[harry's pov]
"you really want to know, kathryn?" i look down at the unfamiliar girl walking beside me. she nods, like i assumed she would, and i decide what exactly to tell her.
should i tell her the truth, that i'm a miserable person with an even more miserable life and i wish nothing more than to get out of it, yet i'm too much of a wimp to kill myself?
her brown eyes bore into mine expectantly.
i breathe in, about to launch into the story of my pathetic life but can't seem to say it.
i breathe out.
"the world is an awful place."
kathryn sighs and looks ahead of her, softly mumbling,
"you have no idea."
i nudge her with my shoulder and retaliate, "well why do you hate yourself?"
she looks at me sidelong and i see her hesitate. she's quite beautiful in an understated way. her eyes are brown and wide, framed with long lashes. her hair looks hastily done, swept back in a pony tail, but from what i can see, it's a wildly curly mess of chocolate colored hair. though her body is well sculpted and tan from the florida sun, there are scars that run across her thighs and arms that i can clearly see because her jean shorts do nothing to hide them.
i decide not to mention them right now.
my eyes take in her expression of doubt. she's questioning whether she should trust me or not. i understand, i would too. especially trusting someone like me.
"you don't have to say anything."
her mouth forms a line and she looks down at her shoes scraping the cement.
instead of delving deeper into our heads i go for common small talk to ease the tension in the air.
"so how long have you lived here?" i say loudly through an exhale of breath and she shrugs noncommittally.
"since i was born."
there's another heartbeat of silence and she hastily tosses another question back, "what about you? where are you from?"
i can feel myself frowning at the memory of where i was living.
"atlanta. only for two years though. before that i was in england. dreary, rainy, miserable england. specifically chesire, which is near london." my eyes are literally rolling so far back into my head it hurts.
to my surprise her eyes light up and she grins, her voice struggling to stay calm.
"are you kidding? i've always wanted to go to england."
i'm prepared to tell her how boring and awful it is, but at the sight of her smile i can't bring myself to.
"what's wrong with florida?"
her smile fades and she shrugs again, "nothing, i guess. i've just never been anywhere else. and here in this small town you can't escape anyone. everyone knows you. and everything you've done."
her eyes are looking though me, i can practically see her brain remembering some incident in the past that hasn't been forgotten yet.
i nod and look around. we've lapped the small park three times and her poor dog is looking more tired by the second.
"do you have a phone?" i ask her. kathryn appears to be considering what i say and then finally concludes, "yeah, i think so. yes."
i laugh, "you think so?"
"well i don't really have any friends and i don't go anywhere so my mom doesn't, need to call me that much." I can tell her words weren't meant to come out, as her face immediately reddens and she attempts to cover it, "i mean't that i don't use it often is all."
i take the black pen i always have in my back pocket out and write my number on the back of her hand. she stares at the number with her lips parted and cheeks flushed.
"give me a call if you find it, yeah? see you later, kat."
she nods slowly, processing the new nickname and smiles shyly at me.
i turn and walk towards my house before she can correct me.
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hi everyone !! so so so sorry about the super long wait for the update. i've been extremely busy with moving and such, but i plan to be more regular soon. sorry this is short and not edited- just wanted to give you guys something !!
thanks - grace <3
