｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ｡ ﾟ。oxytocin 　ﾟ･｡･

» [don't smile by sabrina carpenter] « 0:58 ─〇───── 3:32 ⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

july 24th n 25th, 2022

OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, millie and harry had fallen into an easy rhythm. what started as a casual agreement—friends with benefits, no strings attached—had evolved into something neither of them could quite define. they spent most of their free time together, whether it was lounging on millie's sofa, watching old movies, or grabbing late-night takeout after her studio sessions.

harry had become a fixture in her life, slipping into the gaps where loneliness used to live. he'd show up with coffee when she was too tired to leave the flat, and she'd drag him along to mundane errands just because his company made everything feel lighter.

they didn't talk about what they were doing, but neither of them seemed to mind. millie liked the way he made her laugh without trying, and harry couldn't get enough of the way her walls came down when it was just the two of them.

it wasn't perfect—there were moments when the weight of unspoken words hung heavy between them. but for now, they were content to exist in this in-between space, finding comfort in each other's presence and pretending they didn't feel the ground shifting beneath their feet.

the set was buzzing with energy as the crew prepared for the first scenes of the "skinny dipping" music video. millie stood off to the side, watching as lights were adjusted and cameras were positioned. they were shooting in her childhood neighborhood—a quiet, picturesque street in jersey that held more memories than she cared to unpack.

her best friend louis, the director, was in his element, barking instructions to the crew with a mix of charm and authority. "millie, you ready?" he called out, his voice cutting through the chatter.

she nodded, smoothing down the fabric of her outfit. "yeah, just... give me a sec."

harry was there, leaning casually against one of the equipment cases, his presence impossible to ignore. he'd shown up unannounced, claiming he wanted to see her in action, but his eyes rarely left her. it made her chest tighten, knowing he was watching her so closely.

she wanted this video to be perfect—needed it to be perfect. not just for herself, but because harry was there. as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to impress him, to show him this part of her world.

"millie," louis said, softer this time, walking over to her. "you're overthinking again."

she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "i just want it to be right."

"it will be," he assured her. "you're brilliant, and this is your story. just... don't let him throw you off," he said as she smiled while waiting for the shot.

౨ৎ

the sun was high in the sky by the time the crew called for a break. millie sat on the pavement, legs stretched out in front of her, finishing off the red ice lolly she'd used as a prop in the last scene. the sticky sweetness lingered on her lips, and for the first time that day, she let herself relax.

harry plopped down beside her, his long legs crossing at the ankles as he leaned back on his hands. "you looked like you were having the time of your life on that bike." he teased, grinning.

millie laughed, the sound light and unguarded. "method acting," she replied, licking the last of the melting ice lolly. "plus, i've had years of practice falling over everything like that."

"well, you nailed it this time," harry said, nudging her shoulder playfully. "guess i'm rubbing off on you."

she rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. being around him felt easy, even when everything else about the day felt heavy.

"you two look cozy," louis remarked, strolling over with a water bottle in hand. his tone was light, but his gaze flicked between them with unmistakable curiosity.

"just keeping her entertained," harry said smoothly, leaning back a little further.

millie glanced down at her lap, suddenly hyperaware of the tension in the air.

louis crouched beside them, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "so... what's going on here?" he asked, his voice laced with playful suspicion. "anything i should know about?"

"nothing's going on," harry said quickly, his tone casual but firm.

millie stayed silent, her fingers toying with the stick of her ice lolly. louis raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't push it.

"right," he said, standing up and dusting off his jeans. "well, whatever's not going on, let's make sure it doesn't distract from the video, yeah?"

harry smirked. "wouldn't dream of it."

millie finally looked up, catching louis' gaze. there was something unspoken in his eyes—a mix of concern and understanding. but before she could say anything, he gave her a small nod and turned back toward the crew.

"come on, lover boy," louis called over his shoulder to harry. "we've got work to do."

harry shot millie a wink as he got to his feet, and she couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking her head. but as she watched him walk away, her chest tightened again. whatever this was between them, it was getting harder to ignore.

౨ৎ

the second day of filming had a completely different energy. the crew had packed up and left jersey the night before, and now they were setting up outside the victoria and albert museum in london for the final scenes. the streetlights cast a soft glow over the cobblestone streets, and the air was crisp, carrying a hint of the city's winter chill.

millie stood by one of the lighting rigs, watching as the crew adjusted the cameras. she hugged her coat tightly around herself, her breath visible in the cold. this was the moment she'd been waiting for—the closing shot of the video. it was supposed to feel raw, emotional, and intimate. and with harry somewhere in the background, she felt the weight of it even more.

