LOOSE ➶ « l.s. »

59: BACK

« HARRY »

I sat alone at the kitchen table, eating breakfast as my mother and father spoke softly in the living room. I glanced over whilst I ate, feeling my nerves heighten at the sense that they spoke of me. I sniffed out, pretending as if I hadn't been trying to eavesdrop when they made way to me. My mother sat herself next to me, a smile on her face in which insinuated she had something on her mind.

I raised an eyebrow, putting my spoon down into the bowl of cereal before me, "What is it?" I asked her.

"Well–" my mother looked to my dad, "–I'll get right into it I suppose" she began, "Your new girlfriend—"

"I'm getting ready for work" I quickly stood up to place my dishes into the sink, hearing my mum protest. One thing I knew about my parents is that every girl I was with was never enough for them.

"Listen, Harry!" she stood up to chase after me, "It's just the last time you had a girlfriend—"

"She wasn't my girlfriend" I responded.

"The last time you had a girl–" my mum repeated with annoyance, "–the circumstances were utterly inappropriate"

I sighed out, turning abruptly with irritation beginning within me, "What are you trying to get at?" I asked, looking between my two parents.

"What is it you're doing with this girl, son?" my father asked, placing his cup of coffee onto the counter beside him.

"How is this any of your businesses?" I asked, seeing neither of them respond. Rolling my eyes, I brought my hand to the back of my neck before continuing, "She's not like Olivia–" I began, "–in fact, I quite think it's a bit more serious between her and I"

"Serious?" my mother asked me, "Serious how?" she had a worried tone.

"Calm down, I don't plan on marrying her" I rolled my eyes, "What I mean is that I'm not just—excuse my choice of words—shagging her"

My mum scoffed, hearing my father clear his throat at my words, "She's not affecting too much of your life, is she?" he asked me, and I licked my lips before I replied.

So far, Samantha had been the reasoning behind my choice of work and choice of school. I hadn't quite known whether that was good or bad, but by the way my father made it seem—it was leaning more toward not so good.

"No" I lied, "Can I go now?"

Without another word, I slid passed my parents to make way to my shift at the diner.

« ± »

I thanked Samantha for bringing me my breakfast, giving her a hesitant kiss on the cheek before taking it into my hands. I remained anxious about the circumstances of the other night, and I remained even more stressed about not yet telling Samantha what happened. Samantha noticed my discomfort, asking me what was wrong in front of her sister. Stuttering out inaudible murmurs, I licked my lips before finding what to say.

I glanced to between Samantha and her sister, "Can I speak to you alone?" I asked her, clearing my throat from the anxiety collecting in my chest.

"I have other things to do today, Harry" Samantha said to me as she adjusted the bag she had slung over her shoulder, "I'm sure it could wait"

"Not necessarily" I shot her sister a nervous look.

"Then tell me right now rather than pulling me aside" Samantha's annoyance began to arise, "That or it could wait"

I sighed out heavily, bringing my hand behind my neck in defeat, "It could wait" I told her, taking my breakfast into the employees room to eat by myself.