Between the Pages

eleven

Playlist - fluorescent by ezraskoenigs

(A)

I hadn't talked to Zayn or Harry since Friday. Maybe this was becoming a routine, having both of them mad at me. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard considering how good I am at pissing people off. Zayn had called me about fifty times, most likely so he could yell at me. I hadn't answered any of them. Harry, however hadn't made an attempt to speak to me. Which bothered me. And the fact that it bothered me, bothered me. I shouldn't care if Harry was upset with me. If anything I should be angry with him for being mad at me. All I did was protect him.

"Andrea? Are you listening to me?" My mother's nagging voice pulls me from my jumbled thoughts. I look at my mother, who seems annoyed with my lack of listening. Her perfectly manicured fingernails tap impatiently against the kitchen counter.

"Could you not do that? The sound is horrible," I grimace as she drags them against the wood. She runs her hands through her bleach blonde hair, a habit that we unfortunately share. She looks a lot like me - or I guess it's the other way around - blonde hair, blue eyes, tanner than we should be since we live in England. Despite our physical similarities, we had never gotten along. Actually that was an understatement.

"Oh so you can hear? I was beginning to think you'd gone deaf," I shrug in response. She starts tapping her nails against the counter again. I roll my eyes at her in irritation. "Keep rolling your eyes Andrea, maybe you'll find a brain back there,"

"Considering I'm your daughter that's highly unlikely," I ignore the fact that I just insulted myself as well as her. She taps her nails faster and I have to push down the urge to slap her hand off the table. "What is it you want? I'd like this conversation to be over as soon as possible,"

"I'm going out tonight and I think it's best you stay at a friends,"

"I don't have any friends," My mother rubs her temples and I have to hold in my laughter.

"Andrea Mia Richardson-"

I interrupt her before she can finish. "I'll leave. But just remember why we're here. Oh and I wouldn't drink too much tonight because I will not be coming to get you this time or any time. Have a nice night Mother," Her mouth falls slack from shock. I figure I have roughly ten seconds before she starts yelling, so I grab my keys and slam the front door on my way out.

~

I don't realize where I'm going until I park in front of the small trail. I sit in my car, wondering why I even came here. It felt wrong to be here, this wasn't my spot it was Harry's. Sighing I realize that I'm already here, and I don't really have anywhere else to go. As I go to unbuckle my seat belt I see a familiar car in my rear-view mirror. "Shit," The last person I want to see right now is him. His door slams shut and I panic. I throw myself to the floor and hope he doesn't know what my car looks like. A few minutes past and I peek over the rim of my window only to be face to face with Harry. His mouth moves and I figure he's probably speaking to me, unaware I can't hear him through the door. I debate if I should roll down my window or speed away. Harry taps my window and motions for me to roll it down, making my decision for me.

"Hey Harry funny seeing you here," I offer him a sheepish smile. He did just catch me hiding in my car to avoid running into him. He's wearing his hair down, the wind making a mess of his curls.

He rolls his eyes at me, letting out an indignant scoff. "Were you actually hiding from me? Are you aware that we're seventeen years old?"

"Gee I wonder why I didn't want to talk to you. You're such a delight,"

"Why are you here anyways?" I roll my eyes this time, something I've done a lot tonight.

"I don't think I like your tone Harry,"

"I don't care Andrea," I scrunch my nose up at his use of my full name. Where was the sweet boy who couldn't speak to me without stuttering? "He's too angry with you to stutter," I did not mean to say that out loud. I really needed to get a grip and get out of here before I embarrass myself more.

"I didn't mean to say that out loud. I'll be leaving now," Harry's facial expression softens a little, causing me to pause my said departure.

"Wait I really want to know why you came here. Are you okay?" My hand moves away from the ignition, dropping back down to my side.

"I'm fine," I shrug. Telling people about my problems wasn't something I did. I just dealt with them myself. Harry looks defeated again, his concern turning into indifference. So again I panic. "I um had a fight with Zayn," Lying is completely the answer Andy, great job.

Harry raises his eyebrow skeptically at me. "Why don't I believe you?" Of all the lies for him to call me out on, he chooses this one. I bite my lip, shrugging again. "Andy, talk to me" I sigh in defeat, putting my keys back in my pocket. Talking about my feelings isn't exactly how I want to spend my Sunday night but if it makes Harry talk to me so be it. Harry watches me as I get out of the car and start down the trail. I continue walking, feeling his eyes on me as I carefully step around the overgrowth. It must occur to him that he hadn't been walking as I hear his heavy footsteps behind me. There's a loud thud, followed by muttered cursing. He tripped. "Ow! Gosh Andy could you please wait up?"

Giggling at Harry I stop and wait for the annoyed boy to catch up. He walks until he's by my side a crease between his eyebrows. Harry was cute when he was mad. Actually, I take that back. Harry is cute when he's mad but only if he isn't mad at me. His glasses sit crookedly on his nose and I stifle a laugh at his clumsiness. Before my mind gives the okay, my hands are fixing the black frames for him. Harry blushes and mumbles a thank you. I nod my head and continue down the trail, embarrassed for the third time tonight. There's an awkward silence between the two of us as we hike to the clearing. The crease on Harry's forehead remains there, making me feel guilty. If I could tell him about Zayn I would. Harry was much too sweet to be so upset. But I couldn't tell Harry, I could only hope he'd stop fishing for an explanation he wouldn't be getting.

We reach the familiar river bank, the sapphire water reflecting the moonlight. Harry sits on his rock and I plop down on the sand. I slip off my converse, dipping my toes into the cold water. My fingers play with the sand idly, waiting for Harry to say something. He doesn't. We just sit in the crisp autumn air and listen to the rush of the river. I take it for as long as I can before I speak up, "So how are the kids?" Harry looks at me like I have a third head, a look he gives me often. Maybe it was his special look for me. "That was a joke Harry,"

He rolls his eyes. "I knew that," I mimic him, rolling my eyes at his comment. The crease in his forehead deepens. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"Are you going to leave if I don't?"

"Yes" I run my hands through my hair before replaying today's events. Harry listens attentively, nodding his head at the right times. Naturally, I do my best downplay of the story I can. I try sounding like a typical teenage girl complaining about her mother. Harry was smart and I couldn't have him reading too much into this. He already asked me enough questions. "Um so she wanted you to leave just so she could have a man over? That's not very nice," I smile at his reaction that went so well with his personality. "Do you uh need to you know like stay somewhere?" Rambling Harry appeared to be back and I couldn't be happier to see him. I'm too distracted by his reappearance to realize what Harry was actually asking so I simply nod in agreement with his question. "W-well you could maybe, if you wanted stay at mine?" Harry peers up at me from behind his glasses, looking more like the shy, sweet boy I know than he has in a little while.

So naturally the only answer I come up with is, "I'd love to,"

~

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long and for how bad it is! Hope you don't hate me! VOTE VOTE VOTE AND PLEASE VOTE! Ily x