Malarie (Mal) is a 21 year old, city raised woman who works at a Waffle House in central California who so desperately wants to live in a small town. She is an early gen Z and feels like she doesn't fit in with her surroundings, she would love to ju...
Hi! This is the end of the last chapter in Mal's POV! Hope you like it. Xx
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We moved over to a booth because the pub was getting pretty crowded. Mitch just came back from getting a drink. "So, You're British" Mitch says a little sloppily as he stumbles into the seat. I watch the interaction, I love that everyone is getting along, Harry and Mitch are gonna be good friends, I can already tell.
I watch as Harry chuckles, his dimples making they're entrance, his smile genuine, and his laugh sounding like he's enjoying himself. As we talk I just don't think I can take my eyes off of him.
I hear him say "how did you know? I thought I was Australian". I would laugh but I'm too busy looking at him.. what is wrong with me? It's like I'm in a trance. Watching how he takes steady breaths, he just seems so calm, part of me is annoyed knowing I'm never on his level, it seems I'm always anxious.. but sitting here he's just so calm, he exudes this confidence that I simply can't fathom. His recently tanned skin, smooth with beautiful drawings littered down his arm, and some on his chest just peaking out of his slightly unbuttoned shirt.
We continue talking for a while and Ree is telling us a really funny story about how she woke up the other morning and her cat was climbing up her screen door to her balcony. She showed us a picture and I couldn't help but 'awww' at the sight.
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As Ree finishes her story I see Harry get up out of the booth and walk outside, the alcohol must have been buzzing through my system because as I see him walk away I don't think anything of it.
The music is loud and I feel it in my chest, it's not like a club but right now everything is amplified. I feel tingly and my tummy is warm.. yep the alcohol is definitely settling in.
A couple minutes go by and I see Harry rushing in, I stand up from fixing my skirt. I see Harry rush through the crowed, my eyes not really focusing to make out the expression on his face, he comes up to me and places his hands on my forearms, pulling me to the side. "What's up" I say a little lazily. "Um I gotta go, tonight was really fun, thank you for inviting me". He says quickly and I feel myself stand a little straighter, and focus a bit more with his nervous energy.
He pulls me in for a hug, we've hugged before but he is holding on a little tighter, I feel him tense as he hugs me. Part of me wants to calm him down, maybe smooth my hand over his back to help him chill out but we aren't that close so maybe not- And before I'm even finished my contemplation, he's pulling away.
I keep my hands on his forearms and say "call me if you need anything.." I don't feel tipsy anymore, just worried. He nods and gives me a half hearted smile.
He goes to hug Mitch and Ree saying he had a good time. Ree is a little whiny that Harry was leaving so suddenly, but I think he just brushed it off because we all could tell that she was drunk.
