Lost in The City // H.S.

Chapter 15

Yesterday morning Harry seemed to be lost in his head and rather distant. I'd like to say that it didn't bother me but it was truly driving me insane.

I woke to him climbing out of the bed and quickly dressing himself. When he finally realized I was awake he mumbled something about having work soon before gathering his things and walked out the door without another word.

We had such a wonderful time the night before that his sudden change nearly gave me whiplash.

When I went to brush my teeth that morning I found his sweater that I wore the night of Piper's party on my bathroom sink with a note on top that read 'FOR YOU SUGAR BUNS' in his now familiar handwriting that I would recognize anywhere. He must have scribbled it out quickly when leaving the note as his letters blend together from his fast movements.

The cheesy and slightly romantic gesture makes my heart swoon as I hold the sweater to my chest breathing in his scent. His cologne mixed with his usual minty scent gives me the same feeling as when you when arrive home after a long trip and collapse on top of your bed with a sigh of relief filling your lungs.

But the sweet gesture makes his strange departure ever more confusing. I spent the following hours analyzing everything that happened the night before to try and figure out where his strange behavior came from. I felt like we had found some kind of unspoken understanding of one another after that night but now I am not sure. I worry that maybe the whole holding his hand thing was too far but he didn't pull away and he is the one who cuddled up to me first. It is not like it meant anything. But if that wasn't it then what could it have been?

I finally gave in and texted him later that day mentioning how he left rather quick and asking if everything was okay. An hour or so later he responded with the word fine and some crap about how he was just running late for work. I know it was a lie because Piper said he came by their place to meet Liam. Which means he didn't have to work.

I finally thought we were getting somewhere in this friendship we started but all the sudden I feel like I don't know him at all. Why is he lying to me for no reason. I guess I never really knew him, he just made me think I did. Every time he starts to let me in and I feel like we are in a good place he seems to disappear again.

The store has been pretty empty all day today, leaving me with too much time to think and Niall has been unusually quiet so he hasn't been much of a distraction either.

"Hey Anna," Niall says from across the store pulling me from my daze.

"What's up?" I question glancing over at where he is organizing some shelves.

"You get off at five, yeah?" He asks turning around and looking a little nervous.

"Yep," I say. "We have twenty minutes," I sigh looking at the time on my phone then resting my elbows back on the counter. I just want to go home and relax, I feel so exhausted lately.

"Great, I was wondering if you wanted to grab something to eat when we get off?" He asks casually. I remember I haven't gone to the store yet so grabbing some food is probably a good idea.

"Sure sounds good," I say not thinking much into the question.

"Cool," he says quickly and I can see him holding back a smile as he turns back around to continue his task.

I really hope he didn't mean that as a date. That was way too casual for him to think it's a date, right? If it was a date he would have said something, but he didn't. It's just two coworkers grabbing food after work, nothing more.

The next twenty minutes go by the same way my whole shift has, looming thoughts of Harry that I can't seem to shake and trying to force my eyes to stay open.