Night Changes (H.S. 1D)

Four:

"Oh, Maleah! What are you doing out in that cold weather?!" Barbara shouts, running up to hug me. I close the door, looking behind me at the now-dark sky.

"I couldn't go home. I fought with Mum and she told me not to come home!" I cry into her shoulder. I'm not supposed to be like this! I'm not supposed to cry like this! It's not in my nature. Wait. Maybe it is. Maybe I was just to scared to show my true feelings to my mum.

"Wait, wait, wait! Miss Briggs kicked you out?" She widens her eyes, then walks me over to a table, not breaking eye contact as she pulls out her chair and sits down.

"Yeah. I told her I wanted a normal teenage life. I don't want to be a lawyer, or a doctor! It sounds so boring. And then I played and sang for Niall, who is Harry's band mate and they all ended up watching, and it was so amazing, Barbara! They cheered for me! They didn't scold me for being unrealistic! They cheered. I guess I just snapped there and told Mum that I wanted to do my own thing, and be normal, and- and she told me not to come home!" I find that I'm repeating myself through my tears, but it doesn't matter. If I feel the need to cry then that's what I'm going to do.

"Well, do you have a place to stay?" She frowns. I shake my head. "Well, sweetheart, I'd offer you a place but we're not allowed to have overnight guests. Do you think you could stay with Harry?"

"No." I answer quickly. Her eyes flicker across my angry face.

"What's wrong? Did he do something to hurt you?" She asks.

I look away. "He tried- he kissed me."

She gasps. "He kissed you?!" She grabs my arm, with wide eyes.

"Yeah. But I didn't kiss him back. I just stood there." I whisper and look downward.

"Oh, Maleah, it was your first, wasn't it?" I don't look up but slightly nod.

"Yeah. We were screaming at each other. I shoved him, so he pushed me against the wall and kissed me." I guess he thought it was sexual frustration. But it wasn't. He read me all wrong. I was just angry with him.

"I'm so sorry, love. But that's just Harry. He is a romantic at heart and he thinks everything comes down to love at some point. I think that's good, though. Maybe if you get to know him, you'll find he's not so bad after all. And I don't mean just deal with him because you have to. I mean, really give Harry a chance." She frowns. I shake my head.

"I don't want to give Harry a chance, Barbara. He scares me." I look away.

"Scares you?" Barbara begins laughing. "Well, darling, he wouldn't hurt a fly. He may be all height and muscles, honey, but that boy is the sweetest person in the world. He's a complete gentleman." She chuckles.

"You really think he won't hurt me?" I finally meet her eyes.

"I know he won't hurt you, Maleah." She smiles. At that point, the phone to the bakery begins ringing. She gives me an apologetic look and walks toward the phone. "Holmes Chapel Bakery... Oh, hello! No, sweety, I was just closing up... Is this talk going to be about a certain girl? Yes, I know you did... She is... No, I don't think that's a good idea... No, Harry- I-" She gasps, pulling the phone away from her face and staring at it as if it's an alien. "He- he hung up on me."

"What? Why?" I stand from my seat.

"He's coming to get you. He want's to talk. To apologize." She sighs.

"He wants to what?!" I exclaim, throwing both hands into my hair. "No. There is no way he's taking me with him."

"I know, honey. I won't let him." She frowns. "If you're not comfortable around Harry, then I won't let him near you." She motions for me to follow her and I nod, moving with her toward the back of the bakery. Once we're in the back, she tells me to stay and runs back to the front of the store to switch the sign to Closed. When she comes in, I stand from a box I was sitting on and pat down my jeans.

"How far away was he?" I ask.

"Only about ten minutes."

"Would I have time to run out the back?"

"I don't think so, he-" Someone begins pounding at the front door. She let's out a long sigh with an apologetic look and leaves the room, locking it as she goes. I listen as closely as I can. "Hello, Harry." Barbara greets him.

"Hello, Barbara." He quietly says. They begin talking, but I can't understand most of it, so I sigh and try not to listen too hard. But then he sounds angry, so I lean closer, pushing my ear against the door. "She left? Barbara, I know you better than that. You wouldn't let her leave if you knew she had nowhere to go. Let me see her."

"Harold, I will not deal with your attitude. You never got an attitude with me before you became famous. And I won't have it now! You tone your voice down, right now!" My eyes widen. I have never heard Barbara get angry before. Let alone, seen her angry.

"I'm sorry." He sighs. "I'll just go. If she comes back here-" I stop listening as I grab my itchy nose. I'm going to sneeze! Of all the times that I could sneeze, it has to be now! And when I do, it makes a horribly loud noise and they become silent. "I knew she didn't leave!" He exclaims. His footsteps get louder as he walks toward the door I'm hiding behind and I look away as he opens it up. "Maleah?"

I shake my head and keep my eyes on the ground. I try not to look as he shuffles closer and kneels in front of me, placing his hands on my forearms, creating a tingling sensation, but I shrug him off. "No, Harry." My voice comes out strong, something I've always been good at: pretending to be strong.

"Look at me, please." He whispers. I close my eyes, refusing, but he lets go of my arm and gently turns my face toward his own. "Listen, I didn't mean to hurt you, when- when I kissed you... I was frusterated and I don't know what came over me." He sincerely says. His tone is laced with guilt and I can tell he means it.

"It's fine, Harry. I'm just lost." I open my eyes, but look away as soon as they meet his.

"I can try to help. Maybe I can show you the way." He whispers with a small smile. And somehow, I find myself doing the same.

Maybe I should give Harry a chance.