(Harry’s POV)
All was peaceful and serene as I lay on the couch this Saturday morning. I heard birds chirp and saw a glow from the sun peek through my closed eye lids. I turned over, stretching out my legs, keeping my eyes shut and snuggled my head deeper into the cushions. It was quiet and calm, almost too calm. I realized this, seconds before feeling a pair of hands grasp my shoulders and shake them brutally.
“Harry! Harry!” The voice hissed. I moaned not wanting to wake up just yet. My muscles ached from the uncomfortable position I fell asleep in last night. “Harry, get up!” The voice hissed louder and soon the hands pushed me off the couch.
I groaned and opened my eyes holding the back of my head that hit the ground. It was Sienna who had waked me up, “What? What is it?”
She had strain in her voice, “What am I doing here?” Just as I thought, She didn’t remember. My chest tightened a bit but I pushed past it.
I breathed in deeply and got up from the floor, “What’s the last thing you remember?”
Her forehead wrinkled as she concentrated on remembering, “I was at Maisie’s party last night and I chugged my fifth or so beer, I think. Maisie came out from her basement and asked me to help her carry up some bottles of Sambuca and a few others.” She tried to go on, “My memory just fogs up there.”
I patted the seat next to me on the couch for her to sit down, “Well when I got there you were pretty much totally drunk. You were in the kitchen with Marcus and Ryan and he tried to put something into your drink so I brought you home. Well, actually, you didn’t want to go home and I couldn’t really just leave you there bent like that so I just snuck you into my room.”
I could see the tiredness on her face, she was definitely hungover, “Well I can’t remember any of that but ok.” She paused for a second, “Did anything else happen last night that I should know about?”
I questioned, “What do you mean?”
She puffed, “Well like…did I say anything weird or maybe do things that I wouldn’t normally have done?” Oh not really we just kissed, no big deal.
I laughed, “Well doesn’t everyone do that when they’re drunk?”
“So, I did then?” She bit her lip and leaned back on the couch. “I don’t feel good at all.” I got up from the couch and went into the bathroom to look for some painkillers.
“Do you want some Advil? I bet your head is killing you.” I heard her shuffle towards me and she grabbed the container from my hands. She poured out three pills and popped them into her mouth without any water. “Should I be worried that you’re so good at that?”
She rolled her eyes, “Not really, I’m just good at it cause of dance. I’ve gone through too many injuries to count.”
She turned on her toes and walked out into my kitchen. She was still wearing my sweats from last night but now she had her hair up in a ponytail. Her curls bounced with every move she made and I wasn’t sure what to say to her.
“So, um, are you going to leave today or should I expect you for another night?” I grabbed two bowls out from the cabinets and pulled out a box of cereal.
“I don’t know…” She was looking outside the window seeming to be more absorbed by what was going on out there than what I was saying. I moved over to the spot next to her to see what she was looking at. There was a silver Audi parked in her driveway, the same Audi that was there a week or so ago when I dropped her off when it started raining. Now I know why she didn’t want to get out.
I watched her eyes intensely. She looked like she was debating with herself internally, probably over if she should go home or not. I looked back at her house and two figures appeared. One was a man, probably just over six feet tall, and the other a petite woman who I recognized as Sienna’s mother. Their body language made it clear they were fighting and her mother was pleading to him as he got in his car and drove away.
Sienna moved away from the window rubbing her temples. I brushed her hair out of her face and bit the inside of my cheek, “You don’t have to go, I can hide you here if you’d like.”
“That sounds just amazing right now. Do you think I could borrow some of Gemma’s clothes? Not that I mind wearing this, but it would just be nice to wear clothes that actually fit me.” She pulled at the waistband extending it from her body to show how much excess room there was. She could probably fit two of her inside it.
I suddenly remembered we weren’t alone in this house. I told Sienna to stay in my room as I walked into my mom’s bedroom. Surprisingly it was empty and I searched around to see if there was a note or something. I opened up her nightstand and looked under the bed to see if it had fallen, but there was nothing.
I then went to check Gemma’s room and she was wide awake reading a book on her bed. “Well look who’s finally up!” She said with risen eyebrows, “See you left someone in your bed this morning.”
I felt my mouth go dry, “She didn’t have anywhere to stay Gemma. So I just let her spend the night. If you couldn’t tell I stayed down in the living room so obviously nothing happened.”
She crossed her arms at me after placing down her book, “Whatever, what do you want curly?”
“Where’s mom?” I asked getting to the point.
“She went to work they called her in cause one of her coworkers was sick.” She got up from her bed and opened the drawer of the dresser closest to her.
“Did she see Sienna?” I asked worried about what should do since I was supposed to be grounded.
“No I covered for you cause I got up before her, so you owe me big time.” She threw a shirt and jeans at me and I looked down at them in confusion, “I heard you guys talking downstairs, you can thank me later now get out and don’t do anything stupid.”
