Bakery Boy

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

As you collapse on your bed, you can't believe how stupid you were, letting a random stranger take you out.

But you and Harry seemed to have had this connection that you still can't explain.

You call Perrie, who answers on the 3rd ring. When she hears your sniffle, she goes into mommy mode. "Fiona, sweetheart, what is it?"

You tell her the whole story, and she doesn't speak for a minute. She gulps. "Wow, erm, that's intense... I'm sorry love..."

"Do-do you think he's an alcoholic?" you whisper.

There's silence on the other end for a few seconds. Perrie then sighs deeply. "Erm, yeah.. I think he might be..."

You hang up, unable to hear her pity, and cry yourself to sleep.

You wake up again a few hours later to your mum knocking on your bedroom door. "Fiona?" she calls, "you have a visitor!"

You know who it is immediately. Pulling on a sweatshirt and some shorts, you open the door. Harry, looking sober again, is standing there awkwardly.

"Erm, can we talk in private?"

You make your mum go away and let Harry in.

"Listen, Fiona, about earlier--"

"Yeah, what WAS that?" you interject.

"I can explain..." Harry takes a deep breath. "When my mum died, I went to go live with my dad... He is a heavy drinker and I guess being around him made me similar.. I finally had the guts to leave and I went to go live with nana Barbara, but I got fired from my job at the restaurant when I was caught drinking... And now I work at the bakery..."

Harry is clearly holding back tears, and you wish that you could help. You hug him and lay your head against his chest. He smells like clean soap.

"Harry, I've made up my mind... I'm going to help you."

Harry hugs you back gratefully, and the two of you sit in silence until Harry falls asleep.