Rock and Roll

Chapter Eighteen: Floating

Harry woke up with the memory of the kiss shoving it's way into the forefront of his mind. The feelings he got from her, from her touch, were still stinging their way through his veins. He twisted his hands in his hair, and got up for a shower.

He considered just waiting until after the fight, but then by the time the thought crossed his mind the water was already warmed up and he wasn't wearing a shirt. He would shower again when he got home tonight.

He took off the rest of his clothes and stepped under the unsteady stream of water. He was half tempted to let it all rain down on his face so he looked dramatic. He decided against it only because he was pressed for time. He wanted to find Valentine again, and see if he could convince her that he didn't suck.

He didn't even know where to start, other than calling her cell phone. He didn't really think she would answer, but it's worth a try.

After he had gotten out of the shower and was dressed he found his phone under his pillow. He pulled up her contact. He didn't have a picture for her, but he was determined to get one. If he had to take it while she wasn't looking he was totally going to. She would break his phone if she found out. He smiled at the thought.

She didn't pick up. He hoped it was because she was asleep.

He would just text her for now.

Harry: Hey

Harry: Call me later if you get a min.

He sat on his bed and wrapped his hair in towel like he saw girls do in movies. Then he decided that was stupid and he wanted coffee.

He wasn't nervous, not really. He had complete faith in himself. He was bored with waiting. He had trained for two weeks and now that it was really here only hours away... he couldn't wait. There was a kind of twisted excitement boiling in his stomach. He was ashamed of it, but it persisted without his permission. It made his skin crawl with tiny, imaginary, ants.

He needed that coffee now. He ran out of his apartment and grabbed his key on the way. A small part of him was hoping to see Valentine in the coffee shop. Maybe she would be stopping in for her break. Here's to hoping.

It was warmer outside than normal. Almost like they had avoided winter all together and jumped from fall to spring. There weren't any leaves to crunch under his feet. The trees the mayor had commissioned were only planted on the good side of town. Sometimes he liked to walk those streets and look at the cherry blossoms that bloomed in the spring or the very few pine trees that stayed full and fresh scented all year round. One day, he told himself, I'll live there too.

As he walked the dirty streets to the coffee shop he daydreamed about painting all the different seasons. Ideas were floating around his head like tiny birds. But somewhere in the back of his mind the match was still looming.

The door to the coffee shop dinged when he entered. He hadn't really noticed it before.

He went up to the counter to place his order. No tea this time, just black coffee. The small barista girl was blushing under his gaze. She asked his name for the cup and he gave it. She wrote down quite a few more things than he told her too, and he wondered if she had put her number on the cup. He couldn't see it so he would just have to wait until it was ready.

He found a table in the corner of the room. The metal chair made a loud scraping sound when he pulled it out and he winced as other people turned to look at him. Then he saw her. Valentine was here. She had done her hair and makeup too. He didn't like it but... he couldn't explain why.

She hadn't noticed him. He got up from his chair, a little too quickly causing another loud scraping noise, and approached her. He had to take a deep breath before he started to speak.

"Valentine, before you start yelling or hitting me, I wanted to see if I could convince you that I'm not as bad as I seem," he said. She turned around clearly startled. She didn't seem to recognize him at first.

"Go on," was all she said in return.

"I told you about my mom, about everything. I'm not asking you to go to the match, but I am asking you not to let me go because of my past. That's what this is Valentine. It's my past now. After tonight I'm out for good and I mean that," he said. He meant every word of it. He wanted to keep her in his life. Even if the whole kiss thing ends badly, if she avoids him for purely that reason, at least he'll know he did his best.

"I'll be there tonight. I give you my word Harry. But right now I have to go," she said. She grabbed her things and rushed out the door right as his name was called.

He was right, the small barista had put her number on the cup.