Desolate - h.s. ✓

° twenty-five °

     On Sunday Harry had invited me over to help him babysit. He had to watch his cousins because Robin, Anne, Peter, and Gemma were all going to LA together for the day. Ethan was busy with some class project at a different friend's house, so he didn't think much of me going over a friend's house myself, who I simply failed to mention was Harry. The curly-haired boy picked me up with the children in the back, Emily and Noah both shouting for me.

"Shh," Harry laughed. "You two are so loud."

"Nicole," Noah whispered.

"What?" I asked, turning around.

"Uncle Harry taking us eat ice cream."

"Uncle Harry is taking you to eat, but we can also buy ice cream."

"I didn't get any money," I told him, worried now. "Let me go grab my wallet from—"

He chuckled. "I'll pay for you. It's fine."

Telling him I didn't want him to, he just brushed me off, claiming it was no big deal. I disliked that he had paid for our date the other night, and was now paying for this also. Of course, I knew he had plenty of money, so it wasn't that big of a deal, but I still felt bad. It wasn't very long before I was taking his hand, Harry driving to a restaurant. Once we got there, Emily got out of her seat on her own, taking my hand outside the car while Harry held Noah in his arms. He locked the car, the four of us heading inside. Harry spoke to the hostess while Emily and I sat down, there being a ten minute wait.

"You'll help me with math, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure," he nodded. "When I lay them down for a N-A-P."

Smiling, Emily and Noah both looked confused, but continued talking to each other. They were playing rock, paper, scissors, and I thought it was cute considering they weren't yelling at each other when one of them lost. Harry let me lean against him, a smile on his face as he leaned against me.

"Maybe I'll have to lay down for a N-A-P too," I laughed.

Harry chuckled, our buzzer going off rather soon. We went up to the hostess, one of the women leading us to our table. They gave us menus and kid menus, Emily and Noah both using the crayons to color. The hostess left us alone, another woman walking over to greet us not much later.

"I'm Betty, I'll be your server."

"Hello, Betty!" Noah grinned. "I'd like apple juice. Do you have apple juice?"

"We do!" she nodded. "What about for you?" she asked, looking at Harry.

"I'll get a water."

I also ordered a water, Emily getting a Coke to drink. Betty asked if we were ready to order, and I shook my head no, watching as she walked away. Glancing at Harry, he was paying attention to the menu, a smile on my face when I felt his ankles hook around one of my own.

"You're annoying," I laughed quietly.

"That's okay."

Giggling, I decided I was going to get soup and salad, Harry wanting some sort of steak meal. Emily said she wanted the chicken fingers, while Noah asked for the same. When Betty came over with our drinks, we ordered food, leaving the four of us to continue sitting at the table.

"You turn eighteen in February, right?"

He nodded.

"Yeah, why? What's up?"

"I was just wondering."

"Do you want me to buy you a bunch of lottery tickets?" he asked, grinning. "I can do that."