You're Still The One

The house was oddly quiet as I prepared for work. Usually, I could hear Mum running water, cooking, or something but I didn’t hear anything. Maybe she’s upset with me for not telling her about Sean…or if it’s because I deliberately disobeyed her. Either way, she was giving me the silent treatment.



With one final glance at my reflection given by the mirror, I was ready to leave. However, I didn’t leave yet. My feet swiftly carried me to Mum’s bedroom to check on her. Her bed hadn’t looked slept in. I heard the voices of Harry and my mum coming from downstairs. The two were striving to whisper but failed epically. Still I couldn’t hear what was actually being said.



Silence swept over the room like a sweeping rain as soon as I stepped a foot in the room. I eyed the both of them suspiciously, before Harry broke the quietness.



“Are you ready?”



I simply nodded and followed him out to his car.



“What were you and my mum talking about?” I enquired. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets, avoiding looking into my eyes. He wore a green beanie that I’m sure would make his eyes pop, but I wouldn’t know because he was refusing to look at me. He took a while to answer, getting ready to spit a really clever lie, I assume.



“We, er, were talking about you.”



“What about?” I surveyed him, studying his every move.



“She asked me where you were last night.” He answered when we reached his dark parked on the opposite side from my house. He opened the door and helped me, making sure that I was secure before jogging around the back to get in, himself.



“And what did you say?” I interrogated.



His eyebrows perked up. He looked slightly annoyed at all my questions and he finally took a glance at me but it wasn’t an affectionate look like the ones he gave me last night. He looked aggravated.



“I told her the truth.” He spat.



That explains why my mother was being so distant. She’s mad at me but I couldn’t understand why Harry would be mad at me.



Soon after, Harry had parked adjacent to the bakery where I worked. It was a petite little shop, outside of town, filled with warmness and the aroma of yeast, cinnamon, frying fat, and freshly brewed tea. Harry worked at the bakery long before I did. He helped me get the job. We sat in the car a while in an uncomfortable silence.



“Are you upset with me?” I asked.



Harry frowned in response, staring impassively out of the windshield.



“Why didn’t you tell your mum about what your boyfriend did?” He asked harshly. I was too distracted by the resonant tone to answer. I wasn’t yet prepared for his abrupt tones. “I had to explain to her that it wasn’t me that hurt you…I don’t think she trusts me anymore.”



“I’ll explain everything to her…”



“Too late. I already told her everything she needed to know.”



I watched Harry fleetly paced round the front of his car to my side. He opened the door and helped me down from his large vehicle.



His extensive hand enveloped mine, as his head turned both directions searching for ongoing cars. Confused it was I was. Was he upset with me or not? I felt a gentle tug, letting me know that it was okay to cross the street. I felt like a little five year old, latching onto my mummy’s hand for support.



“You do know that I can cross a street by myself, right?” I pronounced, declaring my own independence. He shook his head implying that I couldn’t handle the responsibility of crossing the street without him. I’ve done it plenty times before.



“I’ll pick you up when your shift is over.”



He trusted me enough to make it inside by myself and I watched through the glass window, as he crossed the street, climbed in his car and sped off.



“The two of you would make a nice pair.”



I spun around, quickly, to see a quirky, brown haired female, that I once called my best friend. She was stood a few feet away from me, arms folded across her chest and a smirk on her face like she and I were still the best of friends.



“What brings you by, Caitlin?”



“Don’t look so surprised to see me...” She sounded a bit too enthusiastic for my liking.



I pushed through the waist-high doors, separating the employees from the customers and scrambled to the back to put on my apron. Caitlin’s words playing over again in my mind. Don’t look so surprised to see me. Seriously, what did she expect? We were no longer friends. I thought I made that perfectly clear the first time she was caught sleeping with my boyfriend. Her locking lips with my boyfriend, was still fresh in my memory. It’s probably my fault for her and Sean ‘hooking up’. Numerous times, I told Caitlin that I wanted to end things with Sean simply because I wasn’t feeling like I would make a good girlfriend for him and she took it upon herself to be exactly what he’s wanted.



I thought you could share those things with your best friend without them sleeping with your boyfriend. Clearly, I was mistaken.



“I just want to thank you.” She continued to speak as I went on preparing for customers as if she wasn’t there.



“What exactly are you thanking me for?”



“Sean. You got rid of him, for good.” She sounded rather excited. The gleam was written in the crinkles by her eyes, as she smiled. “Thank you.”



“What are you talking about? I didn't get rid of him.”



“Whatever went on between the two of you, he’s gone now.”



I wondered why she was so glad that he was gone. After all, he was her lover boy.



“I’m having a little get together at Bailey’s house tonight. You should come.”



“Caitlin, I’m not sure if you’re aware but, we aren’t friends. Why would I want to party with you and your friends?” I asked. “I hate parties.” I said defiantly, returning back to my work. What's the point of parties? You spend almost a trillion hours doing hair, make-up and struggling to find the perfect outfit only to get drunk, have your make-up ruined and your clothes ripped off of your body. I could stay home for that.



“Harry will be there,” she added wiggling her eyebrows as if I’m going to agree to go just because Harry’s going.



“Fine. I'll go.” I said.



Alright, I’ll go just to keep an eye on Harry especially because it’s at Bailey’s. She’s a slick one. I’m sure she can’t wait to get him at her party so she can try something.



“Good. I’ll be at your house at seven. Be ready.” She said happily.




*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*`~*




So, since my little meeting with Caitlin, I’ve been a little distracted with what I’m going to wear to this party, what shoes go with what. See, this is exactly what I meant. Hate parties. They’re no good.



Today was one of our busiest days at the bakery. Most likely because it was a Monday and everyone’s a little off on Mondays. So, it’s crucial that we have everything ready to pick those people back up and prepare them for the rest of their dreadful week. Well, at least, that’s how I look at it.



And when my shift was over, Harry’s black Range Rover was parked across the street just like he said. I was so elated to see him sitting in the driver’s seat, when my shift was over, that I dashed into the open road without looking for on-coming cars. A car nearly crushed me, as I carelessly skipped in the street. The driver of the red Honda, beeped at me furiously and my body flinched at the rash sound, and automatically jumped back to the curb. Maybe he was just as flustered as me. Maybe not.



Harry’s eyes were closed and he shook his head, before climbing out of his car.



“Stay there!” he called from across the street.



Great, now he’s never going to trust me to cross a street by myself.



I watched Harry cautiously cross the street, turning his head to look both ways before stepping a foot out. Watching attentively, I noticed the corners of his mouth hook into a pleasant smile, probably at my stupidity.



“I thought you knew how to cross a street…” He said, giving me an earful of banter as he inched closer. His large palm gracefully, slid in contact with mine as he helped me cross the street, without getting crushed by a speeding car.



“Believe me, I thought I did too.”



He even went the extra mile as to help me into his very big vehicle and seat belt me. I waited until he was in the car and driving before questioning him about the party.



“Are you doing anything tonight?” I asked not-so subtly.



“I am not doing anything, no.”



He’s totally going to that party.



“No clubs? No cool parties?”



He simply shook his head, with guilt written in the crease of his brows. I watched his hands lightly tap against the wheel to a song that he lightly hummed. He tried to casually turn his attention out of the window. It was just a facade to avoid making eye contact with me, I know it. Well, I’ll just have to meet him there I guess.

Notes

Sorry for the wait and I'm so terribly sorry for all the mistakes in the last chapter. I wrote it on a tablet... not a good idea and I'm sorry it's so boring. Anyway, I have a quick question. In the next chapter, I was thinking of doing a different POV. Who would you wanna read about Caitlin? Bailey? Or Harry?