Flowers in the Window || W2S

5

"Our top story this hour, Marcus Carr of Carr Industries, famous for his various contributions to charity and global health, has announced his decision to partner with the Alexis Corporation in order to boost funding for Spider-Man."

The radio station you were listening to on the way to class held very few surprises for you. Marcus had already informed all the workers and volunteers in the Carr Care Center of his intentions the previous night. The choice of company was what had stunned you slightly-you knew the Alexis Corporation very well. Everybody in your sociology class did, considering Lauren, daughter of the CEO, never stopped going on about it. She'd only reduced it slightly from five times a lesson to four once a Scouse girl named Leanne had not so politely asked why her dad had sent her to such a piece of shit school if he had that much money. Lauren wasn't really someone you would consider being friends with yourself-which is why you felt kind of guilty when Harry told you she happened to be a good friend of Ethan's girlfriend Faith.

The news report continued in your ears, and you dutifully listened as you diligently made your way to maths. News channels had begun playing a major role in your life ever since you decided to figure out what was going on with the city. Surprisingly, it has been about a month since the last attack-only a few more weeks until the exams started-and yet only one other fairytale robbery had happened. Furniture store, just across the street from Margot's house. Every piece of furniture from the second floor gone, except for one lone spinning wheel.

This one felt more obvious than the last few. Did that mean she was getting closer to enacting her plan?

Surprisingly though, this wasn't the main concern on your mind at the minute. Despite your personal vow to yourself to get to the truth any way you could, despite the supervillain wandering around with a potentially catastrophic plot, despite your natural sisterly concerns about Margot's growing relationship with her new boyfriend-no, this was your biggest concern.

You had a massive crush on Harry.

It needed to be said. And a part of you felt lighter and stronger for putting it out there.

You couldn't even explain it. Couldn't even tell anyone what made him so different to any other guy you knew. He was just..so..Harry.

And it made you feel more guilty for trying to find out what he was hiding from you. But you couldn't help it. People had kept too many secrets from you over the years-it was high time you were able to figure at least one out for yourself.

The problem was, whatever this secret was, he was doing a damn good job of making himself look completely normal around everyone else-to the point where you were partially convinced you were delusional, with nobody to validate his suspicious behaviour or confirm your thoughts.

You suppressed a sigh before dropping into your seat towards the back of the classroom. Margot wasn't at school today-came down with some bug her dad had gotten from work. You and Wes had been down there earlier in the week to visit and bring soup. Maths was lonely without Margot-equations mixing together in your exhausted mind, the numbers becoming symbols of distress and intense mental pain.

A hand on your head brought your attention to Harry, grinning at you with that same goddamn smile he always seemed to reserve just for you-a smile he must have known drove you insane, otherwise there was no reason for him to keep blessing you with it.

"You're coming to Shakes and Cakes with me later." His voice was teasing yet gentle, the pitch rising as he spoke, as if the confidence was forced.

You turned on your own smile in an attempt to make him feel more comfortable. "Am I now?"

"Well," he said, playing with his hands. "If you want to. It's just, you've been working really hard, you've helped me out so much with English, you're studying for everything else, you help all those homeless people at the shelter. And we're friends now-you're one of the closest friends I have." He leaned closer to whisper his next words. "And between you and me, you know things about me I would never dream of telling the boys. You are too stressed, my love. You need a little break."

If the sudden pet name hadn't been spoken in such a joking manner, you may have melted.

"..Sure. I'd like that." The words came out slightly strangled in an attempt to cover up your feelings. If you were ever going to tell Harry how you felt about him, the maths class was not the place to do it.

He gave you another smile. Not the boyish, slightly impudent one. The soft, kind, shy one. The one he'd given you in the English classroom that day. The one that made it look like he was admiring every part of you, committing your every inch to memory.

Somebody needed to produce a fan immediately. You were absolutely going to melt now.

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"Could you please come into my office?"

It was the following evening, and you were so tired that Marcus's question failed to even make it past your ear canal to register in your brain. When you turned to him, finding him with his hands clasped in front of him, looking at you expectantly, the exhaustion was so dominant that the only thing you could think to say was, "Are you talking to me?"

He blinked. Then he blinked again. "Yes. That's why I said '(Y/N), could you please come into my office?'"

"Oh. Sorry. Didn't hear that first part."

"It's alright." he reassured you as you climbed the stairs to reach his office. "It's nothing incredibly urgent. You just have a visitor, that's all."

Your feet immediately halted. "A visitor?" If it was Margot, out of bed despite having a bad illness, you were going to be incredibly irritated. She was supposed to be resting, for goodness sake.

"Yeah." Marcus seemed unaware of your slight anger as he waited for you to start moving again. "He's just talking with your uncle right now. They've met before, Bryce tells me."

You had to physically force your feet to not stop again. It couldn't be Wes-he was on a family trip to the Bahamas right now. But there was only one other 'he' you were really friends with. Surely not..

And to your absolute shock, when you arrived at Marcus's office and looked through the giant glass window, who should you find on the couch, shyly conversing with your uncle..Harry.

The smile on your face became overwhelmingly impossible to shake. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled at your arrival and stood. "Well, you're always talking about how much you love being in this place..and you always get so soft and happy whenever you mention it to me..I just wanted to come see what makes you feel that way." When you failed to respond at first, his face changed subtly to reflect what looked like panic. "It wasn't meant to be creepy or anything..I just-"

Instantly, you whirled to face Marcus and Uncle Bryce, both stood watching like proud fathers. "Is he allowed to stay?"

"Anyone's welcome in this shelter." Marcus smiled. "Just don't make a mess, and don't ignore anyone who really needs your help. Other than that, do as you please."

The two men left, discussing a tv series they appeared to both be invested in. You turned back to Harry, gaze shifting to meet his. Your eyes were drawn to his shirt, only partially visible underneath his mostly zipped jacket. The red and blue tones were bright against an otherwise muted outfit. You met his eyes once more quickly, but not quick enough. He noticed your staring and hastily zipped it up all the way, before clapping his hands together, making you jump slightly. "Where do you want to start?"

You shook yourself, deciding to mentally catalogue the moment and tilting your head up to give him a smile. "I don't know..I could introduce you to Stella if you want. She's a good friend of mine here-born with one arm, lost her parents in a car accident. Incredible girl though-needed a little help opening up to people when she first got here, but she's genuinely one of the funniest people ever. Really young, but she knows so much, she can read people so well..why are you looking at me like that?"

He was wearing that damn smile on his attractive face again. Shaking himself slightly, he took a breath before saying, "Nothing. I just think..the way you talk about her..it's really sweet, that's all." And then, a little quieter, he added, "You're really sweet."

Blush furiously taking control of your face, you headed for the door and opened it, enticing him to follow you through the shelter.