Make This Feel Like Home

Chapter 13

Mal's POV:

It's been a couple days since Harry messaged me back, he isn't back from the UK yet but he said he'd be home by the middle of the week. I will never admit this to anyone but I kind of missed him coming into the Waffle House everyday at 7:00am. But it's okay, he said he'd be back to his normal routine once he returns. He still hasn't told me why he left so suddenly but that's fine, I just hope he's okay.

It's December 1st, which means nothing in California. There's no snow, it's not winter, it has gotten a little chillier at night though, but then again, it's California.. our winters are like Canada's summer's.

I'm off today so decided to go to Ree's apartment because why not?

....

I knock on the door and there's no answer, knowing she's comfortable with it, I use the key she gave me to unlock her door.

I make some tea as I wait for her to return from work. I chuckle as I remember that time Harry gave me a course on how to make tea properly, apparently he was very disappointed in my lack of skill.

That made me remember I hadn't messaged him back. So I scroll to see the last message he sent me.

From Harry: it's snowing!! I missed it so much lol!

It makes me smile, I'm not sure why but it does.

To Harry: so jealous! I've always wanted to see snow!

I put my phone away and make my way to the couch sitting down and waiting for Ree.

A couple minutes later I hear the door open and see Ree's brown, almost black hair come through the door. "Oh hey!" She says as she brings in her grocery's, I guess she stopped before she came home.

"Would you like to help?" She said jokingly but I get up and help her carry the bags to her counter anyway.  "So what brings you to my house?" She says with a smile and slight chuckle.  "Well I was board and I don't work today so I thought I'd come bother you" I laughed.

Just as I finish my sentence, I get another text from Harry.

From Harry: well maybe you'll have to come out here some time. :)

As I read it I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face. Ree gives me a look and says "well it looks like you you're pretty bothered by someone already. Who are you messaging?" She says with a weary yet smug look on her face. "Oh it's just Harry", I say brushing it off. "Oh yeah where is he, I haven't seen him in like a week?" She asks while putting the milk away. I've abandoned the putting away groceries duty while I think of something to text back. "Yeah he had to go home for a little bit. He hasn't told me what happened just some family stuff I guess, but he told me he'd be back by the middle of the week, so in a couple of days". I say nonchalantly. She looks at me like she's suspicious of something but I shrug it off.

...

We find ourselves at the Starbucks down the road, because living in central California means that there's a Starbucks around every fucking corner.  We catch up because we hadn't seen each other in two days, we decide to have a teenage style sleep-over at my apartment tonight.

"So today we had an old lady come into the boutique today, and she was trying to buy something for her grandson and she was looking for hot wheels like the toy car ya know" she starts, and I nod, "so I had told her that we don't sell those and I asked her how old her grandson was and she said '20' and I tried so hard not to laugh but she was legit the sweetest person ever!" We both laugh at the older lady's antics as we finish our drinks.

...

We're back at my place now and decided to bring pillows and blankets into the living room and watch romantic comedies until we were wine drunk and giggling. Might I say it was the best idea we've have had in a long time.

Watching the The Notebook and then A Walk To Remember was a bad decision because we were sobbing by the end of them. But, then we started laughing at how much we were crying. It was just a great night.

Friends is now playing in the background as Ree plays on her phone and I text Harry.

From Harry: how rude! The Notebook is my favourite movie! Wine also happens to be my favourite beverage lmao now I'm jealous.

I laugh lightly at my phone and reply with;

To Harry: well I guess we'll have to do this again when you get back then, how does that sound?

From Harry: that sounds perfect.

I smile, feeling giddy from our texts and a little silly from the alcohol that's definitely in my system.

Ree leans over and says "you like him" in a a teasing and almost slurring tone. I'm quite taken aback that she would even think that. "What?! No, we're just friends" I say a little defensively, but in my defence alcohol makes me a little more reactive. "Oh come on, friends don't make you smile like that" she pokes my arm and I squirm. "You're crazy, I think you've had enough wine", I say jokingly. She laughs as she takes a possessive sip of her wine and says "okay but you can't deny that he's beautiful.. like so attractive.. if you're not hitting it, I sooo would." She says in all seriousness.

I don't know why but the thought of Harry and Ree makes me quite uncomfortable, I mean I can't say anything, I have no right to, it's just weird.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts as my door opens suddenly. We turn around and see Mitch walking in with another bottle of white wine.

"Ree texted me and said we were having a whine and chick-flick night. What are we talking about" he asks as he walks in through the fort we've made and squeezes to sit between us.

"Just the fact that Harry is super attractive and how he would be amazing in bed." She puts an unnecessary amount of enthusiasm in the word "amazing".

"I mean yeah, you're not wrong he is pretty good looking" Mitch agrees and I laugh. "Very good looking" Ree corrects Mitch. I role my eyes and turn on the next movie.

We all cuddle up to watch a comedy now, we all collectively decided on Bridesmaids, usually it takes us the length of a movie to decide on what we're watching, so I'm glad it was quick this time.

We all lay back on the couch and I just love moments like these. Me and my favourite people.

A/N//

Hey! So I wanted this next chapter to be a little more light hearted and give you a chance to see Mal's relationship with Mitch and Ree. I'll try to have another chapter up this week, anyway that's all bye! Xx