how you get the boy - epilogue
She squinted her eyes at me whilst she opened her mouth and closed it and opened it again. “Are you pregnant?”
“What?” I’d expected her to say a lot of things – do you really love my brother? are you serious with him? are you going to break his heart? you’re not welcomed in this house anymore if you hurt my little brother – but her asking me if I was pregnant was not in the list. “Why-Why’d you ask that?”
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Six months later.
Niall’s words had been going in circles in my head and I hated myself for giving that much power to his words. Alas, a voice in the back of my mind told me that whilst Niall could be unreliable sometimes, he was never a liar. At least not when it came to something this huge.
Because of that, whenever Harry and I were alone, I felt my heart thumping against my chest so hard that I was surprised it’s not on the floor next to my feet. And whenever he sunk to his knees to either pick up something on the floor or to play with his family’s cat, I felt like I might throw up from the nerves that were overwhelming me.
And I blamed it all on Niall who couldn't keep his mouth shut and keep his friend’s secret to himself.
Good thing Harry didn't seem to be aware of it, though, but that changed when I flinched the second he took my hand in his, squeezing it because he noticed that I was freezing cold.
His brows furrowed in confusion. “You alright?” He asked as he warmed my hand. Licking his lips, next, he pointed out, “You’ve been a bit jumpy since we got here.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, aware of his sister’s eyes burning holes on the side of my face; she must’ve heard his question too because it seemed as though she’s waiting for the answer as well. I couldn't blame her for being curious.
All of sudden I wished Harry hadn’t suggested a movie night with his family in the living room and I wished no one had agreed with him, letting him choose Love Actually and earning multiple groans in return.
But then again, I’d rather feel the intensity of Gemma’s eyes on me than be alone with him at the moment because my brain was still trying to register Niall’s words.
Words that he whispered in my ear yesterday before Harry and I left London: Tee, whatever you do, don’t tell him that I told you this. But I think he’s gonna propose to you. Act surprised when he does that, yeah?
“Bunny?” Harry’s voice brought me back to reality and I blinked my eyes once, twice, before I looked around, realising that the world hadn’t stopped for us even though it felt like it had. Harry’s parents were still cuddled up on the other couch and his sister had casted her gaze back to the telly, all of them enjoying the movie more than they’d like to admit. And certainly more than I did given that they didn't have to worry about Harry suddenly getting down on his knee and pulling out a velvet box from his pocket. “Are you okay?”
I nodded before the answer could leave my mouth, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Harry didn't believe me, of course he didn't, because he always knew when something’s wrong. But since we weren’t alone – thankfully – he decided to let it slide and bring my hand up to his lips, kissing each finger absentmindedly, as his eyes were fixated on the screen of the telly once more.
Once the movie was over, I quickly excused myself to go to the bathroom. There, I braced myself against the sink, telling myself again and again that I needed to pull myself together. So what if Harry wanted to propose to me? We loved each other more than we could have ever loved anyone else and sometimes when I closed my eyes at night, I saw him in my future. But why wouldn't the fear leave me even when I’d told myself that it’s fine if he got on one knee and pulled out a box that held a ring he bought for me?
I washed my face three times, willing the thoughts, the fear to leave my mind. And they did when someone knocked on the door so loud that I thought I might’ve jumped out of my skin.
“Tenley, are you in there?” It’s Harry’s sister, Gemma. “Let me in.”
I frowned, wondering why she wanted to be cramped in the toilet with me.
I unlocked the door and twisted the knob to let her in. “Hi,” I said once she’d shut the door behind her. This was the first time I was left alone with Gemma and I couldn't lie and say that I wasn't afraid. My erratic heartbeat proved that I was, indeed, scared to be alone with her.
She squinted her eyes at me whilst she opened her mouth and closed it and opened it again. “Are you pregnant?”
“What?” I’d expected her to say a lot of things – do you really love my brother? are you serious with him? are you going to break his heart? you’re not welcomed in this house anymore if you hurt my little brother – but her asking me if I was pregnant was not in the list. “Why-Why’d you ask that?”
