Teacher's Pet

Teacher's Pet: Chapter Eleven

Harry stood outside Liam’s house, frozen on the sidewalk, as he stared up at his illuminated window. He could make out Liam’s shadow, rummaging about his room, and thought he caught a flash of Niall jumping around too. There was a time where Harry also would’ve been in the room with them, goofing off on the weekend, maybe drinking but probably just playing video games and talking about all girls they’d never get to fuck. 

And then Harry had figured out he was gay, and Charles had constantly been breathing down his neck, and it had just been easier letting them go. He didn’t want to drag them along, that’d be rude, and Charles got jealous easily. He couldn’t risk their friendship. 

But the two had still clung on to what little remained of it, Niall still texting him asking to hang out, even though Harry never replied, and Liam constantly checking up on him and fathering him, even when Harry shied away from him.  

The front door of Liam’s house pushed open and Mrs. Payne poked her head out, wrapping her night robe tighter around her, “Harry, dear, are you alright?” she asked and Harry jumped, startled, turning to the woman who had played second-mother to him for the vast majority of his life. 

Harry shuffled his feet awkwardly in the snow,”I uh-yeah. Just taking a walk,” he muttered, forcing himself to take a step away from Liam’s house, “Have a good night Mrs. Payne.” 

He turned to continue down the street, unsure of where to go next, but wanting to get as far away from everyone as quickly as possible. 

“Harry,” Mrs. Payne called and Harry winced, slowly turning around and stuffing his hands in his pockets as he stared at Mrs. Payne, “How about a cup of tea?” 

“I really shouldn’t,” Harry muttered, motioning behind him as if he had somewhere to go, “I’m running a tad late-” 

“Harry,” Mrs. Payne interrupted again, crossing her arms and looking skeptically at the teenager, “You’ve been standing outside this house for fifteen minutes. You’re going to catch your death without a jacket in this weather. Inside at once.” 

Harry sighed and slowly shuffled through the snow and up Liam’s front porch, into the warm, cozy house. He toed off his shoes by the door and quietly followed Mrs. Payne to the kitchen, hoping Niall and Liam would stay upstairs, unaware that their ex best mate was downstairs. 

Mrs. Payne draped a warm blanket over Harry’s shoulder, a worn quilt Harry vaguely recalled her making when he and Liam had been no more than six or so, running around the small backyard while she watched and worked on it. He pulled it around him tighter, inhaling the familiar scent of the Payne’ house. 

A steaming mug of tea was set in front of him and Harry wrapped his frozen hands around it, letting them warm as Mrs. Payne sat down casually in the seat across from him.  

“I haven’t seen you around here lately,” she said and Harry diverted his eyes down to the mug in his hands, shrugging. “You’re part of this family, you know that, don’t you? No matter what tiff you and Liam get into, you are still always welcome here.”

Harry nodded wordlessly, bringing the mug to his lips and letting the hot liquid scorch the back of his throat, barely wincing.