspecting that it would go off.

She pouts cutely and blushes at my noticing smile, 'I really wanted to win.' A grin is shyly revealed, she knows that I can't resist that look.

My jade eyes roll at her actions, of course I can't resist. "Fine, I'll set it off." I take all of the items from their place and reset the game, Odette doesn't participate and just watches with a smile as I pile everything on myself. The donkey bucking and Odette's body jumping once again, she smiles even wider.

'Thank you!' Her hands frantically sign as she scurries over to place a delicate kiss against my cheek. My gaze is intense and her uncharacteristic notion. That's a feeling I'll never get used to, and I don't think she quite realises that yet; it's almost like she ignites a layer of butterflies to scurry across my body, their wings fluttering against my skin and leaving tingles in their wake. Coming back to reality, Odette's stare is just as intense as mine - her body slotted between my legs as I sit on a kitchen barstool, her olive skinned arms now wrapped gently around my neck.

Odette's face blushes yet again but this time I don't let her turn away, with one hand on her hip and the other on her chin I hold her in place, bringing her lips slightly towards my own but not allowing them to touch quite yet. An enticingly warm breath fans across my lips and gently moves to my cheek, she mimes something.

'Kiss me.'

My lips meet hers without hesitation and we mould together like all of the times before; the fluttering returns, but with a thousand times more force, and my unforgivable grip on her tightens. I never want to let her go, I hope she feels the same in this moment because I never want it to end. I move my head to the side and deepen the kiss, our lips desperate - perpetual passion coursing through our actions, it's indescribable, this feeling, it's too perfect for words.

She pulls away first and takes a deep breath; I begin to assume it's because she's had enough, however, she surprisingly connects our lips once again - I smile into the kiss, I can already feel the blush rising onto her cheeks at the desperate motion but I don't care, at least I know much she wants this, and that's just as much as me apparently.

"Hey Harry do you have the buckar-"

I pull away from Odette and turn to see Louis in the doorway with a knowing smirk and raised eyebrows. My lips most likely swollen from mine and Odette's feverish contact; once Louis backs out of the room with a wink I turn to face her, noticing her head is now bowed in an attempt to conceal her crimson cheeks. "Hey," I lift her chin, beautiful pink lips swollen - similar to mine I'm sure, "we're doing that again."

She giggles at my attempt to lighten the mood. 'Thank you for being so welcoming to Evelyn. She really likes you, and I'm glad.' Odette signs, changing the subject as usual, I love how she tries to swerve my attention away from something unforgettable.

"I'm glad too, she's a great sister to you, as you are with her. Although, she did tell me something about you that I want to ask you about." Odette's face crumbles, almost as if she's scared that I'm about to leave her. Never baby, never.

'What did she say?'

"Evelyn told me that you can talk." The intonation in my voice shows my curiosity.

'Yes.' Odette answers simply, with a small and understanding smile, she clearly knows where I'm going with this.

My returning grin is a cheeky one, however she doesn't seem phased by it. "I want to hear your voice" I softly demand, my face nearing hers teasingly.

A soft peck embraces my lips gently, leaving the taste of her cherry balm on my skin as she moves over to my cheek to mime, 'You can't hear my voice, if I can't hear yours.'

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