Ceeva

Going clubbing was the worst idea you’d ever thought of.

You hadn’t even thought of it, your friend did and you followed along for the drinks. You only wanted to get out there and wash away all your feelings since breaking up with Alfie two months ago.

Since then you’d barely left your apartment and your friends were beginning to get bored of your self pity and constant hearing for the me YOU left.

It was a stupid reason, even stupider than the clubbing idea.

It was dark, dark enough you couldn’t make out what time it was but knew it was late, but bright enough that you could make out that stupid mullet from where you stood at the bar.

Your grinds had practically screamed at you in the toilets forcing you to promise NOT to even acknowledge Alfie was the other side of the club.

Originally, you’d gone up to the bar to get a round of shots for you and the girls. Your hands gripped the edge of the bar, pointy acrylic nails tapping the sticky surface. Your voice was loud as you called for the bar tender who was blatantly on his phone.

“What can I do for you?” The bar tender leant towards you to hear your voice.

You lifted yourself onto your tip toes and yelled over the music. “5 Baby Guiness.” Holding your hand up to reference the number of shots you wanted.

The bar tender nodded with a thumb up and a bright smile turning around to make them. You let your bag drop off your shoulder and began to open it.

That was when the smell of Madri filled your senses, overwhelming your sense of smell. “Let me get that for you.”

The voice belonged to a man who looked to be atleast double your age. A salt and pepper beard was messy on his chin, and there looked to be a spilled drink (looked like Guinness) down his shirt which had just as many wrinkles as the skin around his eyes. But you weren’t here to judge, shoot your shot.

You laughed slightly and got your phone out to pay anyway. “I’m okay thank you.” You offered a small smile your fingers twisting around the strap of your bag as you lifted it back up your shoulder.

The man leant closer, his hand hovering over your lower back while his head dipped so his breath was right in your face. “Don’t be like that, love. Let me pay for ‘em.” He insisted, his hand that was originally on the bar now moving up to brush your hair out behind your ear.

“Seriously. It’s fine. Thank you.” You reiterated a bit harsher, but as you stepped back the hand pressed to your lower back tensed, his hand moving to grip your hip, holding you in place like he’d already decided you wanted him.

“Nah, I’ve got you.” He shook his head, a sly grin spreading across his face flashing a row of yellow stained teeth.

Your bottom lip burned under your teeth as you bit it, your feet fighting against themselves to get the hell out of there. With furrowed eyebrows you frowned. “Please don’t touch me.” You muttered, physically gasping his hand moved lower around your back. “Stop that.” Your had shot out and slapped his hand away, you stumble back a few steps, your heart hammering in your chest.

The man rolled his eyes, straightening up, gone was the charming man giving it a shot, replacing him was this creepy man every girl fears on a night out. “Don’t hit me like that.” He growled through his teeth, as he reached out, fingers wrapping around your wrist tight enough to at least leave a small bruise.

You cry out, eyebrows furrowing deeper as you tugged your hand back but to no avail.

“I think she said to leave her alone, mate.” A familiar voice cut through from your right.

Alfie.

Relive flooded your entire body when Alfie pried the man’s fingers off your hand with as much ease as popping a balloon with a needle.

He through the man’s hand to the side and immediately wrapped his other arm around your waist, his thumb already rubbing in soothing circles.

“Who the hell are you?” The man yelled infuriated. Squaring his shoulders to try seem more intimidating to Alfie.

However Alfie simply gave a slightly baffled face. “What does it look like?” He sassed, as if it was completely fucking obvious that he was your ex boyfriend who just o happened to be kind enough to step in- “I’m her boyfriend.” He added.

His voice was sure, too sure, confident. You felt the urge to correct him, to tell Alfie that you were still hurt from what he did. But from the way his hand gave a squeeze on your waist and his other hand was held out so the man didn’t come any closer.

You couldn’t help but notice the pain you have been feeling for the past two months, the hole in your life which Alfie used to fill flawlessly. Maybe you could have that back. Just maybe.

