Life Is What You Bake It // A Harry Styles AU

Chapter 3 - Term 2, Week 2

Tuesday

"Adele, do you know where Ben is?"

She looks up from her phone with a blank expression, subtly shaking her head in Alison's direction. "No, sorry."

Ali sighs, clinging to her shaking hand as she looks away with worry. "Already missing one student - I can't be dealing with a second."

Adele frowns, looking back to her phone to check if there's a message she may have missed from Ben. There isn't.

"What about you, Harry?" Ali turns her concern on him. "Have you heard from him?"

Harry, who sits oddly patiently beside Adele around a naked restaurant table, shakes his head with pressed lips. "Nope. Wasn't in the changing room this mornin', and y'can't usually miss him."

Someone on a nearby table snorts, and Harry's nosy nature has him looking over his shoulder to see who it was. Adele doesn't entertain it.

"Right, everyone wait here. I need to go and check something."

The students watch Alison leave in silence, but the moment she's out of the room, it fills with loud chatter. Harry grips the edge of the table with both hands, pushing back so that his chair balances on the two back legs, and he lazily lolls his head back. Adele subtly eyes him, sending a silent prayer that he doesn't fall backwards and hurt himself, though if he does it'll be his own fault.

"Are you gonna join the circus, Harry?" Ashley asks from across the room in a flirty tone.

Adele actively keeps her gaze away to avoid looking bothered, but she can't help the setting of her jaw and her heavy exhale. To keep herself preoccupied, she starts a conversation with Paisley across the table (even if reluctantly) by complimenting her nails. The subtle pastel green really compliments the dark colour of her skin.

"Yeah." Harry's grin is smug. "Gonna be in Cirque Du Soleil by next year."

"I'd buy a ticket." Ashley assures him, equally as smug for some reason.

Paisley looks Ashley's way with an almost disgusted frown. "Not being funny mate, but you'd be getting ripped the fuck off."

Adele's laughter comes helpless and bemused, but she doesn't say anything. Harry turns a scowl on her. "Do you not think I could join the circus?"

"No." Her reply is as blunt as it intended to be.

His jaw drops with offence. "So rude... I can stand on one leg for long periods of time, as well, that's gotta count for summat."

"So can flamingos, but you don't see them boasting about it." Adele replies quickly in the same tone.

Paisley's laugh is resounding, and even though Harry wears a look of horror, he soon cracks up from shock at how easy it was for Adele to come back with it.

"I still say Cirque Du Soleil is missing out." Ashley shrugs, less amused at this point given the usual souring look has returned to her expression.

"You would." Paisley mutters.

Neither Harry nor Ashley heard the comment, but Adele did, and it's surprised her. She watches Paisley for a little moment longer, who seems disinterested altogether, before dropping her gaze to her lap to avoid looking odd.

Harry clears his throat, not entertaining Ashley's flirting any more, and shifts his glance to Adele. "Where do you think Ben is?"

She shakes her head with a slow sigh. "No idea. He's had days before where he's just... not come in, so I'm not entirely surprised. And Eden never said anything."