one minute || h.s

thirteen

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It had been an awful week. I tried not to be sad, I really did. I also did everything I could not to respond to Harry’s text messages. I didn’t want him to say I told you so. I hadn’t wanted him to be right. Adam had been trying to get a hold of me and I was just trying to figure out whether I wanted to give him another chance or not. The knock on my door got me to finally get off the couch and I already had an idea of who it was. I gave myself a good fifteen seconds to get my shit together before I swung it open and instead of Adam, I was greeted by my smiley best friend and his hair was put up in a nice little bun and I wanted to shut the door as fast as I could, but instead, I allowed him to wrap his arms around me. “What are you doing here?” I was finally able to get a word in once he let me go.

“Hi to you too…” I followed him inside and he dropped his things on the counter before opening up the fridge. 

“Hi Harry, what are you doing here?” He chuckled and grabbed an orange.

“We’re on our break…got back late last night. I told you that on the message I left you…you said you listened to it.”

“Oh—right, yeah. How long?”

“Ten days…” I nodded, feeling out of it. 

“Oh nice.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Something’s wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong, Harry.”

“Spit it out.”

“I don’t have anything to spit out. Nothing is wrong.”

“M’not stupid and I know you. Tell me what happened.”

“I just—I have a lot on my plate right now, okay? I’m on my period. I’m tired and I don’t want to answer your questions. I’m fine.” He slipped off the counter top and walked towards me as I backed away.

“Last time you were on your period you had me running around the whole city fetching you things…ice cream, chocolate, crepes…just—tell me what’s on your mind?” My phone began vibrating on the counter and I was actually grateful it was Adam.

“Hey…” I greeted, sounding all too happy for my mood.

“Hi…” Obviously, he was surprised I’d answered so nicely.

“What’s up?”

“Um, I—are you…is everything okay?”

“Yeah, of course. When did you want to meet up?”

“Is someone there?” Idiot finally caught on.

“Yeah.”

“Can—will you actually meet me?” I took a shaky breath and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to stop the tears. 

“Mhm…”

“Java, fifteen minutes?”

“That’s perfect.” I knew my voice was thick,  and if Harry was smart, he’d know I wasn’t okay, so I just prayed to the gods that he wasn’t paying attention.

“Okay…cool. Um—see you in a bit then.”

“Okay.”

“Hey, Hal?”

“Hm?”

“I love you…” That may have been it. 

“Yeah. I um—see you soon.” I hurriedly hung up and turned around and Harry was much closer than I had anticipated.

“What the hell happened?” Fücking fück. “I know you…do not bullshit me. Do not lie to me. I know you. There are tears in your eyes and you look a bloody mess. What…happened?”

“I’m meeting Adam in fifteen minutes…will you be here when I get back?”

“What happened?”

“Can you please just drop this? I’m begging you Harry, please. Just for right now?” He groaned and rubbed his temples. 

“I’ll be here when you get back.” I nodded and hurried out, making it impossible for him to ask anymore questions.

º º º º º º º º

I sat in the front seat of my car as silent tears rolled down my face. I wasn’t angry anymore. I was hurt. Confused…the word why continued to haunt me. There were barely any cars in the rear parking lot but I’d already seen Adam’s ’88 Land Rover parked out front. I knew he was here, I just wasn’t sure I could do it. I wasn’t brave enough to face him. Just as I went to reverse out of the corner spot, the passenger side door opened and Harry slid inside. 

“What the fück, Harry?”

“What did he do to you?”

“Why do you do this?” 

“You’ve practically ignored me for the past two weeks. You’ve been sitting here for the past twelve minutes and I need to know what happened. I need you to tell me, doll.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why? Have I done something?”

“You—you’re just going to say I told you so and I don’t want to hear it because I already know. I just need to know that I’m not alone.” His thumb grazed my cheek and I leaned into it.

“You’re never alone, Hal.” I bit my lower lip hard as he said this.

“I’m so embarrassed…”

“Tell me what happened.” He lifted the middle console up, creating a third seat. 

“He didn’t go fishing with his dad.” I sniffled and he gently wiped away a tear or two. “He never saw his dad.” He said nothing. His brow creased noticeably and his gaze was heavy on me, but he stayed completely silent. “Please, don’t tell me you told me so—”

“I’m not—I won’t…come here…” I let his arms envelop me and I fisted up his ratty t-shirt and I breathed him in and he smelled like home and I was angry at myself for shutting him out the way I had. 

“I didn’t want you to be right about him. I wanted him to be good…”

“I know.”

“I loved him…”

“I know you did, lovely. I know.”

“I don’t know what to do now…”

“Stay with me tonight.” I nodded into his chest and he rocked us lightly.

“That’s a start.” Sniffling, I pulled away he tucked my damp hair back behind my ears. “I need to go in there…”

“No you don’t. I’ll take care of it. Go get your things and meet back at mine, yeah?” Reluctantly, I allowed this. 

“Don’t make a scene…”

“Don’t worry. Management can’t afford any more bad behavior from us. I’ll be good, promise.” His lips locked firmly against my forehead before he got out and headed inside. After a few seconds, I pulled out and headed home. Allowing Harry (for once) to be my guy. My protecter. My best friend.