The Theater Room

Chapter 23

Erin's POV:

"Okay well I'm heading out. I'll let you know how it goes." I say to Emma and she smiles, "Good luck!" she chippers and gives me double thumbs up. "Thanks, bye!" "Bye!" Emma replies and I leave our room. I exit the dorm building and my heartbeat picks up as I walk in the direction of mine and Harry's meet up spot. We decided that the last bench on the right side of the walkway that leads to the front of the theater building was our spot. We'd always end up running into each other or talking at that spot and Harry made the "executive decision" and declared it our spot.

I smile to myself as I think about the memory. I realize that my heartbeat has almost gone back to normal and I take a deep breath. "It's gonna be okay." I say aloud to myself for reassurance and I feel slightly better.

I felt better for a whole 10 seconds. I see Harry sitting leaned back on the bench with his headphones in and his eyes closed. I stop in my tracks and shake my head, "Dammit Erin." I murmur and rock back and forth on the balls of my feet. I start back walking and my heartbeat is at an all time high.

I approach Harry and his eyes are still closed. Well I guess there's only one thing to do. I reach up and yank one of his earphones out. "Shit!" Harry shrieks and jolts to the side then looks up at me. "Geez Erin." Harry exhales and places a hand on his chest and I can't help but laugh. "Sorry Harry." I giggle and Harry smirks, "Yeah sure." Harry chuckles then stands up. "You ready for some cake Bing?" "You bet your ass I am Styles."

We start to walk in the direction of the bakery that's just inside the town that's next to campus. We walk for a few minutes in silence then Harry speaks up, "Hey Erin?" "Yeah?" "Can we stop for just a second?" "Um yeah, sure." I reply and we stop walking. "What's up?" I ask and Harry looks at his feet and kicks a pebble then he glances up at me.

"I just-" he starts but stops and looks around, "I just feel like you and I have drifted apart." he manages to say and he looks up at me. I nod my head and tilt my head to the side but I keep eye contact with him, "Yeahh, we kinda have." I reply and he sighs, "Anytime we would go somewhere in the past you and I could carry nonstop conversation, and if it ever did get silent it wasn't awkward. It's awkward now." Harry says and I sigh, "I know.. I don't like it being awkward." I reply sheepishly, "Can we please try to get back to how we were?" Harry asks and I just wanna hug him so badly. He looks like a wounded puppy.

"I'd like that." I smile and Harry smiles, "Thank god." he replies then looks at me for a few seconds, "Can I hug you?" Harry asks and it takes all me to not just jump up and hug him, (act cool Erin.) "Yeah." I reply and we both smile. Harry leans down and wraps his arms around my waist and I wrap mine around his neck and he pulls me close. (Oh god this isn't going to help me at all.)

We have like a two minute hug and I absolutely love it but I know I need to pull away, so that's what I do. "Come on Hazzy, it's cake time." I chuckle and start to walk and Harry stays in stride with me. The rest of the walk to the bakery we manage to make small talk that lasts.

***

Harry's POV:

"Oh my gosh." I say aloud as I hit end on my phone and look at the phone in my hand. "Fu.ck yes." I say and go to do a fist pump thing like the guy at the end of Breakfast Club, but I drop my phone. "No!" I shriek and try to catch it but it crashes to the ground and I feel my breath hitch. Damn. I just broke my phone. I bend down and pick it up. When I flip it over a sharp breath leaves my mouth. "Yep it's fu.cked." there's this spiderweb like crack going from my top left corner to about mid screen. "Dammit."

After I mourn my now nearly shattered phone screen I make my way to mine and Erin's meeting spot. Once I get there I sit and watch some birds peck around in the grassy area that's ahead of me until I grow bored. I pull out my now broken phone and go to Spotify and start a random playlist. I then lean back and close my eyes.