Guarded Masterwork

Chapter One

TWO YEARS LATER

"Dog jammit, Harry!" The blonde marched right up to Harry as he was fixing his tie. He needed to dress to impress, but the lint and dog hair that lingers everywhere made him look messy. He'd pat and pat, yet still looked dusty.

"Trisha, I told you not to curse in the same vicinity as my child, and saying that is like the same thing."

"Dude, it's not like he can hear it, and, besides, I have a date in half an hour. Now I have to cancel because you've got an interview."
"Invite her over, cook for her. I don't know, as long as Will is well asleep and you're not doing any dirty stuff in front of him, I don't care." Harry shrugged, turning around after deciding he wasn't going fix his appearance any more. He doesn't have a lint roller, and the knot on his tie was a little too thick, but he looked fine to someone who wasn't paying attention to his looks. Although his interview is at an art gallery where everyone is detail oriented.

On second thought...

"Hey Trish, got a lint roller I can borrow? And do you think you can fix this tie?"

"Please, I'm gay, but I'm not that kind of gay. Also, I'm going to order takeout-" Harry stopped listening, expressing a groan and smacked his thighs to at least partially fix his problem some more before needing to leave.

"Okay, I'm about to head off. Thank you, I appreciate you for doing this, and I'm sorry for ruining your date." He hugged Trisha, and went to find his son sitting in the living room, watching cartoons. "Hey bud- woah!" Harry's Great Dane came bounding from the kitchen at the sound of his best friend's voice. "I'm sorry, bub, but not this time, not right now. I love you, but I can't have your hair on me." Harry's arms outstretched in front of him to keep the dog at bay, but he couldn't resist. His hand came down to scratch the adolescent pup's ears and lent down to give a few kisses on the top of his snout. "I love you."

Harry turned to his son to give him a goodbye as well. The little three-year-old pushed himself up to run towards his dog, away from his father, but Harry was expecting this, and snatched the boy to give a big kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you soon, okay buddy?" With another kiss to his cheek, Harry parted off with a raise of his hand, holding up his thumb, index, and pinky clearly for the boy to see, before shouting a goodbye upstairs to Trisha and getting into his car, routing the GPS to the gallery in Boulder.

Throughout the years, Harry had to make some changes in his life. He had a kid to look out for, and he couldn't continue school with a newborn at home. Trisha had roomed in his apartment, paying half the rent, helping out as much as she could. Harry was grateful for her, but he felt inadequate. He didn't want to have to be dependant on his best friend to help out with bills on a home she didn't have to live in. She was more than capable of living on her own, but Harry needed help raising Will at times. When Trisha brought up leaving, Harry's heart stopped. He didn't know what he would do. He still needed a secure job, and Will was to start school in a month. Fortunately, Trisha offered her help watching him until he was able to be let in school, and Harry can work a schedule for an after school program if he starts working full time now. He was finally going to start off an independant life with his son and his best friend there to back him up if needed.

Boulder was just over half an hour from where Harry lived. He prayed the entire car ride for some luck during the interview. He's been needing some recently. He'd like to settle down, but hasn't had much time for a relationship focusing on his life at home and living paycheck to paycheck. Nothing would make him happier than to have a partner and raise Will with them, but he understands he can't rush into things, nor can he ask someone of that. He needs to build a connection with her, but when Harry starts a relationship, he dives headfirst: he's all in. It's that same impulsiveness that gets his heart broken, and it's also that same characteristic that set him into a down period when Sofia never texted him back after their first date.

Harry's a lover at heart, but he decided not to focus too much on women until he can obtain a good job, and make sure his son is taken care of. He cannot allow his emotions to get in the way of his objectives, no matter how heavy his heart feels after not receiving a notification. He's asked Trish about her, but she just shrugged in response. She already nagged the poor girl to go on a date with her friend, she didn't want to push her further.

And two weeks after the date, Sofia was never seen again.

Somewhere in the depths of Colorado lays a small latin beauty. She contemplates her life - the usual. She's not happy. Her degree is worth a dime in total. There are times she wishes she studied art to better her work, but she had to think realistically. Her artwork can only take her so far, she only minored in it. Sticking to a degree in finance to accommodate her with a comfortable life just wasn't enough anymore.

She was sick of everything. Sick of the numbers, sick of the less than adequate paychecks, sick of the boring day to day life she's been living for years. She's struggled all her life to end up in a slightly less burdened one.

But she doesn't want that. She was a champagne girl on a beer budget.

At least that's what her mother always told her.

Sofia turned her head to look at the clock. Work started in half an hour, yet there she was, laying in bed with not a single ounce of motivation to get up. With the fatigue of a newborn child, she lazily sat up. Her first obstacle was overcome.

"Hey, are you going to the gym tonight?" Liani knocked on Sofia's door, wringing her hair out with a towel.

"Yeah, it's thursday." They always go to the gym during weekdays after work unless they have plans. "Why?"

"Why don't we go out? We don't have work tomorrow." The company they work at occasionally has days off. It's run by a younger crowd, and they are more lenient when it comes to days off. They believe happy workers create a happy environment which, then, proceeds to higher success rates. Unfortunately, Sofia wasn't happy.

"I haven't been consistent with my workouts though." Now standing, Sofia moved past her roommate and into the foggy bathroom. "I need to get back into my routine. I'll go out with you next time, I promise." She knew what Liani wanted. Li's always going out and trying to find herself a man.

The two girls were as equally alike as they were dislike. They were a perfect balance, and rarely argued. Both hate confrontation, but Sofia was more of a brat than Liani. Liani was more sweet and patient, whereas her roommate was more passive aggressive and silent.

She's been working on it though.

"Okay, let me know if you change your mind." The bathroom door was shut after a nod, and, thus, began the beginning of a long day for the latin beauty.

A/N

not the best, but I need to gradually introduce everything 

ENJOY

:)