do & die [h.s]

s i x t e e n

Harry.

"I honestly didn't know you were that good of a cook," I admit, her soft laugh lifting the mood as she collects the dirty plates.

"Aww thanks," She giggles as she places them in the sink.

"I can do the dishes if you want," I offer and she smiles.

I watch her blonde waves wag in the high ponytail she has it in as she shakes her head a mere no.

"But you can take out the cheesecake if you insist on helping," She turns her head only enough to offer a soft smile as she dips her manicured nails into the suds.

I nod, taking the two plates out of the fridge and placing them on the dining table.

I didn't have any excuse to cancel on Miranda and since I've never been a good liar, I had to come. I know that my whole friendship-relationship-thing with Miranda is all kinds of wrong, but whenever I push her away she always finds a way back into my life.

God, I need to stop.

This is getting out of hand.

"You forgot forks," She says as she hands me one with another between her lips and I softly mumble a thank you in return.

"So what are you up to?" She asks, taking a seat across from me.

"This summer?" I ask and she nods with her overused hum. "Well, my parents are going to spend a couple weeks, maybe months, in England. I'm thinking of going with them, but I haven't really decided yet," I explain and she pouts.

"And you're going to leave me all alone? I wanted us to do stuff this summer," She whines.

"It won't be the whole summer, don't worry," I assure her but she sighs in relief which –not gonna lie– spreads a smile on my face.

"Do you still have friends there?" She asks curiously as she chews and I nod.

"Only three really close ones now, but we're always in touch and I'm sure we'll always have each other's backs," I trail off with a nod as I remember our last summer together.

"Aw, that's so cute," She coos and I smile down to myself.

"Do you like it?" She asks, ushering at my plate with her fork.

"It looks ridiculously good, but I'm actually quite full," I say in an apologetic tone and she rolls her eyes at me with a soft smile on her lips.

I'm scared.

"Come on. Just taste it," she brings her fork closer to my lips. "trust me, you won't regre-" She stops abruptly as her phone's nearly deafening ring drapes over the house.

"I'm sorry. I have to take this," She mumbles hurriedly before standing up and taking the call.

I stare at the piece of cheesecake coated in raspberry sauce with the occasional blueberry on top. It's really pretty and I know Miranda's a really good cook. I'm sure it tastes just as lovely as the dinner did, but it's as if my guilty conscience has finally come back to life because I'm starting to question what brought me here in the first place.

I don't think it's right that I'm leading this girl on and the fact that I know it's going to hurt us both and a third party in the end is absolutely killing me.

I take out my phone and decide to call Eve again. The last glimpse of hope that she'll finally answer this time around burns brighter as the rings cut short.

Suddenly I hear her rambling apologies into the phone way too fast for me to understand. I think there was some French in there, but I sigh, nevertheless, trying to fight the little smile on my face because it's her and she's there.