Hunger

February (part 4)

It took about an hour before Frankie saw Oliver's face change at the appearance of someone or something behind their table. Harry came towards them, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. His face lit up in a smile, when he spotted Frankie, and she smiled back and waved at him. Then she turned and hissed at Abi: "What the fuck do I do?" 

Abi giggled and hissed back: "Get up and see what happens!" Then she pushed Frankie's shoulder, so she got up. 

She walked towards Harry, feeling extremely awkward. 

"Hello," she said when he came close enough to hear her. 

"Hi," he said and opened his arms to hug her. She hugged him back, and felt like every nerve ending in her body was tingling. Her stomach was turning with nervousness. 

"How are you?" He asked as he pulled away from the hug, looking down into her eyes. 

She nodded, unable to think straight. She wanted to reply, but she was too overwhelmed by his presence, his eyes, his arms, the warmth from his body and his scent. 

"Good?" He asked with a cheeky smile on his lips. 

She drew in her breath to answer, but nothing came out when she tried. Instead she blushed and looked down. Harry greeted everyone at the table, and brushed up on their names, which he didn't remember. He was relaxed and easygoing, just like any other guy their age, who went down to the pub to meet friends. He asked if anyone needed a drink and got up to buy a round. Frankie went with him to help him carry everything. 

"I'm glad you left the note," she said to him as they stood in the bar. 

He smiled and looked away for a moment. "You left so fast, I never got to..." He trailed off as Ed came up to get their order. 

Frankie looked down on her fingernails and scraped at the black nail polish she was wearing. 

Harry ordered a round of drinks and chatted a bit with Ed. Ed looked at Frankie and winked before he went to fetch the drinks. Frankie felt like digging a hole and sticking her head in it. She looked up at Harry, who had moved a little closer, so their arms were touching. She smiled at him, way too shy to say or do anything, then she looked back down and scratched her nails. 

"I do that too," Harry said, and let his fingers rest on top of her hand, stopping her from scratching. It was a nervous habit she had, when she needed to distract herself. Normally she would only do it if she wore nail polish, but sometimes, when things got too difficult and stressful, she would pick at the skin around her nails. 

Ed came back with the drinks they had ordered and Frankie pulled her hand away, so Ed wouldn't see. Not because she was embarrassed, but because she didn't want Harry to be. She smiled at Ed, and thanked him for bringing the drinks. Harry paid Ed, and asked if he had a tray they could use. Frankie was already trying to carry several glasses at once, something she usually did, but that Harry didn't feel was necessary. He got the tray and placed all the drinks on it, and carried it to the table. Then he passed them around and sat down next to Frankie. She had ordered a vodka and soda with lemon, which Harry offered her, but when she tried to take it off him, he held onto it and smirked at her. She giggled at him, and made a face, trying to pull the glass out of his hands. Harry chuckled and let her have the drink, but he made sure to touch her fingers, as he let go of the glass. 

The music was loud and the mood was high. People laughed and danced, their company included. Harry had to lean pretty close for them to have a conversation. Frankie had to concentrate to hear what he was saying, which was proving difficult when he was so close to her. 

"What do you do for a living, Frankie?" He asked and kept his face quite close to hers to hear her answer. 

"I'm an accountant," she said loud enough for him to hear her. "I'm in the public education sector."