She shrugged as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. I expected an explanation to come shortly, but she remained quiet, eyes fixated on my face as she waited for an answer.
“No,” I told her with a shake of my head, “I’m not.”
“Then why’re you so twitchy?” was her next question. I didn't think she would notice it, but if there’s one thing I’d learned this year was that I should never be too quick in judging someone, anyone. “Are you sure you’re not pregnant cos if you’re not sure then we could go out and-“
“No,” I cut her off midsentence, shaking my head again and offering her what I supposed was a polite smile. “I appreciate the offer, Gem, but I’m not pregnant. I’m 100% sure.”
She let out a relieved sigh, then, and slumped against the sink. “Okay, that’s good,” she said, but almost too quickly, she added, “Not that I wouldn't be happy if you’re, you know, but I just think that you’re-“
“Not ready,” I finished the sentence for her and her eyes widened slightly, colour spreading across her cheeks when she nodded. How could I be ready when the mere thought of Harry proposing to me was enough to freak me out? “Thank you, though.” I told her, to which she kinked an eyebrow at me as though to ask for what? “For checking on me, Gem, thank you.”
“Trust me, I was being selfish,” she chuckled to herself, shaking her head. “I let curiosity got the best of me.” And at that, we both laughed because truly, that’s the one thing that we could relate to.
After exchanging a few words with each other, Gemma decided that it’s actually very odd that we’re standing in here when we could’ve talked outside where there’s plenty of space between us. But of course, that didn't cross our minds until our conversation was over.
Harry was walking past us when we stepped out and upon seeing us, he halted in his tracks, brows furrowing in confusion. “What’re you two doing in that bathroom?” He asked as he made his way towards me. Gemma rolled her eyes at him and Harry turned to me, asking, “Did she tell you something she shouldn't?”
“What?” Gemma replied instead before I could get the chance to open my mouth and answer his question. “Afraid that I might tell your girlfriend about that little scheme of yours?”
Immediately, Harry surged forward to cover his sister’s mouth with his hand, hindering her from saying another word. This time, I was the one frowning as confusion had seeped into me. What was she talking about, I hadn’t clue. At least not until I racked my brain for an answer and Niall’s voice returned in my head: he’s gonna propose to you, Tee.
“Shut up, will you,” Harry scowled at his sister, lips pouting. When he’s sure that Gemma wouldn't say anything else, he released his hand from her mouth and took a deep breath before glancing through his shoulder to look at me, “Forget what she’s just said.”
He was flushing now and though I knew without doubt that I wouldn't stop thinking about what his sister had just said, I nodded and flashed him a reassuring smile when he didn't seem convinced.
Amused, Gemma rolled her eyes again, but there’s a hint of a smile on the edges of her mouth. “Whatever you two,” she said as she flicked her hair, turning around to make her way to her room, “Good night, sleep tight and please don’t be loud.”
My jaw dropped open, but before I could tell Gemma that we wouldn’t be doing what she thought we would in his room, Harry slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to his side and pressing a kiss on the side of my head. “Ignore her, please, she’s just being a twat.”
Neither of us said another word as we got into his room. When Harry went to brush his teeth in the bathroom, I pulled out my mobile phone and noticed that there were a number of texts coming from none other than Niall Horan himself: has he proposed to you?? and did you say yes?? and Tee, answer the god damn texts you’re killin me and I hate you, I really do.
“I’m sorry if Gem makes you uncomfortable,” Harry said as he stepped into the room. “You know what, I’m sorry if my family makes you uncomfortable.”
Instead of replying to Niall’s text, I locked my mobile phone and put it away as a form of revenge. He hated being left in the dark and that’s what he’s getting for occupying my mind when this holiday should be a Niall-free holiday for Harry and I.
“Don’t worry about it,” I told him, eliciting a relieved smile from him. “If anything, they make me feel so comfortable that I don’t think I’d ever want to leave.”
