Dark Green

Chapter 16

POV Quinn.

I shrink legs with my back on the headboard. Some strands of hair fall on my face and I take them away placing them behind my ear. I pick up the pencil and solve the last part of the exercise we couldn't finish yesterday in class. It's Friday afternoon, less than two hours for Zac's party to star but I still doubt I'll go there. I don't feel like partying today after I suffered oppression throughout the week. Classes and work have kept me busy all this time. Although I fixed things with Jared after his 'little white lie', we haven' seen each other since Sunday. Harry has disappeared from the map all this time, part of me wants him to call me on the phone and tell me any rude thing or whatever.

The phone next to me starts vibrating. Zac's name shines on the screen and I struggle if answer or not. He would insist with this party thing and i know I will end up going to that party but I don'tt know if I should go. I sigh and push the button green botton.

"Parker, I pick you up in twenty minutes" he says when I approach the phone to my ear.

I close the book with the pencil on the inside and land it on the bed. I play with a strand of my ripped jeans at the knees.

"I don't want to party"

The music plays on the other side of the line. Looks like the party starts earlier than it's planned.

"Oh, come on, you're my guest of honor"

I cross my legs over the mattress and lean forward. I haven't even thought what I'm going to wear to the party.

"I don't know"

"I go to your house in twenty minutes so be ready " he says before hanging up.

I look at the black screen with a scowl. He is even more stubborn than I even though it may seem impossible. Before getting out of bed, I send a message to Jared sking if he is coming with me. I don't know anything about him but I hope he can attend, it will be much more fun if he is there with me. I get up of bed and walk over to the closet to see what to wear. It is very cold in the street since we are already in November but Zac will heat house so I opt for a white Vans, black skirt with floral print and black crop top covered with a sweater white quite open. I hope it isn't a party where people need to dress formally but I don't care much anyway. As I'm getting all the clothes, my phone rings on the bed. I take the shoes and approach the mattress. I sit on it and grab the phone. I read distressed Jared's message, he won't be able to come because he already has plans. It won't be as funny as I think, I have the feeling I'm going to spend more time alone than with someone. After putting on my shoes, I go to the dressing table so I brush my hair and put some makeup. I pick up the brush resting on the dresser and I loose tousled hair. I comb small chocolate curls and take gently my makeup box. I apply a little foundation with a thin stripe over my lashes to highlight the size of my eyes. I apply a bit of mascara on the lashes and end up my makeup with Vaseline on my lips . I never liked to wear a lot of makeup except on special occasions like New Years Eve, Christmas or my birthday. I take a small cream bag out of my closet and put a few things on it with my mobile phone. Before I have time to do something else, I hear the sound of the bell downstairs and get out of my room. I am walking down the stairs when my mother hugs Zac.

"Wow" the guy praises when I reach the bottom of the stairs.

My cheeks turn red and I hug my mother before leaving.

"Don't be late and have fun"

"I'll look after her, Mrs. Parker" Zac says winking.

She is separated from me and kisses my cheek loudly. I stand next to Zac and I wave before my mum clooses the door. The skin on my legs bristles with the evening breeze. The dark sky is covered with small bright dots that will witness everything that happens tonight. I can feel the excitement of Zac from here, he seems really excited about the party.

The short drive was based on Zac telling me the names of some of the guests at his party. He assures me that all go to the same college as us but I don't know any of the names he has mentioned. I should interact more with people in the campus but it doesn't interest me, I think I'll overrun of friends for a while. Some cars are swirling around the outside of the house as the first guests arrive. Zac parks his car inside his own garage and we take the stairs connecting to the big house. The music starts playing when Zac indicates the DJ and guides me into the kitchen.

"Won't your father be angry with you for making this party?" I ask as we head to the kitchen.

He shakes his head and guides me on the inside with his hand on my lower back.

"People can only go into the kitchen, in the living room, as much in my room and the guests one" he explains when we enter the great hall.

