Spotless Mind // H.S.

eighteen.

My best friend kissed me. I allowed my best friend to kiss me. I guess this means he actually has feelings for me.

"I'm sorry." He apologizes for what seems like the thousandth time.

"Its fine." I mutter. "Things happen."

He's seated on the floor at the other side of the treehouse, his legs brought up to his chest.

"No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have done that. You like Harry, not me."

His last sentence surprises me.

"I like Harry? Who told you that?" I asked, surprised.

"No one needed to tell me. I can see it. That way you look at him and the way you two just click is enough for me to tell. I've known you for years and he's known you for months but I just can't compete. You're falling for him, aren't you?"

"What? No!" I tell him even though I'm not sure how I feel. I like Harry, I really do but I'm definetly not falling for him. At least I hope I'm not.

"I don't know what you see but I don't feel that way about him. I don't feel that way about anyone, I'm sorry." I tell him.

He shakes his head. "That's what you're telling me but is it really what you mean?"

I don't know what I really mean. How am I supposed to tell him what I don't know?

After I don't respond, he gets up.

"I guess I should get going. I have to help my sister with a project, anyways. I'll see you later." He says and climbs down the ladder.

I want to run after him and apologize. Maybe what I said came off a little harsh? I don't want him to be mad at me but I just don't feel the same way he does.

I sigh, getting up minutes later and climbing down as well.

I need to take a nap and clear my head. I feel like I just dropped a bomb on Braxton, as if I were to tell him to stop liking me because there's no point.

I feel horrible about it and the only way to help me overcome the feeling, is sleep.

-

"So he kissed you and you flipped out on him?"

"No! How many times do I have to explain this to you Harry?" I roll my eyes as we pull out of the schools campus.

"I'll get it if you explain it to me once more." He says as he clicks in his seatbelt.

"Okay." I nod. "We were joking around and then things got serious and he ended up kissing me and I didn't stop him until a couple seconds in when I pulled away from him. After that things were awkward and he kept apologizing and he claims that I like y-" I stop before I blurt out the part about him liking him.

"He claims you like who?" He asks.

I tap my fingers along the steering wheel as we reach a red light.

"He thinks the reason why I pushed him away was because I like you instead, Harry." I shrug.

His eyes go wide. "Oh?" He smirks.

"Yeah. He said something about the way I look into your eyes and I'm falling for you." I laugh nervously. "He's just upset."

The light turns green and I drive off, Harry staying silent.

"What do you think?" I ask, turning to him for a second.

"W-well, I don't know." He stutters. "Maybe you should go apologize to him just so he knows you don't hate him."

"Yeah, good idea"

We pull into the bakery parking lot and Harry unbuckles his seatbelt.

"Well I'll see you later." He smiles.

"Alright, be safe." I tell him and he rolls his eyes before chuckling and closing the car door.

He rushes into the building and I drive off. I have to apologize or our friendship will be ruined.

-

I knock on the door a couple of times before it gets answered by Ms.Miller.

"Hi," I greet. She opens the door wider for me to come inside.

"Hello." She smiles, pulling me into a hug.

"Is Braxton here?" I asks when she releases me.

"No," she shakes her head. "He stepped out about an hour ago." She tells me.

"Oh. Do you know where he went?" I question.

"Unfortunately not."

"Oh, that's fine. Can you tell him I was here?"

"Yes." She nods.

"Okay, thanks." I smile and turn to leave.

"You don't happen to know where Harry is, do you?" She asks before I reach the door.

"Um... Yeah. He's at work. " I tell her even though I expected that she knew.

"But he doesn't have a shift today. He told me yesterday that he wouldn't be able to make it." She tells me, and I'm just as confused as she is.

"Not this again." I mutter, sighing. Im pretty sure I know exactly where he is. "I'll ask him but I'm sure there was just a bit of confusion." I tell her and she nods.

We say our goodbyes and I leave and get into my car.

If I'm guessing correctly, Harry's at the Durham county Prison like he was the first day he claimed he was at work. I don't know who he visited, but he's visiting someone there and I want to know who.

I don't understand why he asks me to drive him to the bakery just so he can leave and go visit someone at the prison. Why is he lying?

Soon enough, I pull up to the prison and drive up the path to the entrance.

I get up to the booth and the man asks for my I.D. card so I hand it to him before he opens the gate and let's me continue up this path.

Honestly, I'm terrified right now. My curiosity is purely the reason that I'm here in the first place. I hope I didn't come here for no reason.

I park my car along the front and enter the building.

"Hello, how may I help you?" A woman at the front asks.

"Umm... I'm looking for someone." I say unsurely. I didn't think I would get to this point.

"Visiting hours have just started so who what is the name of the prisoner you would like to see? I'll get you a slip and then you can step into the security section over there." She points, grabbing a green slip and a form, preparing to write on it.

"Oh, no. I was wondering if you saw my friend come in here. I was looking for him and-"

"I'm sorry ma'am but we can't disclose that information to you."

"Okay, thanks anyways." I sigh before turning to leave.

I reach out to the door to push it open but I stop once I hear a familiar British accent behind me.

"Excuse me ma'am but where is the bathroom." He says and my breath is caught in my throat as I turn around.

"Harry?" I almost yell.

He turns around slowly but once his eyes lock with mine, he freezes.

"Lydia?"