The Girl Next Door

Date Night

SORRY FOR THE DELAY

ANYWAY, ENJOY! :*

As I woke the next morning, I realised I was sleeping on a nipple. As I looked more closely, I realised there were three more nipples. And then I realised I was asleep on Harry’s chest… and my legs were tied with his. I subtly tried to get up, but it was no use, since he was holding me too tight.

I figured there was no use of doing anything, so I stared at the ceiling. I glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand, realising I have way too much time until I have to go to UNI.

I tilted my head to the right and rested my head on a ‘Things I can’t’ tattoo on his forearm. He looked so peaceful while he slept. His hair was, as usually in the morning, huge and his mouth was slightly open. I looked at that cute mole just under his full red lips… Wait! Nothing about Harry Styles is cute! And if there’s anything that’s red, that will be my face after I slap myself silly for thinking that. 

I managed to tug myself out without waking him and fled to my room. And I did slap myself. A lot. I got dressed quickly and, passing Bob the goldfish- who Harry had apparently brought yesterday, but I failed to notice-, escaped to my car.

Ariana was as obnoxious as always as school, but she didn’t let out any sign of out ‘conversation’ yesterday. I figured that was good.

I was finally at the doorstep of our house after a long day and was just about to open the door when Harry did it for me. I walked pass him and collapsed on the couch.

“Where were you this morning?” he asked, looking worried. Like it wasn’t awkward at all that we share a bed while he has a girlfriend.

“Some of us go to school, you know.”  

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your beauty sleep.” I smiled sarcastically. I glanced over at Bob who was lazily floating in his bowl on the table in the room where Harry and I first played ‘Kiss and Tell’. “Bob looks—ehm… happy?”

“I brought him over yesterday. I taught him how to play dead.” He tilted his head. “But I think he’s just… dead.”

“Hey, your friend, Ana called.”

“What- what did she want?” I stuttered, cold sweat dripping down my back.

“Nothing, she hung up before I could get to the phone. But she didn’t leave a message, so I don’t think it was anything important.”

“Right,” I answered in a daze.

“Is something wrong?” He asked and advanced towards me.

“We just had a little fight. She’ll cool down. Don’t worry.” I realised he was fully dressed to go out. “Were you planning on going somewhere?”

He sighed deeply. “Victoria bailed on me.”

I squished his cheeks, which he took by surprise. “Poor baby! Is that stupid cougar giving you a hard time?” I said in a way you would talk to a toddler.

“Calm down, I’m not Lux.”

“Well, sometimes you act like her.” I let go of him.

“Our movie reservations are still on. Wanna go watch Percy Jackson 2?”

“a), it’s called Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. b), Do I?!” I said excitingly.

“So that’s a yes?” 

“Of course I’d like to see Logan Lerman whip some Cyclops butt.” And with that I pulled him by the shirt and went outside.

The air was wet from rain, but other than that the night was surprisingly warm for this time of year and in London. We walked in silence to the movie theatre for a while. Then he grabbed my hand, and for a while our eyes met, both of us shyly smiling. I got this feeling inside of me, the kind of feeling I only feel when I’m around Harry. It was stronger than friendship… More like a safe feeling, that I know he’s protecting me. Something inside me willed my fingers to snake themselves tighter around his. I saw him smirk in the dim lights of the street. Then he saw the cinema, and sped up, dragging me behind him.

We took our tickets and bought popcorn, and Milka chocolate, which he somehow knew was my favourite. We sat in our seats just a second before the movie started.

The movie was simply epic! Just Logan, Gosh… Perfect. I think Harry saw I got a bit overwhelmed because he protectively put his one arm over my shoulders, but I didn’t care to pay it too much attention. Not when you realise Percy’s brother is, in fact, a Cyclops. And, spoiler alert, Thalia goes from tree to human. 

“I won’t even ask you did you like the movie because you were literally shaking.” He said as we went through the cinema door and into the streets.

“That’s how you make a girl happy.”

Like on cue he put his arm on my shoulders and I put mine over his hips. It felt both wrong and natural and normal and awkward in the same time.

Gosh. What. The. Fudge. Is. Wrong. With. Me?!!!

We walked in the most awkward silence ever the entire way back home. Then we passed the park where I hoped he’d get attacked by a drunk hobo all those months ago and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You remember?” he asked, breaking the tension.

“Of course. That night was the first time I went to Nando’s.”

“Ah, our first date,” he said dreamily.

“I still want a hobo to attack you with a bottle, though.”

“What would you do without me?” he asked and kissed my cheek. I stood petrified for a while and just barely managed to come to my senses.

He looked down. “Carter, you’re my best friend,” he admitted, his voice dead serious.

“Friendzone, level gazillion,” I muttered and sat next to him.

“I’m serious. Beside the boys and everything, I feel like you’re the only one I can trust. So, yeah. You’re my best friend.” A shiver went down my spine. That was exactly the same way I feel about him. But… He’s got a girlfriend. And, I work for him. And I can’t screw anything up. Not now when I’m so close to my goal.

“I guess I like you too.”

“You know you love me. I know you care. Just shout whenever, and I’ll be there.”

“You’re not Justin Bieber, Styles. Don’t try to be.” He smirked in that typically obnoxious way I’ve come to love. There it is again. Urgh! I don’t—I can’t love anything about him. Just. Fucking. Kill. Me. Already. Please?

A group of people passed us by, looking at us, recognising us, probably judging us.

He quickly kissed me, but that didn’t make the experience any less sweet. It’s like I’m fighting with myself. Seriously? Get this over with.

Then I felt something- the spark. It’s like it was there, but it was trying not to be, like it was trying to stay hidden.

I pulled away before anything serious happened.

“Those people—It just needed to—.” He awkwardly tried to explain the kiss.

“Well,” I got up and stretched my hand out to his, “let’s go home, Butterfly Boy.”

He snaked my fingers in the empty spaces between and we curved through the streets back home like a happy couple we aren’t. Sigh.