The entire kitchen is covered in drinks and the bartenders work fast preparing a few glasses for all the guests. I cannot believe the amount of people who can come to the party but I'm sure they'll be a few. A waiter hands me a glass with a reddish liquid that I approach my nose before tasting it. It smells like forest fruits mixed with strong smell of alcohol. When I take it to my lips, strawberry taste and other different fruits fills my mouth. It tastes better than I thought . Zac looks at me with a smile and other glass in his hands.

"Let the party begin!" he shouts.

The house is full of people that seem our age and like celebrating without reason. Some are already pretty drunk from their homes or other parties while all the girls seem to be looking for her charming prince. His brilliant and boisterous dresses draw attention of all male eyes as I walk by all the rooms looking for my best friend. It seems that he has swallowed the earth but it's impossible to find him with so many people around me. I meet some familiar faces from my own class or higher courses while walking through the halls still with the glass of red liquid in my hands. I greet some unknown girls but they don't seem to want to have a long talk with me. In the end, coming to this party has been a big mistake. I thought maybe it could go well but no trace of Zac, this is too boring.

After an hour and a full glass of this red liquid, I'm more distracted than before. I feel my cheeks red from alcohol and much more relaxed. I might even start a conversation with a stranger without shame. But, while I'm standing in the middle of the dance floor, I seem to see a curly hair in the distance. What is Harry doing at this event? Perhaps he is not Harry, many guys have curly hair in that color.

You are obsessed says my adoreded and scientific mind.

I roll my eyes and try to follow 'Harry'. I apologize for pushing a person or couple too busy kissing when I see him eventually. My heart beats excited when I recognize both boys: Harry and Zayn stand waiting at the front door with two glasses on their hands. Alcohol is causing that the anger I should feel for Harry becomes a joy and excitement. My mind prefers to remember the detail of taking all my stuff home that the fact he mentioned I am a slut. Zayn smiles and waves at me. I repeat the gesture but then Harry's eyes focus on me. Even from that distance, his eyes cause chills on my skin. There is an inexplicable tension between us, a second it may be all nervous and scary and the second after a huge sexual tension overwhelms us. All these unanswered questions about him and how I feel about hin, makes my interest grow day by day.

Harry whispers something into Zayn's ear and he nods just before Harry disappears from his side. I look away from his friend and take a sip of my drink. I cannot help feeling a little disappointed, I thought he was going to come to me or something but he hasn't. I'm stupid for thinking that he cares the least. I sigh and put towards the large window that connects the rear garden with the livingrooom. A few people are out playing drinking games and more couples kissing. The stars shine brightly in the dark night sky. There is no cloud that cover this. The big full moon lights the garden but no one is aware with the beauty with which it shines tonight. It seems to want to say something , as if today is a day when everything is going to change.

I think I've drank enough for today.

"Beautiful, isn't it ?" Harry's voice says right behind me .

I put eyes down with a silly smile on my face.

"Do you mean the coupls or at night?" I ask.

I hear his laugh. It seems more relaxed and less forced than in other times. That makes me happier than it should .

"Both"

His body rests on the glass and I dare look up. His eyes look to the bright, giant moon while I remain enchanted by the beauty of their profile. He brings the cup hanging from one hurt hand and drink the entire contents. He turns the face and gaze meets mine. His dark green eyes look at me with million feelings crossing them but he removes them before I have time to read inside him. Why doesn't he want to show his feelings in no time? It seems to wait a few seconds to regain sanity and looks at me with a smile that hides feelings.

"You look beautiful tonight" he praises without removing it away from me.

Why is he being nice to me? I look at my feet so he cannot see the shyness in my eyes. Suddenly, he raises the hand where the glass was and takes a lock of hair falling on my cheek to put it behind my ear. Sparks run through my skin when the tip of his fingers touch my warm skin.

"Thanks" 

His hand is separated from me and I miss the feel of his skin.

"I have to talk to you alone, come with me" he says moving away from the glass and walking among the people.

I follow him closely, almost at his heels. I don't know what he need to talk about but I have nothing better to do here. Harry is the closest thing to a friend that is in this party. I shouldn't hear what he has to say but something inside me tells me to do it. Maybe he wants to apologize to me for what happened the other day, if so, would i forgive him? I guess so, I'm not as mad at him as I should be.

