Songbird [H.S]

THREE

The air was warm as the afternoon sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky. It was a lovely evening - unusually warm - and the entire town of Myrtlewood was making the most of it. Young children had persuaded their parents to let them play in the park, elderly couples took a gentle stroll down the street and teenagers gathered in their groups getting up to no good. As usual, Harry was doing something that would get him into trouble if he was caught - only this time, he had a new accomplice.

Ever since their little trip to the record store a few weeks ago, Marley and Harry had become inseparable. The pair were becoming quite the infamous duo around town - constantly getting into trouble for being too loud or doing something inappropriate. Just yesterday, they were both chased out of the drive-in theatre for sneaking in without tickets after getting drunk (Harry had demanded to watch the new Star Wars film and wouldn't take no for an answer). Their plan would've gone smoothly if Harry hadn't been drunkenly shouting out a running commentary of his opinions every few seconds and irritating everyone around them.

Soft giggles echoed around the pair as Marley laughed uncontrollably at nothing in particular. The familiar smell of weed swirled in the gentle spring breeze earning the duo a few glares of disapproval from adults passing by. Harry's friend Zayn had given the boy a few joints earlier in return for hiding his stash of weed for a few days which had led to Harry persuading the blonde girl into enjoying the good weather 'the right way'. That was how they'd ended up in the diner car park leaning against the hood of the boy's car, passing a blunt back and forth between them as they watched passers-by.

"What's so fuckin' funny?" The boy smirked playfully, the amusement in his slurred voice only making the blonde giggle harder. Glancing to his right, he couldn't help but chuckle, seeing Marley's cheeks flushed pink with happiness while she struggled to wipe away the tears rolling down her face. Taking a deep breath she managed to calm herself a little, her eyes flicking momentarily to Harry's emerald gaze only to trigger another set of breathy giggles to escape her lips.

"S' Nothin'." She sighed, clutching her aching chest as she smiled up at Harry. Truthfully, she had no idea what was making her laugh so much. Perhaps it was the fact that the one person she once despised was now sitting next to her and becoming the main source of happiness in her life. In fact, the blonde couldn't remember ever feeling as content and carefree as she did in that exact moment with Harry (or maybe that was just the weed). Marley's bold personality meant that she didn't have a constant group of friends to hang around with, obviously she had friends - just none she was really close with. Harry was different though, he liked it when she spoke her mind and just went along with her impulsive decisions.

The boy was about to pester the girl, teasing her until she admitted what had made her laugh so much when an elderly lady walking past interrupted him.

"Stupid kids, always up to no good. I ought to tell your mother what you're up to!" She frowned, slowing her steps to tut disapprovingly at Marley who was still clutching the last of the blunt in her fingers.

"Ah shut up you old bat. Go find someone that gives a shit." The blonde snapped back instantly, catching Harry off guard with her sharp tongue. He couldn't help but snicker quietly to himself, making the old woman turn to him with a cold glare.

"There's no respect these days!" She snapped, "Don't think I won't be telling Anne all about this when she gets home!"

"What a sad little life you must lead to spend your time bitching on teenagers. Take that stick out your arse and loosen the fuck up." Marley called out after her, unable to let the woman have the last word. Harry's eyes widened in surprise, the pair staring at each other slightly shocked at her words before collapsing into each other snickering quietly to themselves.