Across the Hall

Chapter 6: Coffee For Four?

I heard the distant sound of my alarm clock trying to wake me from my sleep. I sat up and shut it off. My headache from having a hangover started immediately. I decided to take a shower to help the ringing in my head.

After I got out of the shower, I put my hair up in a messy bun since it was only Niall and Zayn. I put on some yoga pants and an ancient t-shirt of my dad's old band. I applied a little makeup to my face to cover the dark spots under my eyes.

I left a note on the counter telling Bree and Emily where I would be this morning. I left the car keys, deciding it would be better if I just walked.

I eventually found a grocery store a couple blocks away from the apartment. I walked inside and figured that twenty-year-old guys probably barely went shopping so I got them sandwich ingredients on top of chips, cookies, and fruit. Classic, easy food. I also got them Hot Pockets and some Chef Boyardee. Classic, lazy food. I awkwardly walked down the aisle that would store the condoms and realized then that I had no idea what size or type to get. I decided to get three different sizes so there wouldn't be any confusion.

I placed the items from my cart onto the belt. I looked up at the cashier. He looked a little older than me with black hair, a little stubble, and a friendly smile.

"Hello, thank you for shopping with us today do you have any coupons?" He recited the lines.

"No, sorry," I answered slightly unaware of why I was apologizing.

"It's cool by the way I'm Brad," he introduced himself.

"I'm Annabelle," I smiled back at him.

He scanned the food and looked at the condoms a little longer than necessary before laughing to himself and bagging the items.

I paid and thanked him and was on my way to the coffee house I passed on the way to the grocery store.

I walked in and inhaled the sweet aroma of coffee. This scent alone made me smile.

I stepped up to the end of the small line. I texted Zayn telling him I was getting the coffee and asking if he had sugar and creamer. I saw curly hair move across the room out of the corner of my eye. I looked and immediately regretted it.

Harry looked up and locked eyes with me. He made his way over to me.

"Hello Annabelle," he greeted me.

"Hi Harry. How are you?" I asked trying my best to be polite.

"I'm quite well and you?" He said, mocking me.

"I'm fine, just tired," I stated, wondering how I was going to get through the next few hours with Niall and Zayn.

"So why are you here?" He curiously asked.

"I'm getting coffee for me and some friends," I stated, deciding to not tell him I was about to meet his friends at their place.

"Some friends?" He asked anyways.

"Niall and Zayn," I said nonchalantly trying not to make a big deal of it, so he wouldn't ask.

Now I was at the front of the line so I ordered the coffees, giving me an excuse to leave the awkward conversation.

"Anything else?" The barista asked, looking over to Harry.

"Yes please. I'll have a coffee as well," Harry ordered, smirking over at me.

I got out my card to pay for the bill, but Harry pushed my hand back with his own hand which held his credit card.

"It's on me. I ordered myself a coffee," he said.

Was Harry actually being nice to me?

We took our coffees and walked out of the coffee house. I looked over at Harry awe still in my expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked, unaware of his kindness.

"I'm just confused at how sometimes you can be this really nice guy who pays for someone's coffee, and then other times you can be the total douche who dumps girls and doesn't walk them down to their car."

"First of all, all I did was pay for a couple cups of coffee," he laughed. "Second of all, I wasn't a douche. Her month was up, so it was time for me to end things," he said acting like what he said was pure common sense.

"Her month?" I asked, since I was too tired last night.

"Did I mumble or something?" He barked at me.

"No, I was just confused. Sorry," I said unaware of why I was apologizing for the second time this morning. He was the one that just snapped for no reason.

He pulled out his phone and typed something in it.

"So is there anything else you need or did you get it all?" He inquired, motioning to all the bags I was holding.

"No, I think I got it all," I said quietly.

"Ok, then we should head over to their apartment," he stated.

"You're coming?" I asked, hoping I had heard him wrong.

"Why not? I might as well say hey, since my time with them was cut short last night."

Well that's just great. I didn't really care that I wouldn't be able to hear all about Harry. I just didn't feel like spending my morning with him. And he was in a weird mood where he could snap at me again at any given moment.

"Do you um," he started, "want me to help you with any of the bags?" He seemed to choke out the question, like doing something nice for someone was a first. Being Harry Styles it probably is.

"Oh ya. That'd be great," I thanked him, while handing over some of the bags. He didn't grab one all the way before I released my grip and it dropped. Since I had my shitty luck, all three boxes of condoms fell onto the busy sidewalk.

Harry looked at the boxes with wide eyes. His cheeks turned red, he looked up and mumbled something.

"What'd you say?" I asked in a light tone so it didn't sound like I was challenging him.

"I think you uh dropped something," he said a little louder.

I was already picking up the condoms at the time, so it made things even more awkward.

"It's not as bad as it looks, I swear," I said, hoping he would believe me.

"Ya of course. You have to be prepared for all sorts of different dicks nowadays," he teased.

I felt my cheeks getting hotter by the second.

"No! Zayn and Niall asked me to pick some up for them," I said quickly.

"Sure Annabelle," Harry said in a mocking tone.