I realize we are in a completely empty hallway . I look around and just before we see a door leading to the rear garden but that also leads to the little cabin in which the heated pool.

"We can't be here" I say when he opens the door to go outside .

He stops right in the doorway and turns to face me. The tanned skin of his hand glows under the moon light when the tends it to me.

"Trust onme"

Should I? I struggle inside a few seconds until I put my hand on his and millions of sparks run through my skin. His fingers close around my hand and helps me get outside of the big house . A few steps away, the glass cabin in which the color blue pool shines is. This is not a good idea, well, why does he want to talk in a pool if there are millions of sites where we can hold a private conversation? I hope he doesn't think I'm going to swim with him in there.

Harry lets go of my hand and opens the door of the small shed. I wait until this opens and I step inside. The contrast of the cold street with the heat inside the small house makes the skin of my bare legs stand on end. I remember when I came here with Zas to learn how to swim. I swallowed more water than any other person.

"What are you doing at the party? " I ask when the question comes to my head.

He looks at the pool back to me. The interior lights are illuminating the place due to the moon rays which are filtered through the window .

"Work" he responds by pulling a bottle of champagne from an inside pocket of his jacket "That's how I got this"

I know he is lying. Not that I see it, he is a master of lies but this sounded too poor.

"I don't believe you" I say when he throws the bottle inside the pool.

He turns to look at me and pulls down jacket . No, he cannot be thinking what I think he is thinking.

"You have two choices: stay calm and believe me or think that is a lie and this about it over and over again" he shrugs when grasping the hem of his white shirt. He pulls it up until it falls on the other garment. I look at my toes before becoming captivated by his strong torso. He is right, I prefer to believe what he told me than thinking about the millions of things that have been brought him here. Maybe it's true and he is earning some money working at the party, and his friend Zayn is here too so it could me possible.

I hear the sound of a body falling on the water and when I looked up, pants and boots are next the rest of Harry's clothes. Shit, we shouldn't be here. I don't know why he wants to take a bath but I'm not going to follow him. I observe his body swimming to the middle of the pool in the bottom of this until he emerges. He pulls his brown hair back and removes the excess water from the face before looking at me.

"Come in" he commands.

I shake my head without moving the site. I will not get into a pool, much less take off my clothes in front of him . My trust doesn't reach that point.

"I'm fine here "

Harry walks through the pool to the closest edge to me. He supports his muscles arms in the edge and chin on his hands. The reflection of the water makes his green eyes shine turn in a lighter color than other times. It has the most beautiful and captivating eyes I've seen in my life.

"Come on, put your feet in" he asks.

His gaze is so intense and imploring. I roll my eyes and I bend down to undo the laces of my white shoes. Why am I unable to resist his charms? I approach the edge of the pool and I carefully sit on the edge so he cannot see my underwear, introducing my feet in the water. It's hotter than I thought and my frozen feet heats up fast. Harry is right beside me, the tattoos on his arms and most of the birds on his chest sticking out above the water.

"What do you wanna talk about?" I wonder moving feet inside the transparent element.

Harry moves to my side and places right in front of me. His marked black boxers fit the part of body that is covered and I move my eyes away before my cheeks turn red. Her hands are now inside the pool around my ankles. This doesn't give me a very good feeling.

"Come in and I tell you"

"Harry ..."

The closure around my ankles gets stronger and his arms start to pull me down. I try to hold me to something before falling into the pool but Harry stops moving just as my ass is on the edge of the pool.

"With clothes or without clothes, beautiful?"

I feel like his hands try to pull me down again. I don't want to get into the pool but still less not having any dry clothes after getting out of the pool.

"Okay, I get in the pool!" 

A satisfied smile crosses his face when he releases my ankles completely. He always gets what he wants using the worst methods. I try to set aside that little unconscious part of my brain that wants to jump in the pool when I stand up from the edge. Harry looks at me carefully introducing his whole body in water. Small droplets falling from his hair to the pool when I point him with my index finger.