I flashed her a smile of gratitude and walked back into my room handing the clothes to Sienna. “This should fit you better.” I said crashing down onto my bed as she left the room to change. It was just past noon but I still was drowsy from last night. Even though I hadn’t drunk anything, I was just worn out from staying up till three in the morning yesterday. Plus I kept waking up at random times because there just wasn’t a comfortable way to sleep on that couch.
My eyes went in and out of focus and I hadn’t realized I had fallen asleep until I felt Sienna’s body topple over me.
“Hey, if I’m not asleep than you shouldn’t be asleep!” She was sitting on my ribs and I pushed her over to the other side of the bed.
“I don’t see how you’re awake right now! Why don’t we just take a nap or something cause we both know your head is killing you.” The bags under her eyes were dark and she stuck her tongue out at me in response.
She joked, “I just don’t want to throw up all over your bed,” She raised her pitch, “But you know if you insist.”
I peeked up from my pillow, “You throw up on my bed and you’re dead, girl.”
She yawned loudly, “Sorry, but I can’t control that. It’s part of the whole hangover spiel.” She stretched out like a cat and curled herself up next to me. “I really am sorry though if I get sick on your bed. I’ll do my best not to.” Her blue eyes hit me and found myself stunned by their transparency. The way the light hit them made them look like crystals.
She squinted one of her eyes, “What are you staring at, Weird-o?”
I squinted back at her, “Nothing, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing.”
“Good.”
“Good.” Sienna finished and turned her shoulder over while covering her face with a pillow. She peeked a corner of her face out and spoke once more, “Wake me up in a good five hours or so, I don’t feel like dealing with the world today.”
“Sometimes I don’t get you.” I said.
She didn’t even glance at me. She just mumbled a little more than audible, “You never get me. That’s the point.” I suddenly didn’t feel tired anymore. Once Sienna stopped talking all I could concentrate on was her breathing. The pattern was a natural slow and with every breath her chest would rise and fall. It was captivating. I can’t really explain why. It was just so entrancing watching her in her most vulnerable state.
She wasn’t hiding behind a smile or wrinkling her forehead with anger or confusion she was just herself. Her natural innocent soul was swept away in her mind leaving her body almost lifeless but yet so alive.
I couldn’t drive my eyes away from her. I kept staring looking deeper at all the details on her face. Her eyelashes were blonde from the lack of mascara and her lips were dry and cracked. She had very faint freckles around her cheeks and a small birthmark under her jaw. These imperfections were usually hidden behind the loads of cover up she poured onto them, but they just made her more unique than she already was.
Her lips parted and I swore I heard her mutter under her breath. I inched closer to her and tried to make out her words. It sounded like she was humming some sort of tune. I drew myself closer to her again so now it was like we were practically spooning.
“What’s that Sienna?” I asked in a soft whisper.
She took in a large breath and parted her lips again, “Go away.” She sounded like a four year old whining to her mother.
“Why do you want me to go away?” I asked again.
With her eyes still shut she sighed, “Because I’m in the shower!” She went back to her muffled humming and flipped over so her face was rubbed up against mine. Her hands reached for her hair and she ruffled through them. I was holding back my laughter as she tossed and turned. It seemed like she was awake and just trying to be funny but her eyes were shut and every so often she just stop and lay there like it never happened.
I let her sleep though. I must have laid on that bed for hours just staring up at the ceiling and then back at her. I thought she would never wake up by how endless it seemed to carry on. I was finally starting to fall asleep myself when she turned over and poked me on the cheek.
“What time is it?” I opened up my eyes to see hers directly in front of my face.
I reached for my alarm clock that was on my nightstand, “It’s just past three.” I rubbed my hands over my eyes and Sienna sat up taking her hair out of the loose ponytail it was in.
“Well at least I got some sleep.” Her ringlets were crazily frizzy as she attempted to flatten them out in my mirror. “Could we go out to eat somewhere? I’m starving.” She faced back at me with her hands on her hips.
“Yeah I suppose so. Where do you wanna go?” I smoothed out the wrinkles in my shirt and figured I should probably change out of it since I put it on yesterday morning.
“I don’t really care a diner or something. I’m still in the mood for breakfast.” I slipped off my shirt and she didn’t seem fazed. I looked through my closet and grabbed a polo.
“Yeah we could do that, but I’ll have to ask my sister for a ride since I don’t have a car.” I buttoned up the shirt leaving the top two undone. “Unless you wanna walk.”
She scrunched her face, “Well if it isn’t too far we should be able to walk.”
“We could go to William’s that’s only like an eight minute walk from the school so it would take us like ten minutes or so.” I looked under my bed for my trainers but the only things under there were dust bunnies and old socks.
