1986 [harry styles au]

IX. CLOSET

CHAPTER IX. CLOSET
It was the week later, Monday November 10th, when double math had ended and lunch soon approached. I found our canteen table and took a seat, being the first there. Nico arrived afterwards, then Dua and Lana. We sat and spoke about our classes for a few minutes, before we were promptly joined by Kendrick and Kian. I glanced around the cafeteria, wondering if Harry had even attended Foundered High that day. My thoughts were answered ten minutes later, when Harry arrived to the table holding three cartons of fries. He places them gently into the centre of the table, I notice a piece of hair fall over his forehead and he catches my stare.

'It's my turn getting fries today.' He states, but it seemed silent enough that it was only aimed to me. I just grin in reply. He takes the seat opposite me, tiredly rubbing his eyes and taking a look around the cafeteria.

'This whole investigation into Blake Redson is so freaky.' Kendrick suddenly mentions, Harry and I both automatically sit up in our seat. I look towards him, he's already gaping at me, but I shake our eye contact away to avoid suspicion; opting instead to stare at the table. Harry and I were finally getting along better than ever; I wondered how long it would last this time. 

'Yeah, it's so weird that his body was found on halloween too.' Dua chimes in, 'Who would have thought that? It's such a coincidence.'

'Who do you think has done it?' Kian questions, throwing another fry into his mouth. The memory of Harry in the phone box flashes into my mind.

'Somebody strange, who lives in the woods and preys on younger people.' Lana interjects, Kian raises an eyebrow at her answer.

'No, it has to be somebody sneaky. Oh, and someone who has easy access to weapons. A rich guy, perhaps?' Nico replies. Kian deeply chuckles before nudging Harry.

'You murdered somebody, Haz?' He asks. Harry is caught off guard.

'What - Oh, - plenty of people.' He jokes along and Kian joins his chorus of forced laughter. 

'I just can't believe something like that happened around here, in the Bridgemont Valley side of Maine.' Dua takes the attention away from Harry and he seems relieved. 

'Who do you think has done it?' Nico quietly asks from beside me. I turn to face him, a friendly smile on his face and a nervous gleam in his eyes. 

'I'm not too sure actually.' I answer, turning away to find Harry watching me. He turns to Nico with distaste before looking around the cafeteria again. 

'It's so crazy how this all happened once I'd moved here. Bridgemont Valley already seems like a crazy place to live.' He replies and I chuckle. Harry's stare flashes to me once I'd laughed and I shrug at him, wondering why he was staring. He just looks elsewhere. 

Lunch eventually ended and I was heading towards last period at 2pm, when I felt somebody grab my arm. The urge to scream came upon me as the hand pulled me into the janitor's closet. The urge escaped, however, when I peered up to find Harry standing before me. I rolled my eyes as he closed the door behind us, clicking the lock into place. 

'What now Harry?'

'I think we should tell the police.'

'Seriously?' My eyes widen. I wasn't expecting that. 

'Yeah.'

'What's changed your mind?' I ask, his eyes looked glaringly green from the bright closet light above us. His irises were enlarged, but only a little, most likely from panic or cigarettes. 

'I'm so paranoid, Adriana. I can't sleep at night, I feel like the police are watching me or, maybe, even the murderer himself.' He starts. 

'Himself?' I interrupt.