CASUAL • Harry Lewis/w2s

six

Time passed and soon April came around making it three weeks since my night with Harry. Already after a few days, things returned to a near-normal state. Harry kept looking at me as if he had something to say, but he knew better than to attempt to speak.

I hadn't told anyone about my one-night stand with Harry. I was annoyed with myself for giving in to sexual pleasure with him. I didn't feel good about the fact that he knew me so intimately. He'd been so damn good. Ugh. Why did he have to be so amazing, and why did I remember our night together whenever he came to mind?

It was the day of the annual Easter dinner party. Every year around easter one of the sidemen is hosting our annual easter dinner. Last year it was me, this year it was Ethan and Faith.

Everyone had been assigned to bring a meal or beverage. I was lucky this year to only have to bring wine and fizzy drinks.

For clothes, I chose to wear a black mini-skirt, black tights paired with a white off-shoulder top and some tall black boots.

I was about to get public transport to Ethan and Faith's when I noticed texts from the group chat while getting ready.

TROOPS:

Ethan: Change of plans. Oven won't work
Cant be at mine

Harry: You gotta be taking the piss, mate

Ethan: I'm telling ya, almost burned down the house

JJ: It ain't gonna be at mine

Tobi: I'm the one who has hosted the most, so not at mine

Lux: I have the smallest flat out of all of us sooo not at mine

Vik: Ellie has her parents here so can't be at mine

I hosted last year ain't doing it again this year

Harry: Cal's and mine ain't big enough for that

Ethan: Harry and Cal you're the only people who have never hosted an easter dinner

Simon: I vote Harry and Cal

JJ: Me too

Ethan: Me three

Harry: That ain't fair

Cal: This is your fault Harold

Vik: Sorry lads, it's the only way

Josh: So Harry and Cal it is, I'll text around letting everyone else know

Harry: I hate you all

Oh, hell no. I wasn't ready to go back to his flat yet. I looked at my phone in disbelief for a minute.

I wanted to argue that setting a place at a table was much easier than attending a dinner party at the home of someone with whom I had sex with. But I couldn't argue it because that could cause suspicion.

Faith answered the door when I knocked on Harry's door, which was a relief.

"Glad you decided to come. Come on in!" She said perkily. "Ethan made a special cocktail for the party. Go get one."

"Okay, but only one. I have to get safely home tonight," I said as she took my coat and hung it up.

Or rather just get home this time.

When I entered, I noticed that everyone was gathered in the kitchen. I was a little relieved that I didn't get scared off giving it being at Harry's because something smelled really good. Ethan raised a glass to me. Although I couldn't identify the exact ingredient, it tasted fruity, like strawberry and lemonade.

I greeted everyone in the room, but I didn't see Harry, which was odd.

As I took a piece of cheese from the spread of appetisers on the kitchen island, a voice whispered in my ear.

"Almost thought you didn't come."

I'm not sure where Harry had been since he could sneak up on me like that, but the surprise caused me to choke on my gouda.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he patted my back firmly.

I coughed and sputtered for a few more seconds before downing my drink in the hopes of feeling better.

"I'm okay," I said finally after I stopped coughing. Now all eyes were on me. Which was mortifying.

Harry pulled me by my elbow and led me out of the crowded kitchen to the hall outside his bedroom.

"You sure you're okay?"

I knew he didn't mean if I was okay after coughing.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I hissed.

"Then why 'you calling up Faith telling her you're sick and not coming?" He accused. "It's been a month, Maisie!"

"I just didn't feel ready to go back here," I pleaded. "It felt weird."

I called Faith right after we decided to get together at Harry and Callum's. I said I got sick and couldn't come. Faith argued with me for a while before questioning why I wasn't coming, so I just told her I was coming and hung up. And I guess she also started questioning Harry when she got here.

Another reason I didn't want to return to Harry's flat was that it was also Callum's, and I hadn't realised Callum could have heard Harry and me. I first realised Callum was at the flat that night when it was decided who would host Easter dinner instead of Ethan and Faith. I was scared to face Callum if he somehow knew it was me that night.

"You demanded acting like nothing happened, then fuckin' act like nothing happened," Harry fumed, raising his voice a bit but still keeping it low so the others couldn't hear it. "Maybe just for tonight act like nothing happened?"

He made my blood boil, even though I knew he was correct. I demanded it, but I'm still not acting accordingly. It seemed simple for him, and he returned to acting as if nothing had happened. He acted awkwardly towards me, but that could be mistaken for the typical Harry. Even though I suggested it, it was more difficult for me to do. I couldn't look at him without remembering that night. Even if I tried, I didn't know how to maintain a conversation with him because all I could think about was that night. And I hated myself for it.

"It isn't like I have tried something like this before and just know how to react to it," I hissed back at him. "But hooray for you because you can act like nothing happened, congratu-fucking-lations, Harry. What do you want? A medal?"

He rolled his eyes at me. "Y'know what, suit yourself. You drive me crazy. You're being a-"

Thankfully, Tobi came over and interrupted him before he could tell me what I was.

"I made you another drink, Maisie," He said as he handed me the refilled glass. I wasn't supposed to drink much now that it was at Harry's, so I just held it after saying thank you.

Tobi walked away, and Harry nodded to the glass in my hand. "You drinking that?"

"I have to leave your flat this time, so no."

He took it from me and downed the drink in one gulp before rejoining the party in the kitchen.