The week had been as busy as Wednesday had predicted, especially for Harry. She'd barely seen him at all, as he'd insisted on being involved in every writing and brainstorming session, every practice that had been held (even the ones he wasn't needed for) and hanging out with the cast of the SNL show. They'd started practicing the performances mid-way through the week and she'd seen Harry's nerves start to peek through. His lips had become dry and chapped from all the picking at them with his fingers he'd done, and he'd been quieter than usual, though he of course was still as charming as ever when the occasion called for it.

Whilst he'd been busy at the Rockefeller centre, she'd been hanging out with the band, going vintage clothes shopping with Sarah and Mitch, taste testing all the food she could manage with Adam across Manhattan and sightseeing with Daisy, even going to see Wicked on Broadway. It had been a fun week, that she'd desperately needed.

On the Friday night, the penultimate night of rehearsals, they finished at 2 in the morning—Harry had been perfecting the sketches with the cast and had also ran through the performances one more time with the band, as they'd been shown their outfits and positioning on stage.

As they'd got back to the hotel, Harry had stated that he wanted to get a good night's sleep before the big show. They'd all nodded in understanding, bidding him goodbye to go off to their respective rooms.

Not even ten minutes after getting ready and into bed, a gentle knock sounded out on her door. With pinched eyebrows, she confusedly walked to the door, confident she hadn't ordered room service.

Peeking around the door, she saw Harry stood tiredly, in his shorts and a hoodie.

"Hi" he mumbled. "Couldn't sleep."

She didn't need to ask if he wanted to come in; instead she opened the door and stepped aside so he could walk through, which he did instantly.

He flopped onto her bed face first, frustratedly sighing into the covers.

"Is it nerves?" she asked, already knowing the answer as she looked at him compassionately.

"Yeah. Every time I close my eyes, the anxiety about tomorrow just hits me."

He rolled over, his face peeking out from under his hood and she noted how vulnerable he looked in that moment. It was purely him. No extravagant clothes, no charming facade to hide behind. She forgot that he sometimes got like this too—scared.

"It's all gonna go to plan and you'll smash it" she soothed, climbing onto the bed in front of him with her legs crossed.

"You don't know that" he replied quietly, rolling back onto his front and letting out another sigh.

"I do."

"How?' he asked, the sheets making his voice sound mumbled.

"Because" she started, reaching forward and pushing him to his side so he was partially facing her. "You've been putting your all into practising the show this past week and it's flowed seamlessly on every run through. Not to mention, you're Harry Styles and the one person who knows how to put on a good show for people."

He looked up to her slowly, his eyes tired from all the work of the past week.

"Thanks" he smiled lightly, yawning as he rubbed his nose. "Can I stay in here a bit longer?"

"You can stay in here as long as you want" she affirmed, peeling back the duvet and getting back into the bed as Harry lay on top of it at the end.

"Sorry I haven't seen you much this week" he quietly said after a few moments of silence.

"Harry it's fine, you've been busy working. Truthfully, I'd rather you put your all into the show and be pleased with the outcome, rather than slack and be upset at not putting more effort into it" she yawned, rubbing her eyes.

She felt Harry shift from the end of the bed and a second later his face appeared on the other side of the bed as he lay down facing her, his arms crossed.

"See, that's why you're my favourite" he said quietly, smiling as he looked up to her. "Wish other people could see it that way."

Wednesday was too tired to question that last part, instead pushing her arm under her pillow as she snuggled further in.

"Don't stress, about the show, or me, or anyone else. Just do you. You know I'll be the first to tell you if I think you're being shitty" she grinned tiredly, and he mirrored her expression.

"Yeah, I definitely know that" he replied, breathing out a laugh.

A comfortable silence fell between them as Wednesday's eyes fluttered shut a few moments later, not the lights nor Harry's presence able to keep her awake.

The silence of the room was only disrupted when she felt Harry get off of the bed, not opening her eyes as she fell further into unconsciousness. Hearing the click of a light switch, she wasn't totally sure if she was dreaming or not when she felt the bed dip beside her again as someone got into the bed next to her.

"Goodnight Wednesday" Harry's voice whispered far away, and it was the last thing she heard before entering complete darkness.

As her eyes peeled open the next morning to the sound of muffled New York traffic, she stretched and yawned, rolling over to see the bed empty. Looking around the room, she wondered if Harry sleeping in her bed had been a dream or not, seeing no trace of him being in the room.

Looking to her phone, she saw that it was nearly 10 in the morning. Knowing that she was not needed for rehearsals until later in the day, she didn't budge. Instead, she scrolled her socials, spending an unhealthy amount of time on tiktok before finally getting showered and texting Sarah, asking if she wanted to grab lunch.

As the day passed, she started to feel herself get nervous for Harry, knowing how much it meant to him to get the show right. By 6pm, the band had arrived at the studios for the dress rehearsal a few hours later.

Spotting Harry conversing with a member of the cast after she'd been dressed, she walked over sheepishly once they'd finished talking.