Sienna pointed to a spot on the floor next to me and it seemed like the shoes appeared there out of thin air, “William’s is amazing I always go there.”
Sienna wore a pair of Gemma’s boots and we started down the road to the restaurant. The air was cool with a brisk of wind every minute or so. The clouds were covering the sun making the sky a light grey color. Trees had barren branches and the streets were damp from a morning rain storm.
Sienna skipped along the sides of the sidewalk and dragged me along with her by my arm. “So I’m guessing your hangover is loosening up then?”
She laughed, “No it still sucks, but might as well get over it. It’s better than sitting at home sulking all day.”
“Very true.” I said with a smirk as we entered the restaurant. We traveled to the seats near the windows and scooted into a small booth. We both ordered chocolate milkshakes and read over the menu, even though we both knew it by heart.
“What are you getting?” She asked looking up from her menu.
I shrugged my shoulders, “Probably just a burger and chips.”
She gave me a puppy dog face, “Could you get something off the breakfast menu so I’m not the only one.”
I raised my eyebrow, “Really?”
“I just want pancakes!” She said half-laughing with a grin on her face.
I rolled my eyes back at her, “Alright I guess I could get the waffles.” Her smile grew and the waitress took our menus after we placed our orders. We slurped our milkshakes out of hunger and since the place wasn’t very crowded the food came pretty quick.
Sienna flooded her pancakes in syrup and I gave her a look of judgment, “Do you want some pancakes with that syrup? Or some more sugar with that plate of diabetes?”
She spoke back sarcastically, “Ha-ha very funny.”
“I think I should confiscate this syrup from you or there won’t be any left for anyone else’s food.” I took the container from her hand and spilt a decent amount onto my waffles.
She glared at me, “Be careful Harry, I might drown you in syrup next.”
I winked at her, “Oh kinky.”
“Not what I intended.”
“Oh I’m sure.”
She glared at me again and I just smiled back feeling accomplished.
I decided to play with it a bit, “Hey do you have eleven protons because you are sodium fine?”
She nearly choked on her pancakes, “Really? You’re resorting back to this? Do you like memorize the periodic table just to make these jokes?”
“Yes I do, periodically actually.”
She slapped her forehead, “You’re such a Weird-O.”
I chuckled taking another bite of my waffles, “Says the one who dreams about taking a shower.”
Her face went cold, “How did you know that?”
My lips curved, “You talk in your sleep.”
Sienna’s face grew panicky, “Oh my god. What did I say? You tell me right now!”
I teased, “You kept saying my name over and over.” I moaned orgasmicly, “Harry, Harry.”
She slapped my face playfully, “I did not you liar!” I saw her cheeks get a shade pinker and went further.
“Oh yeah? Then why are you blushing, Missy?” I twitched my eyebrow and she flicked my face with her finger.
“Because, Harry, that’s a very pert thing to accuse someone of saying.” She looked down at her plate and avoided eye contact. I started feeling that warmness in my stomach again and knew if I put things off too long I’d be friend-zoned. We were both quiet waiting for the other to say something as we ate our food.
“Sienna, I gotta be honest with you.” Her eyes darted up at me as I ranted. “Over the time we’ve gotten to know each other, I started just noticing how amazing you are and how special you are and I think you’re so stubborn and hateful but also fragile and I know you didn’t trust me and I really hope you do trust me now and I just need you to know that I don’t wanna just be friends.” Why did I just do that?
Sienna just stared blankly at me with a neutral face. She went to say something but no words left her open mouth. “I…” She stammered, “I think I should go.” She begun to rise out of her seat but I grabbed her hand pulling her back down.
“I just spilled that all out to you and I was really hoping for a valid response not you leaving.” Sienna bit her lip.
She sputtered, “I don’t know what to say Harry. I told you that all we could ever be was friends. I- I do trust you but I just-I just don’t want things to change. I want things to be like how they were this morning. I don’t want any pressure, I want things to be carefree like they have been. That’s the whole reason of why I like you- Like as I friend Harry.” Her eyes darted around the restaurant trying to find an escape.
“That’s bullshit and you know it. I know when you’re lying, especially to yourself, because your eyes are always honest. They will always be telling the truth, even if your mouth is telling a lie.” I squeezed her hand tighter, “You know what’s wrong with you, Sienna? You’re got no guts. You’re afraid to stick out your chin and say, “Okay, people can love each other, because it’s the only chance anyone has for real happiness.”
I continued, “You think you’re carefree, wild, and you’re terrified somebody’s going to stick you in a cage. Well, love, you’re already in one. You built it yourself. No matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.” Her eyes grew wide in shock and she rose again from the table. I didn’t bother stopping her, but right before she left I shout out once more to her, “You keep pushing people away, Sienna, don’t take them for granted because you know, one day they won’t come running back to you.”