Infatuated (hsau)

chapter 3.

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Turn in your teasin' comb and go back to high school
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Harlow Dean

A breath of fresh air is all I'm craving right now, and perhaps the will to live. Another half hour until we'll be closing and this whole pantomime can be done for the night.

I've been avoiding Harry for most of the night. I've smiled at him and I've even shared a painfully awkward with him, just so people will start to think there's something going on but apart from the odd glance and exasperating small talk, this was just a normal night for me.

Each time I walked by one of the girls they questioned me, they're way too excited about this 'relationship' for my liking and it kills me to lie to them. They mean well, they just care about me and love a good bit of gossip which is exactly why I can't tell them it's all a lie. I'd love to explain everything to them but I just can't risk it.

I head straight out the staff exit to sit on the steps round the back of the club for a few minutes, just to gather my thoughts and get away from the deafening music and the blinding neon lights. For someone who suffers from chronic migraines, a club is definitely a questionable place of work.

"Miss me?" A familiar voice speaks from the shadows which completely startled me.

Owen. My ex boyfriend, Owen fucking Wilson. Exactly the person I want to see right now.

He steps out from the shadow in his brown leather jacket, peering down at me from his whole height of five foot eight. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him, he's just got one of those faces everyone dislikes but whether that's down to him being my ex or not I don't know.

Our relationship was unhealthy, it was doomed and that's why I ended it, I had to focus on myself. He was nothing but manipulative and it took me far too long to realise how bad things were between us. It took all my strength for me to end things and once I did my mental health plummeted, the opposite of what I expected to happen. Thankfully my mum was there as my best friend to pick me back up again and look where I am now, I'm happier. I don't look at Owen and get sad anymore, I look at him and I'm embarrassed I put up with the things he out me through.

Harlow then and Harlow now are two different people.

"I think you're lost, this is the staff car park." I tell him, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed and eyes focused on the road I can just see over the wall.

He's trying to scare me, shaking his head with that look in his eyes that I did actually once fear. Not anymore though. Now it's just a case of trying not to laugh at his awful attempt at being someone he's not.

"I'm a vulture now," He says, proudly lifting the sleeve of his jacket up ever so slightly to reveal the tattoo on his wrist.

No shit Sherlock, I don't live under a rock.

"No," I chuckle to myself, "you have a shit tattoo on your wrist and ride your motorbike around the city"

It looked as if my words had just slapped him across the face. He didn't like that one at all and I'm glad.The thing is I'm not a liar, apart from me and Harry's little deal, I don't lie. So when I say he just aimlessly rides his bike around I really do mean it.

Genuinely, I have no clue what that gang does other than start fights in my club, whereas I know the pythons do actually 'help' people. An altered definition of helping, but at least they do something.

"You're with Harry?" He scoffs with his level of frustration clearly growing stronger as his fists clenched against his thighs.

"What's it to you Owen? Get on your bike and go terrorise someone like the rest of your bloody new friends do." I respond, standing up to head back inside because it seems as if that small moment of peace I actually needed isn't going to happen until I'm home.