More than just a chemical reaction (Harry Styles x Walter White)

Part 4: Ghrelin

MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP "aurggrhgghgrg" MEEP MEEP "ohshutup" MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP A blanket shrivels around. MEEP MEEP dup.

Silence.

Walter yawns. "17:30 Cooking with Jesse 👨‍🍳" it said on the phone. Phew. "At least no school today", he thought to himself, rolling back under his blanket. Jesse would surely accept him running a bit late. He likely won't even be there yet anyways.

Hold on.

Walter turned back, grabbing his phone. "missed alarm 6:30", "missed call 8:15", "missed call 8:23", "missed call 8:57". The list went on. Walter eyes wandered further up the screen, squinting, looking at what felt like the combined brightness of 10kg of burning magnesium. He took a minute to appreciate Harrys face staring back at him from his lockscreen, before moving on to read the date. "M - O - N - D -", he could barely make out without his glasses. Monday. Monday. Monday. That is a work day. That is a school day. For the first time in his over 30 years of teaching he missed a day. As much as he hated those little kiddos he had to teach all day every day, it was still his responsibility. And he didn't even call in sick. Now all those students would go a day without learning about the beauty that is the periodic table, waste a day not furthering their knowledge about substitutions. Time they will never gain back.  He stopped his thoughts. These were problems for the future, right now Walters objective is to get coffee. "Oh how heavenly it would be to have coffee with Harry", he thought to himself. The scenario developed on its own. He would get a soy pumpkin spice latte, his favorite special during spooky season. Two actually, so he could share this divine beverage... Of course hed hide one of them, so Walter and Harry could share a cup. Oh how romantic it would be, to play with his dark curls, to get lost in Harrys watercolor eyes. Holding hands even, right there in the Starbucks. The risque, the unfiltered love, all the affection, observed by the public eye. Everyone would envy him.

"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh", Walter sighed. He got up, waddling to the kitchen. Taking a look down the hall, he noticed juniors shoes missing. At least one of them got to school on time. Waiting for the coffee to brew, he let the last evening pass through his thoughts again. The music, the atmosphere, Harry. How close he got to be his idol during the autograph session, seeing his hand move to write Walter, his name! He did also add a junior at the end, but thats details. The elegant scream Harry let out afterwards echoed through Walters brain. Right, there was a message for Walter on the back of the paper, Walter senior that is as Harry made it abundantly clear. A mixture of panic and excitement ran through his chest, reaching his head, arms and legs. Could it really be? That it was not only a dream? Not just a remnant of his escalated drug use? His knees could barely hold him anymore, searching the kitchen counter with his hands, grasping on to any balance he could find as his heart pounded, as his lungs screamed for air. Thoughts racing, preparing for the route to juniors bedroom, an urge to vomit overcame him. Walter fell. These emotions and sensations were clearly not meant to be felt together. He was also, however, finally awake. And there was no doubt that Harry had left a message for him. The message being in Juniors room. Upstairs. As so he too had to be upstairs, it was meant to be. But he was here, in pyjamas, laying on the floor, overstimulated, close to puking. Feeling miserable. "Get yourself together Walt", he said to himself, "You stupid old man." After getting himself together, he got up and climbed the stairs, opening the door to his sons room. The floor creaking under his footsteps, time passing ever slower as he approached the desk. And there it was. Harrys autograph card. His fingers trembling, he turned it around. A phone number. A PHONE NUMBER. HARRYS PHONE NUMBER!!!!!! Walter let out a small scream of joy. Wasting no time, he pulled out his phone and saved the number. He was about to call it, then suddenly freezed. Was calling first the approriate move? Or should he text him? Weighing his options, he decided to call. Now was the time to act, and act he would.

The phone rang. Walter breathed. And it rang again. And then yet again. And then again and again and again and again and again. And then it stopped. Overcome with sheer panic, Walter stared at the overly bright screen, decorated with letters one could read from a mile away. "no answer" it said, in a neutral grey. Disillusioned, Walter lowered his arm, turning his head upwards, the ceiling light shining directly into his soul. What did he even think would happen. Harry was a busy man, he had probably just not seen it.

Little did he know Harry saw the call, he had been waiting for it for hours. He was also way too anxious to answer it. Glued to his phone the entire day now, his manager tried to get him off of it to get him to do his daily exercise, but it was pointless. Harry fled into a bathroom and has been in there ever since, sitting on the lid, clasping his cell. Yet he was not prepared when a call finally did appear on his screen, he could not help it but to watch it ring, in disbelief, not sure what to do. Not that he was able to do anything anyways. He couldnt move, couldnt step in, couldnt act. Only watch. Minutes later, a message came in. "Hello Mr. Styles, its me Walter. We met at the autogra..." he could read in the little pop-up window. Knowing his reading indicators were disabled, he opened the message and read it. Harrys eyes widened as he realized what was written to him. Walter was asking him on a date!!!!!

The next day, 5:00pm. Walter reserved a table for two at the fanciest sushi restaurant in all of Albuquerque, The Golden Koi. He arranged for slow, romantic music to be played, and for good measure also reserved all the nearby tables so he and Harry could dine in peace. He had been here for half an hour already, getting used to the atmosphere, moving seats and tables and furniture around as he saw fit (much to the dismay of the waiters). Now he was waiting, staring at the big wooden door, anticipating Harry to come in at any moment. The door moved, slowly opening, and through it stepped his love. Walter sprung up, running towards him and giving him a hug. "Harry! You're here~" "Walter I'm so happy to see you", Harry responded. They sat down, reading the menu carefully. Harry didnt want Walter to think he had no taste, so he really took his time deciding what to order. He was vegetarian, but he didnt know about Walter and didnt want to be judged for it. Should he order some fish? Some duck maybe? Before he could decide, Walter ordered what felt like half the menu. "I don't know about you, but I just couldn't decide between all these lovely dishes. :)", Walter said, smiling, "let's just try which ones we like and just send the others back."

Carefully eating his way around all the fish, Harry had a great time. Walter was such a funny man, all that life experience cumulated in witty jokes and great stories to tell. And all those wrinkles around his face, the occasional gray hair peeking out of his beard, he truly was a beautiful sight to witness. Harry told him about his life as a star, how he never truly gets to rest, but how it is all worth it for the feeling of being on stage and having everyone cheer for you. Walter on the other hand taught him an incredible amount of chemistry, all so clearly explained and delivered elegantly. All of a sudden Harry could feel a passion for chemistry rising up within him, during a bathroom break he signed up for a remote university course. He was now determined to become the best chemist he could be.

After eating for hours and hours on end, talking about the sweet and the sour, they went outside. Much to Harrys dismay, Walter had insisted on paying the bill in full, but Harry was able to convince him to let him pay for a bubble tea at least. Waiting for google maps to load, he couldn't help but notice the moon shining bright on Walters shiny bald head, reflecting and scattering the light of the full moon. Walter too seemed to notice it, looking upwards into the moon. Yet he somehow looked so... uneasy? Surely he just overate, a feeling that would be resolved after some delicious drinks. But then, Walter turned towards him, looking him straight in the eye and just saying "I'm so sorry Harry", before running away into the night.