Influenced

Chapter 4

“Nice to meet you, Harry.”, I mutter under my breath before he can get a word out. My hand juts out politely. Slightly-amused confusion paints itself over his countenance before he takes my hand in his and bringing it tenderly up to his lips. I find myself baffled by how outgoing he was about this intimate gesture, but I refuse to let that show. It was definitely something that Blake would never do in front of his mother. The smirk on his face was unreadable. Whether he was doing this as a nice-guy act for his mother or just to annoy the crap out of me, it was working either way. The way his green eyes dilated as he took in my image, plump lips sponged against my pale skin, and brown curls brushed against my wrist as his head bent down. All of these gestures would send a normal girl into frenzy, but not me. Something about Harry and his sexy-and-I-know-it aura drove me away. A guy that knows that he can get any girl he wants makes me want to be the one he can’t get. Not that he could have me anyways, I was taken. My mind flew me across the country to Blake. He was probably at swim practice with it being early January. I had taken time out of my packed schedule multiple times before just to sit by the pool side as he prepared for his swim meets. Watching his glistening, muscular body weave in and out of the sparkling surface of the water would send shivers down mu spine. Showers and changing immediately followed in his routine, then off to a short dinner together before going our separate ways. The gym for football training for him and home to study for me.

“Nice to meet you, too, Mallory.”, he plays along, snapping me out of my imaginary date with Blake. He lifts his head back up, leaving his hand to linger against mine before I swiftly snatch it away and back into my possession. His voice seemed thick, ironically sweet and not sarcastic. Molasses versus poison. I couldn’t help but wonder if my apparel or the appearance of his mother was somewhat of a reason for his sudden change of character.

“Mallory here may be my newest addition for the competition team.” Anne’s remark serves as a reminder that she is still in the room. I don’t speak, still trying to solve Harry’s character changes like a hard word problem. Only then do I notice the black butterfly etched onto his muscular torso along with two smaller swallows seeming to flutter across his chest.

“That’s nice.”, he answers, bluntly, as if her comment was irrelevant. My eyes come back up to meet his, the forest that was his irises keep mine locked in his. I awkwardly shift my eyes away from him.

Anne clears her throat, awkwardly, before continuing. “So, did your dad say you could go?”, she questions. This seems to snap Harry out of his trance and he spins on his heels back to face his mom. The bubble of tension that had been growing in my chest popped, filling my senses with relief. Something about Harry's intense gaze was like being examined by a biologist. Being looked at like you were some specimen on petri dish.

“Yes.”, he answers, his broad shoulders now facing the opposite direction of me. My eyes involuntarily trail down his toned back, admiring his muscled figure. His gym shorts hugged his hips as he shifted his weight to his left leg. His large hands grasp each end of the white material that was draped arund his neck.

“Then you can go.”, she nods before shifting her eyes towards me. Something clicked in her eyes before she says, “How about you take Mallory with you?”

“What?”, Harry and I simultaneously say. Take Mallory where? Not even for a second would I consider going anywhere with Harry.

“Harry is going to a party tonight at his friend’s house. Kind of like a back to school party. I think that it would be a wonderful way for Mallory to meet some of your friends, Harry.”, she explains, ignoring Harry but shifting her attention towards me. “Would you like to go?”

I’m about to answer with a definite no. I honestly needed to get caught up with my schoolwork that I had missed, and, frankly, I didn’t want to go anywhere with him. Before I can speak up, Harry does for me. “No, she doesn’t.”

My eyes narrow to small slits, secretly shooting daggers into Harry’s back. I can speak for myself. What if I did want to go to the party? He wouldn’t know, because he didn’t let me answer for myself. Just for that, I answer, “Actually, I would love to go. It would be nice to get to know other people from our school.”

A sense of pride overpowers my senses as he slightly turns his head to face me, scowling. I send a smug smile back in return, causing him to roll his eyes as he turns back to face his mom. "I don't know if this is Mallory's type of party.", he says, hesitantly, and I begin to question what I have actually gotten myself into. What type of party was this going to be?

"Well if it isn't Mallory's type of party, maybe it isn't your type of party either.", Anne suggests with an authoritative tone. Harry lets out a sigh of exasperation before turning on his heels to face me. All signs of his previous attitude had diminished.

"I'll meet you at your house in an hour. Be outside, because I won't hesitate to keep driving if you aren't there waiting.", he informs, pushing past me. He leaves me there, my mouth partly opened in shock from how quick someone could change their attitude. I quickly depart with a small goodbye to Anne, making plans to meet back up tomorrow after school.

I toss my bag back into the boot of the jeep, slamming it shut before climbing into the front seat. I crank the keys into the ignition, and the engine roars to life. What type of party had I gotten myself an invite to? I should have known that if someone like Harry was attending it, then it was one that I probably would not be interested in.

I guess I was about to find out.

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