My Comforter

Chapter 5

After Claire finishes her food, we begin the short drive back to the dorm building. We get our bags and carry them back to our room. When we get to the door, I notice an envelope tucked in between the door and the door-jam, right at eye level. I pull it out and it has my name on it. Weird. "What is that?" Claire asks, looking over my shoulder. "I'm not sure," I answer as I open it. Inside is a piece of paper, with a short note on it, written in small, scribbled letters. *Bradlynn, it was nice to chat with you tonight. I hope to see you soon, darling. Xoxo, Harry*

I want to throw up. How did Harry get my room number?! "Who's Harry?" Claire asks me. I just shake my head and open the door. She sends me a weird look as I pace back and forth, wondering what I should do about the whole Harry situation. After most of the shock has died away, I sit down beside Claire on her bed. I decide to finally answer her question and tell her all about the strange, tattooed, curly haired boy who just happens to show up wherever I am. When I'm finished, Claire has her eyebrows raised. "Wow," she breathes, running a hand through her Emma Watson style hair cut. "I don't know what to do," I tell her. "There's nothing you can do. Just ignore him," she replies. She doesn't understand. I can't just ignore him. She doesn't understand how intimidating he is. The way he calls me darling. I'm missing home more than ever right now. I want to be at home, in my own bed, with my family, and not in a tiny room with concrete walls being stalked by a curly haired dirtbag. I feel tears threatening to spill from my eyes, and I quickly blink them away. Claire hugs me and assures me that everything will be alright. I'm not so sure.

It's now 10:00 and I'm tired from being up so early and from being up during the storm last night. Plus, it's been a long day. I put on my favorite pajamas, desperate to feel at home. I climb into bed, grabbing my stuffed elephant, Lulu. I've had her since I was little. She usually stays in bed with me. I couldn't bear to leave her at home. I run my hands over her soft, tattered cloth. I go to sleep with a terrible ache of homesickness in my chest.

*****

Today is Saturday, and classes start Monday. I'm pretty excited, instead of nervous, like I was. My nerves have found a new aspect to spend their time on. Harry. I pray that I have no classes with him.

I try my best to keep my mind off of him. I decide to go and explore campus, hoping I won't run into the boy. I wear a long sleeved shirt and sweatpants, because it's a little chilly this morning. Claire is still asleep, so I just exit the room and go on my way.

There's a Starbucks right outside campus. I have a feeling I'll be coming here a lot. I decide to go in and get myself a coffee. I walk up to the counter and order a caramel frappe.

I sit on a stool right by the window and look outside at the changing leaves, some fluttering down from the trees. I watch a group of guys jog by on the sidewalk, and another group on bikes. My eyes follow them as they run by a group of trees.

I notice a certain curly haired someone walking along the sidewalk. My eyes widen and my pulse quickens. I stay perfectly still and hope he doesn't see me. He does. Great. He smirks at me through the window as he crosses the street and walks towards the Starbucks door. I don't know what to do. I think of getting up and running past him before he can realize what I'm doing, but for some reason, I stay where I am.

"Hello, darling," I hear his raspy voice greet me. I look at him, but don't say anything. Harry's wearing a plain white tee shirt, and a pair of black jeans. You can see his tattoos clearly through the right fabric of the tee.

"Aren't you going to say hello to me?" he asks, taking a seat in the stool beside me. I sigh, and take a sip of my coffee. I gasp when I feel his cool hand on my cheek, turning my head toward him. "I don't like being ignored, love." He smirks at me, when he notices how he shocked me.

I notice his eyes drift to the table, where my phone and coffee are sitting. A devious smile crosses his pierced lips. His big hands snatch the white phone off the table. "Hey! Give that back!" I say to him, grabbing his wrist. He looks up at me, his face full of amusement. I pull my hand away. "She's spoken!" Harry says, chuckling, as he opens up my phone, doing who knows what with it. He types in something, and I realize he's putting his number in. I glare at him as he places it back in my palm.

"I don't believe I've ever tried a caramel frappe before," he says to me. I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out, so I just close it again. Before I realize what's happening, Harry has already snatched my drink and has taken a sip from it. "Mmmm," he hums. "I may have to buy myself one sometime." My mouth is hanging open at this point. Who does this guy think he is?!

Just when I think it's as worse as it could get, Harry stands up, and kisses me on top of the head, before walking off. Of course, not before saying, "Goodbye, darling."