Penumbra

Chapter 4

I drove back to college last night because today marks the end of Christmas break and the first day of second semester. The only good thing about being back in school is that I don't have to worry about receiving anymore packages. I am free of them - for now.

Before I go to class, I make a stop at the on-campus café. When I walk in, it is not the aroma of coffee or the long line that catches my attention. It is the boy hunched over the table in the corner. He sits alone and looks out the window with a stern look on his face. A white t-shirt fits tightly on his broad shoulders, but more loosely around his torso. His thick, curly brown hair ends just past his shoulders and tattoos litter his toned arms. Even from across the room I can tell that he isn't the warm and fuzzy type - there is a definite edge to him. I catch myself staring, so I force myself to turn my attention elsewhere. Still, I can't help but sneak glances at him.

A girl walking past startles me out of my stare, "He's hot, isn't he? Fucked him last semester." She whispers in my ear. Then she walks away, leaving me to stand in line awkwardly.

The girl standing behind me lets out a sarcastic laugh.

"She said that like it was unusual." She says, "Harry's fucked 75% of the female population, she's not that special."

So his name is Harry.

"Oh." I'm really not in the mood to talk to her so I leave it at that. It's the first Monday back after a long break and I'm not feeling very sociable.  

Once I make it to the front of the line, I quickly order myself a coffee and then walk to my only class of the day: literary analysis. Harry walks out just before me, throwing on his leather jacket as he pushes through the door. He doesn't hold it open for me.

Suddenly I make the connection. Harry. Harry Styles. The notorious Harry Styles, known for fucking girls like it's a hobby. The only thing I know about him is that he likes sex, and apparently, coffee.  

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When I get to class, I take a seat towards the back. To my surprise, Harry enters the room shortly after me. I keep my eyes on him as he walks through the classroom and I notice that he is heading towards me, or, more accurately, the section of the room where I am sitting. A pair of black skinny jeans fits tightly on his legs, and expensive-looking black boots adorn his feet. He is still wearing the leather jacket I saw him throw on on his way out of the café. Eventually he slides into the seat next to mine.

Up close, I notice more about Harry. There is no denying that he's attractive. His jawline could cut diamonds and his eyes are a piercing green, but it almost seems that they are hiding something. As he looks at me now, they are filled with mischief and cunning, but I can't see pain or sadness or happiness beneath his immediate gaze like I can in other people. Whatever is beneath the surface, he hides well. I try to imagine him laughing, how his eyes must light up when he does. I try to picture his eyes filled with tears, pooling up in his eyes until they spill over and run down his face. I try to imagine how wide and alert they must be when he is afraid. It is hard to do when he is so unreadable, but his eyes must be stunning when he lets emotion shine through.

Through his shirt, I can see a tattoo of a large butterfly on the center of his chest, as well as two birds on each of his collarbones. Although he wears a leather jacket now, I know from the café that his arms are also scattered with numerous tattoos. I wonder what each means to him. I wonder a lot of things about Harry. There seems to be so much more to him than he lets on. I don't think he lets many people see what's buried underneath, but often the person behind the mask is the person worth knowing. 

When he sits down I turn to look at him.

"Enjoying the view?" Harry asks with a raised eyebrow. 

Apparently I was staring, "Unfortunately there's not much to look at." I reply dryly.

Before he has a chance to respond, our professor introduces himself as Mr. Fitzgerald. Since it's the first day of the course, he outlines the course and makes his expectations clear before starting his lecture.

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Eventually his lecture ends and I make a beeline for the exit. I'm not in the mood for another awkward interaction with Harry. 

I study for a while in my dorm before heading to the showers. I turn on the water and wait for it to warm up before stepping under the spray.  

Once I'm finished washing, I dry myself off and wrap my towel around my body. Then I head back to my dorm, clinging tightly to my towel.  

But when I get to the room my eyes go wide at the site of Harry laying lazily on my bed.

"What are you doing here?" I ask angrily.

"Nice outfit." He says, ignoring my question.

I fold my arms more tightly around my chest at his comment. 

"Turn around, I'm getting dressed." I command, looking for a something to change into.

"Your wish is my command." Harry remarks sarcastically.

"Don't look." I remind him, letting my towel fall to the floor.

"Not interested." He scoffs.

I brush off him off and continue changing. I work quickly. Just as I am fully clothed, my roommate Terra walks in. She's ridiculously dressed up for a Monday afternoon, if you ask me. She's wearing a red, lace body-con dress that ends just under her butt, and her black pump heels make her a good 5 inches taller than usual. Her makeup is done no less extravagantly. Her thick black eyeliner is done with a cat eye effect and gold eye shadow complements her light brown eyes. 

"Oh, Jackie." Terra says dryly without looking up at me.

"Jacqueline." I say through clenched teeth.

"Yeah, whatever. What are you doing here?" She says snottily. 

"This is my dorm room too, Terra." 

"Doesn't matter, I'm leaving any way."

"Yeah, I can see that. Where the hell are you going at 3:00 on a Monday afternoon?" 

"Why does it matter to you?" She asks accusingly. 

"Whatever." I roll my eyes at her.

She pauses before asking, "What were you two doing while I was gone?"

"During the three minutes I was in the room we had sex, snorted cocaine, and then told horror stories." I state sarcastically. 

I see a smirk creep onto Harry's face. Terra, however, is not at all amused. She snatches her purse off the floor and storms out of the room. 

"Harry! Are you coming or what?" She shouts from the hallway.
  
Harry pushes himself off the bed and walks towards the door. Before he leaves he turns back to look at me, 

"Maybe another time." 

My jaws nearly drops to the floor at his comment. It looks like I'm going to have to deal with Terra and Harry from now on, great. This is going to be an interesting semester.  

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Sorry this was so late!!