A Lost Object [h.s]

Chapter 32

Aurora

Zayn had suggested that we play a friendly game of bowling before settling down to eat. The game was anything but that. Odyssey had left me to partner up with her new beau while I was teamed up with Niall. He was terrible at bowling and I was even worse. Of course we were losing while Zayn and Odyssey took the lead. Which sparked an argument between the four of us.

"This isn't a fair game, you can't put pros against noobs!" Niall complained. I stood beside him, nodding my head in agreement and support, but burst out laughing with Zayn and Odyssey at Niall's choice of words.

Niall turned to me with an offended look: "Aurora, I thought you were on my team!"

"I am, I am. I'm sorry for laughing" I put on a serious look. Zayn and Odyssey's laughter died down as Niall continued to glare at them.

"You know what, how about I go with Niall and Aurora you go with Zayn. Fair game?"

Niall and I looked at each other before quickly agreeing, "yes"

After switching teams we started up the game once again. It was less intense than the first, we were actually having fun this time around reason being having at least one person on the team knowing how to play. Astonishingly Niall had gotten 2 strikes in a row, Zayn and Odyssey played with ease while I still struggled to knock down even four pins. Eventually I started to get the hang of it, Zayn and I winning in the end. He did all the work but what mattered most was that we won.

Zayn, Niall and Odyssey talked amongst each other while we waited for our food. I was listening on not having much to say. I watched as Odyssey laughed at  joke Zayn told. He grabbed her hand from across the table, giving it a tight squeeze. Odyssey turned to look at me as she became flustered.

"Why so quiet my love?"

I shrugged, "I have nothing to say"

"Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself? Are you in university?" Niall questioned me.

"Yes I am, Harvard University, majoring in law. The plan is to graduate this spring then off to law school. Hopefully it isn't too complicated, I've had enough of that."

Finally our food had arrived. No one wasted anytime, they dug right into their burgers and fries. I was the only one who had ordered nachos. I ate and watched as Zayn and Niall laughed at inside jokes.

I couldn't quit put my finger on it, but the name Zayn sounded so familiar to me. It's like I've heard it somewhere before.

I shrugged off the feeling, continuing to eat my nachos.

"Aurora, are you in a relationship?" Niall asked suddenly.

"Why are you interested?" I joked.

He let out a laugh and just as he was about to reply my phone made an awful sound. I quickly wiped the cheese off my hands before retrieving my phone from my pocket.

I furrowed my brows as I read the message from the unfamiliar number

'I miss you'

I unlocked my phone to see who the number belonged to.

It was Harry. I didn't have him saved in my contacts meaning his number always looks unfamiliar to me every time he calls or texts me. Which isn't very often really.

I read the message again, smiling a little the second time around.

Niall's voice sounded over, "I'm going to go on a limb here and say that you are in a relationship" I quickly looked up to see them staring at me. Odyssey leaned over to me to read the message.

"How cute." 

I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm, "Yes I am actually."

"How long have you been with him?" Niall asks again. I had no idea why he was questioning me about my relationship, maybe just to keep a conversation going I suppose. I didn't mind it.

I took in his question. I thought about what to say in response. It's barely even been two months since Harry and I met. "Um, not long. Less than 2 months I guess you could say."

"Nice."

"Very. They are actually engaged." Odyssey chimed in. I gave her a disapproving look. That wasn't her business to tell. I did not want Niall and Zayn knowing I was engaged. I literally just met them not even three hours ago.

"Oh wow really?" Zayn piped in. I nodded once. There was no point in lying about now since it was ready out there.

"When's the wedding?"

"June. Not sure on a day yet, but the hope is it'll be in June."

"The June wedding?"

"The June wedding" I repeated with a smile. I've always dreamt of having a June wedding. There was just something about it that intrigued me. Ever since I was a little girl I told my mother I wanted my wedding to be in June. Maybe because of the summer or maybe just because it had a nice ring to it. 'The June Wedding' It most definitely had a nice ring to it.

I looked back down at my phone thinking of what to respond back to Harry. He's never sent me a message like this before. He's never even actually told me he missed me before. I didn't know what to think or how to respond. I typed a couple of times, but erased it each time. I excused myself from the table to go to the bathroom.  I leaned against the bathroom wall with my phone still in my hand trying to think of what to write back to him. Finally I settled on what I had the first time, quickly hitting send before I changed my mind.

'I miss you too' 

I was ready to put my phone back in my pocket until three little dots popped up on the screen. I watched the bubble move as I waited.

'Can I come over? I want to see you.' 

I bit my lip to hold back my smile. My heart thrashed against my chest as I reread the message. I couldn't explain what this feeling inside of me was, but it most definitely was not hatred. It felt good, yet wrong. Harry and I have never texted like this before. It was new and exciting.

'I am not home at the moment. Do you want to meet me?'

I didn't know if I was going overboard with having him meet me here. What would Odyssey, Zayn and Niall think about me inviting Harry here without consulting with them about it? Maybe it was a bad idea. I quickly began to type as I changed my mind about the arrangement, but Harry had already sent a message before I had the chance to hit send.

'Sure.'