Absolution ➺ H.S. AU

Chapter 13 ➺ Harry

It's the last week of school, and I couldn't be happier. I'm so ready to get out of this hellhole--at least for the summer.

A lot has changed, as cliche as that sounds.

It's weird. When the accident first happened, I wasn't fazed at all. Yet now, a month and a half later, things are different.

Paisley and I have gotten to know each other very well. I know so much about her now, and I'd like to think she feels like she knows me. The real me, not the bullshit act I put up for everyone but her.

I don't think the act would've ever worked on her. She's too...perceptive. She would see right through it. I knew that ever since I went to visit her for the very first time. Since then, I'd known it was no use trying to hide around her.

It's very strange to be so open, though. I've never really had family or friends that truly cared about what I've felt or thought. Paisley's been the first.

We've hung out several times. Pretty much once a week now. I still haven't been to her house though. And of course, we see each other on the way to and from school. Never in school though. We're part of different social groups, and I think she accepts that. I would be weird for people to see her with me, and vice versa, I think. So, we just avoid that.

Paisley doesn't know this, but I havent drank since that night we watched Twilight. I went to the party and got shitfaced, like usual. After I was home and safe though, (I took a cab like I promised) it occured to me that the alcohol didn't make the party any more fun than it would have been without. All my friends were there, so that's what counts, not the fact that we were wasted.

All the guys viewed me a little weird the first time I denied a drink, but they don't give a fuck what I do, so they just went on with their business. It didn't necessarily stop me from getting crazy, so basically nothing had changed.

The only thing that changed was how much I had come to enjoy Paisley's company.

I never knew what it could be like to not be home by yourself every night of the week. Paisley comes over after school and we just hang out. It's nice to not be alone.

There's an underlying spark between the two of us, there's no denying. I've known it since that night. When we were sitting so close and I could feel the electricity between our bodies. It wouldn't work, though.

I'm not the relationship kind of guy, and we're definitely not in the situation to be in a relationship.

There's still so many embedded feelings from the accident. I know Paisley wants to act like it doesn't bother her, but it does. The fact that she'll always be restricted, that she'll always have those scars. She's incredibly self-conscious about it. She may think she's come to terms with what's happened, and in many ways I'm sure she has, but you don't just forget about something like that.

And of course the guilt never leaves me, especially now that her and I are together all the time. That's why it's best to just remain friends.

"Hi." I said, walking through the front door. My parents got home late last night, and I haven't seen them all week.

"Harry." My mom called from the kitchen. I walked towards her voice, wondering what she wanted.

"Hey." I said.

"Harry, I just checked your grades." She stared. Great, here we go with this again.

"And?" I asked, my tone getting a little more snippy now.

"And, they're bad. How do you expect to get into college like this?" She scolded. It always amazed me how she could play the 'mom' role only half the time.