"If I catch you looking, I 'm leaving"

He shrugs and swims again to the middle of the pool.

"I would catch you before you had time to turn the doorknob"

I wait until Harry looks at the other side of the pool to take my bag and jersey off. I shouldn't trust on his word that he isn't going to look but the idea of him watching my half naked body makes my stomach flutter. Nobody ever found sensually attractive, Harry is the first guy who looked at me with passion in his eyes and it makes me feel a little bit special.

Before I take off the last garment covering my body, I turn to see if Harry has fulfilled his promise. Surprisingly, he is still staring straight ahead when I turn. Maybe he is not as bad as I was led to believe. I take off and leave print skirt along with the rest of my clothes. I feel very exposed without any clothes on me but try to imagine I'm in summer, in a pool. Not much different than that, apart from the fact that I'm alone with a guy I have contradictory feelings for and that no one is near us. With a long sigh, I sit on the edge of the pool and eot sucked into it. The warm water relaxes my muscles and Harry turns a second later. I feel the tips of my hair floating in the water while trying to stand. I can't reach the floor of the pool so I have to stay afloat with my hands. Harry suppress a smile putting his lips down in the water as he approaches me.

"What do you want to talk about?" I ask trying to cover my body with his arms.

Harry is placed in front of me and lifts his face. Rebels and tempting drops fall from his pink lips. On one hand, he has the bottle he threw in the water and hands it to me with the cap already removed.

"Drink"

I raise my eyebrows at him. I cannot stay afloat in the pool and he wants me to drink something. Harry hands me the bottle again and I take it reluctantly. I know what will happen if I drink and stay alone with Harry so I take a long sip of the bubbly liquid. Whatever has to happen, will happen. I don't think about anything else. Harry takes the bottle from my hands when I finish drinking and gives a last sip after launch out of the pool.

"So..."

Harry turns and swims in the opposite direction to where I am. Bubbles start climbing up to my head in no time.

"I didn't mean what I said the other day"

He doesn't look at me when he is saying it. I don't know why he doesn't look at me, maybe in the background he actually meant it.

"It sounded real"

I start swimming in the place where he is standing. Any concerns I had because he could see me in underwear disappears thanks to the last sip of alcohol I've gotten into my body.

"It wasn't"

I get right up to him when Harry turns and looks me in the eyes.

"Is that a apology?" I wonder.

He throws his hair back again. He always does that gesture when he is angry or nervous, I cannot believe I have observed enough to know all these little things about him.

"I never apologize"

"Oh"

I feel a little disappointed by his response. I expected to get a bit of regret on his part but I guess I always collide against a wall when I wait hopefully for things that I will never receive from him. I try to swim to the edge of the pool si I can finish this talk and got back to the party but a strong arm is tied around my waist and my back crashes with his chest.

"You're not running away from me this time" he whispers in my ear .

My hands are subjected to the strong arm around my waist. His hand removes the excess hair strands floating over my shoulder and I feel a great thrill when his lips are placed on this. Every kiss is an electric current that makes my heart race. I have trouble breathing and even my legs shake despite not being resting on the ground. The wet kisses walk over my shoulder to the hollow of my neck where they stop. His nose touches my jaw and I close my eyes helplessly. All these feelings are too much for me, I feel as if I am about to faint.

"I don't understand many of the things that are happening to me with you, Quinn" he confesses in the crook of my neck.

My eyes shot open and I turn with his arms still around my waist. Looks like we're both in the same boat in regards to our unusual relationship. I put my hands on his wet shoulders when his other arm rounds my waist. My heart beats pounding in my throat. This time there won't be interruptions, nothing can stop us and millions of ideas of what can happen run through my head.

"What do you want from me?" I ask hesitantly.

I don't know if I want to know the answer. The dam around my waist gets stronger causing my chest crash against his. My breath is cut off completely when his full lips are a few millimeters from mine. The relaxing sound of the water doesn't make me feel better.

"Everything" he whispers.

And then, in this beautiful and unforgettable night, his lips collide with mine.