1985 (h.s.)

Chapter Thirteen

It was now the middle of September. Temperatures were cooling and leaves started to change into reds and oranges. Things have been going great. I have been working at the bakery almost every day. I got off on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Every day I worked there I learned new things about Harry. He was such an interesting person. I could literally listen to him talk about himself for hours. I've also let him in on a lot of my life. I told him about my father and he was nothing, but supportive. He understood not having a parental figure.

I have also been making time for my other friends, don't worry. Sometimes we all met up after work, even Harry. They weren't exactly friends, but they respected each other and that's all I asked. Niall finally stopped worrying about me with Harry once he realized how Harry really was, not how everyone said he was. They actually somewhat got along, which was very weird at first, but I wasn't complaining.

I had finally saved up some money to go clothing shopping so I was meeting Eleanor and Zayn's new girlfriend, Amanda, at the thrift store. She was the same girl Zayn was flirting with at the fair. She was a very sweet girl. Her hair was long and blonde and she had dark brown eyes. She was shy at first but opened up after spending time with us. Her sense of humor was the best, she laughed at almost everything we said.

"You sure you don't want to come with Harry?" I asked once more. He didn't want to come shopping with me, he said it wasn't his forte. This man had more style than most boys I knew and he hated shopping. What irony.

"I'm sure. I'll see you later Lanie. Eleanor is giving you a ride home, yeah?"  He shouted from his car. I affirmed with a nod and walked down the street. It was about three so the sun was high in the air. Clouds blocked bits and pieces, but one thing I've learned to love about Ashland is how sunny it is. The sun was almost always shining and providing an extra layer of warmth to the atmosphere.

I spotted Amanda and Eleanor waiting outside of the shop looking for me. A smile formed on their faces when they spotted me walking towards them. I returned the favor. They both looked like they should be on the red carpet while I felt underdressed in my yellow sweater and plain black leggings.  Those two girls made me feel like a weed to a blossoming flower. They never made me feel any less of a person though. It wasn't their fault I got the normal genes of my family.

"Elaine!" They shouted in unison.

We embraced each other and filed into the store. It was an odd time to be in a store, especially on a Sunday, so it was pretty bare. A few people were scattered here and there. I raced to my size in the clothing racks. I was between a medium and a large shirt. I hardly had any tits so it wasn't that. I was just a bit fluffy is all. I enjoyed venturing into sizes bigger than mine, for comfort purposes mostly.

By the time I was done in the shirts, I had an arm full. Carts were at the front of the store so I raced to get one. There were only a few left so I threw my choices in there and progressed to the pants and skirts. I wasn't the biggest fan of skirts, but a new town means a new wardrobe. The noises of hangers against metal echoed in the store. It was a horrible noise, but inevitable considering the materials.

Eleanor popped up beside me, clothing overflowing in her arms, "You find anything Harry'll like?"

"Yeah, actually there's this one shirt that- wait," I paused, "I'm not buying clothes to impress him. I think he likes the way I dress already. Why would it matter anyway?"

"Are you oblivious? He looks at you all starry-eyed and mushy. It's nasty," she says.

"Gag me with a spoon. He does not. We are just friends. Plus, have you not seen how awkward it is when you and Lou are eye-fucking? Like, I'm trying to eat."