Fall

Chapter 21

The restaurant I was expecting Harry to take us to turned out to be a cozy little cafe out of town. Hung from the ceiling were small glass bowls that had been filled with dirt and plants that grew over the rim and hung over customers heads. One of the walls that we sat by was lined floor to ceiling with chalkboard and messages in various handwriting had been scribbled on the surface. From customers I'd assumed. Some wished you a good day, some were small little quotes, others were nice comments about the cafe. Almost every surface was white, except the tables which had a glass top. It was a beautiful place to come for lunch, or any occasion really. I could just see myself coming alone with a book and ordering a cup of hot coffee.

And to think, I'd never even knew this place existed. And I'd never know it existed if I hadn't ran from Jye and Harry hadn't come to my rescue.

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After we'd ordered, we took a seat in the table by the chalk wall. I complimented his choice in cafe as I continued to peer around. It was so beautiful.

He smiled and accepted my compliment. I turned my attention back to Harry just as he was rolling his jacket off his shoulder and hanging it on the back of his chair.

"Are you thirsty?" He asked, picking up the jug of water that sat in the middle of the table. It was grouped with two stacked glasses and a glass bottle with a small bouquet of flowers sprouting from the top.

"Uh, yeah, thanks."

I couldn't help but notice the way his biceps strained under the rolled sleeve of his t-shirt as he lifted the full jug with one hand. My eyes trailed to the small lines of black ink that poked out from the sleeve and his collar as he filled up my cup.

Noticing myself becoming too distracted, I pulled my eyes away just as he set the jug back down and tried to hide my embarrassed smile.

He lifted his filled cup and raised it, offering for me to do the same.

"To finally getting out," he smiled and tapped his cup to mine, the glasses making a sharp ringing sound.

Just as I drew the cup to my lips, a figure lurking in the door way distracted me and I had to stop myself from spitting the water back out. My eyes widened and I leaned down to the table, turning my head away from the doorway and setting down my glass.

"Shit."

"What is it? Are you okay?" Harry asked frantically, setting his down too and leaning towards me.

I shook my head but kept it turned towards the wall, my hair hopefully blocking my face.

"Jye. He's here."

Harry's eyes widened immediately and his head shot up to look around the shop.

"Where?" He said just as his eyes landed on the figure stalking through the cafe.

I watched his eyes as they studied him before he leaned back towards me.

"He has a girl with him," he remarked.

Keeping my head low, I turned it slowly until Jye and a smaller, curvier figure came into view. I hadn't even noticed. She was clinging to his arm desperately which hung by his side, not even acknowledging the thirsty girl smiling up at him. Her long blonde hair was brown at the roots with regrowth and look dry at the ends from too much bleach.

She'd be pretty if not for the fake tan, the makeup and the fact that she had gotten herself involved with Jye.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was the girl I'd heard on the phone with him.

"Do you want to leave?" He asked.

I turned my head away from them and stared at the empty table sat between us. We only just got here, I'd feel bad to leave so early without even eating. Especially since Harry had made such an effort to bring me here, a place so close to his personal life.

My thoughts were drawn to whether this was the table Anna and him used to sit at, but they were quickly interrupted when I caught a figure pacing towards us in my side view. I didn't have to turn my head to know who it was.

"Bree!" He barked. I felt sorry for the customers who were looking for a peaceful lunch.

"C'mon, let's go," Harry rushed.

"So you're still with this fucking guy?" Jye accused as he and the girl on his arm stopped beside us.

"C'mon Harry," I said quietly, rising from my seat.

"No no no," Jye refused, resting his hand on my shoulder and forcing me back into my seat.

"You're not going anywhere with him."

"Don't touch her. We're leaving," Harry fought back, standing up so quickly his chair scraped along the floor.

"Excuse me, but you're not her boyfriend-"

"And you mustn't be either if you already have another skank on your arm."

Myself, Jye and the girl were all taken aback by Harry's words, some that I'd become so foreign to hearing since a couple days ago. The girl scrunched up her face and scoffed, flipping her as she looked up at a fuming Jye.

"Alright how about we take this outside then, yeah?" he replied surprisingly calmly.

"Forget it, we're not leaving now, especially not with you," Harry refused, taking a seat and pulling himself into the table.

Jye's eyes were burning into Harry's head and I could tell it wouldn't be long before he did something about Harry's behavior towards him.

"You can either get outside or I can slam your head into this fucking glass table. Your choice," Jye threatened, his voice rising uncontrollably.

Customers and staff were now staring and the girl looked slightly uncomfortable as she let go of his arm. Harry just chuckled and kept his eyes away from Jye's.

"Get up Harry," I said softly.He looked up at me, obviously confused.

I'd seen what Jye was capable of and no matter how much a scene he was creating, nothing would stop him from carrying out his word. I was surprised by how much Harry trusted me when he stood up without questioning me and started out the door.

Jye followed after him leaving the bleached blonde and myself to chase after them.