Harrison Avenue // H.S.

"Hey Hey What Can I Do?"

[Harry]

In films, if the story line is in any way similar to what Ellison and I've gone through, they never show the second rough patch that comes later on. They'll show the initial reunion, where the two characters realize their mistakes and there's a proper snog involved. Sometimes they show the flash forward a few years in the future with a scene involving loads of kids and dogs running around. But they never show the steps that go backwards, the arguments that make everything more complicated.

It's easy to tell the difference between when Ellison is truly angry with me and when she's angry about something that's far more internal and then projects that into something involving us. She did it the first time I told her I loved her and she's done it again after months of near perfection here in New York. The problem is she doesn't realize this difference and she certainly doesn't listen to me if I try to point it out.

That only makes it worse.

To put it simply, we're not talking right now. Or a better way to put it, she isn't talking to me right now.

It started after a night that felt like it'd be one for the books, the kind of books with happy endings. I'd just finished my first show since being in America, a simple coffee shop performance involving just my guitar and a set list that consisted of a mixture of covers and my own original music. I was on a high, even with the slightly mellow performance. The feedback was great, Ellison had this proud smile on her face the entire time and I was even invited to come back again. We celebrated with lots of hugging and lots of kissing and a little bit of drinking, and then it was like a light bulb went off in her head. Only this light bulb wasn't one to bring on an evil genius Ellison plan or another series of hugging and kissing, this one snowballed into yelling and door slamming instead.

The thing is, if I weed my way through her frustrating arguments and cold shoulder to me, she does have good intentions with what caused the conversation in the first place. She's just too set on her idea of what's happening to even listen to me when I promise her I'm telling the truth.

It didn't take long for Ted to catch on that Elle and I were fighting. It started with a surprised look to see me sitting alone in our living room, watching TV... without Ellison. It was clear that he was surprised to see me without her because it was at a time in the day that we rarely apart, and I don't think I've ever watched TV in our flat before. He didn't say anything at first though, sitting down next to me and watching TV too. Now though, three days later, the growing concern from him has clearly caught on to the situation.

Ted was a bit strange when I first moved into his place, but over the course of me being here we've become mates. Elle and him are even friendly at this point, though they would deny that profusely if I even mentioned it.

"Hey, man," I hear Ted's voice as he joins me in the kitchen.

He walks past me and to the fridge, and all I give him is a nod. It's a lot colder than I usually act around him, but Elle is still taking up the majority of my thoughts. I think about calling her again, but I know that she rarely pays attention to her phone as it is on top of her ignoring me... so I have a feeling that won't make any progress. I think about going to her flat again, and using my the key she gave me months ago to get through the door. Elle was quick though and a bit cruel, changing the lock so my key is useless at this point.

That girl drives me mad but still, I've never loved someone more.

"I don't mean to intrude," I hear Ted again, my eyes turning in his direction. He looks a little nervous, a little hesitant, but there's something that's clear to me he's just trying to be a friend. "Is something wrong with you and Elle? I haven't seen her around lately... and you're usually not here this much."