'it's so cold that your stare's 'bout to kill me.'
(1950 - king princess)
-
Harry took long strides down the street, and I took short quick ones to keep up with him; his long legs really weren't doing me any favors.
"Where are we going now?" I asked, finally catching up to him and slowing down a little.
"I want to show you something," he said, observing his surroundings as we walked. I didn't ask anything else, as he turned the corner and I followed.
He walked into a small building; a cherry red wooden exterior and dirty glass windows. A bell on the door jingled as Harry swung it open, holding the door open for me.
It was a bookstore.
"Hi, Hugo," he said quietly, waving to a grey-haired man behind the counter, and I couldn't help but notice how he changed as soon as somebody else was nearby, I hadn't experienced Harry as shy - he seemed pretty cocky from the moment I met him.
Harry grabbed my wrist and lead me over to a corner, grabbing a book I didn't recognise, before leading me through a door that more or less hung off its hinges; we were outside now - a terrace of some kind with two chairs and some old carpeting rolled onto the floor.
It was freezing up here; though there was a shelter of some kind above our head to keep the rain out, the cold air still whipped at our faces, and I shivered at the iciness.
Harry sat down on one of the chairs, and I did the same, continuing to shiver, which he noticed.
"Cold?" he asked me, his lip turning up in a smirk while his eyebrow did the same, much like the way he had last night.
I shook my head, "I'm okay."
He shrugged his coat off his shoulders, outstretching his hand with it in to me.
"I'm fine, Harry."
"Just take it. I don't need you blaming me for a cold tomorrow."
"I'm-"
"Shut up and take the damn coat, Ana," he said firmly, that glint still prominent in his eye.
I rolled my eyes, taking the coat from him and sliding my arms into it - it was still warm from his own body heat, and it smelt strongly of smoke. It practically engulfed me, Harry's scent of smoke and a slight hint of vanilla, the coat hanging off my arms and covering my knees as I brought them to my chest.
"You're welcome."
"Thank you," I narrowed my eyes playfully, tugging out my hair tie and letting my hair cover my shoulders.
"Y'know, for being such a rich girl, you certainly don't dress like one."
"This sweater is Gucci," I joked, causing him to chuckle, looking away for a brief moment.
"Seriously - you're modest, and I like that."
"Modest how?"
"You don't flaunt all the shit we both know you have."
"I don't see the reason to."
His eyes locked on mine again, studying me, "You look good in that coat. I'd tell you to keep it so I could see you in it again if it weren't the only thing I had," he chuckled, but I could see a hint of sadness in his gaze. I sent him a soft smile, unsure of what to say in response.
"Here," he handed me the book in his hands, placing it into my lap. I looked down at the cover, Pride and Prejudice.
"Read it," he said gently, his eyes watching me as I ran my thumb over the cover.
"Are we allowed to read here?"
"Of course, idiot. That's why I brought you here. It's a bookstore, no? Why would they ban reading?"
I ran a hand through my hair, watching the rain hit the roofs of the buildings surrounding us, "I don't like reading."
"I know."
"So why make me read?"
"I'm not making you do anything."
I sighed, carefully lifting the tattered cover of the book and turning to the first page, scanning over the words. I could feel Harry's eyes on me, and I glanced up.
"Aren't you going to read anything?" I frowned.
"I'm fine," he answered, tugging the sleeves of his sweater over his hands and played with a loose thread, his eyes still watching me intently.
I looked back down at the page, forcing myself to read the first line. Then the second, then the third. I continued on, and before I knew it I was four pages in and completely submerged. I knew Harry was still watching me, but I was too entranced into the book to care.
Suddenly the book was taken from my hand, and I didn't have a clue how long I'd been reading. I was several dozen pages in by this point, that I knew.
"S'good, isn't it?" Harry prompted, gripping the book in his hand.
"Why did you take it? Mr. Darcy is-"
"I know," he grinned, tracing patterns on the page I left the book on.
"Why can't I keep reading?"
"Because if I leave you wanting more at least I know you'll come back," Harry spoke calmly, his expression not faltering in the slightest.
"Take your jacket back," I said gently, and he shook his head, "It's bloody freezing and I know you must be, too."
"That's what I have these for," he stated, pulling a cigarette from the pocket of his jeans along with his lighter, gripping the tube and lighting it.
"Tell me about you," I said, "what it was like for you growing up."
"My dad was a dick," he chuckled, taking a drag of his cigarette, "left before I knew him that well - s'not like he left me with great memories, either. Mum's alright - she tries her best and I know that's what counts. I feel bad for her."
"You feel bad for her?" I frowned.
"Mm, I do. Dad left and one day, I will too."
"She must know you'll leave home one day."
"I'm not just going to move into some flat nearby. When I'm gone, I'm gone for good. No Christmas visits, no birthday cards, and no weekends back home," he said sternly, and I frowned.
"Why would you do that to your mother?"
"It'll be a weight off her shoulders."
"Everything she does, she does for you."
"You don't know my mother," he said sharply, taking another drag, "only I do."
"Right,"I trailed off, sighing. Would it be this difficult to get a civilised conversation about his family out of him?
"What time is it?" I asked suddenly.
