Frowned Upon [H.S. AU]

TWELVE

"Is it cool that I said all that?

Is it too soon to do this yet?

'Cause I know that it's delicate."

✿ ✿ ✿

IRIS MONROE

October 19th, 2021

I need to knock eventually.

I have been standing out here with my arm held up and my knuckles just an inch away from the door for five minutes.

Just knock and get it over with.

With one last push, I quickly knock a few times, and I'm unsure whether it was hard enough for Phoebe to hear it from inside.

I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time, and I'm nearly an hour earlier than usual.

We don't necessarily have a specific time for tutoring; just after school is what we agreed on, but I've always given Phoebe and Naomi some time to settle in before coming over.

The only difference today is I purposely came early out of fear of facing Harry. Not that I think he'll be angry or upset toward me, but talking to my student's father after I kissed him is a bit intimidating. And undeniably nerve-wracking.

Part of me worries that I'm about to be severely rejected, and I'll have to play it off as if he hasn't been on my mind since I met him. Even more so since we kissed.

The other part is wondering how the hell we'd even make this work if we both are interested in exploring our feelings further than a spontaneous makeout session.

Okay, I need to avoid thinking about that entirely before I see him.

The last thing I need right now is to have a clouded mind.

My attention is quickly averted when Phoebe opens the door widely.

"Iris, hi!" She says with a bit of surprise in her voice, but still happy to see me, "Come in, come in."

She waves me in, and I smile nervously as I enter the familiar foyer.

The last time I was here, I was rushing out the door while trying to quietly pull my shoes on without faceplanting onto the ground. Nope, don't think about that.

"I'm early, I know. I'm sorry; I probably should have let you know" I quickly apologize and shift my bag on my shoulder.

"Don't apologize; it's totally okay," she assures me and softly chuckles, "You're always welcome to come early," she smiles at me.

My heart starts to beat harshly and rapidly against my rib cage as she shuts the door behind us while I slip my shoes off, and I immediately start to look around for Naomi, but I don't see her. Typically, she waits in the living room for me so she can answer the door, but I'm early, so she has no reason to be expecting me.

I don't see Harry anywhere either, and his car wasn't in the driveway, but it still doesn't ease my lingering anxiety.

"I figured why not get an early start today, I guess," I lie to cover up the fact that I'm trying to avoid Harry, and I push my shoes to the side to sit next to Naomi's.

"Of course!" She agrees as we start walking toward the living, and she pauses to turn toward me with a hesitant look on her face, "So, um–"

Oh no. That's not necessarily a good facial expression. Maybe if I mention Scarlett, it'll go away.