Palas

16. "Beautiful."

The meal was delicious. The meat grilled but still tender and the fries crunchy and the salad fresh. I couldn’t have asked for better company also. Harry turns out to be friendly when he finally feels at ease and tells me stories about working on the beach. To my horror my first shift will be a night shift. And from what I hear from Harry, I am in for a shock.

We’re walking towards the strip which is only a minute away. The music already loud as Harry types away on his phone finding out where the rest is. With every step I lose some of my happiness and gain nerves. I’m scared to face Rosie after she stormed out and I also feel guilty for having a good time with him when she likes him so much. With each passing day I see what she sees, but still thank the gods for James.

I know that I am allowed to have fun here, it is what my father told me over and over before I left. But I feel weird spending so many time alone with Harry. It’s not that James wouldn’t approve, it is just new for me. To be friends, if that’s what we are, with a guy. But I am ready to see the rest of our group. If I can call it that.

“Wait.” Harry grabs my hand as we walk in a little alley filled with shops still open at this hour.

He just told me that is normal and that most of the shops close around one after midnight. Living in a city like London, I am used to shops being open for long hours and on Sunday, but 1.00 A.M. seems a little late for me.

“What?” I ask after he disappears in a shop only to return seconds later with something behind his back.

“Your present,” he says and I groan loudly.

“You already paid for that expensive meal Harry I don’t need anything.” I cross my arms over my chest, something I have done multiple times during diner.

Harry insisted on paying for diner telling me it was my present for getting in the lifeguard’s team. After much hesitation from my side, I finally agreed to him paying for the full meal. And now he’s hiding something behind his back. Judging from the store we’re standing in front of, it isn’t expensive. But I don’t like him spoiling me with gifts.

“I promised you a hat didn’t I? We could be twins.” His voice is laced with sarcasm and something else. Boredom maybe, bored of my constant nagging.

So I force myself to smile when he hands me a hat, similar to his. The light material is rough under my fingers and I gently place it on my probably messy hair.

“Beautiful,” he muses, his eyes twinkling again with the possibility of irritating me.

“Thanks.” I feel the hat one more time hoping I won’t lose it tonight.

After paying for diner, I felt guilty and promised Harry I would go out with him for the whole night. I was planning on finding Rosie, apologize to her and then return home to sleep. I have no idea what the night is going to look like and part of me is excited about that. Back home I would have won the argument with either Sage or James. On a weird occasion, I would feel like going to the pub with Sage just for a chance of scenery. But with James I prefer a night at home, watching a movie, cuddling…

But Harry’s is persistent and I can’t seem to win a discussion from him. He always seems to get his way. So I am going out.

We continue our short journey to the clubs, Harry’s phone going off constantly. Apparently they have a group app that I am no included to as well, but I can’t seem to be bothered to check the conversation. I know Harry will tell me soon enough.

“They’re still at Little Italy,” he says as predicted, typing away a respond. “Rosie is there.”

My heart starts to beat in an uncomfortable speed at the mention of Rosie. It wasn’t a big fall out, but the way she left and stepped on my bags gave me an uneasy feeling. Maybe meeting her in a bar, with Harry isn’t the best idea, but there’s nothing that I can change about it. We need to resolve this now or it will only grow bigger in my head.