Numb (Harry Styles AU)

Four

(I can't I just omg this has gotten 21 votes and that's more than just oh Jesus I can't that might not seem like a lot to some people, but for me to see that 21 have enjoyed what I wrote enough to vote just amazes me. I love all of you, stay lovely. xx, Drew)

(Songs for this chapter are:

1: Tonight's the Kind of Night- Noah and the Whale

2: Reckless Serenade- Arctic Monkeys

3: Shiver- Coldplay) 

XxXx TERM STARTS IN TWO DAYS XxXx 

The next morning I opened my door to find a bottle of Vodka staring at my face. I hurriedly picked it up, hoping no one saw. There was a little sticky note attached on the side:

"You left this at my place. Figured you might want it for the next time you decide to blast that slow sappy music I always hear at three in the morning. -H"

Smiling, I set the bottle on my counter and got changed for my morning walk. Maybe I would pass through the shop and say hello to him. Or... no, I shouldn't. I still didn't know him that well, and I wouldn't know what to say to him anyway. It'd just be weird. 

So, instead of doing that, I went on my walk (the park sign was painted over, just as Harry told me it would be), ate breakfast, came back, and changed for work. This was going to be my last day at work; I was moving into the dorm tomorrow. Dan told us we could come back anytime and he'd give a high school student a night off if we wanted a shift or two. I honestly wasn't to worried about money- I had quite a bit saved up and school was paid for (those three months of ACT prep paid off). It was going to be upsetting leaving this place though, but I knew I would make sure to stop by. The summer had been great, even though it was mainly work and went by fast. That's how everything always was anyway. 

When I got downstairs, Harry was already gone, which is ok. I wasn't ready to confront him yet. I found Robby at the register, handing someone a Jimi Hendrix record in exchange for the money in their hand. They thanked him and left. "Is this your last day?" I ask him. He shakes his head. 

"I'm moving out tomorrow, yeah, but I'm going to still work on weekends. Got to pay for those classes somehow," he laughs to himself and I smile.

"Do you know some guys named Axel and Graham?" He stops and looks at me. For some reason I don't find myself mentioning Harry. 

"How do you know them? Yes, I do. Foster hangs with them some I think. Why?" the tone of his voice made me nervous. There was something that had happened, but he wasn't going to share it.

"Um, just heard someone bring them up at that party last night, which was so wild and fun," the lie slipped out. My gut told me that it was best if I didn't tell him where I'd actually been. He nodded.

"Where'd you head off to? We lost you. Wasn't even sure if you'd gotten a ride back or not," he told me. That hurt slightly, but I wasn't going to let it bother me. We didn't say anything else after that, and I left him to work the desk while I organised and restocked. The four hours were going to drag by today. 

I was in the middle of the 'T' section when I heard someone clear their throat from the back doorway, which I found odd. Looking up, I saw Harry waving me over. This was my first time seeing him in the actual shop, and during the day. Robby was checking out a customer, so I ran over while he was distracted. 

"Yeah?" 

"Did you get my note?" I nodded. "Good, don't play that music so damn loud. Some of us are actually trying to sleep." He smirked and my face fell, and then a smile formed involuntarily.