First Love // H.S.

14

The next evening, I'm in my hotel room on the couch with Maddie by my side, after a long day of doing absolutely nothing.

'Babe, David's calling me. Are you gonna be okay or do you want me to decline the call?' Maddie asks, showing her phone.
'Take the call, Mads. I'll survive. I need to call my parents anyway, it's almost 8PM.' I answer.
'Are you sure? Because I can-'
Before she can finish her sentence, I click on answer on her phone. She gets up from the couch in a flash.

'Hi, Dave. Hold on-' She mutters while opening the hotel room.

'Oh, hey. She's on the couch.' I hear her say after she disappears from the door opening, what makes me frown in confusion. For some reason, I feel fear, even though I know it's not gonna be Jack.

'Thanks, Maddie.' I hear someone other than Jack answer, and Harry appears in the door opening.

'Hi.' He says when we make eye contact.
'Hey. What's up? Is there something wrong?' I ask, smiling kindly.

'No, no. I just wanted to check up on you. Are you okay?' He answers. I notice his cheeks getting a little rosy, like he's blushing.

'Yes, I'm okay. You can come in, by the way.' I say. Harry chuckles shyly and shuffles inside my hotel room.
'Are you okay?' I ask then.

'Yes, why?' Harry answers quickly, closing the door behind him.
'You seem so, I don't know- nervous?' I say.
'Nervous? Why would I be nervous?' Harry answers, the blush on his cheeks getting heavier.

'I don't know, that's why I'm asking.' I say. Harry sighs and leans against the door.

'So, how was your day?' He asks then.
'Um, good, I guess. I haven't done anything all day, but it was relaxing.' I answer.
'And how are you feeling? Are you still- I mean, is he still on your- No, I mean-'

'Is Jack still on my mind? Of course he is. I mean, it happened about 24 hours ago.' I interrupt him. Harry breaks the eye contact by looking down at his feet, his cheeks blushing again.

'What I meant to ask is if you're feeling a little better now, comparing to yesterday. I know that he's still on your mind, I mean, you liked him. You said it yourself.' He tells.
'I didn't like him in a romantic way. I just thought he was nice, and you know, he... He was my first kiss.' I answer. I notice Harry clenching his jaw, and biting his lip after.

'Why did you kiss him that much if you didn't like him in that way?' He asks then, making eye-contact with me again. I sigh, and look away from him.

'Um... the reason is... complicated.' I mutter quietly.
'I'm sure I can keep up.' Harry answers, slowly approaching me.
'I know you can, it's just that you are-' I stop myself before I tell him any further.

'What am I?' Harry asks, sitting down beside me. There's a good distance between us, but he's still close enough to make the thing in my stomach flutter again.

'um, I don't know.' I stutter awkwardly, avoiding any kind of contact with him.

'Just try to explain why you did what you did. Was it something about the way he talked? The way he looked?' Harry suggests. I shrug, even though I know the answer.

'Why are you so interested in why I kept hanging out with him, by the way?' I ask then.
'Because he assaulted you.' Harry answers directly.

'You hated him before he assaulted me. Why did you hate him? Was it because Louis hated him?' I ask.

'No, Louis has nothing to do with it. I just knew that jerk was bad news. He looked at you like he only wanted you for one thing. It disgusted me.' Harry tells. It stays quiet for a few seconds.