Are we friends or are we more?

Chapter 21

When I had pictured seeing Harper again in my head I defiantly did not imagine it to go like this. I had more imagined me shouting at her for ignore my texts and calls but I don't really think that you can shout at someone who looks like they have just been beaten up. A thousand question buzz around my head, what happened? Why is she here? How did she get in here? I can't seem to find the words to ask them though. I watch my friend as she lifts her hand to wipe away some tears. "I... what?" Is all I can think of saying. Behind me Joe steps closer and places a hand on my back. I'm grateful he did that, it reminded me I'm not alone.

"I got in an argument." Harper says, as she speak fresh tears sprout from her eyes.

"Who with? What about?" I'm trying my best to sound gentle and caring but I can't. She ignored me and I won't forget that. 

"My new boyfriend, I owed him some money." She says crying even harder. Part of my brain is screaming at me to run up to her and comfort her but I can't, I won't.

"How much?" Joe asks. Harper almost jumps when she sees Joe, it's like she didn't see him there behind me and she only noticed me walking into the room.

"£150" She says choking back a sob and taking a deep breath to try and gain control of her crying.

"150!?" I shout I have no idea how this girl can get herself into this much trouble. "What did you spend it all on?!" I ask, she always comes running to me when something has gone wrong. 

Harper doesn't answer, she just stares into space at nothing. Behind me Joe breathes and quick short breath out of his nose, I can tell that he is getting a little annoyed at all this. "Harper always has to have some drama going on." His voice goes in my head from when I started hanging around with Harper. "She's just a trouble maker." I guess Joe was right but this girl is not just a trouble maker she is also my best friend. If Harper was there for me when things get rough I need to be there for her. I sigh sadly, tears brimming my eyes. "Lets just get you cleaned up." I mummer, breaking away from Joe's hand on my back and walking to the kitchen sink. I get a cloth and run hot water on it. Joe follows me and leans against the kitchen counter his eyes stay glued on Harper. I ring the water out of the cloth before walking across the room and handing it to Harper. 

She smiles sadly taking the cloth out of my hand and holding it to her bleeding nose. "Thank you Autumn, I knew I could count on you." I smile a little as I sit on the armchair across from her. Joe stays in the kitchen his eyes stuck on Harper like he is waiting for her to explode or something. I roll my eyes. "How did you get in?" I ask.

"Your landlord downstairs gave me the keys." She explains as she rearranges the cloth on her face. "I said I was your sister, I think the bloody nose might of made him feel sorry for me."

"Surprised you remembered the address." I say a little sadly. 

Harper sighs. "Look I'm sorry Autumn. I got in the wrong crowd at Uni, I knew you wouldn't like them so I freaked out and ignored you." She says.

"Do you have anywhere to go?" I ask ignoring the apology. I won't let her in that easily, being ignored hurts especially when you didn't do anything. 

"I don't want to go home yet." Harper says. "Or back to Uni." She shakes her head.

I sigh wondering if I'm going to regret saying this next bit. This isn't the first time Harper has ignored me then come running back to me because she got scared. "You're welcome to stay here for a bit." I say.

"What?" Joe finally snaps back into life from the kitchen. I shoot Harper an apologetic look before going into the kitchen and talking to Joe. 

"She's got no where else to go Joe." I whisper.

"So what? That's her own fault for being an idiot." Joe says not meeting my eyes.

"Just for a couple of days?" I say trying to get him to look me in the eye.

"How can't you see that she is playing you Autumn. Doesn't it make you suspicious at how quickly she stopped crying?"

I shake my head in disbelief. "Are you saying that she punched herself in the nose and made it bleed?" I know Joe doesn't like but I didn't think he would suggest that.  

"Fine." Joe says looking me in the eyes. "A couple of days."

I smile, I knew I could bring him around. "I owe you one." I say pecking him on the cheek and turning back to Harper.