The Girl Next Door

Always the New Girl

The ride back home was gravely quiet. Come to think of it, we haven’t talked all day. It was awkward and strangely felt wrong, but I knew it was better like this- if he doesn’t have anything good to say, he better not say anything anyway.

Once we’ve come home, I quickly changed into my/his shirt and brushed my teeth. Just as I was tying my hair up, I realised I don’t want more from Harry Styles than I need. So I rushed to my room and dug up a few boxes. I managed to find a ‘Team Edward’ T-shirt from when I was fifteen, but it still fit perfectly.

Then I dumped myself into Harry’s bed, who was still watching a football game downstairs.

I thought I’d be tired enough to sleep. I just did an entire day worth of cheesiness which did wear me out. But enough to sleep? No.

So I read a book on my phone in silence and dark, for a long while.

My eyelids slowly got heavier and heavier and I finally threw my phone away and closed my eyes.

Then I heard a noise in the darkness and the sheets next to me lifted. Harry got into bed and I could feel he was still dressed up in his usual black skinny jeans and vintage top. And he turned his back on me- with which I was perfectly happy with, FYI.

In the morning I woke to a start to the sound of my alarm clock. The right side of the bed was empty.

I quickly got dressed and, taking my bag off the hanger, went downstairs.

Harry was talking to someone on the phone and eating cereal. So I poured myself a bowl of cornflakes and watched the morning cartoons. This was the first time in months that I’ve woken up early, since I was starting UNI today.

“So…” I asked once he finished the call.

“That was the repair guy. He said he’d come tomorrow.”

“Thank you!” He took put his jacket on. “Where you off to?”

“Victoria…” I made an ‘oh-really?-that’s-still-on?’ face. He turned at the doorstep and threw a set of keys at me. “You’re going to need this. I’ll be gone all day. It’s the keys to the house, the back door, the garage, the combination for the front gates and the security system.” And before I could say anything else, he was gone. Then the door cracked open and his head peeked out. “Oh, and good luck at UNI today.” Then he was really gone.

I ate my cereal and put the bowl in the sink. I got out the house, locking the door, and went to the garage where my Mini was parked. I added the car key to the ‘I heart London’ keychain with the other keys and started the engine.

The UNI complex wasn’t that far away, but in the morning rush, it took me quite a while to get there.

The main building was big, with a grey facade and brick drive way. About a dozen cars were circling around the building and approximately two hundred kids were at the gates.

I miraculously managed to find a parking spot just a block away. Soon enough I was surrounded by a bunch of random kids in the hallways.     

I found my first period and sat at the back of the classroom, the closest to the window.

I’ve always loved music, if it isn’t obvious enough already. And now I finally got the chance to make my life evolve around it. So I picked it for my major.- along with philosophy, sociology and bunch of other subjects just to please my mother.

A few people looked at me and whispered stuff into each other’s ears. I hoped it was because of my messy hair and not because I was Harry’s so called girlfriend.