Sometimes

Chapter 11

I opened the door slowly, and not by very much, and peeped out. Harry stood, leaning against the wall looking at his feet. He glanced up, through his eyelashes and held my gaze for a second, before saying “Hey” in a low tone.

“Everything alright?” I asked as I opened the door a little more.

“Yeah, I just wanted to run something by you” he said as he stood up straight and rocked back on his heels, “That’s if you don’t mind, I mean, it’s late and all” he said quickly.

“No it’s fine, come in” I stood to one side and he walked past me before stopping and turning towards me, I was going to suggest he sat down, but before I could offer he began to talk.

“So, right” he said nervously, fidgeting on the spot, and brushing his soft curls to one side “I have a bit of a problem, and I’m not entirely sure how I’m supposed to…” be paused “deal with it”.

Ok, well now it began to sound serious. And even more unnerving I was yet to establish if he had come to me for professional advice, or just general person-to-person reassurance. Please don’t be an illegitimate child, I thought as he stared at his feet; that would be the last thing I wanted to deal with right now.

“And I hope you can point me in the right direction” he said as he glanced up.

“Ok, well I’ll do my best. Tea?” I asked as I moved towards him, and where the kettle was.

“Please” he said as I reached him. He was stood next to the kettle and I expected him to move and sit down, but he didn’t, he stayed where he was. I prepared the mugs as the kettle bubbled away, all while he stood an uncomfortable distance from me.

“Do you wanna sit down?” I asked looking up at him. Our eyes met and he failed to answer my question. A second or two passed and then I felt his finger under my chin, tilting my face in his direction, as he slowly moved closer to me, if that was even possible.

“I’m fine here, thanks” he whispered, his warm breath caressing my face. I tried to move, knowing what was coming, but my gaze was locked with his. Seconds felt like hours as came closer until our lips brushed.

“Harry no” I said with a blink, and a swift step backwards.

“But…” he said reaching for my hand, with a hurt expression on his face.

“No, I can’t, sorry” I said as I moved to the other side of the room. He stayed on the spot where I’d left him before taking a few steps back and sitting on the end of my bed, his head bowed and his expression was obscured. “Harry I could lose my job”.

“But…no one would need to know” he said, looking in my direction. His expression was heart breaking.

I was slightly offended by what he was implying, or inadvertently asking for. “This” I said waving my arms around “is not what I’m about, you may have come across other Sony girls who drop their knickers at a drop of a hat, but I can assure you I’m not one of them” I said angrily.

“No, I wasn’t saying…” he said shaking his head, but before he could finish I cut in.

“So what were you saying?” I asked as I planted my hands on my hips and awaited his response.

“I” he paused “Well” he paused again. He shuffled along my bed in my direction and grabbed my wrist, and gently pulled me down to sit next to him. He held both my hands in his as he turned around to face me. “My mood, that everyone has been so concerned about, was because of you” he said in a clear and honest tone.

“But I haven’t…” I began, but he cut me off.

“I’m used to knowing what’s going on in there” he said tapping the side of my head gently “before I know what’s going on in here” he said tapping his own.