Tattoos and Thankyous

                                    

                                          
Chapter 19: Tattoos and Thankyous
                          
3 months later, Day before the boy’s leave for Europe…
                          
--- Hope POV ---
                          
I travelled up to Sheffield yesterday so that I could watch the boy’s last performance in the UK. Harry has a small amount of free time today and we’re spending it together. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get to spend more than a few days with him in the next few months.
                          
“Harry?” I ask quietly.
                          
I hope he’s ok with this. Please let him come.
                          
“Yeah babe?” He replies distractedly. My heart beats just a little faster as I gaze at the side of his concentrated face. 
                          
I asked Harry to drive me somewhere today… I didn’t tell him what I was going to do… all he knows is that we’re going to the mall, when actually, we’re not even going there.
                          
“I didn’t really want to go to the mall.” I say in a whisper. I don’t know why I’m so freaked out by this. It’s not like I haven’t done this before…  His eyebrow quirks and I see him glance at me from the corner of his eye with a small smile on his face.
                          
“Oh really?” He asks teasingly and I shake my head.
                          
“Nope.” 
                          
“Then where are we going, pray tell, my beautiful Hope?” He asks me in a posh tone. I blush slightly at his compliment before I clear my throat.
                          
“We, my handsome Harry, are going to a tattoo parlour.” I state casually. I watch from the corner of my eyes as his eyebrows shoot up.
                          
“Why?” He laughs out and I drag in a deep breath. This is what I didn’t want to mention. Why would he want me to stain my body with his words?
                          
“Because I want a tattoo.” I say in a ‘duh’ tone before continuing. “I was serious. All those months ago, when I said that it was going to be my next tattoo. I mean it.” I turn fully to see Harry’s face. 
                          
It’s completely blank.
                          
“So you want to get a tattoo?”  He asks quietly and I nod my head. “Why?” Is his simple question, but all the emotion behind it, sticks my voice to my throat for a few moments.
                          
“Because it’s true.” I say quietly. He nods his head. We don’t talk again the entire trip to the parlour.
                          
*
                          
When we reach the parlour Harry hops out of the car, looking quickly over to the small group of fans around the corner, then he waits for me to get out and close my door before he locks it and turns to me.
                          
“Are you sure you want to do this? It’s… It’s pretty big. I don’t want you to do something that you might… regret.” He says, and I can see the pain in his eyes.
                          
“I won’t regret this.” I say earnestly. I move towards Harry and he wraps his arms around me, hugging me close.
                          
“I love you.” He tells me quietly and I nod my head against his shoulder. I can’t say anything because my voice has left me. I can only bask in the essence of him. “Ok, let’s go then.” He breathes out after a few more seconds; taking my hand and dragging me into the shop.
                          
When we get inside the man behind the counter looks up at us and smiles. I can’t help but smile back.
                          
“Hey Bill. Long time, no see man.” Harry says, shaking… Bill’s hand. 
                          
“I reckon Harry. Come in for another tattoo?” He asks Harry and I look at him stunned.
                          
“Good friends I see.” I say teasingly. Harry grins.