Unexpected

12. Helen

After class, Jade and I go straight home and make some food for lunch.

"So? Tell me about your experience with Daniel," she asks me as she hands me my plate.

"Beautiful, but nothing special. There is no 'spicy' detail, as you say." I give her a very vague answer, I couldn't have invented anything at the moment.

She raises an eyebrow and with her mouth full she says, "Well, that's weird." She pauses, then she remembers something. "Oh, what were you and Harry talking about during music? You seemed annoyed."

"I was," I reply immediately. "Exactly, he was just annoying me on purpose. For some reason he likes to make me lose my temper."

She chews for a few seconds, with a thoughtful expression. "This is also strange. That one is unbearable."

"Definitely."

We finish eating and Jade goes out to study in the library, where she can concentrate better. So I start playing my part of La La Land.

Until my phone vibrates. I take it and read a message from Harry: Coming over.

In a panic, my thumbs shake as I write the answer: What?? Wgy?

God, I misspelled it! Ugh. What reason does he have to come here? He didn't even warn me before.

Another message: We need to talk.

The only thing I can come up with is this: Jade is home.

Him: No, I saw her going to the library.

Shit.

Me: You saw wrong then.

Him: Nope.

He's a stubborn shit.

Again him: OMW.

Oh my God. Why does he have to be like this? What should we talk about? There is nothing we need to discuss.

Me: Can't we talk about it on the phone?

It's such a stupid suggestion, but I might as well try.

He doesn't answer right away this time, but after a few minutes he writes: Open.

The doorbell rings. Fuck, he's really here.

I can't help but open the door, also because now I'm curious to know what he has to tell me.

The moment I open the door, I find him leaning against the door frame, his hair is slightly damp and I can smell that delicious perfume that tastes like I-just-took-a-shower. And he looks taller than usual from this perspective.

"Hey," he tells me smiling, and looks me up and down, running his tongue over his teeth. "I told you I was coming..."

I wear only the university sweatshirt and a culotte, which barely reaches below the buttocks. I realized that this is the problem with him, the fact that I am too exposed.

"Well, then?" I motion him to enter. Maybe I should put on some pants, but I don't care. He will suffer, he deserves it.

He takes off his jacket and hangs it on the coat hanger, then throws himself into the chair.

"What do you want to talk about?" I ask him after I sit on the sofa.

"Okay..." he says in a sigh. He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, then looks me straight in the eye. "Did you tell Jade you were with Daniel?"

I nod, because I have suddenly forgotten how to talk— and how to breathe too. I have no idea where he'll turn the discussion and this upsets me.

"Okay."

I look at him confused, my breath returns and I remembered how to use words. "That's all?"

He avoids answering saying, "Do you have something to eat?"

I do not insist on having him answer, it is useless. "Yes, look in the counters or in the fridge."

"Hey, I'm the guest," he says, pointing to his hands.

I roll my eyes and get up, annoyed. "An unexpected guest, though."

I bring some chips and a beer that we could share.

I go back to him and immediately he asks me how I have alcohol at home if I am a minor. I reply that this is thanks to the help of friends. We start eating the chips in silence and I get thirsty.

"Will you pass it to me?" I say, referring to the beer in front of him.

He takes it and takes a sip. "If you want it, come and get it."

I snort and get up going towards him. When I almost grab the bottle, he pulls it out of my reach and brings it back to his lips. I put my hands on my hips and look at him with my head tilted to one side. "Are you done?"

A corner of his lips rises slightly in a smirk. He suddenly grabs me by the wrist with one hand and I fall on him.

"Harry!"

He giggles and once I'm practically straddling him, he hands me the bottle.

"Do you hate me so much?" I tell him, making my eyes sweet.

He runs a hand through his black hair. "You have no idea how much."

"Can I know why?" When I say it he looks at my lips and then touches them with his thumb. Why does this all seem so wrong but I don't want to stop?

"I don't know how to explain it. Unfortunately," he then adds.

I take another sip of beer and he is examining my whole body. He puts his hand through my hair and I put it behind his neck. He leans forward and our faces are very close, our mouths touch.

While we barely tolerate each other, I can't deny the attraction between us.