Across the Street

8.

~Tom's POV
"Hello?"
"Mate, I'm so glad you answered. Can you meet me at that bread shop across from the grocery store like right now?"
I could hear Harrison's voice grow over the receiver, "You mean the bakery...?"
I nodded then quickly realized he couldn't actually see me nod, "Yeah yeah, that's what I meant." He said he would be there in ten, then hung up. After checking the house for any open or unlocked windows and doors, I ran back to my room to ask what Kelly wanted, but she was already sound asleep when I got there, her messy shoulder-length hair sprawled out like a fan. I tiptoed to her side and pulled the covers her as gently as humanly possible, then made my way out, down the stairs, and to the beetle.
When I got to the bakery, Harrison flagged me down to the table where he sat. When I took my chair across from him he slid over a small muffin and some coffee. "Shoot," he said, giving me the green light to spill all.
"She found the ring."
"What ring?" Harrison said with a muffled voice, crumbs falling from the side of his mouth.
"The one I tried to give her like eight years ago."
Harrison spat his drink and food, most of it landing directly on my face, "Oh my god mate that's hilarious!! What did she say??"
"She basically had the same reaction you did, just without the spit," I said through my teeth while wiping my face off.
"I'm so sorry, but c'mon, that's really funny."
"It's not funny!" I whisper screamed, "It's really embarrassing."
Harrison's eyebrows furrowed, and he pointed a straw at me, "Tell me, why is it embarrassing?"
"You know why!"
He rolled his eyes and threw his napkin on the table, "Are you kidding me? You've been in love with Kelly for like what, ten thousand years now, and nothing has happened? Don't you think that's a sign to, I don't know, move on??"
I picked at the muffin in front of me, "She six years older than me, I've never really had a chance with her until I turned 18, and now I'm about to turn 21 next year. "
"Mate," he chuckled, "I think that if you had a chance with her, you would've gotten something a little more meaningful for your 18th birthday than a cake to the face and a wad of cash to spend on, what was it she said? Comics and pizza?" I rolled my eyes and through a clump of muffin at his face, which he caught in his mouth with a smirk. "Look, all I'm saying is maybe you should stop being so obsessed with her. She obviously doesn't like you back, why spend the rest of your natural life trying to get her to feel the same way." I shrugged, spinning the now cold liquid inside of the coffee cup while Harrison changed the subject to how American football was weird and made to entertain the masses.
    Yet I couldn't think of anything else but Kelly. I want her to be with me, and maybe not like "be" with me but just, I guess, be with me in the house. I know she doesn't like me, but, maybe, just maybe she might end up liking me? I mean, I'm finally taller than her, so I don't look like her child or something. And I'm twenty, so I'm not a minor. I also work out, so I mean, I'm trying and that should help, right? Or maybe... I am trying too hard.
    After a few more minutes Harrison said he had to go home, so I bid him a quick farewell and ordered a few muffins and a coffee for Kelly. When I opened the door, I could hear my stereo blasting, which was never a good sign. Any other day would've been fine if my parents and brothers were home, but I was the only one here besides Kelly. I set the food on the kitchen island and slowly made my way up the stairs. When I peeked through the crack between the door and the wall I saw her rolling around on my bed, slurring the words to whatever sad indie song she was listening to. I glanced at my desk and saw that she had gotten into my dresser and took out the wine bottle my grandparents had given me when I went to go visit them in London not too long ago.
    The bottle was empty.