๑ C h a p t e r T h r e e ๑
Aaliyah grew tired as Harry still jogged with her. He didn't even struggle for oxygen, or try to slow down on his own at all. It seemed as if he weren't ever even running at all in the first place. When Aaliyah abruptly stopped, placing her hands on her knees as she bent over to catch her breath, Harry stopped as well. He looked down at her. His expression was full of concern, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I am fine thanks. I just need to," Aaliyah paused trying to prove her point, "catch my breath."
"Well here, do you need water?" He asked her. She put up her hand in reject to his offer.
"Nah, I have a bottle of my o-" but Aaliyah stopped when she realized she no longer had the water bottle. Or, did she even really ever have it to begin with? She now couldn't remember.
"Here," Harry brought the bottle of water toward her, encouraging her to take it. But Aaliyah refused.
"No thank y-"
"Take it," his voice dropped an octave. She looked up at him wide eyed as she hesitantly took the bottle of water from Harry's hand. Their hands brushed slightly against one another as she took it. She softly gasped at how cold the presence of his hand was. He seemed to notice, as he quickly withdrew his hand away from hers. The water bottle accidentally fell from both their loosened holds, as it hit the concrete with a 'bonk.' But Aaliyah didn't seem to notice as she was still in her own little trance of how ice cold Harry's hand was. Yes, it was winter. But being in this part of Arizona, the temperature never really got cold. The coldest would be low 60's maybe, if even that. Her hand was like a heater compared to his. It was almost as if he stuck his hand in freezing ice water for at least an hour. If that sums it up for you.
Harry was staring at Aaliyah intensively as she looked up at him. She looked down immediately under his harsh stare, as she stared down at the water bottle that was still on the concrete beneath them both, in between both of their feet.
"Aren't you going to get that, Aaliyah?" Harry asked. Her insides shivered when he spoke her name. The still unknown explanation for how he had already known it before they actually met still left Aaliyah confused. She bent down tiredly, picking up the water bottle. As she stood upward again, his eyes never leaving her face which held a flabbergasted expression. His eyes darted down to the water bottle in her hand as her hands were secured tightly around it, her knuckles white as she held a tight grip on it the bottle curving in at the contact, before his eyes darted back to her face, back at the water bottle, then to her lips, staying there for a little longer than the other glances, before back down at the water bottle once again. "Aren't you going to drink that?"
The way his voice was low, deep, husky and slow along with his accent made Aaliyah feel vulnerable for some strange reason.
"I'm not that thirsty," she spoke almost in a whisper. Harry chuckled.
"You're lying," he stepped closer toward her.
"W-what? No I am not. How am I lying, Harry?" she asked him, anger visible in her tone.
"Because you have just got done saying how you needed a drink love," his tongue came out, wetting his lips, before returning back in his mouth as a smirk was plastered on his face. A dimple prominent on both cheeks, his left cheek dimple more visible than the right.
"Alright well, I changed my mind. I just needed to catch my breath," Aaliyah addressed him.
"Alright well, I still want you to drink the water, just some, because you need it. You're exhausted, and are going to pass out of dehydration if you don't," he explained before putting his hands up in the air in defeat. "I'm just trying to help you, that's all."
"Well get this," Aaliyah spoke taking a step closer towards Harry. "I don't need your help, nor do I need anyone's help for that matter. I am old enough and perfectly fine deciding things and making my own decisions on my own. I don't need anyone telling me what I can and cannot do. So thank you for looking out for me, but really I do not need it. But thanks for your consideration, Harry. It's very much appreciated," before the water bottle was shoved into his chest. He quickly caught it in his hands as it almost dropped due to Aaliyah letting go of it. His amused expression by her sudden outburst was a visible expression on his face. Aaliyah turned around, going in the direction they came in instead of continuing straight for their jog. She could hear other set of footsteps besides her own. She rolled her eyes, although her back was towards Harry so he could not see her.
