The Only Exception | W2S

TWENTY SIX.

"I daren't say," I laugh, because his face was ridiculous. 

"No, no. You've gotta tell me now, can't tease me like that," he insisted, and of course I caved. I probably always would with him. 

"Alright, alright! It's Talia - of course it's Talia, you've had her food before, right? It's ridiculous how good of a chef she is, she's -"

"Fine, fine, fair enough. Yes, I've had the honour of tasting Talia's food before. Alright, okay, I'll accept second place with a smile on my face - see? I'm smiling," he says, and sure enough his face has broken out into a smile - one I think I'll never get sick of seeing. 

"I like your smile," I tell him, just curling up even closer against him, pulling him back down with me, where we resume our previous position. 

"I like my smile too," he says sarcastically, kissing the top of my head. 

I never thought I'd experience this type of affection again, yet I'm here in this moment, with someone I truly do care about, and someone who truly cares about me. 

"Alright, arrogant. You were supposed to say you like my smile," I say with a pout.

"I thought that was a given. Do you want me to list two hundred reasons why I like you?" He asks.

"No," I say softly with a shake of my head. "Just tell me one."

"I like you because you make me want to become a better person," he says, and my breath hitches as I try to take in the layers of the compliment he'd given me. 

"I already think you're a good person," I reply back to him. 

"Maybe, but I like me better when I'm around you," he says nonchalantly, shrugging as he says it, like it's the most casual thing in the world. To me, it's not. It's special.

"I like it when you compliment me," I tell him with a grin. "Go on, do another."

He contemplates it for a moment. "It's gonna cost ya," he speaks lightly, before reaching in and kissing me. It starts off light - it usually does, but then he deepens it, and my head is spinning again, thoughts of him whirling about in my mind, and then -

I abruptly pull apart. "Was that the front door?" I ask, my eyes widening when, sure enough, there are voices outside of my door. 

Harry looks equally as alarmed. "I thought George and Hattie weren't coming back until this afternoon?" He asks, checking the time on his phone. 

It was still only eleven. 

"That's what George said," I reply back, my voice quieter now. 

"Holly! We're home," I hear George yell, his footsteps approaching my door. With each sound of his feet on the floor, I grow increasingly panicked. 

"Maybe he won't even come in," Harry reassures me, but I shoot him a frustrated look. "Sorry."

"Just - lie down, I'll pull the duvet over you and throw Ted on top," I instruct him, grabbing the large bear that sat on my chair by my desk. 

His face broke out into a smile. "You called your teddy, Ted?" He asks, looking amused. 

"Technically his name is Mr. Ted, but - hey! This isn't the time for -" I start to argue back, when the knock at the door sounds. "Shush," I whisper, throwing the duvet over him, flattening my hair down, and trying my best to remain casual as I open the door. 

Outside of it stands both George and Hattie, both of whom look absolutely thrilled to see me. 

"Guys!" I say, sounding overly happy. Tone it down, Holly. "You're back early?" I ask, leaning against the doorframe, in the hope that it would obstruct the view of my room.