Sweetheart Single

15 | Paper-Cut Snowflakes

Harry smiles at me from the stage. He holds up two coffees from the bookstore.

He could murder me for all I know!

It's Sunday night. I'm still thinking about seeing him at the party yesterday. I can't stop thinking about it. He caught me leaving the coffee shop earlier. I cringe thinking about how Jake would feel if he knew I left him only to meet up with Harry. Probably how Shawn would feel. Not that it matters. Harry and I are just friends.

Harry asked me to meet him tonight after the SAC closed. He lured me with the promise of coffee. I only agreed because it will give me time to work on the decorations for the dance. The Glitter Girls have entrusted to me the construction-paper artwork. Snowflakes and hearts and chain-links, etc. Amanda wanted to do lips with red paper, but I do not see it happening.

I wore leggings and an oversized bulky sweater. I skipped my morning shower, so my curls could stay in from last night. They have almost completely fallen out, but at least my hair is wavy. I've avoided a messy bun.

The rec center room is completely empty aside from Harry and now me. The lights are still on, and the curtains of the stage are drawn back. I can see drums and a guitar and three microphone stands. It dawns on me that I haven't seen anyone else from the band. The same table is set up with paints and construction paper and glue and tons of glitter. I see a clipboard with the volunteers' names and a number indicating how many decorations they've cut so far. Mine has a big old zero next to it.

"You came," Harry says, smiling.

"Did you doubt I would?" I ask, feeling shy.

"For a bit. But then I remembered you listened to my music, so I liked my chances," Harry says.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I haven't fully committed to being a fan yet." I tease.

"Gotcha." Harry laughs, tilting his head back.

His shirt is unbuttoned again and I can see the tattoos on his chest. I've never really been attracted to tattoos before. Or piercings or anything that's too unconventional. Shawn is the poster child for classical handsomeness. Then I think of Jake and how he always has a cigarette even if he's not smoking it. I think of his dark eyes and NO.

"So, why did you want to meet me?" I ask, changing the subject for myself.

"Ah, well. I wrote a new solo for the dance. Sort of a slow song. Wanted to run it by you." Harry runs his hands through his long hair.

"Oh?" I ask. Harry wants to serenade me? Elle?

"If you don't mind. Figured some of the other girls might get a bit carried away and I wanted honest feedback. Helps you aren't fully committed to being a fan yet." Harry's eyes glimmer in the light.

"Sure. Only, I need to cut as I watch. Listen. I mean, watch and listen," I bite my lip. I indicate the pile of paper and scissors and stacked decorations.

Harry laughs at me and nods. "Okay. Okay. How about I help you cut and then I'll sing. I'll need your undivided attention."

"Deal."

I put my bag down and my phone away with one unread message from Shawn. I can check it later. No need to be more distracted than I already am. Harry hooks his phone up to a Bluetooth speaker and starts playing old 00s music –music I was hardly alive for. Thanks to my stalking, I know that Harry is only three years older than me. He's 21.

We start by drawing the hearts. They're easy enough. We fold the paper and trace half a heart. Then we fold it again. We make all different sizes. Some are perfect and some are misshaped, and some are even torn. I suppose it's a good representation of real hearts. Harry unscrews the cap of the glitter and pours it all over the pile of cutout hearts. He wipes his eyebrow, and it leaves a little trail of pink sparkles behind.