Between The Lines

Chapter 9

"So where are we going?" I ask him. He looks frustrated and is running his fingers through his hair.

"I don't know." He grips my hand firmly and looks into my eyes. "I should've known the party would be a terrible idea, I'm sorry."

"No. it's fine, really." I assure him. His emerald eyes light up and he looks relieved.

"You seemed like you would've beat the shit outta someone..." He smirks at me.

"I would've." I laugh. "I hate guys who think they can touch anyone, anytime." I confess.

"You don't like bad boys?" He questions.

"I don't have a problem with bad boys... just pigs." He doesn't respond and I turn to make my way down the street.

"Let's go somewhere." He says.

"Where?" I ask.

"I don't know... McDonald's?" He chuckles.

"Classy." I sarcastically nod.

"Buffalo Wild Wings?" He suggests.

"Better." I shrug.

"Let's go, then." He gestures to a white GM and I come to the conclusion that it must be his.

I buckle myself into the passenger seat and he puts his key in the ignition.

"Are you cold?" He looks at me, his hand hovering over the heat dial. I nod and he turns it on for me.

"Thank you." I smile at him.

We sit in silence until we pull in the parking lot.

"I'll get the door for you." He says as he gets out of the car. He makes his way over to the passenger side and opens the door for me.

I start to get out and he holds his hand out to help me. I take it and he shuts the door behind me.

"I really like that dress on you." He winks.

"Ya, those jeans are starting to grow on me." I say, pointing down to the holes over his knees in his black skinny jeans.

He lets out a light laugh and we enter the restaurant. It's loud, but not as loud as the party was.

"How many?" A short woman with long brunette hair asks.

"Um... Two." I answer, glancing over to Harry.

"Harry? Harry Styles?" She seems surprised. "Long time no see." She smirks at him and he shoots her a glare. I watch her smirk fade and she clears her throat. "Right this way."

She places us at a booth under a large screen TV. "Thank you." I tell her and she walks away.

"You know her?" I hand a menu to Harry and he opens it before answering.

"Ya, kind of." He says.

I'm relieved when a different girl comes to take our order and Harry doesn't seem to know her. Or, maybe they don't want to acknowledge each other.

I tell the girl what I want to drink and Harry does too. Since we decided what we want to eat before she came, we tell her that as well.

Our waitress comes back moments later with our drinks in hand and promises our food with be out soon.

"So, if you have a car, why'd you take the subway?" I take the straw sitting next to me and poke it out of it's wrapper.

"I had a flat tire, but I fixed it before the party." I he answers and I nod.

Our food comes a couple minutes later and we dig in. Harry's fingers are covered in sauce and I can't help but laugh at him.

"You haveta work tomorrow?" He asks me while wiping his hands off with a wet-wipe.

"Yeah, just until noon. I have to go visit my mom." I reply.

"Mmm" He mumbles. "So do I... Go to work, I mean." He finishes with a light chuckle.

We finish eating and I pay my half even though Harry obliges. "I can get it." I tell him.

We walk out of the restaurant and get into the car. I looked at Harry as he climbs into the driver's seat. The moonlight shines across his tattooed arms. His is hair pushed back and I can practically see through his white shirt.

"What?" He catches me staring and gives me a weird look.

"Nothing." I quickly turn away to look out the window.

I type my address into my navigation and we soon pull up to my apartment building.

"Is that your car?" He points to the gray Ford escape parked next to us.

"Yeah... It wouldn't start this morning. I think it just needs jump started or something." I shrug.

"We can do that." He assures me.

"Now?" I ask.

"Yeah, go get your keys." He nods towards the building and I walk off to the entrance.

I come back down with them and hand them to Harry.

"You really don't have to. I can call somebody to look at it, it needs an oil change anyway." I attempt to talk him down but he already is pushing open the hood and peering inside.

"You do need an oil change." He crinkles his nose and I let out a laugh.

Harry pulls some jumper cables out of his trunk and, after a few minutes, has my car running.

"Thank you so much!" I hug him and he awkwardly stands there, not denying the hug, but not completely accepting it either.

I pull back and he looks straight into my eyes. "Listen, Carly." He starts. "I really like you." He confesses.

"You barely know me." I tell him. "You met me less than fourteen hours ago." I point out.

"I know, that's the problem." He laughs. "I want to take you out again."

"We can't really count this as a date."

"Why not?" He gives me a confused look.

"Because going out to eat wasn't the initial plan... I almost-"

"Shh... Don't talk about the party." He interjects. "Let's just pretend this never happened."

"Okay, so..." I start but he cuts me off again.

"Carly, I'd like to take you out to dinner somewhere tomorrow night." He tells me.

"Alright. Pick me up at eight." I smile at him and turn to walk into my building.

"You're not gonna give me an excuse?!" He yells at me.

"Nope. See you at eight!" I peer at him behind my shoulder to see him smirking and waving.

I climb up the stairs and hear his car start. I open the door to my apartment and take off my heels. The clock says 12:45. I change into my pjs and climb into bed. I have to be up for work in a few hours and no matter how hard I try to fall asleep, I can't seem to get Harry out of my head.

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I've been trying to update everyday but I feel like my chapters aren't long enough so I've been taking my time to make sure they're how I want them. xxL