One Plus One

Chapter Ten

I was awakened with a slam. Heavy footsteps stomped up the stairs. I covered my face with the pillow, trying to cling on to my sleepy state on my only day off. It was pointless even trying. There was rustling around in drawers and wardrobes coming from Jasmine's room. She was obviously clearing all of her stuff out of the house. I threw my pillow to my side in a huff and rolled out of the bed. I sleepily walked out of bedroom and across the landing to hers.

"I already know you're leaving, do you have to make so much noise about it?"

Jaz slammed a drawer shut and glared at me. When I said nothing more, she carried on throwing all of her stuff into her suitcase. I leant against the doorframe watching her. It was dead silent except for the sound of rustling fabric.

"You do know I won't be able to keep up the payments on the house, don't you?"

She ignored me. I was beginning to get annoyed with her. She was acting like a child.

"Jasmine!"

My raised tone brought her to a halt. She stared at me, figuring out what she was going to say.

"Well maybe you'll get a proper job now, instead of wasting your time in there." she bit back.

"I'm not wasting my time there."

"Yes you are. That's not a proper career, Marlie. It's time for you to grow up and realise that."

I scoffed, turning away from her.

"I can't believe you're doing this to me. You could have given me some warning that you were thinking of moving out, I could have tried to sort something out."

"Marlie-"

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out." I interjected whilst walking away from her.

I tugged on some shorts and a shirt, slipped on my Vans and ran a brush through my hair. I ran down the stairs and picked up my keys before continuing out of the door.

The fresh air calmed me down as it infiltrated my lungs. It was warm, but a slight breeze took the edge off. My long hair blew out around me as I strolled around the park. I came to a stop on a hill overlooking the lake. I sat down on the grass with my knees bent up to my chest. I plucked at the strands of grass and threw them back down again repeatedly. My thoughts were swirling around in my head. When I grew tired of thinking, I lay down on the grass, squeezing my eyes shut, almost as though I was trying to squeeze my thoughts from my mind.

The sound of footsteps in the grass startled me. I listened as they came closer. They seemed to stop right by my head.

"There's a spider on your chest." a raspy voice sounded.

My eyes shot open as I frantically brushed said spider from my chest, but there was nothing there. I could hear whoever it was chuckling at me.

"Harry." I sighed as I looked up to meet his gaze. His eyes were as sparkly as ever.

"Hi, gorgeous. What are you doing here? Why aren't you at work?"

"We have a day off today."

I resumed my previous act of plucking at the grass as Harry placed himself down beside me. He mirrored my position, resting is arms across his knees.

"Are you ok?"

He tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.

"I'm fine."

"Just fine?"

"At this moment in time. Yes. Just fine. What are you doing here anyway?"

"On my way into work."