“Whatever. She looks like a sket anyway.” The man sighs in defeat, rolling his eyes like the whole confrontation didn’t shake him to his core.

Glancing up you could see the crease between Alfie’s eyebrows, his bottom lip between his teeth. The look on his face told you he wanted to say something, to yell back at the guy to apologise, to correct him. But he didn’t.

Instead he looked down at you, his grip on your waist loosening slightly but not leaving. “You alright, girl?” He asked, concern now flooding every feature of his face and voice.

“Yeah fine. Thank you.” You nodded, your eyes glossed over from the few drinks you’d already had and the dawning realisation that if Alfie wasn’t there you probably would have gotten hurt.

Alfie frowned deeply, his arms coming around you and pulling you into a tight warm hug. “Are you here alone?”

From the corner of your eye you could see your friends, all 4 of them in one corner either shocked or disappointed that you were currently hugging your ex boyfriend.

You look away, shaking your head that no you weren’t alone. Your head tilted on his shoulder, a tiny blotch of mascara starting to dry on his shirt. “Hey what you crying for? Huh, girl?” Alfie gives a small grin as he wipes your tears away.

“If you weren’t there, if you didn’t stop him I don’t even want to know what-“

“But I was.” Alfie cut in. “Don’t be stupid. I’m always here, that guy was, like, some.. stupid. I don’t know, but just don’t think about it.” He gave a reassuring grin, cringing at himself as he messed up his insult to the guy.

“You’re my girl, I won’t let anything ever happen to you again.” Alfie’s had rubbed up your hip three times as reassurance.

You don’t answer, you had still resting on his chest but you didn’t take your eyes off his face. His stupid lopsided smile stared right into your eyes.

He stared right back.

Your hand left his chest, sliding up to the nape of his neck, your acrylic nails scratching in his hair at the back of his neck.

Lifting yourself onto your tiptoes Alfie’s hands slid down to your hips as he met you half way. As your lips touched it was like fireworks set off in your stomach, or like you finally felt something set free in your head.

Your lips moulded together like jigsaw pieces that fit together. You leant your body weight into his, hands on the small of your back coming around to wrap around you completely.

There was one thing you wanted with your whole heart. When you were younger your dad had spontaneously brought home a puppy, a lovely little Cane Corso puppy (which eventually turned into a huge, sloppy, doe-eyed, giant). She was the gentlest, most sweetest cuddle bug you ever had, she beat all your stuffed animals by miles.

Harry had said no to a dog for the past year, each answer being a grumble of annoyance or a rant about responsibility. The bottom line was, Harry didn’t want a dog. And if he did he wanted the breed he wanted. And you didn’t even know what breed he wanted because he refused to talk about it.

The wind had messed up your hair, making it all messy around your neck, sticking with the slight drizzle outside. Harry was at a shoot, some video he didn’t even describe, but you assumed it was a brand shoot for their clothing line.

Your hands, fingertips bright pink and numb from the cold, dug deep into the pockets of your coat. Curling into the soft fabric of the inside, you had Harry’s jumper on under your coat, finding it warmer and more comfortable than any of your own.

Recently you and Harry had just moved from the apartment to your own house, it was big, sure, but not like Ethan’s. That’s not what you both wanted. But the driveway was long enough that walking it on foot was a bad idea. But regardless, you did, despite it being a stupid idea and your shoes now being laced in a thin layer of dirt.

The gravel under your feet crunched, making your arrival known to the quiet air of the evening. Your fingers fiddled with the key in your pocket, yanking them out hurriedly and unlocking the door. You slid in before the cold air could take another bite of you, sealing the door behind you so none of the heat from inside could escape.

Harry wasn’t home so you didn’t bother calling out for him, a list of chores you were oddly excited to do already stacking up in your head. The dishes from the night before, to fold yours and Harry’s laundry, maybe a bit of hoovering. You didn’t have much to do since you’d only moved in a few months ago and managed to keep the house relatively clean. But still, it was the thought that counted.

