Times - h.s.

The Kind Receptionist

"How'd you know I'd be walking around here?" I lift myself up into his truck and place my heels by my feet, then look at him.

"Seatbelt, please. And I didn't... I just thought maybe, you know, something went wrong and you might've needed help or something." Harry quietly says. Once my seatbelt clicks, he peels from the curb and starts to drive. "Um, I don't quite know where you live, so if you could just tell me where to turn and stuff."

"You were thinking about that?" I ask him. Every time a car passes us, it's headlights flash through the glass and onto Harry's face and I can't read the emotion it holds. His eyes look beautiful, though. They take away my attention every time.

"Of course, Alex. You had me worried since the moment Mark left you, that jerk."

"He's not a jerk, he had a family emergency actually. Not that it's any of your business anyways." I roll my eyes. What's up with him not caring for Mark?

"Ha, yeah. Family emergency. I hope you don't really buy that." He snickers. His features are hard and I want him to tell me why he doesn't like Mark, now.

"Left on this next street. What's your game, here? What are you trying to prove or do?" There's an edge to my voice.

Harry lets out a low laugh again, but if I didn't know any better, I would think he's nervous. "My game, Alexa?" He mocks. "Nothing, I'm not trying to prove or do anything." His left hand moves to flick on his turn signal.

"So I'm supposed to believe that you truly care for my safety and wellbeing or whatever?" Harry flinches at my words, and when we stop at a sign, he turns to me.

"You don't think I care?" He asks me.

I'm the one who's laughing now. Harry looks back to the road as I speak. "You're joking, right? We've just met, Harry! Plus, you have Skyler."

"Well, you just met Mark! Are you sure you should be one to tell me about just meeting people? And I already told you earlier, Skyler isn't my girlfriend." He retorts, his voice slightly raised.

"That's different, and you know it. Oh, a right at the upcoming stop. And Mark hasn't been rude to me since the first moment I met him. Plus, he kind of... gets me." I smile to myself, but then he brakes and the car jerks.

Harry is full on laughing now. "You're amusing, Alexa. Right, because I didn't apologize for my behavior? Didn't open up to you over dinner last week? Or even apologize for kissing you? Which, might I add that you were the one who pushed me away, not the other way around. And you think he gets you? Sure looked like he got you when he left you stranded in the middle of a damn date."

"Stop the car and let me out right now. I'll walk the rest of the way." I reach for the handle but Harry is faster than I am and presses the lock button. "Are you mental!" I yell.

Harry slams on the breaks and I turn to him, frightened. "Jesus christ, Alexa! Don't you understand?" He's shouting and I can't seem to move any of my limbs. I feel paralyzed.

"I kissed you, and you rejected me!" Harry continues. "How am I supposed to feel when I make a move and get rejected? After I confessed what I'd been through? I thought you would care for me like I care for y-"

"Don't finish that sentence." I speak up. "Don't mess with my head. You still don't know me, Harry."

A car honks from behind us and Harry steps on the gas again. He doesn't finish his sentence. I'm right, he's messing with me.