Interlude [h.s]

thirty-five

Alouette is putting on lipstick when someone knocks at her door.

She glances to the side, the sound coming unexpected at eight in the morning, and then shrugs and goes back to her task. She checks herself in the mirror to make sure it looks nice and then walks back into the bedroom. She almost trips as she slips on her usual high heels, and after catching herself and mentally scolding herself she walks to the door.

She opens it and gasps when she sees Harry standing on the other side. She closes it again and leans against it, her heart pounding in her chest. Why is he in front of her room so early in the morning?

He knows, her mind says. He knows, he knows, he knows.

Alouette shakes her head. He wouldn't be waiting in front of her door so casually if he did. She needs to get a hold of herself, at this rate she'll be the one that makes him suspicious.

She opens the door and offers him a little smile. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting you."

"And to think you said I wasn't threatening only a few days ago," Harry comments playfully, but the smile that curves his lips doesn't reach his eyes. He often smiles sarcastically, and Alouette doesn't know if she finds it attractive or highly concerning.

"You aren't, I just didn't expect anyone to be on the other side of the door," Alouette lies smoothly, stepping out of the room and shutting the door behind her back.

He takes a step back to give her more room and she instantly misses the faint smell of his cologne. "I knocked."

"I didn't hear you." She walks to the lift but stops instantly when she realises he's following her. Right. "Can I ask you why you were waiting for me?"

"I'm free this morning, so I'll take you up on that coffee offer."

Alouette frowns, but then remembers. She did ask him out to cover up her secret scheme a couple of days ago. She assumed he would forget about it, but he didn't. "Oh, yes. Of course."

The lift comes and they step inside. She usually goes to the dining hall to get her own coffee, but Harry always takes it upstairs. No one would ever dare to give him coffee from the hall to drink.

The fifteen seconds they spend side by side in the lift are the longest of Alouette's life. He's too close and the memories from some days ago are coming back all at once to screw her over.

I believe you wanted to see me earlier?

You don't seem to be scared of me.

I believe I find you as intriguing as you find me.

I'd love to see where this will lead us.

I'd love to see where this will lead us.

I'd love to see where this will lead us.

The doors open again and Alouette has to try her best not to run out. She clenches her teeth and waits for Harry to step out first. He does and she follows him out, focusing on the white marble of the floor and the sunlight coming from the floor-to-ceiling window running down one side of the corridor to stop herself from thinking more foolish things.

When they get to the small cafe there's a small queue, that dissipates in the instant everyone sees Harry approaching. He motions her to go first and she surpasses him, feeling a little uneasy before forcing herself to remember the situation she's in. She's being ridiculous, and if she keeps this up he'll notice soon.

"A latte, please," she tells the man behind the counter, before turning to look at Harry. "And..." While she's brought him coffee countless times during the day, she doesn't know what he usually drinks for breakfast.