𝙢𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 ─ harrison osterfield²︎

xiii. "yet"

NATASHA HAD HER EYES GLUED on the screen, way too focused on the film to be paying attention to the boy sitting next to her— who was not even paying attention to the film because he was just glad to be with her.

"It's rude to stare," she mumbled, to which the boy had chuckled at, "seriously, pay attention to the film," she said, glancing at the boy before turning back to the film, which was Coraline, since it was one of her favorites.

Psyche and Vasilisa had told her how much they got creeped out by the film and would definetely not watch it again, but she loved it, and when he asked what movie they should watch, it was the first thing she thought of.

Probably not movie night material, but she didn't care.

"So, you're into this kind of creepy films?" He asked, to which she just nodded to. "I didn't think you watch this type of film," he added.

"What do you think I watch?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, "The Notebook? Ten Things I Hate About You?"

She chuckled and shook her head, "Typical chick flicks, then?" She rolled her eyes playfully, "I like watching those, but I love other stuff too," she explained, earning a nod from him.

Her phone vibrating took her mind off of the film and the boy, immediately checking who it was.

harrison 🙈 is calling...

She turned her head to look at Dave who was now finally watching the film. She hesitated on answering the call, but it was her friend, what if it was an emergency... right?

"Hey, uh, Dave, I'm gonna take this call, excuse me for a sec," she said, Dave nodding at her and giving her a smile. She stood up from the couch and answered the call, making her way to the kitchen.

"What's up, Osterfield?"

"Nothing much, I just... uh, wanted to talk to you?" He replied hesitantly, and suddenly her heart skipped a beat, but she shook it off, not wanting to think about it too much.

"Oh."

"Sorry, were you busy?"

"Oh, um, just, um, watching a film," she responded.

"Is it that creepy film? What was it? Uh, Caroline?"

"Coraline," she corrected with a smile on her face, "It's— It's Coraline."

"Right! That. Psyche told me that that film is extremely creepy and that you loved it, but I haven't really watched it yet. Maybe we could watch it together soon?" He suggested.

"Yeah! Yes, that would be... that would be great. Really great."

"Oh, and the, uh, the reason I'm actually calling you is, uh, I, uh... I don't want things to be awkward but, um, I think I need to tell you this," he said, which made her slightly panic because of how serious he sounded.

"What is it?"

"Am I... leading you on?" He asked, "because if I am, I'm sorry, it's not my intention to come off like I'm flirting with you or whatever, I'm just being a good friend—"

"Hey, hey, calm down, Harrison," she interrupted, "Okay, what the hell is your problem?" She jokingly asked, laughing slightly at how nervous he had sounded earlier.

"Sorry," he sighed, "I just... don't see you like that," he finished.

"Oh." She bit her bottom lip, "Actually, I'm kind of seeing someone, so... it's fine, Haz."

"Oh," he said, and she didn't want to put much thought into it, but he sounded like he was disappointed. "That's... that's great! Is it Dave? He's pretty good looking."

"Yeah," she replied, "Anyway, next time we see each other, Starstruck and Coraline, okay?" She said, changing the topic.

"Yeah, yeah, okay."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye, Nat."

❖

"HE WHAT?!" HARRISON HEARD THE blonde scream from the phone Tom was holding, "Why the hell would he do that?!" She asked.

"I don't know, ask him!" Tom said as he turned the phone to Harrison, and he saw Psyche on the phone.

"Harrison Osterfield, why the hell did you tell her that?!"

"I felt like I was leading her on, okay?" He sighed, "and I didn't want to do that, so I told her," he added, "I didn't even know she was seeing someone," he then mumbled, which Tom had heard clearly, but Psyche didn't.

"Do you like Nat, Harrison?" Psyche asked seriously, "no jokes this time. Do you?"

"No," he replied quickly, "no, I don't like her like that. She's just... a really great friend of mine, and I just don't want feelings to get in the way of our friendship."

Tom turned the phone back to him. He knew what his best friend was thinking about, because he had been there too with his girlfriend. He also knew that deep down, Harrison did like Natasha, he hasn't realized it yet.

Yet.

❖

oof...🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️