Taste (H.S. / A.U.)

Chapter 44

DOUBLE UPDATE: Chapter 43-44

In case you need a reminder of all the characters in the chapter: Pauli, Mitch, Mimi, Ny Oh, Charlotte, Lloyd, Jade, Ricky, Elle, and Harry

JADE ASTOR

He could blame it on the alcohol, the steam of the hot tub making him feel too light headed, or perhaps the fact his truth included naming three of his worst sexual experiences (which surprised me that one involved I am sure a guy based on the context clues) but Harry was giddy. His face was warm and cheeks reddened. It wasn't all the above though, I knew what it was, I think everyone could tell what it really was: Elle.

Something had very much developed from the first day when he tried to talk to her in a dimly lit kitchen, asking for a signed cookbook to the newfound way his eyes shined as he watched her from across the room. His eyes continued to follow her through each step, noticing her first out of a million other faces, drawn to her very existence.

Ricky was it for me, from the day I met that dumb blonde boy and he bumped into me spilling an energy drink on my brand new white Marc Jacobs tennis skirt. Instead of anger I was instantly forgiving, finding myself head over heels and wondering if love at first sight could truly be more than a Hallmark given statement. 

Elle was the same way for so long, but I never understood why. She and Chase never made sense to me despite how badly I wanted my best friend to be happy, I knew it wasn't with him. It wasn't until I heard the way he treated her, the yelling matching behind closed doors that consisted of him against himself, her timid voice always begging for a reprieve. The insults he threw at her while belittling every part of who she was. Chase was the closest thing to a monster that I knew, but I couldn't get my best friend to see that without risking losing her.

Elle loved Chase.

It wasn't until she saw for herself just how much it was one sided, able to distinguish the differences in her relationship and see how long she endured him rather than loved him. 

The way Harry looked at Elle, the compassion in his eyes, it was something else. I could tell how much he worried about her just by the way his face dropped as I told him what Chase was up to lately. Harry wasn't looking at this as a "summer fling" type event. Harry looked at Elle, and whether either of them knew it or not, he was looking at his future. I knew it.

"Lloyd, it's been a long time coming you blondie, but I gotta' hit you with it. I dare, no, it's time, I double dare you, triple dog if I gotta', but you have to post the photo from Love on Tour." 

Everyone started cackling minus Ricky, Harry, Elle, and I. Mitch had dared him to do something, and it must have involved Harry based on the way his eyes were so massive, mouth hanging open, no longer did his arms wrap so carefully around Elle sitting in his lap. Now they were waving around.

"No way!"

"Hell yes, the world needs to see it!"

"He totally cannot do that to Harry!"

"The world needs to see it!"

The whole band was shouting different things in unison, I could barely tell who was saying what, but I could hear Harry the most, loud no way no way no way over everyone else.

Elle shrugs, "it can't be that bad, and it is a dare. You can't hate the photographer, only the game." She drunkenly giggled and took another sip of her drink while winking at Mitch who looked please.