Chapter 28 – Chloe’s P.O.V.

            “Chloe, I think I left my luggage back in the US,” Harry said as he went to turn back for the plane that just landed, but I gripped his elbow.

            “Harry, quit being such a girl,” I teased him. “I’m sure thing will go fine. You need to make up with your mother and be proud you still have one.”

            Harry sighed, rubbing his forehead before he laced his fingers with mine. “I know, I know… I just… I haven’t seen her in five years. I’m kind of dumbfounded on what to do right now and I’m just… scared, I guess.”

            “You still have another night to think things through.”

            “I guess you’re right.”

            Harry’s hand tightened around mine as we moved swiftly through the airport, grabbing out luggage. Needless to say I was scared out of my mind going on a plane for the first time, but Harry found that amusing and teased me nearly the whole ride here. I’ve always had an open mind to create, imaginative things where I believe anything is possible, and a plane sporadically crashing in the middle of the ocean with me on it happens to be one of them. Of course Harry just called me ridiculous and let me squeeze his hand the whole time, but it was still overwhelmingly frightening.

            But the best thing?

            Still no voices.

            There hasn’t been any sinister laughing, any threats, or any harm done to me at all in the past couple of days. It’s like the more I’m with Harry, the more distance they become. And I love that; I love it a lot. It’s like I’m finally on the path back to normal.

            After Harry and I retrieve our baggage, we snag a cab and I’m baffled by the beauty of London as we drive through the streets. It’s so bright at night, each building lit up to resemble something magical. My eyes feel as if they’re going to pop out of their sockets if I keep gawking, but I can’t help it.

            Harry lays his chin on my shoulder to peek out the window with me. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

            I nodded, still smiling.

            “The only thing I missed about London,” he said, “the liveliness.”

***

            The cab finally halts when we make it in front of a rather large hotel, the sign as bright as everything else in this city. I think I’m already in love on my first night.

            I stepped out first, Harry following me close behind with a hand on the small of my back. The man got our bags out of the trunk, setting them down on the sidewalk. I bent over to grab the handle to mine, but Harry’s hands gripped my hips a little tighter and I heard him grumble, “Keep your fucking eyes to yourself.”

            The profanity was enough to send uneasy flips in my stomach, but the aggression behind his tone is what startled me. When I looked up, I managed to catch the taxi man staring at my rear before he listened to Harry, quickly looking away. He was an older guy, too. Someone you didn’t want looking at a nineteen year old.

            “Sorry,” Harry murmured to me before angrily tossing the money through the window for the driver. “I don’t like creeps staring at my girlfriend.”

            He wasn’t speaking to me when he said it, and I knew that just by the way he raised his voice slightly when the man began to roll his window up. Harry rolled his eyes, clenching his jaw as the man quickly pulled away, then he turned back to me. His face softened almost instantly, but a hint of rage was still evident in his emeralds.

            I opened my mouth to speak, but pursed my lips closed instead. I didn’t know what to say. Yes, cursing sends my stomach into a mess of flips and twists, but Harry was protecting me. I’ve never had anyone look after me before, so there was no possible way I could be mad at him. Shocked would be a better term.

            Harry finally composed himself once more, apologizing sincerely to me this time before grabbing his bags and following me into the lobby. He checked us in while I gawked at the magnificence of the place. The diamond chandelier hanging over head, the multiple and various paintings drawled out across the walls, the fluffy chairs sitting beside a large, glass fish tank; it was all just stunning.

            Alas, Harry managed to tug me away from the beauty of everything and into the elevator where we would reach our room on level eight. But the elevator was nearly as gorgeous as everything else with its golden panels and velvet carpet. It was hard to believe this wasn’t an actual room, it was so spacious and neat.

            “Come on, drool-y.” Harry laughed as he pulled me out the elevator on our floor and down the hall.

            “Hey, cut me some slack. I’ve hardly been anywhere in the US, so this is just mind-blowing,” I told him. “You have to remember where I was for three years.”

            Harry stopped for a moment, as if I struck a nerve before he mumbled, “Yeah… I remember.” And then he started walking again.

            We entered the suite after unlocking the door with the fancy card you simply swipe on this metal thing, and once again; I was bewildered. There was a miniature kitchen with marble counters, a steel fridge, and a living room with lounging chairs and a coffee table, not to mention the flat screen television hooked above it all. It was hard to believe this was even affordable.

            “Harry, how the heck did you get somewhere this fancy?”

            Harry shrugged as he placed our bags by the door. “My uncle used to be the owner here, so I kind of get discounts. He’s deceased now, but his son took over. My cousin, I guess, but I hardly know him. He just knows me from his dad and such.”

            I nodded as I closed the door behind us, carrying our things to the bedroom with Harry following. As I now predicted, there was a large bed in the middle of the room, and a bathroom connected to the far left. There was even a dresser and a small closet to put personal belongings in.

            Flopping down face first onto the bed, I smiled at the softness of the mattress. Not even five seconds later, Harry’s figure plopped down next to me, that smirk stretched across his plump lips. But he was on his back, looking over at me with a simple turn of his neck.