"You know, I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop stalking me." Harry quickly jogged up to where she was also jogging.
"What are you talking about? I'm not stalking you. I'm just curious on to where you're going. Which is where now?" He asked her.
"Where does it look like? Back home for me," She explained.
"Why?"
"Why? Well, because I'm done with my jog. That's usually where I stop, anyway. Now, it's time to go back," She replied to him. It was silent for a second before he stopped, pulling her toward him a little making her stop going forward, and stumble backward a little towards him. "Hey! What are you doing, Harry? Get off of me!" She exclaimed. He only shushed her.
"I know an easier way to get home faster for you," He explained.
"How?" She asked curiously. He grinned.
"Follow me." He pulled her arm slightly towards his direction, as he seemed to be going across the street. She followed out of force, before they reached a narrow path that was in between two wooden fences. She pulled back, pulling her arm out of his grip. He looked back at her confused. His eyebrows frowned. "Why'd you stop?"
"Because. I am not going through there with you," She crossed her arms over her chest, more of her weight lay on her right side more than her left. He smirked.
"What?" He paused, "You don't trust me?"
"No, it's just..." She paused. Basically, yes. He was correct. She didn't trust him. No, not at all. She couldn't and wouldn't until she got answers. And the questions that needed to be asked in order to get those answers were not necessary in Harry's opinion. And so until she got them, she couldn't and wouldn't trust him. "Actually, yes. There's no need to hide it. I do not trust you one bit."
His smirk turned more into an evil and cheeky grin. "Let me prove it to you."
Aaliyah laughed, "Ha! No thank you, buddy. I'm better off just going the way I came from," Aaliyah said as she turned around to make her way back across the street again, but something stopped her. Someone. And she obviously knew exactly who that someone was. She turned around facing him, coming to the conclusion that she stood corrected.
"Well little Missy, I am not letting you go back that way when there is an obvious easier and quicker route that I can show you, so that you can use it every time to get home easier and faster. Or in case of an emergency," Harry said looking at her. His grip wasn't too harsh, but wasn't too gentle either. It was firm so she'd stay as he spoke to her. His tone of voice was cocky, just like his demeanor.
"And what kind of emergency are you talking about, Harry?" Aaliyah asked, cocking an eyebrow up as she felt her own smirk appear on her face. He smirked along with her.
"I don't know," he shrugged, " I am just saying."
"Or is that supposed to be an excuse to make me come with you?" She asked him cockily. She could tell by the look on his face that he was astounded by her sudden change in mood. Her sassy persona coming out of it's shell, and showing itself to the world. Or in this case, to Harry. But he drew her to it. Almost like a game in which they played, where they both tried to outdo each other in their own cocky and sassy ways. Trying to make the other give in, or feel stupid of humiliated as the other won the battle of who got their way, or who could break the other's mood into a taken back state. But neither would break. Or would they?
"Maybe," He shrugged again. "Maybe not." The smirk never disappeared from him as he pulled her toward him again. Aaliyah gave in, curiosity on to how it would be closer and easier if it was across the street crossing her mind. And so she followed him. Followed Harry into the narrow, closed in fence, supposedly taking her back to her house, but in an easier route. And so this was a test. Or the first one to say the least. To see if Harry was telling her the truth, and to know if she could trust him. But even if so, could she still? Or was this only a trick? But she didn't even know if this would work, unless she tried. And so, she followed him into the fenced in place, as his big hand kept a strong grip on her small hand, walking through the narrow path.
﹉﹊ ﹍﹎﹉﹊ ﹍﹎
Every Sunday there will be an update! :) Just like I said before. PLEASE check out my new story called, "Trepidation // Harry Styles" which is coming soon! Hope you all enjoyed this, and continue reading. It's gonna get interesting coming sooooon ;)SOOO. Comment, vote, follow meeeee :) x
ღ ~ jade ~ ღ