"you ready, mills?" louis asked, stepping up beside her. his voice was calm but carried that familiar edge of excitement he always had when they were close to wrapping a project.

she nodded, her stomach twisting with nerves. "yeah. let's do it."

the crew got into position as millie walked toward the center of the street. the song played softly through the speakers, her own voice echoing back at her. she lay down on the cold pavement, her arms spread out as she stared up at the sky. the camera hovered above her, capturing the vulnerability of the moment.

"perfect," louis called out. "hold that."

millie closed her eyes, as she thought about everything that had brought her here—her music, her grief, and harry. it was all tangled together, impossible to separate.

"and that's a wrap!" louis shouted after a long pause.

applause broke out from the crew as the cameras stopped rolling. millie sat up slowly, her body stiff from the cold, and looked around at the smiling faces. the weight of the day started to lift, replaced by a sense of pride and relief.

harry was leaning against a lamppost, watching her with that familiar, unreadable expression. as the crew began packing up, she found herself walking toward him without even thinking.

"you were incredible," he said softly when she stopped in front of him.

millie looked up at him, her heart pounding. "thanks," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

they stood there for a moment, the world around them fading into the background. harry reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. the gesture was so simple, yet it sent a shiver down her spine.

"millie," he began, his voice low, "i—"

but she didn't let him finish. instead, she closed the distance between them, her lips pressing softly against his. it was tentative at first, like testing the waters, but when he kissed her back, it deepened into something more certain.

the kiss was everything she hadn't let herself feel—relief, longing, and a quiet kind of hope. when they finally pulled apart, harry rested his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin.

"you don't make anything easy, do you?" he said with a soft laugh.

millie smiled, her cheeks flushing. "would it be me if i did?"

they stood there for a moment longer, the cold air nipping at their skin, but neither of them seemed to notice.

"come on," harry said finally, his hand brushing against hers. "let's get out of here."

they ended up at a hotel nearby, the city lights twinkling outside the window as they checked in. the silence between them was comfortable, the kind that didn't need to be filled with words.

౨ৎ

the hotel room was small but inviting, with soft lighting casting a warm glow across the neutral walls. millie stepped inside first, dropping her bag by the door and kicking off her heels. the day had been long, and her body ached from the hours spent filming, but her mind was even more tired.

harry followed behind her, closing the door softly. he tossed his jacket over the back of a chair and ran a hand through his hair, his movements slower than usual. the weight of the day hung heavy in the air between them, unspoken but palpable.

millie sat on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her knees as she stared down at the carpet. "thanks for coming today," she said after a moment, her voice quiet.

harry shrugged, leaning against the wall. "you don't have to thank me. i wanted to be there."

she glanced up at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. "still. it meant a lot."

he nodded, his gaze softening. "you were incredible, you know. the way you threw yourself into every scene—it was something else."

millie felt her cheeks flush and looked away. "just doing my job."

"it's more than that, though," harry said, stepping closer. "you care so much. it shows."

she didn't know how to respond to that, so she didn't. instead, she reached for the water bottle on the nightstand, taking a long sip. harry moved to sit beside her, the mattress dipping under his weight.

"long day," he murmured, leaning back on his hands.

millie nodded, her head falling forward slightly. "feels like it's never going to end."

"well," harry said, his voice light, "at least we've got a decent bed this time. beats crashing on a sofa."

she chuckled softly, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "you complaining about my sofa now?"

"never," he replied, grinning. "just saying it's nice to have a little space."

they fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that had become second nature to them. millie leaned back, resting her head against the headboard, and let out a deep sigh. harry turned his head to look at her, his expression unreadable.

"you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now.

she nodded but didn't meet his gaze. "yeah. just... tired."

harry reached out, his hand brushing against hers. the gesture was small, almost tentative, but it sent a jolt through her all the same. she turned to him, her eyes searching his face for something she couldn't quite name.

"get some rest," he said, his voice low. "you've earned it."

millie hesitated for a moment before nodding. she shifted to lie down, pulling the blanket over herself. harry stayed where he was, watching her with a quiet intensity that made her chest tighten.

"you staying?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"if you want me to," he replied.

she nodded again, her eyes fluttering shut. "course i do."

harry leaned back against the headboard, his hand resting on the bed beside hers. as the city buzzed softly outside the window, they let the quiet of the room wrap around them. there were no answers tonight, no big revelations—just the steady presence of each other, and for now, that was enough.

"this feels different," she said softly, breaking the quiet.

harry turned to her, his expression unreadable. "it is different," he said, turning to look at her. "but maybe that's not a bad thing."

millie looked at him, her heart in her throat. "what are we doing, harry?"

he reached out, taking her hand in his. "i don't know," he admitted. "but i know i don't want to stop."

she nodded, her chest tight with emotion. "me neither."

and as they sat there, the weight of their unspoken feelings finally starting to lift, millie realized that maybe, just maybe, they could figure it out together

.

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