"So, you ready?" she asked, sensing he seemed more confident than the night before.

"Yeah, I think so" he nodded. "I can only do my best, right?"

"Exactly" she smiled.

"Thanks" he replied, more quietly now. "For last night. It made me feel a lot better."

She smiled in recognition of his thanks, before looking his outfit up and down.

"Love this whole look by the way" she nodded down to his suit. She really did love it and he wore it well, as he did with everything.

"Thank you" he replied with a wide smile, before someone shouted his name across the room, and he apologised to Wednesday quickly before walking off in their direction.

The dress rehearsal went ahead as well as could be and the backstage area was so manic and busy, that she didn't get a chance to wish him good luck before the show started. Instead, she watched from the side lines as he walked out to rapturous applause. His monologue was well received, especially the part where he mentioned the boys and Wednesday eyed the crowd's reactions to him proudly, seeing that they were genuinely loving his presence.

As the band had their last-minute makeup touch ups, they watched as many sketches as they could, Mitch and Wednesday stood side by side as they laughed in unison at Harry's role in them all, especially the Sara Lee sketch. It was awe-inspiring how easily funny he was, seeing the crowd and cast in fits of laughter at him. She knew it was already a hit before it was even half-way done. As they got into their positions for the first performance, she managed to mouth 'you're doing amazing' before they started. It went smoothly, as she knew it would, and before long they were carrying out their second performance.

The show finished with Harry thanking the audience and Wednesday smiled proudly, knowing the show had gone as well as he could have hoped for and more. He was instantly swarmed by people congratulating him and she chose to give him space, letting others get to him before her.

As she changed into her own clothes again backstage, there was a knock at the door.

"Wednesday, we're getting a car now to the afterparty if you want to come with?" Sarah asked, Mitch and Adam by her side.

"Oh, yeah, I'll come along. Give me five minutes."

After freshening up and putting on her shoes, she walked out with them down to the car, knowing she'd be seeing Harry at the afterparty anyway.

There were glasses of champagne upon entry into the exclusive lounge that had been booked out and there were already a hoard of production members and guests mingling.

As more and more people entered, the room became louder. Wednesday and Adam talked over the show, recalling their favourite moments, until applause and whistles sounded out. She turned her head to see Harry walking in, grinning widely at everyone in front of him.

He small-talked with everyone, before finally making his way over to the band, smiling and hugging them all individually as they conversed.

Finally turning to Wednesday, Harry sighed relievedly as she handed him a glass of champagne.

"I told you you'd smash it."

"I know you did" he smiled shyly, taking a much-needed gulp from the glass.

"You were a natural up there" she affirmed, seeing the secret glee in his expression.

"I just hope the people watching at home and the fans think the same."

"Of course they will" she nodded, squeezing his shoulder comfortingly, before looking around the group to see everyone there except one. "Where's Daisy by the way? I haven't seen her since the end of the show?"

Harry looked to Wednesday, shrugging indifferently. "She mentioned she was a bit tired, so she just went back to the hotel."

"Oh" she replied, her eyebrows pinched together.

The party carried on for hours until the early morning as they all mingled with the cast. Wednesday, Harry, Mitch and Sarah all left at around 5 o'clock into the same car, getting back to the hotel comfortably inebriated.

As Sarah and Mitch said their goodbyes and went off to their joint room, Harry looked at Wednesday with a suggestive smile, his eyebrow raised.

"Fancy that late night swim?"

Wednesday felt the smile grow on her face as she nodded and the two of them laughed as they got into the lift, pressing the button for the floor the pool was on.

As they reached the door to the pool, they pulled it open and looked inside hesitantly, seeing if anyone was in there. Noting that it was empty, and the coast was clear, Harry walked in.

"Come on" he smirked, waving Wednesday in as he turned and started taking off his shoes.

She padded in, following Harry's lead and taking off her shoes and socks. She saw Harry take off his jacket out of the corner of her eye as they both giggled drunkenly, slightly stumbling. Reaching back to grab her zip, she struggled to pull it down as she held her tongue between her lips, grappling with it.

"Can you..." she turned to Harry, feeling her cheeks heat up as she turned and saw he was already semi-naked, stood in nothing but his black boxers.

He looked up, seeing her struggle and understanding what she was asking. With a nod, he walked over to her slowly as she turned, pulling her hair up in her hand so it didn't get caught in the zip. She felt his hands on the jumpsuits fabric as he slowly began to unzip, and Wednesday's heart started to beat a bit faster as she felt it travel down her back.

"Done" Harry said quietly a moment later, clearing his throat as Wednesday released a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding.

She turned around to him, seeing him staring back at her intently. "Thanks."

As they stood in silence facing each other, she looked behind at the pool, before looking back to Harry with a grin. Putting her hands on both sides of his chest, she pushed him backwards, hearing him yell out 'NO' before he hit the water, falling in.

She laughed as his head bobbed up a moment later, wiggling out of the jumpsuit and jumping in beside him. The feeling of the tepid water against her skin was refreshing and she came up with closed eyes, pushing her dripping hair back and out of her face.

