Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Ten

Orange burned through my eyelids proving the sun was shining through my curtains already, signalling another day of work. I refused to open my eyes just yet, considering my alarm was yet to start screeching. How on earth was I going to get to work today? I hadn't thought it through yet, and the one hour walk into Adlington was going to be difficult with my bruised ankle. Just as a huff left my mouth a knock sounded at my door and my eyes snapped open. A glance at the clock in the corner told me is was just gone six thirty, which was far too early for visitors.
"Just a minute!" My morning voice  croaked, sounding like I had swallowed sand paper. "Or five." I mumbled to myself, glancing from my foot to the door. Who the hell would swing by at this time in the morning, knowing full well that I was like a grumpy gremlin in the mornings?
"Take your time. Never mind I left my car out on the street, and I think some thugs are loitering nearby." His voice instantly recognizable, made my eyes grow wide. Though I was surprised he had come by, part of my brain told me it was idiotic not to have predicted it. Harry was thoughtful, extremely so, and all my assumptions I had held for him over Geordie had proven wrong so far. It should have been predictable, expected even, and yet I found myself hastily discarding the blanket from my body and limping over to the door. My hand reached out  for the door knob, and retracted when the sun behind me cast my shadow upon the door in front of me, my birds nest hair making me choke on my breath. I cursed softly and ran my fingers through it, attempting the futile war at taming the frazzled disaster. With a shaky breath of  defeat I opened the door, and Harry stood there, looking the other extreme to me. His hair perfectly groomed, tousled curls framing his face, skin clear of any imperfections. He was dressed smart as always, black dressed pants with a belt, and a light blue button up dress shirt tucked into his belt.
"Rise and shine, sunshine." Harry chirped, his smile for this time in the morning beyond irritating.
"Ugh." I grunted. Deep laughter spilled from his lips and he tilted his head to the side much like a dog when getting orders from his owner.
"Not a morning person? Funny," He  mused, "I had you pegged as the ever-sassy and buoyant girl that would skip around singing good morning."
"There is no good in morning." I moaned, leaning against the doorframe.
"That's because you've never had a morning with me before." His right eye dropped another effortless wink and I scoffed, a smile spreading despite my sound of disagreement.
"Careful," I warned with a pointed look, "more talk like that and I might get the rash idea you're flirting with me." His Cheshire cat grin grew.
"I have been from the moment we first met, but thanks for finally noticing." With a cheeky poke on my cheek he then strolled into my crammed apartment like it was his own. His words had my stomach fluttering and I stood motionless for a few painfully obvious seconds, before swinging the front door shut.
"So considering I am the reason you are unable to run around and wreck havoc like you usually would," Harry began as he leaned against the window sill, his long arms folding across his chest, "I decided with great character that I would pick you up, and we can even fetch a coffee from Donna's Dinner on the way. His eyes landed on  my uniform from the dinner and his cocky dimple showed.
"You a fan of Donna's coffee, huh?" I asked with fake surprise.
"Not really. But I heard the staff there are easy on the eye."  His posture despite the fact that he was leaning back, was still boastful and confident. His biceps were still prominent through his rolled up sleeves, and the Rolex watch that was worth more than I could count to radiated power.
"Any waitresses in particular?"  I asked coolly, surprising myself. I had never been shy around men in all honesty, I was rather good at pressing their buttons to be fair, but Harry always had me on edge. Perhaps it was all the power he had at just twenty years old. Or maybe it was the way he strode around with confidence  rather than cockiness, and he made everybody stop and stare, whilst he went on without even noticing the attention  he drew to himself. He was a man that knew he had authority, yet he only knew half of it. The other half he was completely unaware of, and that was the half that made me second guess every opinion I had ever made of him. The Harry he was out of the office had control over me, not via work contract, but by keeping me on my toes. I never knew if he was going to be cheeky, flirty, or startlingly serious.
"She's tall for a woman, around 5'9 I would say," his eyes scanned me from head to toe.  5'8  I corrected in my head. I pursed my lips in what I hoped came across as indifferent. "Skin fair and flawless, blue almost grey eyes, and hair that if you catch in the right light, a fiery red." His smile was all fox, and I had to clench my jaw tightly to suppress a smile.  
"Sounds interesting." I smiled candidly.