"Almost three," he answered solemnly, standing up, "probably have to get you back to your butler for pickup, right?"
I rolled my eyes, "Please don't."
He raised his hand in surrender, insisting I kept the coat at least until we got back to school. It was pouring, still, yet Harry showed no signs of hastiness.
"Why do you like the rain so much?" I asked, instantly regretting it. What a stupid question - nobody fucking likes the rain.
"It washes the pain away," Harry responded much to my surprise, and I raised my eyebrows, my mouth falling open with shock at his response, before his lips twitched into a smirk, and so I breathed a sigh of relief.
We continued walking, heading to cross the street - Harry placed his hand on the small of my back, only for a mere second to steer me across the road, but it was long enough for his fingertips to burn into my skin, goosebumps arising on my skin. I passed it off as the affect of the rain.
"That's my car," I nodded towards the black SUV, shifting from foot to foot.
"Of course it is," Harry scoffed, and I sighed.
"Be nice," I shook my head, slipping out of his coat and handing it back to him, "sorry it's soaked."
"That's what rain does, Ana."
"Thank you for today," I said honestly, "I had fun."
"You make it sound like I took you on some shitty date or something," he said, his smirk making a reappearance, as he chuckled a little.
"You did," I teased, moving my soaking hair from my face, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Maybe," he grinned, dropping his cigarette to the ground and crushing it, sending me a wink which was enough to send a shiver down my spine.
I bit back a smile, slipping into the car much to Anders' disgust.
"Anastasia, what in god's name- you're soaking wet!"
"Sorry, Anders, I went on a quick walk since I got out early," I lied, glancing out the window as he took off down the street.
There stood a soaking wet Harry, curls stuck to his forehead as his cheeky grin remained on his face.
I arrived back home and bolted upstairs to change, desperate to get my soaking wet clothes off me. I scraped my hair into a ponytail; I had no homework, since I hadn't actually attended school today.
A knock sounded at the door, "Miss Levin, I'm heading off home for the evening," Celia called from the other side, "Your parents are out, remember - don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."
"Thank you, Celia! I'm going to be getting an early night anyway," I called in response, "Have a good night."
I fell asleep soon after, and it felt like it had only been minutes before Celia was gently shaking my shoulder, waking me up for school.
"Coffee will be ready in a moment, Ana - get in the shower and get yourself ready, yeah?" I did as I was told, and twenty minutes later I emerged from my room fully clothed and ready for the day. I'd gone with my skinny jeans, a burgundy sweater, and a jacket this time - I didn't plan to freeze to death for a second day. Miraculously, I didn't have a cold from my two outings with Harry - and I wasn't pushing my luck.
I always hated Tuesdays. I felt like they dragged on for so much longer than a Monday or a Wednesday, and they were just - there. They were long, dreary - you'd gotten through Monday and then surprise! Here's Tuesday.
I drank my coffee, grabbing a cereal bar and heading out of the door, giving Celia a kiss on the cheek goodbye. Anders met me in the car, as always, and as I sat back in the leather seat, I couldn't help but wonder what Harry would be doing today. Would he ditch again? - Surely not two days in a row. What classes was he in? Mine? I'd never noticed him in History before, who's to say he's not in more of my classes? Harry was mysterious - I knew a bit about his childhood, now, but not exactly about him. That was what intrigued me.
I thanked Anders as he pulled up to the school gate, heading through the doors to find Sadie, Louis, and Jake all standing by my locker.
"What the hell, Ana? You totally blew me off yesterday," Sadie huffed as soon as I walked up, causing me to frown.
"What are you talking about? I didn't blow you off."
"We were supposed to go to the mall yesterday after school? Not to mention leaving school before second period," she folded her arms, Louis and Jake sending me the same intense glare.
"I didn't realise, Sade, I'm sorry. I swear I'll make it up to you," I sighed, shoving a couple books in my locker.
"Where even were you yesterday? You never ditch," Louis spoke up, clearly as confused as the other two.
"I was just hanging out with a friend," I said honestly, shrugging it off. Harry was my friend, right?
"Which friend? We're your friends."
"I have other friends," I frowned, "if you must know, I was with Harry."
"Styles?" Sadie's eyes widened, "What the fuck, A - that dude totally tried to get you in trouble yesterday, and now you're running around with him?"
"He was just playing around, and I'm not running around with him," I found myself defending him, rolling my eyes, "c'mon, guys - you're making a big deal about this, it's ridiculous. I was just hanging out with a friend of mine, can we not fight about it? I'm sorry for forgetting we were meant to hang out yesterday."
"Whatever, Ana. Just remember who your actual friends are," Sadie huffed, storming off down the hall as Jake followed like a lost puppy, and I groaned.
"I don't understand what her problem is," I said, leaning sideways against my locker.
"You know what Sadie's like, love," Louis chuckled, "she'll get over it. Just let her have her dramatic last word, and she'll be fine by lunch."
"I hope so," I sighed, "it's really not that big of a deal."
Louis raised his hands in surrender, "hey, I know. Just let it blow over, okay? I'll see you at lunch," he shot me a reassuring grin, nudging my shoulder before heading off down the hallway to his own class, the bell ringing as if on cue.