I Do, Do You? (T.H.)

Chapter 5 • "We Were Best Friends, First."

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"I think I'm a little attracted to your photos." - Tom, 2011
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Flashback

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Haley's thoughts got interrupted when she heard her best friend's voice.

She looked at him, "Take a picture of what?"

Harrison chuckled, "The new guy, Tom, is it?"

"His name's Tom?"

"So you know who I'm talking about then?" Harrison grinned at Haley, obviously teasing her.

"No."

"I heard he's a big shot."

"What do you mean?"

Harrison grabbed a fry from Haley's plate, eating it before continuing, "Apparently, he was Billy Elliot in the musical and I heard he's also starring in this film called, 'The Impossible,' it's incredible.

Haley looked back at Tom who was currently talking to guy whom she knows from one of her classes. There was nothing too striking about Tom's appearance, he looked like just a regular boy, but Haley didn't know why she seemed to be too drawn to him.

She brought her camera up, snapping a photo of him. What she didn't realize was that Tom noticed, immediately turning his attention to her. Haley blushed so hard, eyes were looking straight at the boy. She couldn't move, entranced by the way he was looking at her.

When Tom turned his attention back to his friend, Haley got back to her senses. She picked her camera back up, locating the photo she just took to delete it. "You're going to delete that? The photo's nice."

"Ah!" Haley got startled, almost dropping her camera before Tom caught it. "Uh, I uh, I'm sorry. I didn't want you to think I'm uh going all up in your privacy." She tried to take the camera off of Tom's hands but Tom's too strong to let her.

"No you're not. Let me see." She blushed so hard as Tom browsed through the camera. "Wow, it's nice. Your photos are amazing."

"Yeah, mate, you should see the ones she did a year ago. They were shown in an exhibit, exquisite." Harrison, whom Haley had already forgotten about, spoke beside her.

"Well, I would love to see them. I'm Tom, by the way, Tom Holland." He shook hands with Harrison as they introduced themselves to each other. Tom looked back at Haley, who's too frozen to speak. "She's Haley, Haley Evans. She's a little shy."

Tom smirked at her, "Well, I guess you should get used to me being around, because I think I'm a little attracted to your photos."

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The camera's Haley's baby. She brings it everywhere she goes, just to capture every scene in front of her and since they're in Bali, the views were definitely amazing.

She put her camera up, taking the view of the beach when someone suddenly came up through the lenses. "Still getting busy with your camera, I see."

That was the first time, the first time Harrison initiated a conversation with her, and for Haley, she honestly missed it, missed him, so bad. They were inseparable since they were younger, and leaving him behind was just as hard as leaving Tom, probably harder.

"Oh uh yeah, you know I love taking pictures." She chuckled, followed by him, surprising Haley. She thought he would be too mad to even laugh with her.

"Seriously, Haley? That's the kind of answer you tell a stranger. Am I a stranger to you, already?"

Haley quickly shook her head in disagreement, "No, no uh, of course not. It's just that we haven't talked since-"

"Since that day." He finished her sentence and both of them were suddenly engulfed in silence.

"I missed you, Haz. So bad."

"Then why didn't you reach out that past three years?"

"I wanted to, but I couldn't."

"You couldn't? Why?"

"Because I was ashamed, and scared. You and Tom were best friends, and I-"

"WE were best friends first."

"I'm sorry, Haz, I really am."

"If you really are sorry, then tell me why you did it."

Haley couldn't say anything. She was debating whether or not she should tell him, but she knew things will just get complicated if she says anything, so she chose not to speak at all.

Harrison was anticipating her answer, but he got nothing. He sighed, "I guess it'll forever be a mystery, then."

"Harrison-"

"I'm fine, Haley. I survived three years without you. I had Jenna, I survived. Tom almost didn't. If you cannot tell me, at least tell Tom, you owe him that."

With that, Harrison left, walking towards the sea where Jenna was, sitting on the sand.

Haley's mind went blank of all the other things and the only thing running inside it was what Harrison said, 'Tom almost didn't.' She wondered what he meant by that. She had an idea but didn't want to think that much.

She put the camera back up to capture the scenery in front of her but when she moved it a little bit to the right, it captured Tom with Lisa, laughing by the open bar not too far.

Lisa caught a glimpse of Haley and waved her over, "Haley! Come here!" Tom turned his face to her, suddenly putting on a straight face.

Haley was about to say no but Lisa was already running towards her, pulling Haley with her back to the open bar. "Come on, what do you want to drink?"

"Oh no, Lisa, I'm fine. I'd rather take photos."

"Oh hush! It's on me, especially after you helped me." Lisa winked at Haley, whispering the last statement so Tom wouldn't hear. He was looking anywhere but Haley, then he spoke, "Quit now Lisa, she's not going to drink whatever you give her."

Haley raised an eyebrow at Tom and called the bartender. He can't tell me what to do. Haley thought. "Whiskey, neat." She told the bartender, making Tom turn to look at her, before looking back at the bartender, "On the rocks."

"No, neat."

"On the rocks." Tom interjected, gritting his teeth.

"Neat."

"On the fucking rocks. Haley, do not argue with me."

"N E A T, neat."

"Oh for fuck's sake, Haley! If you get drunk-"

"Here's whiskey neat for the lovely lady." The bartender interjected, giving Haley a glass of alcohol she requested. Tom rolled his eyes, drinking from his bottle of beer.

Haley knew her tolerance when drinking. She's the worst when drunk, and Tom had seen it first hand, multiple times. Only he and Harrison can take care of her.

The bartender was obviously flirting with Haley, and Tom didn't like it one bit but Haley was too oblivious to notice. He was just glaring at the bartender the whole time.

"Thank you for the whiskey, uh Allen." Haley read the bartender's name tag, thanking him, and although she was just being nice, it looked as if she was flirting back.

Tom suddenly stood up, taking the beer in his hand walked away. He didn't know he felt so annoyed watching the two but he knew that if he stayed a little bit more, he'll lose his mind. "Wait, Tom!" Lisa called to him. "See ya later, Haley." She bid goodbye to Haley before following Tom.

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