At Gunpoint

Chapter 3

"Wouldn't that make it our thing?"

"If you prefer that." Harry said jaunty, making it sound like it had been my idea. He was insidious, I'd give him that. I hit him friendly on the shoulder. "Whatever."

"What brings you to upstate New York?" I continued and took initiative to pick the walking back up again.

"Good question, in need of a good answer." Harry mumbled and finished off his sandwich, only to pull out a soda can.

"Are you trying to stall?" I laughed and took his soda can from him, letting myself have the first sip. He got a thoughtful look on his face.

"Maybe in some unconsious way." He added. "Would hate to make a bad first impression."

"First impressions do no longer count for third dates."

"There's a first impression to be made for every date. It's a new day, and I for one do not care for living in the past."

I was intrigued by his train of thought. I had never drawn that conclusion. Perhaps he had a point. Why linger on in the past when there was so much future to have a go at.

"Did you just call this a date? And make me call it a date as well?"

I returned from outer space and blinked to process the question.

"A date as in 'it's a date!', not the kind of 'ask a girl out on a date'-date."

"Okay then." Harry accepted and carried on dropping his soda can in a bin I hadn't noticed we passed. What I did notice though was how long his fingers were, which in turn were attached to a very large hand. I looked down at mine which was the size of a 12-year old's, chubby fingers and a small palm. Two sets of my hand would probably fit in one of his. Harry ran his slender fingers through his thick hair, sliding surprisingly easily through the unruly curls. I was impressed because his quiff looked styled to the point where it could act like a fort. Unbreakable, without letting anything through. I guess deception was one of his many hidden talents. Both by his looks and by the way he talked. He seemed to be an expert at avoiding questions. Suddenly Harry rapidly stepped in front of me making us both stop moving.

"Don't you think it's time to go back to our dorms? We're getting up in three hours." Harry captured my eye and I seemed unable to make myself look anywhere else. If a gaze had arms, his would definitely be holding one hand by each side of my face because I felt close to paralyzed.

"I think... Maybe..." I whispered stupidly, not being able to even finish a sentence. He had very pretty eyes, with 'very' written in capital letters. Nervously I licked my lips in a desperate attempt to bring back the moisture that seemed to have vanished within the 10 seconds we've been standing like this.

"We've only known each other for 18 hours so I can't say I know you good enough to tell how you function with close to no sleep, but I certainly don't function at all so if I want the slightest shot at staying awake during class tomorrow..."

Harry had gone silent and had started on a heavier breathing at some point during the stare-off. The night breeze seemed to have stopped. It was still cold but at least it was calm. Just when I thought he was leaning in to kiss me he pulled away and started walking back towards dorms A and B. After a few feet he spun around waving.

"Catch you in class!"

Like nothing had even happened he disappeared in between the two buildnings and just like that the moment was gone completely. Confused I was left standing thinking about what his deal was. He builds up the tension to take it all away like a toy from a small child. Maybe it was a game, maybe it was a defense mechanism. Perhaps he didn't even realize what he was doing. I shook my head, he couldn't be that clueless. It was definitely on purpouse. But for what reason I had left to figure out.