Carrying the Torch

Chapter 8: Inked Curse

I walk into the café feeling extremely jittery and look around. This isn't me, not anymore, so it's not quite clear why I'm doing this. I just am. She's driving me insane for the past week all I could keep on thinking about was her. There's no new girl this week it's impossible for there to be when every time I close my eyes Taylor or her show up.

I take in a deep shaky breath unprepared for what's to come but, as ready as I'll ever be. Fuck Harry man up be in control. I take confident strides to her table red roses in hand.

"Umm may I help you?" She looks up at me with those beautiful eyes. Now that the light really hits them I realize they're not soft brown as they may appear to be, they're actually hazel.

"Actually you can. See I bought all these roses today because I planned to give one rose to every beautiful girl I see that captures my attention. But, now I've got a problem. You're the most beautiful girl I could possibly ever encounter. And, no one else seems deserving of the flowers anymore so you've gotta help me out and take all these roses." What the fuck Harry. You really should've gone over this. She probably thinks you're some soft push over little bitch.

"Oh um thank you. That's very sweet. Even quite romantic." A rosy blush colors her cheeks. I smile and take the seat across from her. I hand her the roses and she takes them up to sniff and a warm smile dawns her face.

"So beautiful, got a name?" I question her, although I already know the answer.

"Lily." She smiles a sweet smile taking a sip from her drink, her eyes attached to me. I wonder if she could remember me, would she think about me like I think about her?

I watch as she takes in my features, starting with my face. She takes in my luscious mess of curls, emerald eyes, my prominent jaw, my pink lips; I wonder if she thinks about them against her own. Her eyes trail down to my torso and arms, where the black ink is intertwined with my fair skin. I await the disgusted look I usually get but, instead she looks at them with interest. Intrigued by the story behind them all.

"I got this nice English ship right here because it reminds me that no matter where I go, I'm home bound. And, this one means Gemma in Hebrew, I got it for my sister Gemma. And, this A is for my mum, Anne." I tell her pointing to a few tattoos and rolling up my short sleeve to do so. She blushes realizing that I had been watching her.

"That explains the slight accent. You're British." She smiles taking another sip of her drink. "Should we be worried about an English invasion? Are you a spy?" She giggles to herself.

"Well why would I ever answer those questions, love?" I smile waiting for her response.

"Well I was kinda hoping you wouldn't notice and would just accidentally let something out." She pouts adorably, soon erupting with giggles.

"You Americans, always being so clever, eh?" I chuckle watching her on amusement.

"I don't think I'm the best representative." She scrunches her nose; again, adorable. "So beautiful,  got a name?" She laughs teasing me; her laughter is music to my ears.

"Harry." I smile getting comfortable in my seat. "You see this Green bay Packers tattoo I got because I made a bet with a friend. So I lived in England and I love American Football so I made a bet with a friend in America that if the Packers win I'll get a tattoo of their logo. What happened was I wasn't going to be able to go to the tattoo parlor the next day, so I called him up and was like, 'Hey are they gonna win?'.

And, he was like 'Of course'.

Then, I was like 'are you positive?'.

And, he told me 'yes definitely happening'. So I believed him and went that day to get the tattoo and the next day I found out they lost." I laugh finishing off the story.

"Wow you're really clever huh?" She bursts out into a laughing fit.

"I am said to be one of a kind and all." I laugh and next thing I know we hit it off losing time in laughter and conversation and I get a feeling, like I don't want to ever let go. Where did that thought come from? Why is she doing this to me? How is she doing this to me?

"Well, I should probably get going but you and I will be having that football date one day, alright?" She smiles genuinely and I know she'll remember me. She must.

"Definitely." I smile and place a soft kiss on her cheek, and her cheeks instantly heat up.

She smiles at me once more, before getting up and disappearing from my sight.

"Dude, what the hell are you actually doing?" Liam says as he slides into the booth.

"Sitting down.." I respond, playing dumb

"No, I mean with Lily. She won't remember you why are you bothering her?" He frowns at me.

"I'm not very good at following protocol. I usually make my own rules and call the shots." I shrug uninterested in the conversation at hand.

"Mate, it's no good for ya." He sighs and shakes his head.

"That's usually the kinda thing I like." I smile slyly.

"Don't bring her pain. Just stay away." He sighs massaging his temple gently.

"I can't just stay away from her, Liam. Believe me I wish I could, but I just can't." I run my hand through my hair as a sigh falls from my lips.

"Somehow she's been inked into my skin." Just like Taylor has been stitched into my heart I can't help but remember. Against my will at that. I wish I knew how to break free from this curse. I wish I could be free and fly away.

And, somehow I'm finding my heart wide open, partially broken. I'm just waiting for the words of healing.

Finally then, I'd be free.