The Difference

Chapter 16.

"Can I take it off yet? It's itchy." I said while fanning my face with a magazine.

Sarah looked up from her's and shook her head. "The packet says twenty minutes. It's only been twelve."

"But it's itchy." I complained again. I went to scratch my face but Sarah swat my hand away before I could.

"You'll ruin it." She said and returned her gaze to the magazine in front of her.

"Fine." I huffed and sulked back to read my book.

Several minutes had passed when a timer went of on her phone. I shot up and rushed out to get my face washer from the bowel of water on the small table in the room. I rubbed it all over my face and sighed in relief.

"I can feel my face again." I said and Sarah rolled her eyes playfully.

"Now for the hand mask. Coconut or vanilla?"

"Hmm... vanilla please." I decided.

She handed me the scrub and I applied it to my hands. I inhaled the sweet smell and sat back on my bed.

"So what do we do if we can't touch anything?"

"We sit and meditate." She told me.

"Meditate? What like Buddhism and all that stuff?"

"No." She shook her head. "Like peace and wellbeing stuff. I'll show you."

Sarah carefully sat down on the floor - being careful to not let her hands touch anything - and crossed her legs. She held her hands out away from her body and closed her eyes.

"Click the calm playlist on my phone please." She said.

When I pressed play on the first song I felt kind of odd. The music reminded me of an ocean breeze or some other calming sounds and it was slightly unsettling.

Without opening her eyes Sarah instructed me to sit down across from her and mimic the position she was in.

"Why are we doing this again?" I said after several minutes of silence.

"Shh." She hushed me and I closed my eyes again.

I reopened them when I thought of something to get me out of this. "I have to pee."

"No you don't." How did she know? "Close your eyes and listen to the sounds. In silence."

I quietly thanked god when there was a knock at the door. I struggled to stand up but when I managed to I realized that I couldn't even open the door due to the mask covering my hand.

"Just a minute." I called out.

I quickly washed my hands clean and then dried them before I opened the door.

"Hello Piper."

Harry was standing in the door way with his arms by his side. Hair fell in his face which he gently pushed back with his fingers. I found it somewhat sexy but I had to remind myself that I was mad at him and I couldn't let his good looks affect my judgement.

"Hi." I said bluntly. "What do you want Harry?"

I had not expected to see him anytime soon. He ran out on me and to be honest I didn't really want to see him.

But was I being honest? I thought to myself.

"Can we talk?" He asked softly.

I gestured towards Sarah letting him know that I wasn't alone.

"Who's that?" He asked, his head gesturing her way.

"That is my new roommate. One that doesn't hit me by the way."

"I you replaced Leah pretty quickly." He snapped.

I was baffled. He can't be serious, can he? "You're joking right? Please tell me that you're joking." I almost laughed.

"Not really, no."

"Whatever Harry." He turned to leave when I yelled out to him.

"You know, I have never met someone so infuriating in my entire life! You come here to talk to me and then you end up walking away. How many more times are you going to walk away?"

"As many as I like." He barked from where he stood, not bothering to turn around and look at me.

"Well maybe you shouldn't come around anymore." I told him.

"Maybe I shouldn't."

"Maybe you shouldn't." I repeated.

The curly haired boy stood still for a few short seconds before pacing out to the parking lot and out of my life.

I was upset by his actions. I had fallen too fast and too quickly before and I didn't want that to happen with Harry and I'm glad now. I think we could've been something, even if we weren't together I would have been fine being his friend but of course he is too difficult for that.

I walked back to my dorm and when I closed the door I leant against it.

"Who was that?" Sarah asked and I opened my eyes.

"Harry."

"Harry? That beautiful specimen was the guy you made out with on more than one occasion?"

"The one and only."

I was on the verge of tears but I couldn't cry. I wouldn't let myself cry for him or for anyone else anymore. I was stronger than that, I knew I was.

"So did you hear?" I questioned and hoped that she would say no.

"Yeah." Great. "Did you mean it? What you said about him not being in your life anymore?"

"He was never really to begin with."

Harry's POV

"Damn it Harry!" I shouted and punched the hood of my car, leaving a dint in the front.

Why am I such a fuck up? I could have just apologized and everything would've gone back to the way it was but now I'm not even going to be in her life.

That is what she meant, right? Maybe she meant not to come to her dorm anymore? Of course not you idiot. She doesn't want you. Why would she? She's as pure as snow and I'm just the melted sludge in the gutter.

Maybe it's for the best. If I don't see her than nothing bad can happen to her. She won't turn out like Layla. She'll live a long and happy life without me.

But that's the thing, I don't want her to live without me.

Piper's POV

"I think it's safe to say that our girl's night is ruined." Sarah sighed in disappointment.

"I'm sorry Sarah. I know you had all of these things planned but I just don't feel up to it anymore."

"It's okay, I understand. Boys are dumb." She restated my prior statement.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that." I laughed half heartedly. "Would you mind if I went for a walk? I need to clear my head."

"Of course. I'll clean up here." She smiled sweetly.

"Thank you." I said before I grabbed my coat and went outside.