X / h.s

Chapter 5

The next few days passed by sort of a blur. Apparently at the party, I had more than I shouldve, and made a lot of new friends. Who's names I couldn't remember.

Still, I made effort to smile at everyone who greeted me and pretend I remembered their faces.

My lunch table now consisted of me, Mason, Nate, and Isabella and the girls.

Harry hadn't talked to me since after the party. Or even looked at me, really. It was like it never happened.

Mason threw the cafeteria chicken nuggets across the table at Nate.
"Youre a fucking idiot." Nate laughed.
Isabella groaned, holding her hand up to keep from salad from the gunfire.
"Y'all chill out, im trying to eat!"
"Vegans did 9/11." Mason shouted, grabbing two handful of nuggets and throwing them straight at Isabella's salad.
Isabella sighed, rolling her eyes in annoyance, which followed in Nate laughing so hard he started to choke on his own spit.

I leaned my head against Mason's shoulder, smiling at the idiot I called my friend.
"Nate?"
I waited a while until he catched his breath so I could get a response. Finally, his breathing slowed and he nodded at me to go on.

"If harry is your friend why doesnt he sit with us?" I asked.
The entire table quieted now, and shifted uncomfortably.
Mason put his arm around me, looking down at me with his golden boy smile, as to say "wow. Shes so naive."

"Harry doesn't really have any "friends." Nate said, air quoting.
"Well, thats not true. He did. We just dont see much of him anymore." Isabella chimed in.
"Why?" I asked.
"Why the interest?" Mason interrupted before someone else could answer.
"I just wanna know." I snapped back.
Nate exhaled loudly through his nostrils, as he leaned towards me from across the table.
"Look. Harry just isn't the kind of guy you want to be around, okay?"

"And I really thought I was the life of the party." Harry spoke, walking up behind Nate.
Nate sighed, turning in his seat.
"Hey, mate."
Harry didn't seem at all mad at what Nate was just saying about him earlier. He just calmly walked past him, to me.
"Charlotte."
"Charlie." I corrected.
His eyes moved to Mason's arm around me, then back up to meet mine.
"Come."
"No." I said.
Who did he think he was? This weird kid just ordering me around everywhere, as if I'd known him for more than just a few days.

The entire table remained silent, and everyone tried to find another place to look as they pondered what Harry would do next.
He sighed loudly, pressing his fingertips to the bridge of his nose, and squeezing his eyes shut.
"Please." He spoke through gritted teeth.

From the corner of the table, I could hear Nate chuckle.

I slowly rose, following him to the corner of the cafeteria.

We stood there, just staring at each other. Well, I did. He seemed to be lost in thought, just staring right through me.

Finally, he spoke. "Let me give you a ride after school."

"It's okay. Mason-"
"No." He interrupted harshly.
"Listen, just meet me in the parking lot after. Okay?"
I didn't have time to protest. He was already walking away from me and towards the doors.