1996 [harry au]

VIII. Caught

He called for his brother a few times, knowing the kid likes to explore and pick up insects that he'll keep in a jar with him, and then cry when they die. 

I thought it was adorable. Not the death of the insects, but that he gets so emotional because of it at such a young age. A little boy with green eyes and untrimmed messy curls that were lighter than Harry's sprinted towards us from behind a bush. His nose was thinner, but still alike to Harry. A small animal was in his arms. The little boy was Max.

He stood breathless in front of us, peering up at me briefly before Harry ruffled his hair. "You know the rules. Don't wander off without telling anyone," Harry reminded him. 

"I know," he grumbled, frowning for a brief moment. "But look what I found!" His clutched hand was released and in his palm was a small, green caterpillar. He raised his hand higher for us to see. 

I stared at it for a minute before I said, "It's a luna moth." 

Max looked at me with parted lips. "No...it's a caterpillar!"

I giggled. "The caterpillar will turn into a luna moth."

"They do that? That's freaking cool!" He exclaimed, eyes wide. A curl pricked his left eye, and he flinched. "Ow," he whispered, shaking his head in attempt to get it off of his face. 

Harry chuckled. "Anyways, this is Alexis." He introduced me. Max looked up at me with interest as I waved with a faint smile on my lips.

He huffed softly, questionable frown. "Huh...are you the girl Harry always talks about? He's annoying sometimes," Max nonchalantly told me. 

A laugh escaped my lips as Harry shook his head, placing his hand over his face. "Max, please. You're embarrassing your brother here." 

"Well it's not my fault all you do is talk about her," he replied, almost like he wasn't sensing anything wrong with what he was doing. I personally thought it was cute. "Girls at my school always run away from us," he added with a shrug. 

Harry rolled his eyes. "Go get ready for dinner, buddy." He ruffled his hair once more. Max made his way up the steps to their house before Harry called, "And leave the caterpillar."

"But, Harry!" Max whined with a grunt.

"Leave it outside, and wash your hands before eating!" He called once more, and reluctantly Max did as he was told. He skipped inside and put the small kitty down with him, but it followed behind him as he walked. 

I turned to face Harry, who was already gazing at me. With a small smile, I asked, "So you talk about me? Good things, I hope." 

"Of course," he smirked. "I'll show you around more before we have dinner? My dad's supposed to be here in a few."

With a nod, I was led down the field and into the garage Harry said he spends a lot of time in. He would always come here and try and improve the work of his truck, and he and his dad would spend long hours trying it out. Cleaning the classic car his dad almost never took out, only on his good days. 

We walked in hand in hand after he opened the wide, wooden door. He flicked a light switch, a small light bulb at the ceiling flickered a couple of seconds before fully shining. I scanned the place, seeing tools after tools, dirty rags near a spray I suppose cleans certain parts of the car.

The classic car was the only care inside. I assumed Harry's dad had taken the truck with him. The air smelled of gasoline and some type of cleansing spray. The garage had no floors, considering they didn't care much for having one. It was obvious it was built a while ago. 

"This is my second home. If I'm not home, I'm in here or I'm out in the town square." He said, digging his hands into his pockets. 

"It's nice," I confessed. "When did you get into cars?" 

"Well," he started, wrapping his arms around my waist. I smiled as I gazed up at him, my own around his neck. Damn, I could get used to this. Being in his arms, hearing his voice so close to me, kissing his lips, cuddling into his chest. I want it all. "I grew up around my dad always fixing cars. By Max's age I was really into them. In second grade all I wanted to read about were cars." 

I hummed with a slight nod. I watched as his bottom lip was taken between his teeth, eyes gazing down into mine. At the corner of his mouth, his lips were turned up into a faint smirk. I nearly lost the strength in my knees when he lowered his head to kiss me.

His fingertips lightly dug into my hips as he kissed me harder than before. I sighed and pulled myself closer to him, my chest against his in the desperate need to feel more of him. One of his hands left my hips and he bent his knees a bit to grab the back of my thigh, hoisting it up around his waist.

A horn beeped, startling us both.

I pulled away quite breathlessly as Harry let go of me. A man stuck his head out of the car, hand waved with his hand for Harry to walk over. "You. Here. Now." He called, not seeming angry, but stern. 

Harry glanced at me with an embarrassed smile as I blushed. I stood there as he walked towards what I believed was his dad. 

I heard him shout, "Do that on your own time, Harry! Not in the garage!" 

"Sorry," Harry laughed. "I won't do it again. I promise." 

"Huh, I doubt it." 

note; suckish update but i promise it'll get better (: 

thank you for reading 💘