Dancing on the Moon {h.s.}

4. The First Time Isn't Always The Best Time

(Harry's POV)

I had walked right out of Holmes Chapel the minute I could. I avoided my mum's teary eyes and had apologized repeatedly, telling her I'll be back once I had gotten my degree and had found happiness and a peace of mind. But we both knew that was a lie.

That's why I was here, attending The Art Institute of California, San Diego.

So I entered the foreign bar in a foreign town in a foreign place with my foreign friend. My head was still having a hard time adjusting and wrapping itself around the fact that I had found myself in the suburbs of San Diego, drinking a Green Flash beer in a bar I was slowly growing fond of. The beach was only a few minutes away on foot and I had all sorts of coffee shops and surf shops surrounding me. Not that I surfed.

I never thought I'd be here, yet here I was, slightly lingering on to the hope that maybe here was where I'd find happiness. So I turned to my newly found friend, Tyler, and give him a smile as he asked, "How are you liking it so far?"

"It's good," I replied with a hazy smile. He nodded and lifted his bottle to have a toast to our friendship. I gladly returned it. Looking around the bar, I realized they had paintings of different kinds hanging in huge frames on the walls. There was Ingrid Michaelson being covered and I couldn't make out what song it was. But I was content with the lyrics.

My eyes kept rotating around the place until they landed on someone. Thick, dark hair a little below her shoulders, holding messy sea curls. Defined features and a drunken smirk on her face. Her body adorned a white, flowy dress as she danced, the light caught in the floating fabric.

For a second, she turned around and the smile on her face vanished as our eyes met. I saw a light disappear and I could've sworn they were because of me. She straightened out her dress and cleared her throat, saying something to a blond girl next to her. She had clearly excused herself as she walked past me and went into the bathrooms.

I bit my lip and took another sip of my beer, thoughtfully looking at the bathroom doors. They opened after what felt like ages and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. She walked out and grabbed her purse from one of the cubbies, fumbling for something inside. I raised an eyebrow when I saw her pull out a cigarette and place it in between her teeth as she walked up to the bartender and seemingly asked for a light. She was handed one as she gladly lit her cigarette and took a long drag at it.

I watched her the whole time. Her eyes were tired when she looked up at me, shooting me a lazy smile. I straightened my posture and grinned back, deciding now was the perfect time to step up as Tyler was nowhere to be seen. She shifted from one leg to another, and I wondered if I had made the right decision.

Her face seemed much more mature up close. I felt a pang in my chest to see the visible loss of youth in her features, like she was an alcoholic or overthought everything. She looked down at her sandal-covered feet, as if she was admiring the white coating on her toes. I admired them, too. Although I wish I could say that out loud. Maybe she'd look me in the eye.

"Hi." She looked up and I pursed my lips.

"Hi," she responded. I awkwardly shoved my hands in my pockets, silently scolding myself for wearing skinny jeans.

"I'm Harry. And you are...?"

"What makes you think I'll tell you my name, stranger?" She gave me a thoughtful look and I laughed.

"I want to get what I want for once. For a change."

She blinked slowly, as if carefully processing every next syllable that was about to come out. "Well, I'm afraid to say the first time isn't always the best time." I knew my argument had nothing against hers.

"Guess I have to keep fighting, then," I mumbled as she took another drag. "You smoke?"

"Not like I want to," she huffed and I nodded slowly. "My parents piss me off, so I return the favor."

"Gotcha. Do you want to go outside, maybe?" I asked. She raised an eyebrow, squinting her dark eyes at me.

"What makes you think I'll go places with you, stranger?"

"You said the first time isn't the best time. You never said the second time wasn't," I retorted and she looked taken back, clearly defeated. She raised her hands to announce a retreat and I began leading us outside. Once we did, I saw her take one last drag and throw the cigarette butt into the rubbish bin next to us.

The night was warm and you could hear the faint sigh of waves as they came crashing on the shore. I looked over to the girl who clearly had her head in a mental game, nipping at her lip with her teeth. I turned to face her completely before asking, "So, what is your name?"

"I'm not-"

"Third time. It has to happen."

She shuffled her feet, slowly shifting her weight between the two. "Jayden," she mumbled.

"Jailin?"

"Jayden, genius."

"Nice to meet you, Jayden Genius," I joked, holding out my hand for her to shake. "So far I know you are Jayden Genius and you smoke because you have a malfunctioning relationship with your parents. And that you are slightly obsessed with the color white." Her mouth hung slightly agape until she rolled her eyes.

"Nice one, Cheshire Cat. You're gonna be that person?" she asked.

"What person? And how do you know I'm from Cheshire?"

"I know an accent when I hear one. And that person who tries to figure everybody out. You probably people-watch in vintage coffee shops, don't you?"

I let out a brief laugh. "You got me there."

"So, are you done figuring me out?" I pursed my lips.

"I am still learning," I said quietly.

-

Hi. I like where this headed as much as I like you for reading this. Hope you're all having a lovely week.

Love.

E. x