birds // hs

0.9

"So you're alright to be here alone?" Niall asked for the millionth time. And for the millionth time, I rolled my eyes and laughed.

"Yes!"

"Because I can stay if-"

"I'm not a baby," I reasoned with a smile. "Please trust me, I'll be fine."

"I do trust you, have fun Rach."

He left with two of my freshly baked cookies and a plastic cup of milk, along with a sandwich he insisted I make. Apparently he's sort of obsessed with sandwiches.

I wiped down the counters and was working on scrubbing a cookie pan clean when I heard a small knock at the screened in porch door.

"Who is it?" I called with a yawn.

"Harry."

I rolled my eyes. "Go away."

"I can smell the cookies from down the street," he sighed. "Please just let me in, I'm having a moral crisis."

"Good, I hope it rots away what little brain matter you have."

"Ouch," he laughed, breezing in even though I hadn't given permission. "And I have plenty of brain matter, thank you very much."

I set the cookie sheet aside and picked up a cutting knife, then began scrubbing away at it as Harry leaned against the counter right next to me.

"What do you want?" I sighed as I began to feel the drowsiness set in. "I'm tired."

"I'm not apologizing for what I said."

I stared at him. "Congratulations, I'm not the queen of England. Anything else we need to get out into the open?"

"No, that's not what I meant," he grinned. Damn him and his stupid grin. It was downright obnoxious. "I was going to say that I'm here to apologize for how I said it."

"Whatever."

"Rachel, stop walking away from me," he groaned, following me to the stairs.

"Why? So I can just stand here and listen to you tell me I'm a child?" I screamed at him. He seemed surprised by my outburst and I was too, I just didn't show it.

"Jesus Rachel, you're making this really fucking difficult."

"Because I'm the first person to call you out on your bullshit?"

"It's not bullshit," he furrowed his eyebrows. "It's the truth, you are a child. You can't even vote!"

I shook my head at him. "You are so fucking full of it. Get out, just leave me alone."

"I'm not leaving." He crossed his arms stubbornly and glared at me, that same smirk on his lips.

"I could call the police."

My heart was racing as he looked at me, the blood rushing so fast I could hear it even after I turned and angrily slammed the door to my room. I hated him, I loathed him, I never wanted to see him again.

I stripped my clothes off and got in the shower, my face still pulled into an angry scowl as I scrubbed myself clean and yanked a comb through my hair.

"It's amazing you're not bald by now," Harry chuckled, appearing out of nowhere and leaning in my doorframe.

"Shut up," I fumed.

He raised his eyebrows. "Calm down, Rach. You're going to give yourself a freaking heart attack."

"Leave me alone!"

"Cute tattoo, by the way."

I tightened my towel around my body and looked away, sniffling slightly as Harry obviously became intrigued.

"Are you okay?"

I tried to think of a witty response or something but nothing came; I just felt numb.

I passed him and crawled onto my comforter, gesturing for him to hand me my yellow blanket as I sat back.

He took extra care to tuck me in with it and even patted my shoulder before dragging the other blankets up my body.

"Can we make a deal?" He asked quietly as I faced away from him, my eyes drifting closed.

I let out a deep breath. "Sure, whatever."

"I'll tell you about my tattoos if you tell me about yours."