In between (short story)

Chapter 3

“Did you ever drove something like this?” I ask while crawling onto a jetski. Harry smiles and takes my hand. 

“Of course!” his voice is full of sarcasm. He pulls me on the jetski and turn around to look at me. 

“Zip up your vest, this is going to be a bumpy ride.” He says as he wiggles with the jetski. Automatically I grab Harry’s waist. My cheek is pressed into his back and my knees against his outer thighs. The thin fabric of his swimming trunks ensures to feel everything underneath. So I put my hands slightly higher. 

“Sorry.” I stutter. Harry holds his breath and tries to start the thing. I close my eyes and embrace him a little tighter. A cool breeze plays with my hair. I can hear Harry’s regularly breathing and the warmth of his skin distract me for a second. His skin was so soft. 

The motor starts to roar. It’s shaking, so I cling to Harry’s body. 

The wind is blowing through my hair and betrays the fact that Harry is driving. I open one eye and the water splashes to the jetski very hard. 

“Harry, slow down!” I scream as loud as I can. 

“Don’t be afraid, Chloë!” he screams too and I feel he has to take a deep breath. “Nothing will happen!” 

“Slow down!” I repeat and ignore the soothing words.

Paralyzed I’m watching how Harry talks to the renter of the jetski. Harry’s a great guy. He constantly wants me to be comfortable and forget the fact that Liam is kilometers far away.

My heart jumps almost out of my chest. Liam! He could have called when I was on the jetski!

Abruptly I turn around and run as fast as I can to the towels. I search my phone with a little panic in my eyes. I couldn’t find it! I throw everything I can find out of the bag.

“What’s wrong, Chloë?” Harry sits next to me. 

“My phone?! Where’s my phone!” I scream as I hold my breath.

“Oh, I took them with me when we…” I grab my phone out of his hands when he takes them out his pocket. No missed calls… I sigh.

“Sorry, Liam didn’t call.” He says like he had read my mind. He wraps an arm around me and kisses my temple.

Back at the hotel Harry walks along to my hotel room. I play with my keys. 

“It was fun.” Harry finally says. 

I nod and don’t dare to look up. I feel a bit uncomfortable. 

“If you need something, the number of my room is 436.” He smiles. “You can always call. It doesn’t matter how late it is.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him for a second. I open the door and take a last look at Harry. He waits until I close the door before he leaves. With my back against the door I look into my room. It’s messy but the atmosphere is empty. There’s no Liam around. I close my eyes and imagine him lying on the bed with his boxers on. His laptop on his lap and reading tweets. The warm smile on his face makes me smile too.

I open my eyes again and the room is even more empty now. Tears are filling my eyes and I start to sob. Maybe a warm shower will let me think of something else. 

I walk to the bathroom and let the water stream into the bathtub. I look into the mirror. My huge eyes are drowning in fresh tears and the black circles make my eyes look tired. I undress myself and let my clothes on the ground. I’m too lazy to pick them up. The hot water flows over my shoulders and let me relax a bit. My thoughts are with Harry, while they should be with Liam… 

Harry is such a sweet guy and I never thought this day would be so much fun. Even when Harry’s jokes were lame, I laughed like an idiot. Harry had only eye for me. The blonde girl passed a few times but he didn’t even see it!

And okay, the ride with the jetski was horrible… But Harry slowed down when I asked for it. And when I was afraid, Harry comforted me. When I was thirsty, Harry got me a drink as fast as he could. And when I panicked about my phone, Harry kissed my temple and gave my phone.

And now…when I’m feeling all alone in this large hotel room, I want to be with him. Because he let me forget the pain.

With a towel around my waist I walk into the cold room again. I pick up the phone and dial ‘436’. 

He doesn’t pick up… a bit disappointed I hang up. Maybe he’s in the shower too? My heart beats up. I run like an idiot to the bathroom and dress myself. I have to go to his room immediately. I can’t take it anymore without his presence. I put on a beanie to cover my wet and messy hair.