Harry kinked an eyebrow at me, “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I nodded as I watched him take off his shirt and folded it nicely. He’d learnt the hard way not to throw his clothes on the floor anymore and because of that, a smug grin touched my lips.
However, it disappeared soon when he made his way towards me, getting on his knees all of sudden. The playfulness that were in his eyes earlier had been replaced by something intense; something I couldn't quite distinguish. The world seemed to move in a slow motion, then, and I was pretty certain that my heart was in my throat, ready to jump out the second he started speaking.
Harry cleared his throat, running his tongue across his bottom lip before he said, “Bunny, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Are you going to propose to me?” I blurted out, clearly no longer having control of my mouth. Harry’s eyes widened and I wasn't sure if it was because I’d found out about his plan or because of something else. “Harry?”
“What?” The question slipped past his lips. “Propose?”
Judging by how dry my throat suddenly became, it felt like I had just swallowed a box of chalks because when I opened my mouth, no reply came out.
“Bunny, did someone tell you that I was going to propose to you?” Harry pressed and I nodded because that’s the only thing I could do at the moment. I couldn't speak, I couldn't think properly. “S’it Niall?” Again, I nodded. “Jesus,” he muttered under his breath before he hid his face in his palms and continued to say words I couldn't understand or make out.
“Are you?” I asked once I’d found my voice.
He lifted his head. “No,” he answered, shaking his head. “At least not now.”
And as though tons of bricks had just been lifted from my shoulder, I let out a sigh of relief. “Oh,” I breathed, “Okay.”
Pressing his lips together, Harry scanned my face with his beautiful, stupid, green eyes. “Were you going to say no if I asked you?” He quizzed after what felt like an eternity of silence. I knew he was going to ask that and yet I didn't prepare an answer for it.
“I-I don’t know,” I told him, “I haven’t thought of that.”
A part of me feared that he’s going to ask another question, but luckily he got up and occupied the spot next to me on the bed. “Screw Niall,” he said, chuckling to himself. “He’s ruined it for me.”
“Ruined what?” I asked, burning with curiosity. He still hadn’t asked the question he initially wanted to ask.
“I was going to ask you to move in with me,” he told me as he reached for something in the drawer next to his bed and when he seemed to have gotten it in his palm, he said, “Was going to give you this if you said yes.”
My eyes darted from his face to his hand that was holding a necklace. A simple, silver necklace with a key – the key to his flat – dangling from it.
“So,” he cleared his throat. There’s a trace of nervousness in his voice. “What do you say, bunny?”
“Yes,” I said without thinking twice, confidence lilting that single word. Yes, yes, yes, yes – it felt so good to say that word.
Grinning from ear to ear, Harry put on the necklace for me and the weight of the key settled against my chest, making me feel like I was going to combust. In a good way, of course, because when Harry pressed his lips against the bare skin of my shoulder, I felt like my heart could burst with the love it held for Harry and only him.
And when we got under the cover that night, Harry’s front pressed against my back, his warm feet entangled with mine, contentment expanded and filled every crevice in my heart. I realised, then, seconds before I fell asleep that I would’ve said yes if he proposed. I would’ve said yes because there’s no one I’d rather be with than him and though we’re still young and it’s quite early to say this, but I knew that this was it.
Harry Styles was it for me.
author’s note: hiii guys!! i don’t normally do this but i just wanna express how thankful i am to be able to share this fic once more!! your responses put a huuuge smile on my face, i swear, because i lowkey thought that when i posted this for the second time, no one would be bothered to read it but i was proved wrong. yall are honestly the best. for the new readers, thank you thank you thank you for reading!! i’m so happy i got to share tee & h’s story with you and for the old readers, wow thank you for taking the time to read this again. it blows my mind that someone would want to read my fic and to re-read it? mind blown.
anyway, the bottom line is: thank you. i love you. and i can’t wait to share more fics with you - if you’d let me :)