Illusion

Chapter 17

Harry's POV

I flick my eyes over to her profile, watching as she sits in silence, carefully sipping her coffee. I turn my gaze back to the road and feel my jaw tense, refusing to speak first. My knuckles clench over the steering wheel, while my other hand remains on the gear stick, impatiently tapping the metal.

We've been driving for just over an hour and neither of us have spoken. The only sounds being her soft breathing and the rustle of her paper coffee cup when she takes a sip.

Maybe I should've just stayed in the car when Avery went into the cafe. But seeing her act so friendly and affectionate towards that fucking blond barista stirred something inside me that forced me out of the car. Don't ask me why I suddenly felt the need to walk in there, I don't even know myself.

My hand stays wrapped around the wheel, my rings straining against my clenched fingers. Avery begins thrumming her fingertips over the window sill, creating a little da-dum-da-dum that rings through the car.

My frustration with the silence wins out and I aggressively hit the radio button, letting random music fill the void.

My peripherals see Avery's head turn slightly towards the radio, mildly intrigued that I made any significant movement at all.

'This song's shit. At least pick a good station.' Her casual tone shocks me and I whip my head to face her, before turning back to the road. The corners of my mouth prick as I feel a small smile overcome my lips.

'Fine. Change it.' I say bluntly, concealing my sudden elation from her finally speaking.

Her slender hand reaches over to the knob and begins tuning the dial, trying to find a good station.

[Play: Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People]

The sounds of a drum play through the speakers, making me check to see what station she'd picked. I glance over at her form, seeing how she's slumped back into the seat, her elbow propped on the window sill and her head resting in her palm as she looks out the window. The endless green fields that surround the highway and cloudless blue sky capturing her attention. Her profile is only just showing me the outline of her nose and lips, her eyes still obscured by her sunglasses.

Her soft voice hums lowly to the tune, causing my mind to make its way back to that day in the bookstore, when she was singing and dancing to Bowie like no one was there. She seemed so carefree, so at peace, despite everything that was happening. 

I stay lost in my daydream of the memory, remembering how she felt as I forced her against the wall. The way her breathing picked up and her pupils dilated. I was seconds away from threatening her again, making sure she didn't open that pretty mouth of hers.

But maybe it was a good thing her boyfriend walked in when he did. Would I have really threatened her if he hadn't? For fuck's sake Harry, get yourself together. Of course I would have. She's nothing but trouble.

My thoughts collectively hone in on one piece of information. Her boyfriend.

My mind snaps back to the present and I glance over to her, contemplating if I should ask the question I already know the answer to. I smirk internally, maybe I can have some fun with this, and if all else fails, at least this'll get her to talk.

'What happened with your boyfriend?'

Her gentle humming stops, almost making me wish I hadn't spoken so soon. 'What?' Her voice sounds off, almost as if she's hoping she didn't hear me right.

'I mean,' I speak slowly, allowing a small smile to grace my lips, 'what happened with that brunette dickhead who came into the store a couple of weeks ago.' I don't phrase it as a question, letting my voice be answer enough.