Like Cats & Dogs | H. S.

8

"I guess the best way for us to do this is to submit our respective meal plans and divide the cost of the groceries." Harry suggests as you walk next to him through the market.

"Meal plans?" You frown in confusion.

"Yeah, you just decide what you want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the following week and then shop accordingly."

"Are you kidding? I never plan that far in advance."

"It's simple. You just make a choice and stick with it."

"Well, what if I decide for chicken wings for Thursday, and then on Wednesday I change my mind and prefer macaroni and cheese, and I'm stuck?"

"You can't just order pizza everyday."

"I don't. Sometimes I get Mexican, or Chinese."

"You know, that's not exactly a healthy way to live."

"Fine. I'm gonna get some groceries." You cross your arms and walk away.

---

"There we go." You throw your things into the car.

"Graham crackers, marshmallows and a chocolate bar. That's what you're going to eat?" Harry frowns, looking at you.

"You're joking." You widen your eyes.

"About what?"

"You've never had s'mores before?"

"I know what they are, but I simply choose not to put that much sugar and whatever other chemicals are in that into my body."

"Well, I do." You smile, walking away again, and he sighs.

---

"So, tell me about this paper you're writing." You ask when you two arrive home.

"My thesis? I don't think you'd be much interested in that."

"Try me."

"Okay... How much do you know about psychology?"

"I have two slightly overbearing parents, does that count?"

"Well, I'm presenting a paper on psychobiology, specifically how it relates to human emotion."

"So kinda like, how the taste of pizza makes me happy?" You joke.

"Not exactly." He chuckles, "My theory is that any strong emotion, like love or heartbreak, is nothing more than a series of chemical reactions in your brain."

"You sound just like my father, he reduces everything to numbers."

"He's not wrong. When we talk about connecting with someone, all we really mean is that their neural biochemistry somehow influences our neural biochemistry, resulting in a reaction that people call love." He explains.

"Have you ever been in love, Mr. Styles?"

"As a matter of fact, I have a girlfriend. Her name is Camille."

"Are you in love with Camille?" You ask and he frowns.

"We're in a relationship."

"It sounds more like a science experiment to me. Are you sure that she's happy?" You take the bags and head to the kitchen to unpack the groceries, and he doesn't respond, your question making him think.

---

"S'mores?" Harry asks as he joins you outside later that day. You had lit up a fire and were preparing the delicious sweet.

"Yeah, wanna try?"

"I told you I don't do sugar."

"I promise I won't tell anyone." You tease, offering him one.

"Alright." He gives in, taking a bite, his eyes widening slightly, "You know, it's actually pretty good." He admits and you laugh.

"You never had a campfire as a kid?"

"I'm sure it was against the law in my apartment building."

"Every summer, my parents and I would go camping for a week, it was the most fun we'd have all year." You tell him, "Actually, it was kind of the only fun we'd have all year."

"Was it that bad?"

"Almost. They're both accountants, so they do everything by the book."

"And that's why you don't?" He smiles and you roll your eyes.

"Don't get me wrong, I love my parents."

"But...?"

"But I don't want to turn into them."

"Some people say we all turn into our parents eventually."

"Thanks, I feel so much better now!" You laugh and he follows you.

"I said 'some people'... You know, I think it's more like being in the water. Your parents give you a boat, it might be a raft or a yacht, but it's up to you to decide where you're going to steer it."

"What if we don't know where we wanna go?"

"I think deep down most people do. They're just afraid to admit it."

"I'm sorry about the crack I made about you and your girlfriend, it wasn't fair."

"Don't worry about it. The truth is, you might not be too wrong. How your parents did everything by the book, mine... they didn't even read it." He laughs, "I guess I was drawn to psychology to find answers to the questions I always wanted to ask them."

You nod, understanding him. After that, the conversation flows to lighter topics until both of you call it a night.