Anywhere With You • {J.C.}

||Twenty|Forgive Me||

"Let him go, he gave up... I gave up."
Alone, Together

Julian stood at Harlow's door, amazed he remembered how to find the place. He had been high the last time he had gone there, and on the way back, he had been emotionally unstable—convincing not only Harlow, but himself that being more than friends was a bad idea.

She had hung up on him, claiming that he had led her on. It wasn't fair—Harlow had led him on; she had promised him that her motives were strictly sexual.

After a few knocks and a few awkward stances later, the door opened. Frankie stood on the other side, wearing a smile.

"Come on in!... Harlow's upstairs." Julian stepped inside, chewing on his bottom lip apprehensively as Frankie closed the door behind him. "I wanna thank you for keeping an eye on Harlow last night."

Julian nodded, scratching the nape of his neck nervously. "Is it cool if I go upstairs? I just wanna talk to her for a minute."

"Yeah, of course."

Julian started up the stairs, each step taking longer than the last before finding himself standing in front of Harlow's bedroom door. He thought about knocking, but couldn't bring himself to do it. So instead, Julian opened the door.

He was a little surprised to see that Harlow was actually asleep. She was lying on her side with the blanket pulled up to her chin. He closed the door behind him, gazing around the room, noticing that the bookshelf no longer held books—her room now filled with mostly empty boxes.

Julian sat on the edge of bed, his weight causing the mattress to dip. He stared down at her, seeing a small piece of her hair hanging over her eye. He was tempted to move it, but refrained. Instead, Julian placed his hand on her back, leaning his mouth to her ear. "Wake up, sleepin' beauty."

Harlow's eyes shot open, moving away from the baritone voice ringing in her ear. "The fuck are you doin' here?" She rubbed her eyes, sitting up in the bed.

"Since you won't talk to me over the phone, figured you couldn't get away from me in person." Julian grinned smugly, looking to Harlow with narrowed eyes.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to go out with us tonight. I want you to stop being a hermit and fuckin' give me a chance to make this right."

"There's nothing to make right. It is what it is. I just don't feel like doing anything, not just with you, but with anyone."

"When are you moving?" Julian asked, the question seeming to come out of left field.

"Next week... why?"

"Just curious. C'mon... don't you wanna do something with me? I can't be that bad to hang out with."

Harlow smirked. "You're the worst."

"Says the girl that can't keep her hands off me." Julian rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm gonna stop back by after the show, alright?... I'm gonna come back, and you're comin' with me. If I have to drag your ass outta this bed and down those stairs," Harlow's laugh interrupted Julian's sentence. "We're goin' out. We're gonna have fun, we're gonna do some drugs and you're gonna forgive me... 'cause I can't stand it when you're mad at me- I fuckin' hate it."

"I'll think about it." Harlow quipped, knowing damn well she'd end up with Julian by the end of the night if he actually kept his word.

He leaned across the bed, giving her small kiss on the temple. She smiled at the gesture, wishing she could stay mad  at him; just for a little while longer—long enough to prove a fucking point. "You look nice. I like the chain." Harlow pointed to the silver chain around Julian's neck. He was wearing a leather jacket and a usual band tee—his dark hair parted down the middle.

He shrugged. "So you're goin' tonight... right?"

"If you pick me up."

Julian stood from the bed, making his way toward the door. "Just... forgive me... tonight. You can go back to bein' mad at me tomorrow, but not tonight... please."

"I wasn't mad, Jules... just annoyed." Hurt. She wanted to say that she was hurt, but couldn't. That would be admitting too much.

"I'll see you tonight. Might wanna ask the lady downstairs if it's alright first, pretty sure she'll give you her blessing. She's kinda kissin' my ass right now and... well, I kinda like it." Julian laughed.

"Go... before I change my mind." Harlow huffed, lying back down in the bed.

Julian couldn't take Harlow being upset with him, so if that meant giving in to Harlow's way, then so be it.

He left the room, making his way down the stairs. "Julian... leaving so soon?" Frankie spoke from the landing, the sound of tape stripping across a box she had finished packing.

"Yeah, I just... I wanted to see how she was doin'."

"I wish she'd press charges before her face clears up." Frankie grumbled, mostly to herself.

"Lo said you guys are movin' next week. If you need another pair of arms, I know some guys that can help. I'll help."

"Really? That would- that would be great, actually. I'll pay you-"

"No." Julian shook his head. "All I ask is... that you let Harlow go out with me tonight."

"Like a date?" She grinned.

"Not exactly." He chuckled uneasily. "I jus- I wanna spend time with her before I start school. And, uh... you know, before she moves."

Frankie stood from her slouch, scooting the box over with her foot. "Yeah... if she wants to go, I don't really see a problem with it. I trust you with her. I didn't think she knew what she was doing with you, but... she proved me wrong."

Julian nodded—neither him nor Harlow had any idea of what they were doing.