Chapter 12: Setback

Whitney POV:

Song- Kiss Me: Ed Sheeran

I shoved the key into the tiny hole, twisting the doorknob as I felt a hand slide around my waist from behind. "Wha...?" I started to say as another strong steady arm was gripped from the opposite side of my body. I was effortlessly twisted around. My eyes instantly rose to the figure infront of me...

"Harry!!" I shouted while clutching the front of his t-shirt that was exposed from behind the blue jacket he wore. He could pull anything off but something about a plain white tee showed his physique to the finest degree.

Harry laced his fingers together after wrapping his hands around my neck. He then slid them down to the middle of my back, securing his emerald hue eyes to mine. "I missed you Whitney," he spoke with a tone of intensity.

"Me too," I admitted, running my fingertips firmly down his chest. The corners of my mouth pulled up into a grin once I felt his tight abs underneath my touch. He was built so impeccably flawless, to a level I myself would never come within a distance of no matter how hard I tried. That made me a little insecure...I mean of all people what did I ever do to deserve this degree of utter perfection standing before me? A chill transfixed through my body when I made my way to the defined v lines of his hips. My knee's felt so weak. I couldn't take this anymore...

My eyes met his gaze. Unable to resist any longer I tilted my head and slowly made my way towards his tender lips. They had nearly made contact when a hand was placed on my shoulder in restraint. I pulled back far enough to give him a questioning glance.

"Are you sure this falls under the no dating category?" He teased.

I bit my bottom lip, feeling guilty about what I had told him two nights ago. If only he would just ask me again then everything would fall back into place...

"I thought we agreed that it did..." I mumbled, my cheeks flushing a little.

"I don't recall such conversation..." he continued with his act while tossing the tumbled curls out of his eyes.

"Oh really?" I played along, returning the innocent look he gave me.

"Mhm," he hummed while running his tongue along his lips attentively.

I rolled my eyes lightheartedly, "That's too bad. I guess we'll just have to wait until you remember. But maybe then I'll forget what we had established too...wait what was it again?" I retaliated.

He bit his bottom lip fretfully. I don't think he was expecting me to be as clever at this game as he was, maybe even a little better.

"You know it's starting to come back to me..." he said as a smirk expanded across his face.

"Oh just kiss me Styles...."

His name had barely left my lips when Harry's crashed into mine. I hadn't gotten a chance to catch my breath before his tongue slipped through my parted lips and into my mouth for the first time.

* * * * *

Harry POV:

Everything about this feels so right. I don't care in this very moment what we are officially. All that matters is this sensation is real. The one I get when I'm not with her where I want nothing more than to hold her in my arms again. The other I experience when I'm in her presence like how she literally puts me at a loss for words.

"Wait...what's wrong?" I questioned as she abruptly pulled away, caught a little off guard since she seemed to be as much into the kiss as I.

She gripped her hands on my forearm tightly, her nails digging into my sleeves.

"You. Took my. Breath. Away." She inhaled unevenly.

Her silken waves ruffled in the breeze, ticking my cheek. "I was going to say the same thing about you," I confessed, feeling my dimples form when my eyes met her sapphire ones.

We stood like that for a while. Just smiling at one another...caught up in this moment. I almost forgot about what I came to tell her. This was going to be the second hardest thing I've ever had to do.

"Hey can we go for a walk or something...?" I asked hesitantly. I couldn't hold this off any longer than I already had.

The breezy weather made it less than ideal for a walk in the park, but I needed somewhere public to break the news to her. Maybe this way she would take it a little better. Who was a kidding it was going to break her heart either way...

"Umm sure just let me put my stuff inside real quick?" Whitney responded in a worried tone as she made a second attempt to unlock the door.

I could tell Whitney had just gotten back from her friend's house from the small duffle bag that was placed down next to her feet. She pulled the key out of the door, turning around to grab her things.

I reacted quickly "I got it babe."

She beamed with gratitude as I picked up her surprisingly light bag and purse that lie beside.

I still felt kind of guilty about having to go to rehearsals. But thankfully she had spent all of yesterday and most of today over at Maddison's. I just hope she wasn't secretly mad at me for breaking off our plans the other day. She doesn't appear to be but as for how she feels underneath I can't be quite sure.

"You can wait inside Harry," she giggled, holding open the door for me with a welcoming smile.

"Oh right. Thanks," I humbly replied. My mind was kind of in another place right now. I could tell by the delightful expression across her beautiful face that she thankfully hadn't picked up on that, yet.

I took a seat on the comfy sofa after handing Whitney's things to her. She had insisted on carrying them upstairs despite my numerous offers.

I liked the fact that she was persistent when she had her mind set on doing something. It was one of her endless appealing attributes. I remember when we used to go back and forth in pointless arguments that actually went more like: "No you go first," until neither of us gave in so we both entered the place together. That's the kind of girl Whitney was...putting everyone before herself. She made me want to be that way too, there's no doubt in my mind that she makes me a better person just by being around her.

I brushed my sweaty palms over my jeans. "Pull yourself together," I told myself as I heard her feet gracefully patting down the steps minutes later. I wasn't ready but I put on a smile as I met her by the entrance, grabbing her hand as we exited the house.

Hold yourself together. For her.

* * * * *

Whitney POV:

My stomach was in knots, thankfully the good kind this time.

It was now about six or so, the sun was starting to fade which only made the chilly wind worsen. Linking my elbow around his, we took a left onto the next street, now at least a block or two from my house. We had taken this same route countless times before. I knew exactly where we were headed.

On our date Harry couldn't talk fast enough, catching me up on everything that he's been up to since I saw him last. But now he was acting different somehow in the sense that he was abnormally quiet. I took the opportunity to ask him a question that had been lingering on my mind since he had mentioned rehearsals.

"Harry?" I mumbled, stumbling over the uneven concrete.

I was expecting him to allude to my clumsy action but he simply responded with a shrugged "yeah," while staring intently on the path infront of us. Almost as if to intentionally avoid my gaze.

My stomach sank with anticipation. I didn't want to know the answer but...I needed to. The crosswalk light switched to walk. I slowly stumbled into the street by his side, swallowing sharply before I spoke.

"You came back two weeks ago. But how much longer...?"

"Shhh." He hummed, continuing to pull me alongside him before the row of cars.

I came to a halt in the middle of the street, compelling his eyes to meet mine so he could see. The desperation, the need for an answer that evidently wasn't going to be said.

"Harry..." I encouraged

His tone was stern, a little frightening even.

"Not here Whitney." He growled under his breath. The look he gave me sent an unspoken understanding that told me it was anything but good...A month? A few weeks? A day. Oh please no.

* * * * *

We didn't go to the park.

Instead Harry had lead me to a place I haven't been for over two years.

The same one as before, where Harry left me.

This was no coincidence.

I blinked trying to hold them back but it was as if I was in the same situation as before. But this time I knew, which was far more painful than not knowing. Harry was leaving me.

Again.

I muddled up the courage, wiping a tear that fell down my cheek

Choking out the word...before I broke down into hysteric sobs.

"When?"

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A/N: The number of reads this has received is astounding. Thanks for all the continued support of this fanfic! I have alot of ideas for upcoming chapters so please continue to read! I didn't forget about Andy either ;) -Jennifer xx