"Fascinating." Harry quipped, my stomach flip-flopping.
"Let me guess, she's rich, skinny, slightly ditsy, and daddy's little girl?" Harry barked a laugh. It was clear we both knew he was talking about me, yet the game seemed not only more fun, but safer.
"Rich in personality," he politely corrected, "voluptuous-not in a Kardashian sense, but in a subtle way, that only shows in the right clothing. Ditsy? No, she's rather sharp actually. Although you could consider her to be clumsy." Harry added in after thought. His long fingers were tapping his chin and I  shook my head to hide my bitter-sweet smirk. "As for the daddy's little girl? No, she's very independent, and between you and me, doesn't seek the approval or attention of an authority figure, although she might need one."
"You seem quite hung up on her." I teased, limping to the couch and perching myself on the arm of the couch.
"There a problem with that?" Harry quipped.
"Perhaps. What if she likes the chase and isn't willing to settle?"
"Doubt it. She isn't aware of the effect she has on men. "
"Lesbian?" I fought and lost the battle to hide my smile. Harry snorted a loud laugh.
"Straight as they come." He spoke through laughter.
"Well there has to be some sort of catch." I shrugged.
"Does there?" His voice lowered, he pushed himself off the wall and strolled over to sit himself on the couch close to me. Too close. His body heat was radiating over me.
"Of course. You can't have affection without pain." I said softly. My hands suddenly become very interesting, as I refused to look up from them.
"Well without pain we wouldn't recognize pleasure."
"Pervert." I tutted. Harry's closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in playful exasperation.
"I didn't mean it like that you moron." Harry joked. I was relieved we were back to playfulness. I knew there was tension between us, it was palpable almost, and something I was not used to. I couldn't let feelings grow for Harry. His family was my enemy. Part of me knew it was wrong to judge Harry by his brothers actions, but the painful hole in my life from where Geordie used to be was too big to ignore. Falling for the man that shared flesh and blood with the man that nearly murdered my flesh and blood seemed impossible. Criminal even. As criminal as Dante was.
"So you going to mope about all day, or are you going to get dressed so we can get going?" Harry asked lightly, like he sensed where my thoughts were and changed it to a lighter mood.
"I thought the second-day look was a good idea for uptown." I jokingly pouted. "I hear creases are really in this season." Harry rolled his eyes drastically and I laughed at my own joke.
"Last season, darling." Harry grinned getting up, and headed to the corner where I stashed my clothes since I couldn't afford a dresser, and  sorted through the pile of clothes that lay in the corner. "You know," Harry spoke over his shoulder, "If you can't afford a dressing table you could at least fold your clothes and lay them out in a semi-organized sense." His tone suggested I was an idiot for not doing so already, and I blew out a huff. 
"I could," I hummed, watching as he sorted through my limited clothing collection, "but that would require effort." I heard him scoff at my lazy attitude and then he waltzed over with his outfit of choice in hand.
"A skirt?" I gasped at his selection. It was an old one of mine, from when I was thirteen, and nowadays came just above the knee. Black and loose, with an attached white belt. Along with it he had selected a baby blue, singlet styled blouse, with buttons up the front.
"It's actually a nice outfit." Harry shrugged. "Not Styles Enterprises nice, but nice."
"I repeat, it's a skirt." I emphasised the word with disdain. 
"Yes, and you're a girl. Seems ideal to me." His face was lit up with amusement at my appalled expression, and he shoved the clothing into my hands.
"It's autumn." I  argued.
"Yes, so it will be perfect when the weather heats up in the afternoon." Harry countered. "Also, we will be in the library again, with insulation and heaters. You'll cope."
"Let Zeus strike me with lightning." I whined, pulling the skirt up over my jeans I had fallen asleep in. When I had it zipped up and the belt fastened I discarded my jeans and scowled at Harry.
"Turn around!" I ordered, making him chuckle deeply as he spun around.
"If you peek-" I began to threaten.
"I'm a gentleman." Harry quipped and I clucked my tongue. I saw his curls bounce slightly as he shook his head, and then quickly threw off my shirt and replaced it with what Harry has chosen. Tucking in the shirt to my skirt, I spoke up.
"Coast is clear."
