you flower, you feast (harry styles)

chapter 3

wasted time - vance joy
peach - kevin abstract
first time - vance joy
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Before I knew it, the time had come for Winnie's tutoring session. I was frantically tidying up my apartment, not that I was a very messy individual in the first place. Is she going to be hungry??

If I'd had her number, I could have just texted her.

I decided on a direct message on Instagram.

"Are you hungry?" I sent the message and proceeded to pace around nervously. Winnie wouldn't be here for another hour and a half. Why did I feel like this?

I felt my phone vibrate within seconds.

"to be honest with you i haven't eaten yet today 😅 haven't had time. plus i'm broke, and the dorm food made me sick last time :/"

"No worries. I'll have something ready. Any preferences?" I responded instantly.

"i'll eat anything, except tuna. it smells like cat food🤢🤢 but i'm not picky. seriously, you don't have to feed me though, if you weren't already planning on eating."

I chuckled to myself. Cat food, hm?

"Molly, do you want some tuna?" I called over to my cat, who was lounging on the sofa.

"Mrow." she responded.

Shit, what to make. Or order in.

After digging around in my cupboards and refrigerator, I finally landed on chicken quesadillas and guac.

"Better than that shitty pasta I tried the other night, hm?" I asked Molly who was chomping on a piece of chicken I'd dropped for her.

My phone suddenly buzzed, and I noticed a message from Winnie.

"i'm here, i know it's early- i expected the ride to take longer. i can ride around if you're not ready for me, or home, it's only 4:15."

Nonsense. I don't live in a 'bad' area, but it's never safe to be alone in the midst of a big, unfamiliar city. Especially for someone as pretty as Winnie. Shit, that was a bit sexist, wasn't it? I hadn't meant for it to be.

"You're welcome to come up. Apartment #14. Hoping you don't mind Mexican." I lingered for a moment before I hit send.

Before I knew it, I heard a slight knock at my door.

"This is it, Molly." I looked down at a confused looking feline, sat next to me.

"Mrow."

I opened the door to a nervous Winnie, looking down at her short, navy colored nails, whilst biting her lower lip.

"Sorry," she quickly apologized, as she stepped inside. "I'm kind of the worst when it comes to timing things out."

"Don't beat yourself up." I pleaded her, and I felt my heart flutter when she looked up at me.

"Erm, this is Molly." I introduced the cat who was already taking a liking to our guest, rubbing against Winnie's legs. "I know, I should've mentioned her sooner. I hope you're not allergic."

"No, she's beautiful," her shy grin grew to a huge smile, as she knelt down to scratch Molly's head. "She looks like Taylor Swift's cat!" She informed me, giggling.

She's so fucking innocent. I'm making a mistake here, I can't allow myself to feel anything for this beautiful, animal loving girl with a shy smile and such gentle mannerisms. As much as it shouldn't, that somehow seems to draw me in even more.

"This place is beautiful," she looked around, taking in her surroundings. "How do you manage to afford it?" She asked, seeming to instantly regret it. "I'm sorry, that was so rude. I lack a filter sometimes apparently." Her face turned beet red.

"No, no, it's completely fine." I reassured her cautiously. "Before I came to America, when I was in school in England, I worked at a bakery after school and on the weekends. I didn't spend a penny of it, as impossible as that sounds. Not for anything that was unnecessary, that is... I actually did some investing, my mum was dating a financial advisor, and I got lucky. That was the one thing that man could do right, handle money." I softly chuckled to myself.

"But I got really, really lucky. I made a lot. And I still so, pretty steadily. It's covered my rent and anything else I've needed for the most part. For extra money, I've actually signed up for a dog walking app," I felt my face start to turn red. "Which actually pays me pretty well just to go on walks with pets, which I already enjoy doing." I explained.

"That's....wow. I wish I knew what I was doing in life at least half as much as you do." she awkwardly smiled.

"You'll get there, love. Hungry?" I inquired, handing her a plate with a quesadilla, guac and some tortilla chips. "If this isn't enough, I made extra."

I noticed her blush at my nickname, and I instantly began to feel uneasy. I hope to god she doesn't think I'm just some creep who lures girls to his apartment. I should've asked her if she was comfortable with me making dinner instead of picking some up. I could've sent her some money via cash app to grab something on her way....but enough beating myself up,  for now that is.

"This smells amazing, thank you. I'm starving." She took the plate from me and sat at my small kitchen table.

I made finished making my own plate and then sat next to her, thinking to myself for a moment before asking, "what do you need help with today?"

"Honestly? I've been doing okay so far. I haven't been struggling much. I just really need some good studying tips. I've always struggled with time management as well." She explained, carefully taking a bite of her quesadilla.

"You have a way to get home safe tonight, yeah?" I asked, taking a bite of my food as well. "And you told your roommate where you were going?"

"I'll just ride my bike. I just told her I was going out." She replied.

"You've gotta be careful here, bad things happen too often in college towns, especially the bigger ones. I don't think I could forgive myself if anything were to happen to you while coming or going with my place. Would you mind me riding home with you tonight? I know the area well. I can show you a few good bookstores and places to eat, though they'll likely be closed." I anxiously proposed.

"I'd like that, Harry." She replied, sweetly. "But you don't have to worry about me. I've always taken care of myself, I know what to do."

I nodded quickly. "Yeah, of course. I didn't mean to be a jerk, at all. It's just my little cousin went missing a few months back, in England. On her way home from school." my stomach turned, thinking about Evie, who had been like a sister to me.

"God, I'm so sorry, Harry." She whispered, looking over at me.

"I'd just hate to see the same happen to anyone else I care about." I rambled on.

I had a bit of a hunch that this was going to be a longer night than we had planned.