Beneath Your Beautiful (H.S. AU)

Chapter 22

Being at work was the worst time killer ever. There was not many customers as it was a Monday night, and I really needed a distraction from my thoughts.

"You okay?" Brenda, my coworker asked and to say I was surprised was an understatement. Yes, we talked, but not that often, and she had never really seemed interested in knowing what was going on with me.

"Yes," I tried to give her a smile, but failed.

"You don't look fine," she stated, and I faked her a smile. I knew very well that I didn't look fine, but I didn't need people to point that out.

"But I am," I lied. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to her or that I was trying to be mean to her on purpose, but this was a sore subject.

"Have you been crying?" She asked and shook her head. "I'm sorry. It's really not my place. You just look like you're feeling sick," she explained with a hand over her heart.

"I don't want to talk about it." I said trying my hardest to keep myself together.

"Okay. But I'm sure you could be allowed to leave. There's barely any people here anyway." She continued and though I knew she meant it well I really didn't want to talk anymore about this.

"I need the money," I mumbled and heard her gasp next to me. At first, I had no idea what had happened but I soon realized she had noticed Harry enter the diner. He came. I thought to myself.

"He is really hot." Brenda exclaimed as she readjusted her apron, and I smiled. Honestly, despite everything, I had thought he wouldn't have come to pick me up like he had promised and the fact that it was only 8pm made me all the more happy. It was nice that he seemed to have more good sides than bad.

"I know," I said with a giggle, and gave Harry a smile.

"You are early." I stated, and Brenda shot me a glare when she realized I was talking to Harry.

"Yeah, I've heard you have the best milkshakes in town." He smiled, and I was glad that we actually knew how to be happy even after everything that had happened in our lives. It was nice knowing he could make me smile so easily.

"Strawberry milkshake?" I asked, and he nodded his head and sat down on a stool.

"I'm Brenda," Brenda said next to me, and I had to hold in a laugh as I found the things for the milkshake.

"Nice to meet you, Brenda. I'm Harry," Harry said politely before the two of them went silent.

"You know him?" Brenda whispered to me as she found me a glass.

"Yes. He's my- friend," I said in lack of a better word. I didn't know if we were friends but I sure as hell hoped so.

I stared out at the city lights illuminating the water as we drove back to Manhatten. "So I'm your friend?" Harry chuckled breaking the comfortable silence.

"What else would you call us?" I wondered, diverting my gaze to him.

"I don't know. It was the way you said it. Like you weren't certain."

"Maybe I wasn't. Maybe I'm not," I said and bit my bottom lip.

"Well, I would most definitely love to be your friend " he chuckled, and I couldn't help but smile at him. Throughout my life I had barely had anyone that I considered a friend, apart from Niall that was.

"That goes both ways. You know, I like the fact that you aren't a dick to me half of the time anymore," I told him honestly.

He let out a sigh as if he was deep in thought. "I only did that because I wanted you to stay away from me. I'm not a good person."