"Great. Now put these shoes and let's go." Harry smiled, handing me some black boots, which thankfully had no heel. That was a lesson I had learnt yesterday perfectly well.
"Can you walk?"
"Yeah." I spoke stubbornly. "Just not the speed I would like."
"Well I think this time I'll climb the ladder in the library." Harry suggested, and I scowled up at him pointing a finger.
"It was your fault!" I protested as we slowly exited the building, Harry keeping close behind me in case I stumbled. We were so close I could feel him breathing down my neck. "I'm perfectly capable of climbing ladders." I continued once we escaped the chilly morning air as I climbed into his car, the heated interior providing instant relief to the chilly morning air.
"Just not when certain jerks kick me on the ass."
"Give me a more ideal place where I can then." I glared at him, his suggestive comment making me lose the battle of hiding a smile.
"Just drive pretty boy."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The familiar smell of coffee and pancakes drenched in maple syrup hit us the minute we pushed the door to the dinner open. It was relatively full for this time of morning, people clearly wanting a coffee and sugar hit before the long day ahead.
"Devonne!" Donna's voice hollered from the counter, waving at me. I smiled back and headed over with a slight limp, Harry right behind me. Donna was a friendly woman, older but as energetic as ever. Donna liked to think of herself as young as thirty, even though that would have been some thirty years ago. Her "blonde" but in all honesty greying hair pinned up in a tight bun, and red lipstick plastered on her lips. You had to give her credit for trying, and despite her age and size, she ran about the dinner easily carrying trays with coffee and zipping up and down the isles with ease. She'd even spilled less coffee then I had, which was beyond embarrassing.
"I didn't think you were rostered on for today, honey." Donna beamed as I  sat myself on a stool at the counter, Harry taking one next to  me.
"I'm not, but me and my..." I trailed off to glance at Harry, who was watching me intently, and he quirked a brow at me as he waited for me to finish me sentence, "boss," I decided upon making Harry laugh, "needed to get  a coffee before starting the day."
"Boss?" Donna repeated, her forehead crinkling, then smoothing out again as it clicked in her brain. "Oh!" She gasped, a disconcerting grin spreading to her lips. "This is the pompous uptown boy you were telling me about?" My eyes squeezed closed, and I palmed for forehead in both embarrassment and anticipation of Harry's reaction.
"Pompous am I?" Harry spoke up. I slowly turned my face towards him, and smirk that promised trouble was awaiting me.
"I don't think that was the exact word I used." I stammered, biting my fist.
"Oh, yes her vocabulary was a little more colourful than that. But you seem like a charming young man, so I thought I'd make it a little more family friendly." Donna jabbered on. From the corner of my eye I saw Harry lean his right arm on the counter and lean his weight onto it, as he angled himself so he was facing me.
"Is that so?" Harry hummed. A whimper of unease left my lips as his left arm draped itself over my shoulder and pulled me into his side. "Well that was in the beginning. Devonne and I are much closer now." He flashed his dazzling smile at Donna, who looked beyond hot and bothered at his beautiful looks.
"Really?" Donna shot me a conspirators smile, and my eyes closed again, not wanting to open.
"Mhmm." Harry sung out. "We're practically inseparable. Isn't that right, Dev?" He shot me a playful wink and I meekly nodded.
"Oh yeah." I forced a cheesy smile. "Who could resist this pretty little face?" I asked, pinching Harry's cheeks, and he laughed loudly, his hold on me tightening as he gave me a side hug, all for the show. A show Donna was watching on with far too much enthusiasm.
"Oh that is wonderful!" She cheered. "Coffee is on the house!" She clapped.
"No-"
"Nonsense!" She cut Harry off. "A friend of Devonne is a friend of me." She insisted. "How do you take yours?" She asked  Harry.
"Uh, just a splash of milk." Harry smiled kindly. "And one sugar. Thank you."
"The same as Devonne." She shot us a smile that didn't need words to let us know what she was thinking.
"I'll be back with it in a jiffy." Donna chirped, scurrying off, leaving Harry and I together at the counter. When she was out of eye sight I braved a look up at Harry, who was already smirking down at me.
"I don't know about you," Harry spoke smugly as his arm dropped from around me and folded his long arms on the counter before us, "but I think this day has kicked off to a great start."