You & Me

4.

"So how do you two know each other again?" My second roommate, Ryan asks.

We're sitting at dinner, sipping our drinks that recently came to the table. For me, sipping is an understatement. As soon as I got my Angry Orchard I took a huge gulp, and continued to do so, hoping it would calm my nerves. Never in my life have I thought this would happen. Mike, Ryan and John are awesome, but my two worlds coming together is definitely weird.

Harry and I exchange a look, trying to tell the other person to speak. Finally, I decide, since they're my friends, I should take the lead. "We were friends for a few years. We met through my dad when he was managing a band."

"Oh my God yeah, I recognize you now!" John speaks for the first time tonight. I figure he's now going to say that his sister is a big fan, because I know she is. "You have that picture of him and you in your room, Dylan."

My heart drops and my eyes snap to Harry's to gauge his reaction. He brings his glass to his lips, my thought is to hide a smirk or smile. It's true. I have my favorite picture of us, it's from the This Is Us premiere. Harry is in a white button up shirt, black blazer and pants, his hair slicked back nicely. I showed up in a long, simple black dress. Liam took the photo of us when we went inside to watch the movie since I didn't want to walk on the carpet. I'm laughing while looking up at Harry while he has a bright smile, looking at the camera.

"Smile!" Liam tells Harry and I, but I refuse to smile just to piss him off. "Dylan," he scolds me, "just smile for two seconds so I can get the picture you asked for!" His face displaying complete anger. I know it's wrong because I asked for the picture and he's already stressed, but this is one of my favorite things to do. Aggravate.

"There it is," Harry whispers in my ear, "the forehead vein."

I burst out laughing while looking at Harry who now has his head turned towards Liam.

"Yeah, I forgot I had that in there." I lie through my teeth knowing full well that behind that one picture lies about four more that I used to switch out regularly. Well, two that I would put in the frame, the other two are for myself and Harry only. My eyes are now focused on my glass in front of me, avoiding everyone's look. "John, he was in your sister's favorite boyband. You know him from that too." I grumble.

A light goes off in John's mind and everyone sees it. "Oh shit, that's right!" He turns to Harry. "I know you probably get asked this a lot, but will you please sign something for her when we get back to the house."

"John!" Mike and Ryan scold him while I bury my face in my hands, embarrassed by my roommate.

"It's fine, honestly." Harry cuts in. "Yeah, I can absolutely sign something for her."

And there it is - the reason I fell in love with him all those years ago. Even though he is here for something else and he doesn't have to sign that autograph, he wants to. He genuinely wants to sign something for John's sister because he knows it will make her happier. Harry is the kindest person I've ever met and I don't think that will ever change. Never, in the seven years I've known him, has he treated someone poorly. He always puts others before himself and it's an admirable quality.

Mike leans back in his chair and speaks. "What's the funniest story you two have together?"

"That's a good question, Mike." Ryan agrees. "What is it?" He asks Harry and I again.

I let out a loud laugh. "I have an idea." I turn to Harry. "Are you thinking the same thing I am?"

"The concussion?" He raises an eyebrow with a smile on his face.

"Yes." I put my attention back on my roommates. "Harry gave me a concussion."

"If you're going to tell it wrong, you can't tell it!" Harry tries to interject. "I did not give you a concussion!" He defends.