ambit. [hs au]

Prequel | Ring

2015

Going to family dinners is not really Harry's vibe.

Well, he's always attending his family dinners, but it's only because it's so far away from what a family reunion should be, it doesn't actually feel like he's doing something so ordinary.

However, sitting at a table, surrounded by a happy family, everyone shouting at the same time, loud laughter, the sound of silverware beating against porcelain, the smell of home-cooked meals lingering in the air, and never even close to having the amount of alcohol he would like... It's a big, fat no for him.

So, his natural response to the Huffine's invitation was thanks, but no, thanks.

He doesn't want to sound like an asshole, but the truth is, he has more important stuff to do, and worry about, than going to a family lunch with his brother's best friend's family.

Besides, he is not too fond of the way they look at him.

Like he's broken, or something like that. And, at the same time, like he's a time bomb waiting to explode.

Of course, they know better. At the age of 20, Harry is one of the most influential people in Thirstok, being part of the City Council ever since he was 17. It was a place he inherited from his deceased father, a birthright, if you will. The only problem is, he wasn't expected to take this place so early in life - it's kinda awkward to have a 20-year-old sitting at the big, round table, among men twice, sometimes thrice his age.

It is weird especially for the older men, at first it was very hard for them to take Harry seriously. Come on, he was just a boy who didn't know any better, who should be going to college, studying to become the powerful businessman life forced him to be at such a young age and with no experience whatsoever. However, it didn't take much for the other members of the council to realize Harry was, in fact, worthy of his place.

As a matter of fact, it is almost frightening how good on the job he is.

All things considered, Harry is too busy to attend friendly meals with any family other than his own.

Though it is Saturday, Harry has worked the whole day, and as the night falls, all he can think of is to go to Luke's club and relax. Which might include drinking his body weight in alcohol, doing a few lines and maybe fucking some hot girl that crosses paths with him.

Walking out of the office, he takes off the tie around his neck and pops open the first buttons on his white dress shirt. He gets to his car, parked in the underground floor of the building, and as he turns the engine on to drive away, his phone vibrates in his pocket, the multimedia Bluetooth connecting and showing on the screen of the car's internal dashboard.

He glances at the screen, his heart skipping a beat as he sees his brother's caller ID. He knows it doesn't even make sense, to always be so concerned, but it's stronger than him.

"Timmy?" He answers immediately, clicking the button on the wheel. "Is everything OK?"

"H!" Timmy's voice fills the car. He sounds happy, which promptly calms Harry's heart. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Shoot."

"I'm at Dot's and her mother is making dinner, and I thought it would be nice to bring the dessert." Timmy explains, his prepubescent voice getting high-pitched at the end of his sentence.

Harry sighs, already turning the car to the right instead of left, the way to Luke's club. "And you want me to bring it, huh?" He teases. "What do I buy? Cheesecake? Lemon Pie? Carrot cake?"