Skin

5

Harry and I decided not to get too fancy with our dinner -- I wasn't quite sure what you would call this outing. I had a feeling that it was a date of some form, but I wouldn't dare mention my assumption to Harry. The sun had already set when we wandered out of the burger joint nearly two hours after arriving. Harry and I had managed to get completely lost in our conversation. We stayed seated in a small booth until we were asked to leave because the restaurant was closing. It was nice while it lasted.

We talked mostly about literature. I had completely lost myself in telling Harry about my adoration for To Kill a Mockingbird, which he listened to for as long as it went on. I told him everything about my need for books, although I sounded rather geeky -- he didn't seem to mind.

I learned that Harry mostly listened to classical music, but enjoyed pop music as well. He told me about some parts of his life, how he moved to the small town when he turned twenty -- he was now twenty three, which was another thing we had in common. He was a gentleman, a very mesmerizing gentleman.

I found myself back in Harry's dark car, seated in the passenger seat as he drove down a dim road again.

"I need to stop at the gym quickly, if that's alright with you." He said, turning to look at me quickly.

I nodded but then quickly realized he had looked back to the road, "That's fine."

"I forgot some stuff there, we won't be long." He expanded.

I sat silently as the moments passed and as the traffic lights shone green each time we approached. I gazed out the window as I saw that we had left town just mere minutes later. I assumed that a town as small as this didn't have a gym within it -- it was mostly covered in crops anyway.

Harry turned on the radio, swiftly as he drove. Popular songs filled the confined space; and the bass shook the seat I was in. Harry tapped his thumbs on the black leather steering wheel to the beat of each song, and I found myself watching his thumbs move rhythmically.

About three songs later, no words were exchanged. We pulled up to what I assumed to be the gym. The bright lights from within shone onto the dark pavement outside the facility. I opened my door, before Harry could make his way over to my side, and got out. The cold air hit my slightly exposed skin; I shivered discreetly as I walked to the front of Harry's car to meet him. His hand was placed on my back as he led me to the door, only removing it when he opened it for me. I smiled at him before walking in and standing close to the door. The gym wasn't busy, only two people were there. No one took notice to us as the buzzer rang through the whole space.

"I just forgot my bag in the locker room." Harry informed me as he began to walk forward.

"I'll just-,"

"You can come." He smirked as he turned around.

I quietly followed behind as Harry led the way again. The walls were black, machines were all silver, and the tiled floor was an off, or dirty, white. My shoes clicked against the floor as I continued at Harry's pace around the corner. Luckily, the gym wasn't too big, so it wasn't too hard to trek through the space. Harry stopped suddenly at a door, digging in his pocket and pulling out his leather wallet. He took out what I assumed to be a key card and slid it in near the door handle. With a low beep and a flashing green light, we were granted entrance to the men's locker room.

It was dim, the total opposite of what the main area was. The lights seemed to be nearly burned out; the benches were a frail wood that looked as though they could break in half with the right amount of pressure. Hanging directly in front of us was a grey duffle bag. Harry walked towards it, leaving me to stand at the door. I stuck my head in to glance around more, but found that the whole room was the same.