『 the sound of you and i 』 ➤ the first "sounds" book

✭ Ⅷ ｐ．３ ∞ 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜 ✭

A/N
I rewrote this chapter because there was previously a scene of domestic violence between Ash/Grace and Parker. I wasn't comfortable with how it turned out, so there is no longer a domestic abuse scene. This chapter is clean and doesn't need any warnings.

I watch Harvey in the morning. I'm standing outside, Parker's clutching my hand, and she lets out a sigh.

"I can't believe you did that."

I told her last night what I'd done. I told her I said to Harvey that he could sit at our table. She told me that I have to take it back, or she'll never forgive me.

"Go on," she mumbles, dropping my hand and nudging me forward. "Go tell him."

I bite my lip. I don't want to tell him that, I want him to sit at our table, I decided that last night. But I feel bad for Parker, I just want to make her happy.

"What's taking you so long?"

"No."

"What?"

"I'm not gonna tell him," I whisper, turning around to look at her. "I stand by what I said. Our group is for outcasts, he's now an outcast."

"Grace, if he hurts you-" She warns, but I shake my head.

"It'll all be fine, don't worry about it." I go to take her hand again and she holds it loosely. I turn back to look at Harvey and I hear her sigh.

~

"Harvey," I say, running up to catch up with him in the hallway.

He looks at me and lets a weak smile cross his face. "Oh, hey," He hums. "What's up?"

"Just wanted to say my offer still stands. I ran it by my group, they're all cool with it," I lie.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. Don't worry, you'll be fine with me there."

"Why are you looking out for me? I've been such an ass."

"You were just caught up in love, I get that."

He swallows harshly and steps to the side, leaning against the lockers. I stand with him. "Do you?" He mumbles. "Sometimes you seem upset with Parker, you have these times where you could light up a room with that smile, but then there's other times..."

"I'm fine." I bite my lip. "We're fine." I don't know if I should talk to him about this.

He hesitates for a moment before nodding slowly. "Okay.." He says, unconvinced. "Well, if you guys are ever not okay, come talk to me. I know a lot about not being okay in relationships."

"You did lie to yourself for ages."

"This is true."

"You're pretty gay, aren't you?"

"This is also true."

I let a soft laugh slip past my lips and I glance to the floor before looking back up at him. He looks so sad behind his glassy eyes, it makes my heart hurt.

"Thank you," I whisper, and he gives me a confused look.

"I should be thanking you."

"Maybe I'm doing it for you."

He smiles a bit more, and this time it looks genuine. "Well, thank you, Grace."

I nod. "No problem."

And then I smile and walk away.

~

Only when I reach my table, I do start to feel nervous about letting Harvey sit at our table. I gnaw on my lip, sitting down next to Parker. She raises her eyebrows and rolls her eyes, looking away from me and paying me no attention. I think she's mad that I didn't do what she wanted me to.