"You're a dickhead" he laughed, flicking water across at her as she grinned at him brazenly.

She leant back and let her body float on the water, a content serenity falling over her. It was a nice change to not be upset, or anxious or angry for a moment; to feel nothing but calmness.

"I could stay here forever" she wistfully said, staring at the dimly lit ceiling.

"You'd shrivel up like a prune pretty quickly if you did" Harry replied from where he stood, and she laughed at his ridiculousness.

"It's nice, forgetting about your problems for a bit" she carried on, her body feeling light on the water.

"Like what?" he asked curiously, and she brought her legs down to stand up once again, looking at him.

"The past 18 months for a start" she laughed, letting her hands glide through the water on either side of her.

Harry nodded knowingly, stepping closer to her. The light from the pool hit him directly as he did, highlighting his muscular stomach and arms and covering him in a soft blueish hue. She allowed herself to look and take all of him in. The wetness of his hair had made his curls more prominent and his eyes were tinged with redness, from the alcohol and the chlorine in the water. He was beautiful. Sometimes, being around him all the time, she forgot that fact.

"Next year is gonna be your year" he replied supportively. "Our year."

She bit her lip, holding back a smile as she looked at him. She really hoped that was true.

He moved closer to her with a devilish grin and she eyed him hesitantly until his entire body disappeared under the water. In a second, she felt his hands on either side of her thighs as he began to lift her up.

"Harry, no, no, no..." she yelled nervously, laughing as her body began to raise, his shoulders landing under her thighs as his head came up between her legs. With impressive ease, he stood up, bringing up her with him to be sat on his shoulders and just as quickly as he'd picked her up, he threw her off his shoulders and back into the water with a crash.

Coming back to the surface, she spluttered, rubbing her slightly sore eyes as she laughed and sent him evils.

"You've started it now" she warned.

Lunging for him, she placed her hands-on top of his head, pushing down so he was underwater. He moved from under her push, quickly bringing his head back up and grabbing both of her hands with one of his, while he used the other hand to wrap around her stomach and pick her up, planting her into the water sideways. She heard his laughs radiating out, but she wasn't prepared to lose this fight. Using all her might, she jumped back out of the water, wrapping her legs around his middle and hoisting herself onto his back as she placed both of her hands over his eyes, stopping him from seeing.

"Admit defeat" she bellowed, laughing as he struggled beneath her, attempting to shrug her off.

"Never" he heartily laughed. "If I'm going down, you're going down with me."

He leant back, letting them both drop into the water and Wednesday made the mistake of breathing in as she was submerged, swallowing a gulp of water.

Coming up, she coughed, tasting the chlorine in the back of her throat as she rubbed her eyes.

"Shit, are you alright" Harry asked as she continued to cough, stepping forward and rubbing her back to help clear her airways.

"I'm—*cough*—fine" she replied, looking back up to his concerned expression.

Swiping her hand quickly, she splashed water onto his face, watching as he jumped in shock and smirked at her stealth.

"Fair play. You win."

"Thank you" she nodded in victory, pushing her hair back as he looked at her, his green eyes dark in the dimmed light as he looked at her with a goofy grin.

"What?" she asked with a laugh, shifting uncomfortably as he continued to stare at her, his arms dangling in the water.

His grin deepened as his tongue darted out to wet his lips. Moving slightly closer to her, she felt that familiar ball of anxiety grow in her stomach as her heart began to beat more heavily.

As he opened his lips to talk, the sound of the door opening to the pool shocked them both out of their gaze and they looked towards the entrance, seeing a young hotel worker equally as shocked to see them in the pool.

"Oh, ugh, sorry but the pool is meant to be closed" he said and they both looked at each other once more before moving to get out.

"Sorry mate, it was open so we thought it was fine" Harry said, putting on his trousers and his unbuttoned shirt as Wednesday shrugged on her jumpsuit, not bothering to zip it up.

They both walked past the boy, giving their polite apologies once more before padding into the corridor outside, dripping water everywhere as they carried their shoes in hand.

As they caught the lift up to their floor in silence, they stepped out and turned to each other, awkwardly smiling.

"Well, I guess it's goodnight" Wednesday breathed out.

"Goodnight Wednesday" he smiled.

"Goodnight Harry" she returned.

They turned in opposite directions, shooting one more glance over their shoulders at the other before placing their key cards into their respective doors and entering, leaving each other's sight.

Wednesday quickly undressed out of all of her wet clothes until she was completely naked, throwing on an oversized t-shirt and taking off her makeup quickly. As she placed her hair into a hapless bun, she lay down on her bed and realised she was still smiling.

The night had been special, from start to finish. In fact, the whole week had served to boost Wednesday's spirits and as she lay down on her bed, with cheeks that hurt from smiling, she felt something in her heart that felt awfully similar to happiness.

/

helloooooooo we reached SNL week!! though this chapter was kind of short, I absolutely loved the pool scene. they're so cute!