Offbeat || Harry Styles

Chapter 17

Dedicating this to my friend Niso! Thanks for reading lovely! ♥

   Harry.

The next two weeks were like heaven on earth. Tim made me feel alive, happy, and oddly energetic. I would wake up early and count the minutes until our meet up at the library. It was somehow becoming a routine, but I didn't really mind. 

My dad continued to ask me questions about Tim and I. It was slightly uncomfortable at the beginning but then I understood that he meant no harm. I was still hesitant, though.

Everytime Cameron called, I ignored him. I still refused to speak to him.

Everything was going smoothly until the day Tim was late. She is never late, I thought as I paced around in the little room. I was at the library, waiting for her like I did everyday. All my text messages went unanswered as my concern heightened. She had told me earlier that she was at the bakery helping her mum so I assumed she was just there when I walked out the library, heading to the small bakery.

My eyebrows were knitted together, my hands closed in fists to fight the cold feeling numbing my limbs. It was so cold outside. My brown boots sunk into the pools of water on the ground, recklessly trying to avoid them. I pulled my jacket closer to my body and resumed to my walking. My overprotective nature started to kick in as I neared my destination.

My moves halted suddenly, the scene in front of me making me want to throw up. Against a wall stood Tim and Luna. Kissing. My breath hitched in my throat as I tried to process what was going on in front of my own glassy eyes. I knew she was doing it for her act, I knew that, but witnessing it was more than hurtful. It felt like the image of them together was carved into my brain, the feeling of discomfort gripping my neck so tightly I feared that I would start to choke.

I didn't know what made them pull away from each other. It may have been my loud, surprised gasp, or they just had enough. Two pairs of eyes were glued to my face, Timmy's glistening in regret. I gulped and somehow, my feet seemed to work. I coughed and walked away, stuffing my clenched fists into my jacket.

I pressed onto my teeth, wanting to scream at the world for being so darn unfair. My eyes burned as I walked,  not really knowing where I was heading but I didn't care. I wanted to be as far as possible from Tim and Luna. To say I am disgusted is an understatement.

I found myself near a lake, and the view was fantastic, but I was too upset to appreciate it. I kicked a rock on the ground and sat on the grass, placing my head in between my knees.

Unfair world.

   Tim.

I tried my best not to cringe whenever Luna's hand touched me. I didn't expect her to come, hell, I didn't expect to see her again at all. I was surprised when I saw her walk through the glass door, my heart immediately throbbing with regret because I wasn't going to get away from her that easy. I knew that something bad was going to happen. 

Linda was delighted when Luna came over, nudging me with her shoulder to acknowledge her presence, even though she saw me staring at her with shock. Luna's hips swayed as she walked over to Linda, kissed her cheek, then trotted towards me. I plastered a smile on my face and greeted her with a handshake, which she declined and leaned forward for a kiss.

Now, I was running after Harry, ignoring the very confused Luna who I left behind. I was determined to find Harry,  to apologize because it had to be this way.
My boots clinked against the concrete as I ran, the wind blowing my hair behind and raising goosebumps on my skin.

"Harry!"

I called then realized that I didn't know where he went. I stopped, panting, my chest rising and falling at an abnormal pace, and used my shaking hands to grab my phone from my back pocket. My fingers danced against the screen, dialing Harry's number. I pressed the phone against my cheek, stomping my foot when my call went unanswered.

I called him again, but got the same response again. Nothing. I groaned and started to walk, realizing that I was standing in the middle of a street.

I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over, disappointed that Harry was hurt because of me. I didn't care about Luna, at all, just like he didn't care about Cameron,  but I knew it must've been awful to witness what we should have been doing if we were in another universe. We would be together in public, not hide behind closed doors. We wouldn't have to hide to be together.  We wouldn't be afraid to be seen together. He could kiss me in front of people who wouldn't want to kill us. We could have it all. But, we live in this universe, a cruel one, where hiding is the only solution unless you want to end up dead or in prison. 

I continued my path, my destination still unknown. I passed by the lake, spared it a glance then looked away. Then I stopped.

I could recognize that mop of curls anywhere, any day. My heart began to race at the thought of confronting him but my feet carried me towards him before I could even make up my mind.