After kicking your shoes off at the door, you dropped your keys on the cabinet and shrugged your coat off, hanging it on the door for later when you go upstairs. You pulled Harry’s hoodie tightly around you as you made your way to the kitchen.

But strangely you could hear a faint muffled voice, and frankly, that was creepy. You had to unlock the door so it’s not Harry, plus he’s on a shoot. So who could it be?

Rounding the corner cautiously you peeked your head around, bracing yourself for the worst to come, throwing itself at you like a wrecking ball. But instead of facing the misery of an intruder you were met with a wide-eyed Harry, his mouth half agape, his fingers clutching the fur of a little fluffy ball in his hands.

The fluffy ball had teeth, paws and big fluffy ears. Grey fur glistened under the light of the kitchen, navy blue eyes staring up at Harry’s face, mouth open trying to chew on Harry’s fingers like he was a personal chew toy.

A chuff of a laugh left Harry’s mouth, half in disbelief half in uneasy anticipation. A wry smile spread across his face. “You’re not supposed to be home yet.” He accused, the words rolling off his tongue like you’d just ruined his perfect plan, which you sort of had.

Your jaw was on the floor, words could even fathom the emotions running through you. You were hoping it was yours, that he’d bought it as a surprise, but also worrying about the brand new white sofa you had just bought last month. “Caught the 5 O’Clock train.” You whispered, your phone fumbling out of your hand and onto the table, your hand bag falling to join it quickly after.

“There’s a 5 O’Clock train now?” Harry muttered to himself, wincing at the harsh bite of the teething puppy, a small curse left his mouth as he looked down at it. “This, is Mor’du.” He grinned, cupping the puppy’s face with one hand, holding its body against his chest with the other.

The small puppy was placed into your hands gently, already licking at your skin as you brought him- her? Him? You weren’t sure. You took in the cute puppy smell, taking a deep breath in as you stared at the bundle of joy in your arms.

“Or Mordy. It’s a girl.” Harry had a bright smile over his face, it was contagious enough to make you smile.

“Hi.” You whispered to the puppy, grinning as she placed a sassy paw on your neck. “Like the bear from Brave?” You frowned, with glassy eyes.

A small puff of laughter left Harry’s mouth. “Yeah, exactly like the bear from Brave.” His voice was gentle as he confirmed your question, his hand resting on your shoulder as he said, “I know you wanted a dog, I didn’t listen because I thought I’d be left with the responsibility. But I was talking to Ethan and he said that Faith said their dogs make her feel less alone when he’s not home and Olives at school or whatever it is.” He rambled, fingers carding through your hair gently.

“Nursery.” You muttered, quietly correcting him.

“Yeah, whatever. You said about missing me, and I hope you don’t miss me as much because now..” He gave a sheepish grin.

Shakily you let out a breath. “She’s.. perfect.”

Confidently, Harry nodded. “I know, I dragged Faith with me to get her. There were so many different colours.” He bragged, running a hand over the puppy’s ears, which were way too big for her face.

You gasp, fumbling to pick up your phone. “She knew?!”

Harry only laughed. “Would you rather i had got a beagle?”

Your face instantly scrunched up switching from betrayal to disapproval. “Eugh.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

With trembling hands you pulled Mor’du closer to your chest, moving to the front room to set her on the floor. “Hi, aren’t you so cute? Yes, you are.”You spoke to her softly, her little tail wagging a million miles at hour as your voice went up three octaves.

Setting her down she picked up a random black sock (Harry’s), handing it into your hand and then instantly going back to take it back.

Harry took a seat beside you, frowning at the sight of his sock in Mor’du’s mouth.

A giddy grin made its way to your face as you looked up at him. “I love you.” You said affectionately.

With a smug smile Harry placed a soft kiss on your lips, lingering an unnecessary second too long before pulling again. “I love you too. And you are very welcome. She’s quite cute.” He smiled. “But if she keeps eating my sock she will be put on the barbecue.”