Meet Me in the Hallway (HS AU)

thirty five.

God I am an idiot.

Why didn't I kiss him?

I spent the rest of my day playing that moment over and over again in my head. Obviously he was gorgeous, I wasn't blind. He was also incredibly kind, who takes someone into their home and asks for nothing in return after a year of arguing with one another?

But Will still managed to find a way to make my life painful even when he wasn't near me. The last person I had kissed was him and he crushed my entire being down to a powder and swept me onto the floor.

A sick part of me still felt like I was in a relationship with Will, and even just kissing Harry felt like I was cheating. Even though never explicitly said it, it's safe to say Will and I aren't together anymore. But this all just sort of felt like a week after a beating, where I was still Will's, just sore. Everything was much more confusing than it had to be.

I still had to sit in the car with him on the ride home, sleep at his house and face him every hour for the foreseeable future. Fuck.

The bell signalling the end of the day felt more like the bell at the start of a boxing match than it did the end of a school day.

Any opportunity to procrastinate heading to his car, I took. The room was tidied from head to toe, I did printing for the next day's classes, I even offered to help the cleaners vacuum the room - which they said 'no, that's fine'. I realised that eventually I would have to face him but if I could avoid it for a few more minutes, that would have been great.

Nerves took over me once again as I approached his car in the car park. I could faintly see through the rain that he was on the phone with someone, which at least meant the attention wouldn't be directly on me straight away. The car was welcoming as I swung the door open to escape the rain and my seat was warm to the touch.

"So I'll let you know later in the week, okay? Yes, I'll ask both of them too." He glanced quickly at me and offered a small smile. "Alright, talk to you later. Bye."

He gently threw his phone into the centre console before putting the car into reverse and pulling out of the park. He didn't seem mad, or upset. He seemed fine. Why did he seem fine? I was sitting here a nervous wreck and was actually quite disappointed in myself for not kissing him. But he was just fine.

"That was Ella, one of my friends I was telling you about. She wants to have a night out this weekend. You're invited and so is Clem, you don't have to go if you don't feel up to it but I think you'll like Ella and the guys. So have a think about it and let me know closer to Saturday."

"It's ok, you don't have to drag me along to look after me. I'm happy to stay at your house while you go out. I can even pick you up so you don't have to pay for a ride if you'd like." I didn't want to be invited out of obligation, besides it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he went out without me, they were his friends.

"I would like it if you came with me." He emphasised the I, keeping his eyes on the road.

My cheeks suddenly became warm and I had to look out the window, away from him. The rest of the ride was silent, and we didn't speak until we were inside his house.

"Jo, about today. I'm really sorry if you felt like I was forcing myself onto you. I understand that you just got out of a horrible relationship and your trust for guys must be incredibly low right now. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable." Every word he said was so sincere and genuine, everything he has ever said has been nothing but genuine.

"You weren't forcing yourself onto me, I promise. Right now my trust has been shattered but you are slowly helping me put the pieces back together because you are such a good guy. I wasn't uncomfortable, just not right now." My eyes looked everywhere but his face. I hope I wasn't making a fool out of myself by saying any of that. What if he just wanted to hook up and here I am saying these things like there will be a future.

"Not right now, huh?" He bent slightly so he was in my line of sight, a big smile on his gorgeous face, "I'll hold you to that, Josephine."

I playfully shoved his shoulder and pushed past him towards my bedroom. My bag was dumped on the bed and I got out of my clothes and into pajamas. Yes, it was only 4:30 but it was cold and these were warm.

Back up the hallway, I walked quietly towards the living room door and headed towards the couch. Harry was already sitting comfortably on the couch, a blanket thrown over his legs which were resting on the coffee table.

"I'm putting on a movie if you'd like to join me." He swung the blanket open on his right side and tapped the couch twice.

I shook my head but sat down anyway. The blanket was placed over my lap and Harry slumped into the couch to get comfortable, grabbed the remote and brought up his chosen movie.

I let out an airy laugh, closing my eyes and turning away from him to hide my expression.

"What, it's just a movie? It has no relevance to the current situation at all and I purely picked it because I like the plot." His laugh joined mine as he nudged me to get my attention.

"10 Things I Hate About You? Seriously? That's low, even for you." I tried my hardest to sound annoyed but the playful glint in his eyes meant he saw straight through it.

"Just sit back and watch the movie. Perhaps analyse the later actions of one Kat Stratford while we do?" His right eye dropped in a wink before looking back at the TV.

"You're right, I might actually go back into your car. Thanks for the suggestion." My voice was a teasing whisper but his eyes stayed on the TV, lips forming a smirk in acknowledgment.

Admittedly, this was one of my favourite movies. But he didn't have to know that. The scene where Cameron and Bianca kiss in his car was playing when from the corner of my eye, I saw Harry turn his head slightly to mouth Cameron's line, "and I'm back in the game."

I must have fallen asleep shortly after out of pure exhaustion because I woke up towards the end of the movie with my head on Harry's shoulder, his hand mindlessly tracing shapes on my open palm which was now resting in his lap.

I tried not to move or give him any indication that I was awake, so I remained perfectly still and watched as he drew letters and spirals on my skin. My heart was racing at the simple action, this gentle showcase of affection was making me take shallow breaths.

"I'm sorry." He suddenly mumbled, stopping his movements and beginning to let go of my hand.

"Uh, don't. Um- you can keep, er, doing that. Please?" The desperation in my voice made me cringe, but the desire to be touched in a non violent manner was drowning out all my other feelings.

Without missing a beat, his hands continued tracing patterns on my palm. Occasionally the patterns would find themselves on my wrists and forearms, but it was so relaxing and gentle that I couldn't even force myself to move away.

"Also, if the invitation is still there. Do you mind if I come with you this weekend? I haven't had a proper night out since my third year of University and I think it will be good for me." My head tilted back slightly to look up at him.

"Yeah, it's still there. I reckon it will be good for you too."

Then our attention turned back to the movie with my head still on his shoulder and hand still in his.