Sweetheart Single

16 | Midnight Tea

Harry and I are walking back to my dorm hall. It's still spitting rain and the night chill has started to settle in my bones. I wonder when it will turn to snow.

"Horrible London weather you're having, isn't it?" Harry asks, looking around the soaked campus.

"Not the best, but better than another foot of snow," I say, stopping as we reach my dorm hall. "Well, this is me."

Part of me wants to invite him in –solely to hang in the lounge and maybe listen to some music or play some foosball. Nothing else.

"Here already? That wasn't much of a walk. It's a shame your campus is so small," Harry says confidently.

"I know," I say, blushing. Invite him in, Elle.

"I'd say let's take another turn around, but you're positively soaked. You must be freezing." Harry touches my cheek with his knuckle. "I have an idea –If you're up for it. I'd completely understand if you said no."

"What idea?" I ask, overzealous. All caution lost in the wind outside.

"Come back with me. To my hotel?" Harry asks.

"Oh," I squeak. My body tenses with both excitement and apprehension.

"Not like that, I assure you. We can just keep talking and maybe have some tea to warm you up," Harry smiles softly.

"Tea?" I ask, my eyebrow arched. As if tea is really what he wants. As if tea is really what would warm me up.

"Just tea. On my honor," he says, crossing his heart.

I think about the mounting absurdity of this day.

First: My run in with Jake at the coffee shop.

Second: Harry persuading me to meet him in the SAC.

Now third: An invitation to Harry's hotel room. Something I am sure (absolutely positive) most girls (and guys) on this campus would jump to accept.

"Ah, never mind. It's too much. Forgive me," Harry says. He looks at me carefully, shaking his head.

It's like he knows I'm a pansy. Then again... last night I was a completely different version of myself. And today has been –an adventure to say the least. Maybe I should continue the streak as long as it's still the weekend. I glance at my phone. 11:17 PM. Yes, it's still the weekend.

"No," I blurt out.

"No, you don't forgive me?" He asks, brows furrowed.

"No. I mean, yes, I forgive you. But no, it's not too much." I feel slightly taller when I say this.

"You're sure?" Harry asks, his lips upturning into a surprised smile. "I promise I'll drive you back tonight."

"I know you will." I tell him nonchalantly.

I follow Harry to the back parking lot behind East Hall. We climb into his black SUV rental, and I'm surprised to find it smells minty. I find myself shocked but pleasantly surprised that Harry drives himself instead of having a driver at his beck and call.

"What?" He asks, looking at my smile.

"I'm just impressed you drive yourself," I tease.

"I'm not entirely useless, you know. Buckle-up." He winks at me through his perfect long hair.

I know he's only telling me to wear the seatbelt, but it feels like such a deeper warning. What am I getting myself into?

Twenty minutes later we are pulling into the nearby Marriot. Harry opens the car door for me, and we run through the rain and into the brightly lit lobby.