A Falling Sky

Chapter 3

“Who the hell are you?” Heath demands while climbing off of me. I try to cover my exposed stomach and straighten myself up. Harry’s still standing in the doorway with a bag over his shoulder, glancing from Heath to me. His green eyes find mine and recognition crosses his face.

“Hey, sweatshirt girl…umm…” he snaps his fingers and points at me. “Skylar, right?”

Heath turns from the stranger in his doorway to me with his eyebrows knitted together. I don’t answer and I am just taken aback by how Harry got in here and by Heath sitting right next to me and by the TV blaring the roars of the crowd in the game. My mouth hangs open as I look from Harry to Heath trying to shake the confusion away. Harry senses my discomfort.

“I really am sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.” He says quickly, and I notice that he is chewing gum when he smacks his jaw awkwardly.

“I’m Bradley’s cousin, Harry, nice to meet you.” He says crossing over to Heath, switching the bag in his right hand to his left so that he could greet him.

Their hands clap together and give one good shake as Heath says, “Oh, that’s right, man. I forgot Brad said something about you being here.”

“Yea, Bradley should be up in a second. He’s just helping me bring up a few things from my car.” Harry replies, pushing his sunglasses in the front of his plaid shirt. I am still slack-jawed as I stand up and look from one boy to the other. Harry is taller than Heath but lankier as well. Heath is only a few inches taller than me, besides when I wear heels and we are about the same height. He is stocky and muscular, while Harry is more lean—pretty muscular still, but less bulky.

I walk up beside Heath, lacing my fingers through his. I don’t want there to be any mistaking that I am with Heath. Harry spots me again and his grin grows. Heath interjects.

“Oh right. Now I remember what Brad was saying, Skylar. He was going to pick his cousin up.” Heath looks from Harry to me and says, “but you two seem to have already met?”

“Yea, she watched me playing the guitar on the street earlier. Best audience I had all day!” he takes my hand and pulls me in to press his cheek to mine in true British form. I stumble at the invasion of my personal space.

“I was hoping I’d meet you again. What a coincidence that you know Bradley. Weird, huh?”

“What? No. I mean, I don’t think it’s that weird. You were only playing a block away.” I have no idea why I’m being defensive.

Harry’s lips fall slightly at my words. Luckily, Bradley comes into the room carrying a few more bags.

“God Damn Harry. What have you got in here? A dead body?” He says, scanning the room. I seem to be the only one with my shoulders tensed, looking to sprint right out the open door behind him.

“Oh, so I see you’ve met the roommate and the free-loader.”