Allure (ENG)

Chapter 3 - Harry

I open the door to the bar. Eduardo and Amy are stocking up the fridge.

"He did what?!" Amy exclaims indignantly.

"Shh." Eduardo signals to Amy that I am downstairs again.

"With her best friend?" she asks softly, but not soft enough. It annoys me how Eduardo just shared all of what happened last season with Amy when he promised not to say anything. Maybe my annoyance comes from my fear of it reaching my mum.

Without saying a word, I walk past them towards the beer glasses. As if I didn't hear what was just said. I have a feeling what they were talking about. One by one I start rinsing out the glasses.

"Did something happen?" I hear Eduardo ask me in Dutch. Eduardo is folding up some cardboard boxes and behind him I see Amy walk into the storage.

"My mum, you know how she gets." Eduardo nods understandingly.

"Try to keep it fun this season, alright?"

"You know I always try," I say with a forced smile.

"Annual problem," he laughs. Eduardo always delights me with his wise words, but my thoughts are still with Amy. Chances are Eduardo ratted me out to her. I gather all of my courage to ask him.

"Ed." Eduardo is on his way to the storage, but I call him back.

"Yeah?"

"Did you tell her?"

"What?" he says casually. I hate it when he acts this careless and casual, but it's in his blood. Spaniards can be very laid back but never forget about their temper. Eduardo's body language betrays him. I can tell he is growing more and more nervous. "What?" he repeats.

"Last year?" He furrows his eyebrows, question marks almost visible above his head. "About that night?" I add.

"Ooh! I would never tell your mum about that, you know that right?"

"I'm not talking about my mum." He knows exactly what I want him to tell me. I heard parts of his conversation with Amy. If only he could just be honest about why he told her, then I would stop bothering him. Then I will be able to put it all behind me for the summer. Eduardo stares at me as if he wants me to put words in his mouth. "Amy," I whisper, realising she could walk back out of the storage any second now.

"Ah! That."

"You said you wouldn't say anything!" Eduardo brushes his hand through his hair. His stare grows more serious now.

"I thought she should know."

"And why is that?! You promised you wouldn't say anything." Eduardo shrugs.

"Now Amy knows too. That way we can both keep an eye on you this summer." I roll my eyes. As if I need a babysitter. If I wanted that I would have stayed at my dad's. "You're like a little brother to us, Hazz. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"An annoying one, but still." Eduardo bursts out laughing. Behind him, Amy reappears with a cardboard box in her hand, which she puts down next to the fridge.

"What are you two talking about?" Eduardo clears his throat. Amy puts both hands on her hips and stares at us. I sigh. Eduardo already told her the full story, but they are both looking at me as if they want to hear it again. From me.

"Nothing really," I quickly reply.

"Sure," she says with squinting eyes. "How about you tell me why you didn't graduate then?" Amy frowns at me. My eyes shoot to Eduardo and I sigh again.

"It's no big deal, Amy."

"I thought you said you only needed to pass a few more courses?" I nod and bite my lip. That is what's been the problem for years now.

"I just couldn't focus on school when I got back to England last year." I wave it all away and turn myself back to the beer glasses I was rinsing.

"Harry," she says with a disapproving tone in her voice.

"You weren't here last summer. A lot happened, okay!" I let out all the built-up frustration and storm off towards the storage with a heavy sigh. It is not Amy's fault I didn't graduate and I know I shouldn't have snapped at her like that.

"I know about last year," I hear softly behind me. When I turn around I stare right into Amy's eyes. I bite my lip, nod and avoid her gaze. So Eduardo did tell her everything, that much is clear now.

"I don't want a lecture, Amy." I already feel bad enough as it is. That feeling has never left.

"I know." I feel her hand on my arm and with a sigh, I look back up at her. "I just don't get it, Harry. It doesn't sound like the Harry I knew."

"Can we talk about something else please?" I take a step back and turn to walk to the walk-in fridge where the fresh fruit is kept. "Why don't you tell me about your summer? A full summer without us, how was that? That must have been great, right? What even made you decide to come back?" I rattle on. Anything to get her to talk about something else, as long as it is not about me. I pick up one of the crates from the walk-in fridge and walk past Amy back to the bar. Seconds later Amy is next to me again and puts a bag of ice down on the counter with a sigh.

"It wasn't great if you must know. My girlfriend left me for someone else," she says softly as she keeps her eyes locked on the bag of ice.

I stare at her in disbelief. I didn't even know she was in a relationship, let alone with a girl. My eyes shoot up to Eduardo. He can barely contain his laughter when he sees my stunned face.

"Your girlfriend?" I say softly. Amy nods.

"What's wrong with a same-sex relationship?" Eduardo and Amy look at each other. I scratch my neck.

"I just didn't know you had someone."

"We met after I got back to England the summer before last. She's the reason I wasn't here last summer." It appears she does want to talk about her time away and I make sure to listen intently. If I can keep her talking about her life, then maybe we won't have to talk about mine.

"What happened?" I ask gently.

"We seemed to be the perfect match. I really thought so, but then just a few months ago, she just left."

"I'm sorry, Amy."

"It's fine," she says softly, but I can tell she doesn't mean it. She swallows away her tears and starts emptying the bag of ice.

"You deserve someone great, Amy."

"Amy!" The three of us are startled by my mum, who all of sudden is standing right before us. I had completely forgotten she was somewhere around.

"Yes?" Amy says with squared shoulders.

"Keep the boys in line for me!" I roll my eyes and sigh. Typical of my mum, doesn't even trust her own son.

"I will!" My eyes follow my mum until she has actually left the bar. Amy eyes us with a big grin on her face.

"This will be fun," I say sarcastically to Eduardo in Dutch so Amy doesn't understand. He gives me a shove and starts to laugh.

"I'd rather have Amy boss me around than your mum," he replies softly. I bite my lip to suppress a laugh.