            “It’s nice, huh?”

            “It’s flawless.”

            Harry smiled, then looked to the ceiling as he fumbled with his hands on his chest. He looked back at me, his grin turning into a smirk once more. “Wanna go swimming?”

            I propped myself up on my elbow, raising an eyebrow. “Swimming? I don’t have a bathing suit.”

            “Wrong-o,” Harry said as he grinned, jumping off the bed and leaping to the suitcases. He unzipped one, pulling out a hot pink two-piece that appeared strapless on the top. He showed it to me, still smiling. “I brought it just in case,” he said with a shrug. “A girl has to have a bathing suit, right?”

            Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, it was my turn to play with my fingers as I sat cross-legged on the bed. I didn’t seem to find a bathing suit appealing with my assortment of scarring, not to mention my horrific insecurities because of them. People don’t understand how negative mental disorders can effect a person. They seem to degrade everything from society if it doesn’t fit their expectation of “perfection.”

            I just happened to be one of those flaws they tossed aside.

            Harry frowned, seeming to capture the message of my wariness as he sat next to me, the bathing suit still in his hands. “Chloe, what’s wrong? Don’t you want to go out in the pool for a night swim? It’s truly beautiful, I promise.”

            I merely shrugged, still chewing my bottom lip.

            Harry pursed his lips before noticing I was rubbing a ragged scar that trailed down my right arm. He took my hand away, bringing my scarred arm up and planting a kiss on it. He met my gaze. “Don’t be ashamed of those, Chloe. They’re your battle scars, a way to prove to people that you were better than they thought you were. Show them how strong you are, babe. Don’t be embarrassed of things you can’t control.”

            Another reason I loved Harry; his ability to say all the right things.

            “W-what if people look at me funny?” I asked quietly as I picked at my nails.

            “Then screw them. They don’t have to look at you, and I won’t let them anyway. You’re my beautiful piece of artwork. If they can’t find the beauty in you, that’s their loss.” He smiled at me, his left dimple cratering.

            I puffed out air from my cheeks, still unsure.

            “Please?” he asked quietly, nuzzling his head in my hair. “You’d make my day.” He kissed my neck softly.

            “Fine,” I mumbled as I stood, snatching the bathing suit from him. “But only because I feel bad that you have to face your mom tomorrow and I know you’re nervous about it.”

            Harry grinned at me, the cutest, cheesiest grin I’ve ever seen.

            It was downright adorable.

            “Love you, babe!” he called after me, but I waved a hand in the air as if brushing him off. I could hear his angelic laugh when I closed the bathroom door.

***

            “Harry, do I have to take the towel off?” I whispered as a couple of people glanced our way. Who knew night swimming was so popular around here? Or is it just this hotel?

            Harry smirked. “That would be a part of swimming, love.”

            Sighing, I fisted the material a little tighter before chewing my lower lip and glancing around at all of the people. Many of them were carrying on swimming back and forth, and others were laying out reading or chatting amongst their small groups. Everyone seemed to be at ease, and I was scared me and my scars would ruin that.

            Harry sighed as he gently grabbed my wrist, pulling me into him but I kept hold of the towel. “I’ll be right here with you, babe. If anyone looks at you the wrong way, I’ll tell them off, all right?”

            “You don’t have to do that,” I murmured.

            “Then please come on, love. I’ll do it if I have to, but just try not to think about it and enjoy a little peace, yeah?” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

            Inhaling sharply before letting it out slow, I nodded some before shakily unwrapping the towel and setting it aside, only to replace it with my arms.

            Harry didn’t take any shame as his eyes raked over my body, a small smile creeping onto his lips before he met my gaze. “See?” he whispered as he kissed my cheek. “You’re beyond gorgeous.”

            My cheeks heated up immensely, but before I could reply, Harry had picked me up bridal style and was running towards the deep end of the pool. I guess he didn’t want me to chicken out, so he jumped in with me still in his arms and the only thing I had time to do before I hit the water was let out a small squeal.

            We both came up, trying to stay afloat as we paddled. Harry was laughing as he flipped his wet hair out of his face, but I pretended to be upset and splashed water at him. “Jerk!” I said, but it came out in a giggle.

            “But you love me anyway,” Harry said with a smirk as he swam over to me.

            Deciding to mess around with him, I turned and started swimming the opposite direction. Harry chuckled behind me, clearly seeing that I was playfully being hard to get. He followed me before he gently grabbed my ankles, tugging me to him. He flipped me over when he pulled me in, eventually causing my legs to wrap around his torso. He had his arms fastened around my waist, keeping me close as I let my forehead fall onto his. He grinned at me.

            “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, leaning up and kissing my lips softly.

            I smiled, the blush rushing to my cheeks instantly before I blew his compliment off. “You don’t mean that.”

            Harry rolled his eyes, but played along saying, “You’re right. I don’t.”

            At first I thought he was serious, but then he smiled and said the word that always made me melt, “You’re flawless.”

-

-

A/N: I haven't updated in turdy seven years, omg. xD Here's a decently long chapter to make it up to you <3 Love you all xx

*VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.* ;)