Oblivion [H.S.]

T h i r t e e n

The ice reminded Harry of some people. It was hard and cold, and broke easily. It was slippery, and if you weren't careful, you were going to get hurt. And sometimes, you could see your own reflection in it, staring right back at you. So yeah, in a way, the ice was in fact like some people.

They danced and twirled around on the freezed liquid, trying very hard not to fall while laughing hysterically and supporting each other the best they could, receiving glares and comments from old, sappy people with sour pouts on their lips. Sophia and Harry just apologized quietly and laughed when they weren't looking, trying their hardest to be quiet.

"Hey, watch this!" Harry said enthusiastically, and Sophia watched as he made two little twirls, grinning widely when he was done with his arms wide. He received applause and whoops from Sophia, smiling widely and laughing. She thought he was awfully admirable, showing off his skating skills, which were actually pretty impressing.

As the clock striked 8, they were both tired of skating, and hungry, so Harry decided that they would go to the restaurant he had planned for them. Of course, he only told Sophia they were grabbing some fast-food, because he wanted her to not know about it until they were there.

He wouldn't even tell her in the taxi on the way there. She was a bit confused as to why they were taking a cab when there was a fast food restaurant nearby, but Harry just smiled at her mischievously.

One thing he had sort of forgotten as he had planned that trip, was that everyone that went to fancy restaurants, wore fancy clothes. Now, of course Harry and Sophia couldn't go ice skating with a suit and a dress, so he had a little stop on the way to the restaurant in his mind.

"Stop here!" He called to the taxi driver outside of a nice shop. Manikins with marvelous dresses and suits that probably cost more than Harry's entire wardrobe. Sophia furrowed her eyebrows and peeked out of the window.

"Harry..?"

A fond grin spread across his lips as he got out and opened the door for her, taking her hand in his. She looked at the store with confused eyes as she stepped out of the car.

"Why did you take me here?" She asked.

Harry gently removed a piece of hair from her face. "Follow me." Their fingers lingered on each other as Harry dragged one reluctant Sophia with him inside the store. There were chubby ladies with colourful clothes and hair as brown as chocolate strollingn around, taking measurements of slender women. One of them came over to Harry and Sophia, looking Sophia up and down, studying her to perfection.

"Good evening. How may I help you?" She asked nicely and smiled with pursed, plump lips.

"This is Sophia Rosemary, and she would very much like to be dressed for a dinner at Balthazar," Harry said sternly, feeling the nerves tingle in his entire body from talking this freely to a complete stranger, but he had promised Louis he'd push himself that night. He couldn't go around being an anxious freak when they were on a date. Sophia was supposed to be that anxious freak. And Harry was going to let her be, just for that one day.

Sophia immidiately shot Harry a glare. "What?"

"Oh, I see! Come with me then, darling!" The lady chirped and grabbed Sophia's arm. Sophia looked at Harry with a confused and insecure face as she was dragged further into the store, whilst Harry stood in the entry, chuckling fondly.

After he had found himself a nice-looking suit and put it on, he waited for Sophia to come. It was starting to get late, so he started fidgeting, pacing the floor and biting his nails, a habit he had avoided for many years, but now came back to his dismay. The clock was going slower than ever, yet Harry felt like he had the smallest amount of time in his hands. What if they didn't make it? What if it was closed when they got there? Or maybe they wouldn't be let in because Harry didn't look good enough? He'd ruin it. Everything would fall apart because of him and it always did so he was used to it.