video games // h.s. au

chapter three

Harry

After Marley left, a few kids with their mum came in looking for "fighting games without blood." I used the covers of the games to decide what to recommend before selling them Lego: Avengers and Lego: Batman. At around 8pm I closed up, using the rest of my shift to check inventory and reorganze shelves.

Walking the streets of Mayfair at night was admittedly scary, even though my height usually intimidated people. I'd tried ringing Liam a couple of times so he could give me a ride, but he never answered so I figured he was asleep or partying at his favorite club. So I began my trek to the train station, putting in my earbuds and turning up the volume of my acoustic playlist.

I shivered in the cool air of England's autumn, the absence of the moon darkening the dimly lit streets more than they would've been. A gust of wind chilled me, the pea-coat wrapped around my lanky figure proving useless in the evening cold.

As I approached the station, my attention turned to a couple in the corner, sucking each other's faces off. I sighed, trying to watch them in a non-stalkerish way. I longed for a relationship like theirs, the kind that disgusted everyone else.

The guy, a brown-haired taller bloke with dark eyes, smiled at his companion, a thin blonde, and then kissed her again. The blonde reminded me of Marley's friend from earlier, with platinum-blonde hair peeking from her roots. I wouldn't mind a relationship with Marley, I guess. Before the thought can expand I mentally slap myself, shaking my head. I just met the girl, I can't- I don't like her.

I board the train when it comes, skipping an Ed Sheeran song in favor of Goodnight Moon by GoRadio. It's 12:43 when I open my messages, beginning to start a new conversation with Marley before deciding against it. It's too late in the night, I'll text her tomorrow.

My brother Dylan greeted me at the door, a bowl of barbecue crisps in one arm and two cans of soda in the other. "Hey, Haz," he breathed, smiling as he opened the door and let me in. "Mum's asleep, long day. Me and Jake are in the great room if you wanna join."

I smile at his offer, "Sure. Watching the tele or playing some video games?"

"FIFA," he replies, "but we brought all the games from Dad's so we can play whatever."

Jake appears from the great room, his head peeking from around the corner. "Hey," he greets me. Before I can reply, he disappears again. Dylan just laughs and follows his twin into the room.

"Gonna grab some crisps for myself," I call, making my way into the kitchen. I grab a bag of crisps without looking and pull out my phone, debating again on whether I should send Marley a message.

I get a burst of courage and type, 'hey, its harry from game buddy! :)', and send it before I can think twice.

"You coming Harry?" Jake yells, his voice muffled, his mouth probably full of crisps.

I smile. "Yeah, coming!"

a/n: i'm on mobile and idk how to use it so yAy && short and shitty chapter bye