Taken Away

Ten

 * * *

The outdoor garden was beautiful, Alex had noticed earlier. There was a pathway in the backyard, lined with trees, that connected to the Country Club next door. However, she didn't have to travel far to find the perfect plot of grass between a giant oak tree and some flowers. It was surprisingly well lit with fairy lights, likely only used for occasions like these.

What she didn't realize was how her guestroom was located just above her. It was so close that the sounds of her laughter carried straight into Harry's ears, no matter how loud his shower was running. He had spent the last ten minutes cleaning; both himself and his room- his mother would be proud. It was the best distraction he could think of, but even as he began dying off his hair, there she was again. Some part of him was genuinely happy to hear her laugh, after everything they've been through. The other part, though, felt his stomach twisting at the thought of someone else making her laugh.

No matter how shitty the last 48 hours had been, he had to remind himself that nothing had really changed. By tomorrow morning they would be out and looking for his friends, and she would just be a girl she babysat. The thought sounded stupid and untrue in his head, but it was the best he could think of to separate whatever it was that was growing between them. It surely didn't love, but sometime between the van and now, they had become almost-friends.

As he made Harry way to the freshly made bed, he could see them down below, talking about something. As he made to turn away, he saw Lucas lean closer, until she did too. Harry forced himself away from the window and onto the bed. It was much quieter now, and Harry didn't want to begin to think about why.

 * * *

Alex awoke because of the harshness of the sunlight pouring through her window. She regretted not showering last night, but she didn't want to wake Harry. At least, not when he looked like that sleeping. She figured now was a good a time as any, seeing his side of the bed empty.

Harry had difficulty sleeping that night, but not because of Alex. His restlessness was the result of his concern for his friends. The guilt he felt hit him like a truck, and he hated himself for forgetting about them for as long he did. Some much smaller part of him resented Alex for distracting him so well. So, that morning, he woke up with a plan to at least find himself a computer.

Only slightly missing Harry's face, Alex got dressed quicker than usual. She reminded herself to be chill, and that Harry was nothing more than a companion in their unfortunate series of events. That composure flew out the window the second she smelled something delicious coming from the kitchen.

"Mhmm, what's for breakfast?" she asked before she'd even stepped into the room. She realized they weren't the last ones awake she saw the empty chairs around the dining table.

"Pancakes, dear, fresh off the pot. Would you please pass out the plates?" Cathleen asked.

"Oh, please, let me." Lucas offered, striding in the kitchen, followed by Finn. As he passed behind Alex to open the cupboard, he rested his hand on her back. A casual enough gesture, except it, was followed by a wink on his end. Alex blushed and smiled, before moving around the table.

Harry noticed this but said nothing as gripped his coffee mug tightened stiffly. He chided himself, before turning his attention to the laptop before him, which Cathleen was gracious enough to lend him.

Alex noticed his tight posture as she sat beside him. "Harry, you alright?" Alex asked him, cocking her head a bit.

"Hm? Oh, yeah." He cleared his throat before typing away on the computer. "Actually, I've been trying to find some way to track down the boys. I used google maps to find the gas station we were last at, but from there I'm not sure." 

Harry tried to sound strong and hoped Alex won't notice. "No, yeah, this is a great start. Let's keep searching after breakfast." She smiled at him as she moved the computer to the kitchen island. It wasn't big or radiant, but it was hopeful. And that was enough for him.

Across the table, Finn had already begun to dig into his pancakes. "These are really good," he managed to get out with a mouthful.

Lucas had taken the seat between Alex and Harry, which was bound to be interesting, Alex thought.

With all the grace and ease he could muster, Lucas dropped his arm over the back of Alex's chair. "So Alex, what kind of movies do you like?" Finn rolled his eyes at the gesture, probably because it was so cheesy, Harry thought.

He toyed with the blueberries on his plate, internally scoffing at Lucas' attempt to getting to know Alex. On the surface, Harry appeared not to give a damn, which he didn't, really. Alex wasn't his possession, which she made clear last night by kissing that little-

Enough, he thought to himself. The boys need you, he remembered as he shoveled those blueberries into his mouth. Alex responded, shaking him out of his inner monologue.

"Action movies, usually, but I like romantic comedies too" She responded, laughing at the irony of the situation. The last few days were more action-packed than anything she'd done in her whole life. Harry frowned slightly, realizing just how little he knew her. Harry had no idea what her favorite movie was. Not that it mattered.

Finn leaned slightly forward, in his direction. "So, Harry, do you like football?"

He nodded, surprised by the sudden attention. "Yeah, I used to play a lot as a child."

"What team?"

"Manchester United."

"Hey, me too!" Finn cleared his voice quickly. "Real Madrid's pretty good too."

Quickly, Finn- the apparent soccer enthusiast- and Harry began discussing sports. Lucas and Alex ended up sticking with your standard first-date questions. In the back of her mind, Alex was pretty certain Lucas was going to win this bet. 

"I just got a call, I have to go talk to the landscaper. Would one of you gentleman like to clean up or wash the dishes?" Cathleen asked

Just before Harry could offer to clean them, Lucas learned to Harry, who was beside him, and whispered: "And ruin these hands? No thank you."

Harry only raised an eyebrow, before Alex facepalmed and Lucas retracted his extended fingers. "Whoops?" he shrugged. 

"Ha! I win!" Finn yelled doing a weird victory dance around the table, before grabbing Lucas's head and planting a kiss on his forehead. 

As everyone laughed along with Finn's antics, Harry looked at Alex for answers. "Uh, win what?"

"A bet between them, to see who could pass as straight. Don't know why, but I was trying to play along."

"You cheated and you still lost?"

"Shut up," Lucas mumbled, with a smile in his voice.

* * * 

Someone, please tell me why, in my 2013 version of this I wrote like 4,000 offensive stereotypes? Why was I so insistent that gay guys squeal twenty-four/seven? *Sigh*