Deception

Chapter 9

75 days before (part one)

Harry had asked me out to dinner and, naturally, Alisha took the exclusive invitation as him being too shy to ask her out. So she put on her tightest, tiniest pink dress and tagged along with me to the diner across town. When we saw Harry in jeans and a t-shirt, the color drained from Alisha's face.

"What makes you think dinner in this part of town would be formal anyway?" I scoffed at her.

"It's Harry." She countered.

"Exactly my point." I had gone for the same look as Harry, wearing my black jeans and one of Niall's sweatshirts. Alisha tugged at the bottom of her dress as we made our way over to him.

"Um, hi Alice. I don't remember inviting you." He looked at her, humor playing in his eyes. She forced a laugh.

"Maybe...maybe I should just go." She started to turn to the door.

"No, Alisha," I put extra emphasis on her name. I turned to Harry. "I invited her. Now be nice." She offered a smile and he gestured to the booth across from him, defeated.

"I sort of wanted to be alone to discuss your..." he cut his eyes at Alisha, then back at me, "current predicament."

"Big words." I teased. A waitress, surprisingly tattoo-less and clean cut approached our table.

"Would you like a drink?" her voice was a pleasant sound. What was he doing here?

"Can we get three beers?" Harry asked.

"Um, I'd prefer Sprite actually." I interjected, earning an appreciative look from the waitress. Alandria was written in all capital letters across her nametag.

"You really think I'd give you alcohol? You're what? 17?"

"What about now?" He slid a fifty dollar bill across the table. Alandria eyed it for a second before shaking her head.

"Whatever, three Sprites." He rolled his eyes and pouted like a child, obviously not used to not getting what he wants. Alandria smiled and walked away.

"Do you think we can change waitresses?" I was surprised at the words from Alisha's mouth.

"Why?" I turned to her, already knowing her answer.

"I was thinking I could get something to drink." she shot a smile at Harry.

"Sprite, case closed." I rolled my eyes at her. "One party." I muttered under my breath. She looked over at me, then back to Harry who had taken a sudden interest in her.

"Maybe we could." He smiled back at her.

I coughed. "My current predicament?"

"Oh, yeah. We...I think you should call it off." He ran a hand through his hair. I narrowed my eyes.

"You or Louis?"

Harry looked over to Alisha. "Don't you have some makeup to fix in the bathroom or something?"

"Anna." Alisha whined.

"Yeah he's right." I hadn't stopped looking at Harry.

"But..." she began.

"Here" I handed her my lip gloss, the shade she'd always wanted and I'd kept it from her for this exact moment. As soon as it was in her hand, I no longer needed to worry that she would overhear us as she practically sprinted to the bathroom.

"You or Louis?" I asked again, forcing him to look at me.

"Okay, okay. Louis thinks it's going too far. I heard you fucked him at your house a few nights ago." Harry raised an eyebrow at me.